| pedaler |
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I'm looking for a bike at a relatively cheap price. I'm going to ride a mix of paved and dirt roads but no single track trails. I'm guessing I need a hybrid bike. Not really wanting to spend more than $400. Can I get a good bike for that amount? Suggestions on bikes? I've been to a Performance store and saw their brand in my price range. Any reason not to bu the store's brand? Also looked at a Trek store and liked a bike there. Don't want to buy used. |
| Mr. Obvious |
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I bought a Giant for exactly the kind of riding you are talking about. It is pretty inexpensive but just fine for the kind of light/ famly friendly riding I do. |
| Guy O'Leighken |
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The big online bike store nashbar.com has a sale right now on all their own brand stuff, including bikes (I have no connection to them). Here's a cyclocross bike that would be perfect, and a really good deal: http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_535089_-1___203482 The (major?) downside is it will come in a box and will have to be assembled. Apparently a lot of bike stores will do it for $50 to $100. The best way would be to bribe a friend to (help you) do it. Then it only costs a six-pack of beer, and you learn a lot about the bike too. If you don't like that idea, the good thing about bikes is they're so standardized. A $500 trek hybrid has the same components as a $500 giant hybrid, which has the same components as a $500 hybrid. So as long as you don't pay for features you don't want, you can't really go wrong. |
| Guy O'Leighken |
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Just don't get a bike with shock absorbers! |
| Citizen Runner |
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The downsides to buying something online is that you won't have someone there to correctly fit the bike to you and you'll have to deal with assembling the bike. Getting the fit right is a big deal if you're going to be riding much. |
| ZealotAssasin |
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I would go with something off craigslist. You can usually get a solid Trek/Cannondale/Giant hybrid for less than $400 that is overall better than an off-the-shelf brand new one. |
| Tony reali |
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If you buy from a store sometimes they will fit it for you for free and you will get a warranty. If you buy from Craigslist you will have to get it inspected and fitted with no warranty. Don't buy it from Craigslist |
| retetert |
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I'd go with a cyclocross bike. You can always change the tires to something thinner and you basically have a road bike. I bought a Fuji road bike at performance 4 years ago and it's still going strong. |
| craigs list ftw |
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I agree that a cyclocross bike is best for the OP. Nothing wrong with craigslist. You can get great deals on there if you do a couple weeks of searching. If you don't like the bike because it turns out to not fit you right, just sell it. It's not hard. This year I bought two bikes for around $600 that were aluminum with carbon stays and 105 components. |
| pedaler |
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I found a used trek 7.1 FX (last year's model) for $330. I've read good reviews and the bike seems to fit my needs. It looks good and is in good shape. Is this a decent bike and good deal? |
| Guy O'Leighken |
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That looks like a good price for last year's model. That's the model my wife rides, and it seems like just what you said you were looking for-- you'd have no trouble riding it off the road, and it's fast enough on pavement. My wife has really liked it. |
| Lorenzo the Magnificent |
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That's what I got from Craigslist. I love it. |