Looking for a recommendation/advice for purchasing my first (used) bike

[rcannon100]

The question everyone is going to ask is “what do you want to use it for.” You are sort of saying a broad range from mountain biking to road biking. If you are like me, a one-bike person that has to do it all – then that probably means you want to go in the middle there with a cyclocross or a hybrid. I ride an urban canondale called a Bad Boy (okay I hate the name). It has 28 tires on it which can go bigger or smaller. Optional disc brakes (which I am about to install). Easily mounts racks. Flat handlebar for heads up riding. It is a good tough bike that takes commuting, can do trails altho not so good for mountain biking. Not as fast as other people’s bikes but is going to take a beating.

As for WHERE to buy a used bike, try Phoenix Bikes down in Barcroft. It is a youth non-profit organization, training kids on how to rebuild bikes and how to run a small business. Bikes like you are looking for might run high 200s. They usually sell out quick.

[IMG]http://www.viennabac.com/resources/Phoenix%20Logo.jpg?timestamp=1345237553884[/IMG]

Another option is Ye Olde Bike Shop in Arlington on Pershing. Guy refurbishes “vintage” bikes and sells them.

[dbb]

Welcome to the forum.

I went with a hybrid as it is a good all-around bike for roads and trails in the area. Sitting upright makes it easier to see in traffic. Virtually all my miles are commuting.

When I borrowed a mountain bike, I felt the suspension and tires were conspiring against me.

Check out the local bike shops that sell used (Phoenix in Arlington, Velocity in Alexandria and the others I’ve missed). I’d expect you may be upgrading in a couple of years so starting with a good bike will help delay that as long as possible.

[mnaqvi1]

Yea after I posted I realized I was asking for a broad use for the bike, I guess my main goal is just to get in better shape, which ever style of bike optimizes for that so, trying to do as much cardio as possible.

[mnaqvi1]

@dbb 82644 wrote:

Welcome to the forum.

I went with a hybrid as it is a good all-around bike for roads and trails in the area. Sitting upright makes it easier to see in traffic. Virtually all my miles are commuting.

When I borrowed a mountain bike, I felt the suspension and tires were conspiring against me.

Check out the local bike shops that sell used (Phoenix in Arlington, Velocity in Alexandria and the others I’ve missed). I’d expect you may be upgrading in a couple of years so starting with a good bike will help delay that as long as possible.

I don’t know much about hybrids but I have been told unless you don’t get the higher end hybrid models you will just end up with a bike trying to be good on the road and rough terrain but eventually failing at both so stick with either a specific road or MTB.

[mnaqvi1]

@rcannon100 82643 wrote:

The question everyone is going to ask is “what do you want to use it for.” You are sort of saying a broad range from mountain biking to road biking. If you are like me, a one-bike person that has to do it all – then that probably means you want to go in the middle there with a cyclocross or a hybrid. I ride an urban canondale called a Bad Boy (okay I hate the name). It has 28 tires on it which can go bigger or smaller. Optional disc brakes (which I am about to install). Easily mounts racks. Flat handlebar for heads up riding. It is a good tough bike that takes commuting, can do trails altho not so good for mountain biking. Not as fast as other people’s bikes but is going to take a beating.

As for WHERE to buy a used bike, try Phoenix Bikes down in Barcroft. It is a youth non-profit organization, training kids on how to rebuild bikes and how to run a small business. Bikes like you are looking for might run high 200s. They usually sell out quick.

[IMG]http://www.viennabac.com/resources/Phoenix%20Logo.jpg?timestamp=1345237553884[/IMG]

Another option is Ye Olde Bike Shop in Arlington on Pershing. Guy refurbishes “vintage” bikes and sells them.

Yea after I posted I realized I was asking for a broad use for the bike, I guess my main goal is just to get in better shape, which ever style of bike optimizes for that so, trying to do as much cardio as possible.

[mstone]

the best exercise is whatever you’ll do the most. unless you’re near a mountain bike trail you’ll probably do more road riding and I’d optimize for that. most of the DC metro area isn’t real close to high-intensity mountain trails, and those that are here tend to be unusable a good bit of the year due to weather closures.

[dasgeh]

I find that the bike that you like riding the most is the bike that will help you get in shape the fastest. So take test rides. Lots of them. Ride cross bikes, ride road bikes, ride mountain bikes, ride dutch style bikes, ride hybrid bikes, ride touring bikes. Hell, ride cargo bikes. See what you like. See what fits you. Buy that.

Buying used is awesome, and Phoenix Bikes and Ye Olde Bike Shop are great places for finding good used bikes. However, in your shoes, I’d seriously consider buying new from a local bike shop (LBS). An LBS will have bikes in stock for you to try, and will have knowledgeable sales people who will listen to what you say and put you on bikes that should work. When you test ride those bikes, you can give them feedback and they’re put you on a bike that works better. Or that shows you why that other bike is great. Plus, good LBS’s fit you on the bike and throw in free maintenance (most for a year, Bikenetic for life) and will be a resource for you as you get in to biking. With your budget, you should be able to get a great new bike that you’ll be happy with. If you’re happy riding, you’ll ride more. If you ride more, you get happier. It’s awesome.

There are threads on good LBS’s, but if you throw out where you live, I’m sure the forum-nati will fill you in on their favorites in your ‘hood.

[rcannon100]

@mnaqvi1 82648 wrote:

I don’t know much about hybrids but I have been told unless you don’t get the higher end hybrid models you will just end up with a bike trying to be good on the road and rough terrain but eventually failing at both so stick with either a specific road or MTB.

That really depends. I think the first answer is yes, there are a lot of bikes out there that are really neither good mountain bikes or good road bikes. They are a mush. Consistent with what dbb said, I would avoid suspensions and fat tires. There are “urban” bikes which are basically hybrids. They are tougher than road bikes and can take trails – but they are not clunkers like mountain bikes. Cyclecross bikes are essentially that. Stronger than a road bike, but a real joy to ride. You can take them on trails ~ but probably wont be happy mountain biking with them.

I would also put into this class touring bikes. Designed for longer hauls, these are going to be stronger, able to lug packs, and comfortable. For example, a common loved bike in the #bikedc community is the Surly Long Haul Trucker.

Another question is whether you get aluminum or steel. Aluminum is lighter, but it is STIFFER! Steel is heavier, but modern steel is a lot lighter than the old steel bike I bought 30 years ago. Steel bends, is not so stiff, and will not send vibrations up your spine. If, for example, you wanted to ride out the C&O canal (hard pack dirt), steel would be a good choice.

And I agree with DASGEH, LBS’s and Phoenix are great for test rides. Ride lots of bikes. These shops are filled with bike nuts that will talk to you for hours about bikes and fit.

[PotomacCyclist]

If you live in some areas in Arlington, Alexandria or Montgomery County, you have the option of including Capital Bikeshare (CaBi) into the mix. If you are just riding to get in shape, any riding will work, including CaBi bikes. CaBi bikes are very heavy and slow, but they are also very sturdy and stable. Many beginners find the upright position to be more comfortable. The bikes are easier to balance and control than a road bike. Plus you don’t have to worry about maintenance (cleaning, lubing the chain, maintaining tire pressure, replacing damaged parts) with CaBi. If the bike doesn’t work, dock it at the station and press the red button. (Then turn the seat around backwards to mark the bike as damaged to other users.)

You could get a cyclocross bike for the group rides. It will be easier to keep up with your friends on a cyclocross bike, instead of on a hybrid or mountain bike. On other rides, where the speed doesn’t matter as much, you can ride CaBi. If you ride for more than 30 minutes, dock the bike at a station and undock it again to reset the 30-min. countdown, before per-ride fees kick in. (There is a thread about other users waiting at empty docks for bikes, but in 3.5 years of CaBi use, I’ve never come across this situation.)

Both the cyclocross bike and CaBi are capable of riding over smooth grassy areas for limited distances, but neither are designed for tough off-road mountain bike trails. It doesn’t sound like you are planning to do hard off-road riding anyway.

The thread header shows that you live or will live in Rockville. There are a limited number of CaBi bike stations there now. They haven’t been seeing much usage so far, but that just means that you’re less likely to encounter an empty or full dock (when trying to redock).

You can find more info about CaBi at their website. The site includes a Google Map overlay where you can see the location of every bike station in the region. If you do sign up with CaBi as a local resident, I’d recommend the annual membership as the best deal, if you plan to ride CaBi bikes frequently. The free SpotCycle smartphone app is also recommended. It allows you to check the status of bike stations (available bikes or empty docks) while away from a computer.

http://www.capitalbikeshare.com

[pfunkallstar]

If you can pedal a CaBi up Rosslyn Hill then I can guarantee you that, if/when you buy a used bike, you are going to feel like friggin Superman pedaling around town.

[mnaqvi1]

I’ve thought about Capital Bikeshare but the way I see it, I want to make biking part of my daily routine and so it might be best to invest in a bike that I will own.

[rcannon100]

@pfunkallstar 82667 wrote:

If you can pedal a CaBi up Rosslyn Hill then I can guarantee you that, if/when you buy a used bike, you are going to feel like friggin Superman pedaling around town.

I got DROPPED by someone riding a CABI up the Rosslyn Hill……

I’m not ashamed. Really. My therapist says I need to move past it.

[americancyclo]

@mnaqvi1 82641 wrote:

I have quite a few friends who consistently but casually ride for fun in a groups, mostly beginner Mountain biking trails and occasionally road biking in DC with bikes in my price range.

Can you find out the names of the trails they ride on MTB? Might one of them indicate how much bike you might need? Or have a look at the bikes they use for these rides. If they are truly beginner trails, a CX bike might be enough with knobby tires and a set of slick tires for road/commute riding.

@rcannon100 82671 wrote:

I got DROPPED by someone riding a CABI up the Rosslyn Hill……

I’m not ashamed. Really. My therapist says I need to move past it.

you need to move past it by pedaling faster!

[cvcalhoun]

I would agree that Capital Bikeshare should not be your only bike, unless a) you are a tourist, or b) you take Metro most of the way to work, and just want to be able to bike between Metro and your office. However, a lot of people find it helpful to have a membership in addition to owning a bicycle, so that they can:

• Take a lunchtime ride.
• Ride on days that have so much snowy salt, or water, around that they don’t want to jeopardize their regular bike.
• Do a one-way ride and not have to see the same scenery by biking back the same way.

@mnaqvi1 82668 wrote:

I’ve thought about Capital Bikeshare but the way I see it, I want to make biking part of my daily routine and so it might be best to invest in a bike that I will own.

[PotomacCyclist]

I have two bikes of my own but I still use CaBi frequently. While there are issues with dockblocking downtown (full stations in the morning, empty stations in the evening), it’s still convenient to use CaBi for commuting, most of the time. If it rains in the morning or evening, I can just ride one way and take Metro for the other trip. Or if I have somewhere to go after work, I don’t have to worry about getting back to my bike and riding it back late at night. Plus I don’t have to worry about whether my bike will get stolen while it’s locked up outside the entire day. (Hardy locks and smart locking/parking practices can help to deter thieves, but there is still a risk.)

I also find it easier to run many errands on CaBi. I don’t have a touring or utility bike that is designed for carrying a lot of gear. The CaBi front basket is not ideal, but I’ve found that I can hang smaller bags on the handlebars for short trips. I can’t do that on either of my own bikes (triathlon, mountain bike). I would have to carry the bags in a larger bag on my back with my own bikes. That’s uncomfortable and more difficult in the summer heat.

An annual membership is $75 (or at least it was last year). I know that money could go toward a slightly better personal bike. But when I commute for just a few weeks on CaBi and replace Metro fares, the CaBi membership is completely paid for (not counting any per-ride fees if I accidentally go over 30 minutes in any single ride). If you are able to go completely car-free because of the combination of a personal bike and CaBi, you would be saving a lot more. Even if you go “car-lite” you could still save on daily parking (depending on whether you have access to “free” parking or whether you work from home).

During the spring and summer, I do more workouts on the tri bike and MTB, but I continue to use CaBi. Sometimes I use CaBi for short cool-down recoveries after tougher run workouts. Or I can have more freedom about where I can finish a run and then take CaBi back home. (Or to the nearest Metro.) CaBi is versatile because I don’t always have to pre-plan before using it. (The main exception is rush hour, in the AM and PM. You do have to plan around those times if commuting to and from downtown DC, because of high demand for the bikes and empty docks.)

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