Can you help me buy a Bike?

[realmenhatelife]

So I'd like to buy a bike, but I don't know anything about what to look for when bike shopping. I'm interested in riding around my neighborhood and on paths that are either paved, dirt, or not super loose gravel. I'm 6'1 and more stockily built, I have no idea what goes into the sizing of a bike.

Any advice, info, or recommended brands?

[Coach]

So I'd like to buy a bike, but I don't know anything about what to look for when bike shopping. I'm interested in riding around my neighborhood and on paths that are either paved, dirt, or not super loose gravel. I'm 6'1 and more stockily built, I have no idea what goes into the sizing of a bike.

Any advice, info, or recommended brands?
You gotta go and size a frame.
Reccomendations depend on the priceyou wanna pay.

[brettmojo]

So I'd like to buy a bike, but I don't know anything about what to look for when bike shopping. I'm interested in riding around my neighborhood and on paths that are either paved, dirt, or not super loose gravel. I'm 6'1 and more stockily built, I have no idea what goes into the sizing of a bike.

Any advice, info, or recommended brands?
Two wheels... And I can't stress that enough.

[drjoek]

When I was getting a bike I first bought a few used seats. They had a sale on them.

[ANC]

When I was getting a bike I first bought a few used seats. They had a sale on them.

There's something very funny about this to me.... I can't stop giggling and I don't know why...

[ryno1974]

I reccomend going on kijiji or pinkbike.com . I bought a used 2004 Gian Yukon for $300 and couldnt be happier. The same bike new was over $800 and all I had to do was replace the grips.

MUST HAVE DISC BRAKES. They are night and day from centre pull, trust me you need them.

And dont get a full suspension bike they are too heavy.Get a nice front suspension bike with an upgraded fork.

Good luck!

[silks]

Head to your local bike shop and have them measure you. Better shops will take a comprehensive set of measurements so that you can go as custom as you like. You'd be amazed at how much more comfortable a bike is when it is dialed in to fit to your measurements.

Also, like Coach said, definitely have an idea of what you want to spend so they can recommend something in your price range. The sky is the limit as far as bikes go these days. I have a Van Dessel for casual rides, which I absolutely love and would certainly recommend.

[drjoek]

Cannondale

[ryno1974]

Cannondale

Good call doc. Very nice ride. I also recommend a Norco, but not sure if they are available in the US since they are Canadian made.

Haro seems to have couple of nice ones too, as does Brodie.

[Gvac]

As long as you don't mind never being able to get an erection again, I say pedal away! (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/04/health/nutrition/04bike.html)

[beachbum]

I got a nice Specialized(brand) mountain bike with American Express Rewards points.I looked it up on line and it runs a little less than 400.They take your stats and build the bike to your size.http://www.specialized.com/ (http://http://www.specialized.com/)

[biggirl]

We bought bikes about 6 years ago in hopes to ride the bike trails here in SE Minnesota. Mine is a Specialized and Rhino's is a Raleigh. We got a good deal on them at the bike shop. We were measured and then able to test out different ones out in the parking lot. Mine is for more road and trail riding, whereas, Rhino's is for some more off road type stuff. I think he thought we lived in Montana at the time of purchase :unsure:

We haven't rode them in awhile.

My best advice would be to go to a bike shop, get measured, try out some bikes. You can always come home and check on the internet for better deals when you find the one you like.

[Brillionaire]

I have a Specialized StumpJumper Pro from '00-'01 that I really enjoy. Don't bother getting a full suspension unless you plan on doing a lot of full speed downhill racing. You waste a lot of pedal energy when you add suspension. Rather than putting your force into the act of pedaling, you end up displacing a fair amount of force by simply compressing the suspension (pedaling takes place once the amount of force needed to further compress the shocks exceeds the amount of force required to pedal (path of least resistance). Things really get mushy when you throw in that rear shock). A "hard tail" is probably what you're looking for.

I also have a Cannondale R700 (road bike), simply because it was hand made in the US (I like to try and keep as much money in our borders as possible). I really like the Cannondale as a whole, the only complaint I have would be the stupid inline cable adjusters (which really isn't a big deal, they can be swapped out quite readily). They seem to be nearly impossible to adjust if you over extend the internal threads past their range. If you plan on doing any off-roading (from what you said you would be on beaten paths), I would not buy a road bike, simply because they aren't meant to take all of the jarring that takes place off-road (might stress and fatigue the frame/fork to the point of failure (and thats a painful occurance)). Something like a "touring" bike might be the best all around bike.

My old room mate worked at an independent bike shop here in town. He bought a Surley Long Haul Trucker (AKA "F.F.F." for "Fatties Fit Fine") and a Specialized StumpJumper FSR ($5000 bike) and a "fixed gear" bike (one way drive train and no brakes except by locking the wheels, tough to get used to). He and I talked a lot about bikes and as far as buying an all around bike, the Surley should have everything you would want (I want to say his was around $1300 retail).

Tire size (circumference/diameter and width) also plays a big role in overall ride quality. Smaller diameter tires are better from acceleration and torque (26" would be most off-road bikes, which are geared lower for more torque) while larger diameter tires (~29" give or take) ride smoother and typically have less rolling resistance (due to tire sag and many other factors (basically, the smoother the contact area, the less rolling resistance and energy wasted)).

Disc brakes, which work wonderfully, are absolutely not necessary unless you plan on doing a lot of riding around in the swamp. You get more compressive force and less give, but the cost to maintain is hefty (they use hydrolic oil instead of the conventional cable to apply force. More moving parts, more wear, more maintenance, more money). Disc brakes are positioned more towards the center of the rim while conventional brake pads are at the outside of the rim (back to that torque thing again). Pads will work fine in almost any condition. Most forks/frames are set up to accept disc brakes anyway, you can upgrade down the road if you so desire.

Personally, I would buy a Specialized 29'er (they start off around $500). They have upper end components and they buy in quantity, so things tend to be cheaper. Cannondale is now owned by Giant (Chinese company) and Giant builds practically all the bike frames for most major brands (they build Specialized's frames as well). You might consider getting a model of the 29'er with a "lock down" fork (a lever that locks the front shocks with a 1/4 turn). The 29'er has the best "urban assault" capability.

Hope some of that was useful.

[Brillionaire]

An addendum to that book I just wrote:

Think of it as an investment, something you will be able to use for the rest of your life. Put a little extra money into it and get what you want.

Oh, bike seats are really hard on the prostate (dotus, grendal, taint to name a few slangs) too, its important to have a seat that fits you properly.

Peace

[lleeder]

When I was getting a bike I first bought a few used seats. They had a sale on them.

There's something very funny about this to me.... I can't stop giggling and I don't know why...

Cause you know he doesn't own a bike and sniffed all of the used seats he bought.

[biggirl]

As long as you don't mind never being able to get an erection again, I say pedal away! (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/04/health/nutrition/04bike.html)

Also, a note from our old fertility doc, if you are planning on having kids in the near future stay off the bike until after the girl is pregnant.

[Brillionaire]

I think most of us rode bikes as kids and I am certain that I am still fertile. My seed spreads like pollen once it hits open air.. I have to spray the area down with Lysol after I am done just so I don't get every girl in Cincy pregnant..

[realmenhatelife]

Thanks all, this is a good place to start.

I dont mind the prospect of infertility, and have been riding a stationary bike very regularly for a number of years and have no boner trouble.


I did visit a local bike shop that (unbeknownst to me) had a fixed gear focus. Do bike enthusiasts find fixie hipster kids as unbearable as the rest of the country? This dude told me I should find a bike in someones trash and pay him to tune it up. He was also kindof condescending.

[ToiletCrusher]

Jamis Citizen 2.0

[denko]

this is how i roll

http://bmxmuseum.com/image/dyno_zone_chrome_lg.jpg


i keep it real

[ToiletCrusher]

this is how i roll

http://bmxmuseum.com/image/dyno_zone_chrome_lg.jpg


i keep it real


let me guess, 16?

[denko]

let me guess, 16?

my age? i'm 29

[silks]

let me guess, 16?

Nice. I had a Redline RL-20 II when I was in high school. It got stolen. If it didn't, I'd still be riding it. What a great bike.

[Charlie_Don't_Surf]

I used to build and sell bikes PM me and I'll help you decide which type you should get.

[PapaBear]

I used to build and sell bikes PM me and I'll help you decide which type you should get.
I did, too. But that was back when I thought the whole "mountain bike thing" was a ridiculous fad. You probably shouldn't PM me.

[~Katja~]

As long as you don't mind never being able to get an erection again, I say pedal away! (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/04/health/nutrition/04bike.html)


if there was really so much truth to all that the people of Holland and Germany would not be able to reproduce... we ride bikes everywhere from a young age on and infertility has not really been a big issue here.

[badorties]

So I'd like to buy a bike, but I don't know anything about what to look for when bike shopping. I'm interested in riding around my neighborhood and on paths that are either paved, dirt, or not super loose gravel. I'm 6'1 and more stockily built, I have no idea what goes into the sizing of a bike.

Any advice, info, or recommended brands?

Head to your local bike shop and have them measure you. Better shops will take a comprehensive set of measurements so that you can go as custom as you like. You'd be amazed at how much more comfortable a bike is when it is dialed in to fit to your measurements.

Also, like Coach said, definitely have an idea of what you want to spend so they can recommend something in your price range. The sky is the limit as far as bikes go these days. I have a Van Dessel for casual rides, which I absolutely love and would certainly recommend.

Thanks all, this is a good place to start.

I dont mind the prospect of infertility, and have been riding a stationary bike very regularly for a number of years and have no boner trouble.

I did visit a local bike shop that (unbeknownst to me) had a fixed gear focus. Do bike enthusiasts find fixie hipster kids as unbearable as the rest of the country? This dude told me I should find a bike in someones trash and pay him to tune it up. He was also kindof condescending.


take a ride on the belt to sunrise highway and around wantaugh avenue, is brands (http://brandscycle.com/) bike shop ... they'll take real good care of ya

[realmenhatelife]

The conclusion to this thread is that today I bought a Specialized Crosstrail. I'm really glad that I didn't eat shit in the parking lot in front of the 17 year old kid helping me, as I have not ridden a bike in a good 15 years.

[lleeder]

The conclusion to this thread is that today I bought a Specialized Crosstrail. I'm really glad that I didn't eat shit in the parking lot in front of the 17 year old kid helping me, as I have not ridden a bike in a good 15 years.

Was anyone from the board helpful in your decision making process?

[realmenhatelife]

Was anyone from the board helpful in your decision making process?

Yes, everyone who made suggestions was. At the very least it gave me brands to look into, and then I didn't know anything about suspensions or brakes so that was nice, and the website Badorities linked has a good FAQ on it. So thanks to everyone.