Suggest some good name brands for bicycles.

[Bill_Hancoc]

i was looking at bikes that arnt that great to buy and the dual shock type that have a frame setup similier to this are usually not that great and if you do any type of heavy duty riding i have seen the frames crack in literally 2 pieces where the shock attaches. Frames with this type of geometry are usually stronger and better riding

[Elgin Clock]

Well, I narrowed down my choice tonight from the selection available at K-Mart.. lol

One of my first requirements if you remember was a quick detach front wheel. Well, the Schwinn had that, and the Moongoose's (Mongeese? lol ) didn't.

So that narrows down my low end choices anyways.

ANd, yeah.. I wouldn't need those shocks. I rode bikes before they came into the design of bikes, so I think I can handle riding a bike with a rigid frame.

Maybe.

[Quantum Giant]

A few thoughts:

-Rick is right, Craigslist is a remarkable resource for this kind of thing...it's how I found my present Trek roadbike.

-Look at Diamondback as a company: I've had one for 6 or 7 years, and the only problem that I had with it was my shifters wore out. I am a fan of hard-tails, and they have some good options in the $200-$400 range (their Outlook model is a fine piece of work).

-I don't know what your personal preferences are, but a good hint as to quality is to look at the shifters. I avoid grip shifts at all costs...Shimano and Campagnolo are really the only way to go.

Good luck, and remember the helmet.

[RogerR]

Originally Posted by Quantum Giant

A few thoughts:

-Rick is right, Craigslist is a remarkable resource for this kind of thing...it's how I found my present Trek roadbike.

.....

-I don't know what your personal preferences are, but a good hint as to quality is to look at the shifters. I avoid grip shifts at all costs...Shimano and Campagnolo are really the only way to go.

Good luck, and remember the helmet.

-if you do end up buying something off-line or someplace other than a bike shop, be sure to get measured first, so you can get a bike that fits properly.

-SRAM has a set of trigger shifters, but they may be a bit out of your price range. with that said, its my opinion that SRAM has some of the best component groups on the market. all the SRAM parts i've used have been user-serviceable, which isn't always the case with shimano. while some SRAM and shimano components can be mixed with good results, be careful if you do.

-i've been riding a Gary Fisher Marlin for the past 3 years (bought it new) and feel that it was worth ever penny i spent. performs wonderfully both off-road and on (even ended up riding a century on it a few years back).

[Bill_Hancoc]

I agree shifters are important. My advice about shimano shifters is get better than an alivo derailuer because with mine it has trouble going from second to first on the front even with little torque applied or going down hill and i have had to ride a few hills up in second since it wouldnt downshift

[Rohith Surampudi]

buying a mongoose mountain bike would be like buying an AndyMark transmission not built by Andy...Guaranteed to break

anyway, not really, they are decent, but heavy, resistant, and in constant need of a tune up. You will need to replace the brake pads to good quality oner soon after you get it.

Schwinn bikes are time tested, and take no time at all to take the front wheel off so you can put your bike on your car. What i would suggest is finding a bike store that will let you try these bikes, and pick which ever one you find most comfortable. Now that you narrowed your selection down to 2 or 3 brands, it shouldn't be too hard to either find somebody that will let you take their bike for a spin, or a bike store that will let you take a test ride...but a lot of bike stores don't allow you to go for test rides, so asking a friend is the best way to go about it.

[Bill_Hancoc]

Originally Posted by Rohith Surampudi

Now that you narrowed your selection down to 2 or 3 brands, it shouldn't be too hard to either find somebody that will let you take their bike for a spin, or a bike store that will let you take a test ride...but a lot of bike stores don't allow you to go for test rides, so asking a friend is the best way to go about it.

Good call...that is the best way to find a bike that you like...if you find one you think you like try riding a few of the mongeeses that are kinda nice just for something to compare to and get a "baseline" persay.

[RogerR]

Originally Posted by Rohith Surampudi

...but a lot of bike stores don't allow you to go for test rides, so asking a friend is the best way to go about it.

all my local bike stores encourage test rides; they just ask that you be back before the store closes, and they keep your driver's license while you're out. the 'you break it, you buy it' rule obviously applies as well.

[Cody Carey]

Marin bikes are the way to go, I just picked one up for 200 bucks (retail 400) and it is a dream. I had a 120 dollar wal-mart mongoose dx50 or something, but my marin "Bolinas ridge" is by far the best bike I've ever ridden. *the frame* It weighs about 10 pounds, has a quick-clip on the front tire, and is what is considered a hybrid of mountain and road bike. It only has front shocks, but I hardley even notice a difference... except when riding uphill. The back shock on the mongoose robbed all of my power and didn't provide that smooth of a ride. My vote is with Marin.


*Reason for edit* The 10 lbs thing is jus to show that it is REALLY light,the bike in its entirity is probably more like 20. Sorry for the improper number there, didn't mean to get on anybodies nerves.


http://www.marinbikes.com/bicycles_2...nas_ridge.html

^^^ specifically my bike.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Rohith Surampudi

but a lot of bike stores don't allow you to go for test rides, so asking a friend is the best way to go about it.

A bike shop that won't let customers test ride their bicycles is a bike shop that's not worth bothering with.

Any good bike shop will let you ride as many bikes as you want--at the very least around the parking lot, and possibly let you take them out for a couple hours.

I'd avoid the K-Mart bikes like the plague, Elgin. The cheapest bike you can find at your local bike shop is going to be better than anything K-Mart sells.

[Rick TYler]

Originally Posted by Cory

I'd avoid the K-Mart bikes like the plague, Elgin. The cheapest bike you can find at your local bike shop is going to be better than anything K-Mart sells.

That's why I pointed him to used bikes. You just can't get a good new bike for $250. Even back in the dawn of time when I started cycling you couldn't find a good road bike for less than about $300. I paid $600 for a new Cannondale SR500 in 1990 and it still rocks. The current SR500 goes for about $1,000. You can find a used one occasionally for $200. When you can choose a good used bike like a Dale or Trek or Fisher or Marin or Bianchi or Specialized or ... why buy a $250 department store tank?

Also, as long as I'm on the soapbox, buying a heavy, crappy bike to "work harder" is crazy. You'll never enjoy pedalling a motorcycle as much as you will riding a real bike. I went from a decent Japanese bike to my Cannondale, and I went on to ride faster, farther and more often, with a lot more hill climbing and all-around fun. There is nothing satisfying about riding a heavy, bad-shifting junker. A good bike will inspire you to greater achievements, whil a garbage bike will just encourage you to stay home and watch TV. Like any other tool, getting the best you can afford always makes sense.

[KenWittlief]

Originally Posted by Rick TYler

Also, as long as I'm on the soapbox, buying a heavy, crappy bike to "work harder" is crazy. You'll never enjoy pedalling a motorcycle as much as you will riding a real bike.

that depends on where you ride, and why you are riding.

Wind resistance increases with the square of your speed and it is always there. If you have a heavy bike and you ride on level roads (like the canal path here in rochester) then climbing and gears are not an issue. The wind will be the thing that holds you back.

No matter what bike you have you will always be able to hit a speed at which your breathing and heart rate exceeds your steady state capacity, above which you cannot ride for long.

With a cheap bike it might be 18 or 20mph. With an expensive bike it might be 21 or 23mph. The wind dont care what your frame is made of.

If you are riding up and down hills all day long, then get the cheap bike until you drop 15 or 20 pounds, then spend the extra money to take 5 more pounds off your bike :^)

[K.Shaw]

elgin look into diamond back! i have a diamond back mountain bike i bought down at the bike store (near carvel) for about $250 and that was many moons ago(at least 6 - 7 yrs ago) haha and it is still a great bike.

as for seat, if you don't like the seat you can always replace it, just like anything else. my mom has this big cushiony seat on her old bike, purchased at a sports store like sports authority or kmart or the bike shop.

let me know when you want and ill go with you to buy a bike.

[Jeff Waegelin]

A couple of years ago, my dad bought a Gary Fisher bike for about $400. I don't recall the model, but I'm sure it's discontinued by now. My mom gave him a hard for spending so much on it, but, having taken a few rides on it, it was so much better than the $250 department-store bike I bought around the same time. There's just no comparison between the feel and ride of the two. I try to sneak rides on his bike whenever I can We didn't spend as much on mine because I was "going to ride it at college" (which I never really did), and now I kinda wish I'd spent a little more then to get a better bike. My advice is, spend a little more, and get something that you like, that fits your needs, and that rides well. You'll be glad you did.