My girlfriend and I have decided to buy ourselves bikes for Christmas. These will be used for nothing more than riding on the street, or possibly a level trail. What do you recommend? Would a Wal-Mart bike really be that bad. I don't want to spend too much considering I really don't know how much I'll really ride it. Anyone have any suggestions?
I like cannondale bikes. Made great but expensive. All of their frames are handcrafted. Expect to spend around 500.00 to 700.00 dollars for entry models.
I would suggest staying away from Magna and Huffy/Wal-Mart type bikes... unless you want to be riding on the trail, squeaking or start to have stuff falling off after a week or so... I would suggest a low-end name brand bike, like Trek, Specialized or even REI's in house brand. You didn't mention what your budget is, so it's difficult to suggest. Most low end name brand bikes start at about $200-$300... Try local bike shops and see what they suggest, if you really don't have the money to drop on a name brand, go ahead and get that Wal-Mart special and if you really like to ride or get more interested, then save up for a real bike. I bet some of the bike shops would have a low-end name brand that would be comparable in price to a Wal-Mart special.... good luck, rH
Thanks...I guess our budget would probably max out around $200, if for no other reason than we don't know how much we'll really ride them.
I used to be REALLY into mountain biking, and I can tell you definitively not to get the wal-mart stuff -- if you're not sure how much you'll ride, get a cheaper one -- it's not worth buying a REALLY nice one as a novice rider anyhow -- you won't really appreciate (or be able to fully utilize) the bike's features. By all means get one that's nice, but don't go spending 800 bucks on one right off the bat. There's a chain of stores here called "Cycle Spectrum" I think, and every one that I've been to have had a very mediocre selection, but GREAT service -- the guys there can help you out. Find out stuff from them and buy elsewhere I bought my bike (Nishiki Colorado -- purchased 8 years ago . . . wow, I'm getting OLD!) from a store on Westheimer, next to that CompUSA -- there's a hamburger place in a strip mall, and at one end, there was a big bike store -- they had GREAT selection, GREAT service, etc. -- I don't know if they're still around though . . . REI and Oshman's both have good selections, but Oshman's is overpriced. I'd suggest looking to spend around 200 to 250, and you'll get something that should give you a solid bike to really get into the sport. Now, I haven't priced a bike in a LONG, LONG time, so my price may be high -- talk to lots of people before you do anything. Also, check out the magazine "Mountain Bike Action" -- there are numerous mountain bike magazines, but that is the best, IMO.
I love my Giant. Here's their basic Cypress hybrid model. Cypress It can be had for under $300, and if you look around, you can probably find last year's (2001) model for closer to $200. Check their site for dealer locations. Any shop that sells these will likely sell a wide range of manufacturers. You can get something you like for around $200.
I would Say a big "No" on the Wal-Mart bikes. Sure they are inexpensive and seem comparable to other bikes at say Discovery, Ozone, or Cycle 360, but in a nutshell you get what you pay for. Honestly RM I would recommend going to Discovery Cycles on Anderson next to Fuddruckers (across from Northcross Mall). You can get one of the lower model Trek's for like 250-300. Dont forget you have to buy a helmet and all that other crap. The advantage of going with the better bikes is that if you really get into cycling, you will appreciate the ride you get on a better bike, with better components. Hope this helps....
I am an avid mountain biker. I would recommend staying away from anything Wal-Mart carries unless it's a kid's bike. You can go out and get yourself a nice Trek mountain bike, or hybrid street-mountain bike for 200-350. Go to Trek's webiste and check out their models. Plus, Trek is made in the USA!! http://www.trekbikes.com/ Specialized also makes a good low-end mountain bike. Check them out too. If you think you might expand your riding experience and frequency in the future, buy a bike with a good frame. The frame is the foundation of your bike. You can always upgrade components, but to upgrade a frame is largely expensive and you might as well buy a new bike.
Does anyone have any experience with the Auto-bike. It's a 10- or 12-speed bike with automatic gear shifting. I've seen infomercials on them and they look like the ticket....
whatever bike you get, wal-mart or name brand, PLEASE get a helmet. I mean, all it takes is a fall from your bike to bust your head open and you could die! A helmet is really a smart thing to ride with, considering that your brain is not replaceable. It really burns me to see these bike enthusiasts all dudded up and NO HELMET. I mean, most of these people seem educated and have some snap, you would think they would be smart enough to protect their head and the investment (college, etc) they put into it. You may be a safe bike rider but what about the 'other guy' he may not be so safe or even see you on the road, you get hit and then fracture your head or something... i'm done ranting, buy a helmet. rH I may be a rockHEAD but I wear a helmet.
