Looking for a Bike...

I have a trek 3700 I think I paid around $300 for it and I think it is a great all around bike. I have a little odeometer on it and I put about 900 miles on the bike the summer I got it and I am rough on bikes but it is still mint. I know you said you don't want to pay hundreds but all you are going to get for less than 2 or 3 hundred is junk unless you find a sweet deal on a used bike.
-Bill

 

I would say to go to your local high end bike shop and let them help you figure out what size bike you need. The right size bike makes a huge difference in terms of comfort. Try to find a decent used bike with the good components. Unfortunately I just sold a nice used trek mountain bike with skinny road bike tires for $50. The tires make a huge difference because they hold more air pressure. The bikes I've rode from wal-mart were terrible. You might work twice as hard to go half the distance with cheap components that don't last. I put a ton of miles a cheap bike that was the wrong size. Looking back I wish I wouldn't have wasted my money on a cheap bike and equipment. My advice is that if you are going to ride, get the best you can afford.
I just got my first real roadbike last year and am looking forward to my second ragbrai (I just ride one day). I've come a long way since wanting to just have a cheap bike for around town. It can be addictive.
Oh and save some money for a helment. Safety first.

 

Posted By Bela on 04/12/2010 06:58 PM
$300 is still much cheaper than the "anything under $1000 is crap" nonsense I had read. It sounds like Trek is the brand to look for?
Yeah that is total nonsence! Like i said I have put my trek through hell and it is still in great shape.

 

thankfully my second hobby is biking, u said leisurely riding so your options are very wide spread, Schwinns, diamond backs, giants, Raleigh, gts, cannondales, all very good quality bikes, of course there are more out there, you obviosuly know you can't ride skinny tires on gravel so if any off road/side walk terrain is involved, don't even bother looking at them, also if you buy a 1000 dollar bike it better be less then two pounds, or full suspension with disc brakes and at least 24 speeds. i have a giant personally, it weighs six pounds fully assembled, has big wtb tires, bontarage tubes, and we won't get into details, but i think i might have a nice schwinn in my garage i could let go for a hundred or a cruiser style raleigh i would let go for one fifty, if you are interested i could send pics. or call if you still have my number, or questions

 

I have two cannondales and a univega mountain bike. The cannondale road bike and the univega are many years old and ride like new. The other cannondale is a tandam and built like a rock. You can certainly get a great bike for under $1000. The new models are out so you might find a great deal on a last year leftover. I'd call some of the bike shops and see what they have as leftovers.

 

The wife and I picked up a pair of Schwinn Hybrid's from Wal-Mart last year, they were pretty affordable, I think around $250?? They seem like pretty decent bikes.

 

With my past years of experince... decide on what type of bike you want and buy the best you can afford.... high end bikes have better componets, better componets = better ride,wich means more miles on a comfortable ride......
Speaking of used bikes for sale I have a older burley tandem hanging out in the garage that I should sell.....

 

Posted By Waverz on 04/13/2010 08:19 AM
The wife and I picked up a pair of Schwinn Hybrid's from Wal-Mart last year, they were pretty affordable, I think around $250?? They seem like pretty decent bikes. I saw those there last year and they actually looked like nice bikes... I could never get an associate to help me though.  I didn't see any there this year.

 

well bela i will save them till i here further from you

 

Hey Bela go check out Bicycle Surplus at 411 Kellog in Ames. It is just off Main Street. I went today and they have a big sale going on. I ended up pickng up a Fuji Adventure 2.0. It has been a while sense I have rode or even had a bike but so far I am happy with it.

 

Hey Bela go check out Bicycle Surplus at 411 Kellog in Ames. It is just off Main Street. I went today and they have a big sale going on. I ended up pickng up a Fuji Adventure 2.0. It has been a while sense I have rode or even had a bike but so far I am happy with it.

 

I'm not sure if you got a bike yet or not but I have a used Kawasaki adult mens bike I want to get rid of. I'm short and I can get on it but with a little dificulty so I got a smaller bike. Its kawasaki green and blue with black handles. Pm me if ur interested. I don't want much, anything u think its worth. Just need to get it out n need groceries /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/hybrid//emoticons/smile.gif pM me if interested

 

just keep riding just keep riding