Rinny

I'm looking to get a new bike for my birthday and need help on deciding. I've looked mainly at Raleigh and Schwinn.

I went to a local place and had the Raleigh Hybrid and Comfort recommended to me. I'll mostly be riding around on paved trails I believe, so I leaned more towards to the Hybrid and thought the Raleigh Hybrid Route 3.0 ($399) might be a good fit for me.

However, I really really like the looks of some Schwinn bikes and I know they've been around for a long time. I know Performance Bicycle sells these and I was eyeballing the 2012 Schwinn Voyageur World 21 Women's Hybrid Street Bike ($419).

I know Trek is supposed to be really good as well. But for someone who isn't going to be putting tons and tons of miles on a bicycle I really liked the Schwinn- is it a comparable quality to the Raleigh?? I'm looking to spend around 300-500, so not a lot

Thanks!!!

RonH

Famous last words. How many BF members started out saying this and now own 2 or 3 bikes costing $3000+ ?
Find a shop that you like with a knowledgeable, helpful staff and buy the bike that you like and make sure the bike fits. An improperly fitting bike is like an improperly fitting pair of shoes.

Rockfish

They both look like good bike path bikes, so I'd try them both and go with the one that fits you best. The Schwinn seems to come complete with a rack, fenders and kickstand, all of which are nice to have.
In terms of quality, neither Schwinn nor Raleigh are the companies they used to be, but they make decent bikes, and these 2 seems pretty close in terms of equipment. It might be best to buy the bike from the shop that you feel will give you the best support and service should you need adjustments or repairs in the future.
Good luck and happy riding!

erg79

You've got an idea of what you want, but it's best to find a local shop, and ride some different bikes. See what feels best for you, and which store you like the most.

Rinny

Thanks for the advice, I ended up going with the Schwinn :]

Now I just have to either take the wheel off every time I ride, or probably have to buy an expensive bike rack that can fit on a prius. UGH.

doc0c

Put your seats down and shove that thing in the back.
If it doesn't fit, and you do end up taking the front wheel off, make sure you put it on the same way it came off. (Quick release should be on the non-drive side)
Also make sure the brakes aren't rubbing after you put the wheel back on.

BikinPotter

Look online for a bike rack. Craigslist, if you have such a thing in your area. Garage sales are another option. I picked up a rack at a church bazaar for $5. Used it for years.

Rockfish

Oh. You didn't say in your original post that you needed a bike that fit in a Prius! It might very well fit with the seats down, but if not then follow doc0c's recommendation's.
Do be careful if you get a trunk rack - it looks like your bike might be wider than your car!

Rinny

Yeah, I didn't even think about the fitting-into-a-prius thing until after I got the bike, haha!! My last bike fit in okay with the seats down. This one... not so much. Takes a lot of squeezing and time and ends up moving the handlebars. It'll be frustrating to take the wheel off every time I go biking, so maybe I'll try looking on Craiglist or something like Bikin said :] Thanks guys

erg79

There are plenty of car rack options. You can get a decent Yakima or Thule rack that goes on your trunk--they have adjustable straps, and the rack latches on at the top and bottom of the car trunk. You can check online to see if a certain rack will fit on your car, then check around on Craigslist. The downside is that since you have a woman's frame bike, you'll need to get a top tube adapter (the bike is held on the rack by the horizontal top tube, so an adapter is necessary).

Rinny

Thanks!!

::shakes fist @ sexist racks::

erg79

Hah, yes! There are racks that hold the bikes by the wheels (like a bus bike rack), but those require a trailer hitch.

nuttygrandma

Check out your local Wal-mart for a trunk rack. I got Bell's doublerack trunk rack for $40.00. I've had a more expensive trunk rack in the past and finally threw it away. I never could get it to fit my vehicles correctly. This new one, actually fits very well and is adaptable for all types of vehicles. It also secured 2 bikes that I was very comfortable driving in heavy traffic on the interstate yesterday. My sister and I really tested it out and there was no way any bike was touching my car so no scratches from hauling a bike. Just beware, not all Walmarts are creative equal. What I found up in VA this past weekend, is not available at my local walmart.

Velo Dog

What he said. Taking a wheel off is a five-second job, and if you ride, you'll be doing it dozens of times to fix flats. Better to learn in the driveway than alongside the road. And you WILL have flats, so might as well learn how to do that, too.
WARNING!! I can't quite tell from the picture, but if that quick release lever is sticking out to the side instead of snug up alongside the fork blade, you're looking for an ambulance ride. Have someone show you how to use a quick release, or google it. This is important.