First "adult" bike

[bingo296]

I am a complete newbie to the world of cycling and bikes in general, I know next to nothing about bikes. The only thing that I know is that I would like a hybrid bike, because I might one day like to take longer rides but that would be in the future. I started stationary biking after I hurt my knee 2 years ago (almost good as new now!) and liked it. Since I don’t drive, I would like a bike to have some independence. Sadly, all my savings is gone because two of my sewing machines (over 20 years old they were my grandmothers) broke and had to buy new ones. Luckily, I got a really good deal, both cost under $300 dollars when they normally cost upwards of $900 dollars (family friend who sells sewing machines)! But now I have a max budget of $200 for a bike. There are a few I like, but don’t know if they are good, I would use the bike for short errands of 5 miles or less and use a bike plus public transportation for longer distances. I like the Diamondback Kalmar, Diamondback Vital 1, Genesis Terra 700cc Hybrid and the Schwinn Admiral. I have done some research through other sources and people have said that anything under $300 dollars is a waste, but it is either a bike or no roof over my head, and I like a roof over my head, lol! I prefer the last two bikes simply because they are more in my price range and like that the Genesis has 21 speeds. Can anyone tell me which is a good bike for someone like me. Oh, by the way, I have not ridden a “real” bike since I was about 10 y/o, so a simple bike would suffice for me.

Thank You for taking the time to read this!

[jabberwocky]

All the bikes you listed are department store bikes with extremely cheap components. And as department store bikes, they likely only come in one size and after-sale support will be non-existent. For someone in your price range, I’d recommend hitting your nearest Performance Bikes and seeing what they have. They do carry hybrids in that price range, and as a real bike shop they offer free tuneups and such for a period of time after the sale. Just as an example, this would probably be a good fit for you: http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1093540_-1___400322

I wouldn’t say anything under 300 dollars is a waste, just know that a lot of compromises have to be made in the parts to get the bike down to that price level. Also know that department store bikes are essentially disposable.

Welcome to the forum.

[Dickie]

Welcome to the forum “bingo”, and congrats on your decision to buy a bicycle. I agree 100% with jabberwocky’s advice and could not have said it better. It is wonderful that you want to purchase your first adult bike and join the cycling community but I would consider a few key factors before settling on any given bike.

1) If you think of a bicycle as a vehicle and not a toy the sticker shock will be more tolerable.
2) Your motivation to ride will be effected by the bike your riding. If you are not comfortable, relaxed, happy, inspired, you will probably not ride.
3) Test ride bikes… plenty of them… even if you are not spending a great amount. If you cannot test ride a bike, don’t buy from that store.

I understand budgets and the need to stick to them, and sometimes it is not possible to increase your range, but when it comes to your only means of transportation, independence, and fitness this might be the time to try and increase your spending amount especially considering you will want too invest in a helmet, lock, etc. One last item to consider is a few bike shops (Performance is one of them) will offer in-house financing and many bike shops will provide a discount on accessories when you purchase a bicycle.

Best of luck, daunting task I know, but the purchase of your first adult bicycle is a memory many of us still talk about on this forum and some of us wish we could re-live that feeling. Enjoy it!

[jabberwocky]

One other comment on department store bikes: if you do elect to go that route, make sure you budget some extra money to get it to a bike shop to have it checked out. I’ve seen some scarily assembled department store bikes (forks on backwards, bolts barely finger tight, etc.).

[Amalitza]

My first adult bike, I went to REI and told the nice lady there that I wanted to buy a bike because I hoped if I had one I might ride it sometimes, and not having one meant I didn’t ride one at all. But I didn’t really know how much I would ride, so I didn’t want to spend much. Nor did I have much of an idea of where I might ride, were I to do so. She sold me basically the cheapest hybrid type they had that fit me (I’m on the small side and not all grown-up bikes come in sizes that fit me very well), which was exactly what she should have sold me. It might have cost $150 (though that was about 12 years ago, so you’d probably have to spend more now). It was a *perfectly good bike* for me to relearn how to ride on. (I was in my 30s and also hadn’t ridden hardly at all since I was a kid). I love REI as a source for any type of outdoor related purchase, *especially* when I have no idea what I really need. I’ve found that the people there are both knowledgeable and not interested in upselling you to more than what you’re going to use the thing for.

Anyway, I ramble, but I have 2 points. Point one: while pricier bikes are nice, and especially as you spend more and more time on them, a cheap bike is better than no bike (especially for short trips), so go ahead and buy what you can afford now rather than wait. And point two: I have nice things to say about REI as place to go for someone who doesn’t really know what you want, but can tell the staff what you want to do with it.

[Greenbelt]

I only know a couple brands, but you can get decent bikes down to roughly the $400-450 range (sometimes lower if on sale — last year’s model etc.). Might be a single speed, or an entry commuter, but likely more long-lasting, reliable, repairable, and re-sell-able than most dept store bikes. I am biased against dept store bikes, though, because of an affiliation with an LBS! So take my opinions with a grain of salt. The most important thing it to get a bike that’s comfortable and that’s fun to ride, so that you ride whenever you want, whether it’s a new bike, used, disposable, etc.!
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/street/commuter/12_commuter1_bl.html
http://2011.konaworld.com/bike.cfm?content=humu

[dasgeh]

Just throwing this out there: is CaBi an option for you? It’s $72/year, and you never have to worry about maintenance, parts, etc (just a helmet). You could sign up now, use that as your get-around-town bike, and save up for a while. After a while on CaBi, you’ll have some time to save some money for a bike of your own (and lock, and accessories) AND you’ll have a better idea of your riding style. For example, CaBi’s are super upright* and very heavy. You may love that, you may hate it. But it’s good to know whether you like it before you buy. CaBi has 3 gears. You may find that you never shift (and could live with a single speed) or that you shift all the time and want more gears (and want to buy the 21 speed).

Oh, another idea: if you own a stationary bike now, would it be an option to sell that and buy a trainer? That’s basically a small contraption that you hook to the back wheel of a normal bike, turning that normal bike into a stationary bike. I know nothing about the resell market for stationary bikes, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you get enough from selling what you have to buy a used trainer and a new (or new-to-you) bike.

And welcome! Biking is AWESOME!

*Full disclosure: For me, being upright for riding “around town” (errands, commuting, etc) is so much better. I find it easier to look around in traffic. I find it more easier to bike around wearing whatever I happen to be wearing. I find it generally more comfortable getting on and off a lot. And generally, I’ve found it easier to find upright that can carry a lot of stuff, which is the whole point of errands, right? On the other hand, I also do tris and enjoy going fast on a road bike when I’m training and out for long rides. But I’ve never found a compromise that really works like an upright bike and goes fast like a road bike. If I were going to spend 90% of my time “around time” and/or if long rides are just a theoretical possibility in the future, I would just get an upright bike now, and save up/start looking for a good deal on a road bike for the future.

[Certifried]

If you have a friend that knows a bit about bicycles, you could find a reasonable deal on Craigslist. There are a lot of bikes there and even a newish bike is going to be substantially less than a new bike. The downside is that you need someone who knows about bikes to really look over the bike to make sure it’s in good shape and is mechanically safe.

[vvill]

@jabberwocky 25624 wrote:

All the bikes you listed are department store bikes with extremely cheap components. And as department store bikes, they likely only come in one size and after-sale support will be non-existent. For someone in your price range, I’d recommend hitting your nearest Performance Bikes and seeing what they have. They do carry hybrids in that price range, and as a real bike shop they offer free tuneups and such for a period of time after the sale. Just as an example, this would probably be a good fit for you: http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1093540_-1___400322

I wouldn’t say anything under 300 dollars is a waste, just know that a lot of compromises have to be made in the parts to get the bike down to that price level. Also know that department store bikes are essentially disposable.

Welcome to the forum.

^ This!

My hybrid was £300 and has 1600mi on it, and still has all original components other than stem, handlebar, pedal and tires.

Performance actually give you lifetime basic maintenance last I heard. A couple years ago I actually took my rusty MTB back for a free service (I’d bought it maybe 4 years ago) and they didn’t flinch or even ask for proof of purchase.

If you can stretch your budget to <$400 you could get something quite nice enough for basic riding:
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1117668_-1___400316

[PotomacCyclist]

+1 on Capital Bikeshare (CaBi), assuming that you live near a bike station.

Even if there are no stations close by right now, more stations are on the way. Old Town Alexandria should be getting stations this summer. Arlington will expand into Shirlington and Columbia Pike next year. Both Montgomery County and Prince George’s County will join CaBi next year: Friendship Heights, Bethesda, Medical Center, Silver Spring, Takoma Park, College Park.

[KelOnWheels]

What do y’all think about Public Bikes?

Looks like they could potentially be a good option for someone looking for a simple first bike.

[DaveK]

@KelOnWheels 25776 wrote:

What do y’all think about Public Bikes?

Looks like they could potentially be a good option for someone looking for a simple first bike.

Super cool. I know a couple of people that have them now. One had a QC issue upon receiving the bike but the company was great to work with and express-shipped the new parts needed to fix it.

[Dickie]

@KelOnWheels 25776 wrote:

What do y’all think about Public Bikes?

I’ve seen a bunch of these up close and personal at the various tweed and seersucker rides. In fact our first batch of handlebar mustaches seemed to make their way onto these bikes all over town…. I have spotted them a bunch. Nice looking bikes, built well and a really easy to navigate website. Their pricing seems a little high in comparison to other urban commuter bikes such a Breezer, Linus, and Globe, but they seem like a reliable and cool company.

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[DismalScientist]

I’ld go used.
If you have a friend that can help with bikes, you may want to try Craigslist.
Otherwise, Phoenix bikes might be a good bet. http://www.phoenixbikes.org/

[Author]

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