Gluvi

Hello I am trying to get a bike just to get too the gym daily its only like 3 miles away and I just need a bike to take me there and back and what safety gear should I get and luggage to carry with me.
I am 14 that's why I have a tight budget.

10 Wheels

Where do You Live?
Commuting - Bike Forums

Bald Paul

Helmet and a blinking rear red light.
What kind of "luggage" are you planning on carrying?

Gluvi

Just Clothes,Water,Shaker,Shoes,and A towel and that's It I should probably get a bike lock but what road bike should I get Im having trouble searching for one around my price range

Gluvi

A bike would be faster and I just need a bike in general too hang out with friends.

cb400bill

Where do you live?

How tall are you?

Are you looking for a drop bar road bike or more of an upright hybrid?

How hilly is it where you live?

Bald Paul

If you're only riding 3 miles, you could stuff your 'luggage' into a backpack and ride with that. Option 2 would be to get a rear luggage rack and some bungie cords.
You should check something like Craigslist to see if you can find something used in good shape. Maybe have a bike shop check it over first, if you're not sure.

Gluvi

I live in United States

I am 5'8-5'9

I will be honest whatever is best ill prefer, Probably Upright Hybrid since I have never rode a drop bar.

It is not hilly at all its almost sea level Houston,Texas

Jeff Neese

To avoid any assumptions, you know that the best $450 bicycle is a used one, right?

big john

SPECIALIZED GLOBE 6.1 BIKE - bicycles - by owner - bike sale (craigslist.org)

MARUISHI ROAD BIKE - bicycles - by owner - bike sale (craigslist.org)

VINTAGE TREK 620 ROAD BIKE - bicycles - by owner - bike sale (craigslist.org)

Bridgestone MB-3 - bicycles - by owner - bike sale (craigslist.org)

LarrySellerz

To be honest dude id try to just buy a cheap used bike, I don't think you really want a road bike for 3 miles of urban/suburban sprawl. Even a Walmart clunker might not be terrible, unless you don't think you will get much taller. If you want a new bike thats somewhat decent, go to your local bike store and ask for their cheapest hybrid (should be around 400) or even better see if they carry an entry level single speed which should be more like 300 or less. Single speeds are perfect for the kind of riding youre describing.

As for gear, wear a backpack, get a lock (cheap lock is fine, its mainly for show to deter theft on a "cheap" bike

Jeff Neese

......

That Trek 620 is a fantastic deal and a great bike. If that's the right size for him, I'd encourage him to grab it before it's gone. He could easily swap the handlebars for something more upright, and still be within his budget.

Jeff Neese

Strongly disagree. He has described his current need going back and forth from the gym, but he's only 14. Things change. People move, they get jobs, they switch gyms, they find new places to ride or they meet people to ride with. Sometimes they become a real cyclist. A good bicycle will serve him for a long time and under a variety of conditions. Why buy something cheap now, only to turn around a few years later and spend money on a bicycle again? Men do grow some after 14 but not much, so he should be able to buy his adult size.

For $450, he can buy a very nice used bike that could potentially serve him the rest of his life. There's a Trek 620 posted above for only $280 that would be a good "do-anything, go anwhere" type of bike, that he very well might have forever. It's a lot cheaper in the long run to think long-term and buy the best quality bike you can afford. A Walmart clunker is not that.

LarrySellerz

A used bike will probably come with more maintenance, and most of his friends will be on upright hybrids/mtbs/single speeds.

Personally I would love to buy that trek, but 14 year old larry would dislike the downtube shifters, old braking system, and dealing with the maintenance


edit. OP: that trek is sick though.... maybe you should get it..... any bike will do for you brah. goodluck

Jeff Neese

The Trek 620 was just an example, that there are nice bikes to be had on the used market. (He could easily put upright bars on that 620.) Or maybe he'll find a nice hybrid of similar quality. They're out there.

Every bike needs maintenance. If you bought that Trek 620 (or something of equal quality) your maintenance costs are going to be lower overall. Things last longer and stay adjusted better. The Walmart bike is a "throwaway" bicycle. Does anyone even bother repacking wheel bearings or replacing a bottom bracket on one of those? I don't think so. After a year or so of riding, you throw it away and buy a good bike. That cheap bike was money wasted.