Bike purchasing advice for a guy who can't run anymore

You can probably use the same kind of bike as people who can in fact still run. I recommend a hybrid rather than either a mountain bike or a pure street bike. That way you can go almost anywhere but still crank along okay on good streets. Mine's kind of old (Crossroads) so I can't give you good recommendations. I think you can get a decent model for under ten thousand Euros.

Maybe something in the Trek 7000 series. Those seem to be good hybrid bikes. I believe new ones retail for $350 or less, but you can probably get a used one for <$250 from Craigslist or a local bike shop.

I've lost 40 pounds over the past 4 years and become a runner again. I ride a Vision recumbent bike ( R-40 ). It is far and away the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden. Before buying anything , try a recumbent.

what's wrong with your knee? cartilage?

yes. lost too much cartilage in both knees over the past 10 years.

I'd recommend a Trek too. Something less than 500. Stay within a 300-500 range. Anything under about 300 gets in to the department store/Wal-Mart bikes.

A lower end Trek would be great because if you have problems you can easily get it fixed or get replacement parts. Probably a good warranty deal as well. They make so many bikes it would be less likely they'd have a problem then a no-name.

From personal experience, I had a middle of the road $2000 Trek that lasted from high school until I was married and had kids.

Wow, didn't realize some are that cheap now.

http://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/bike.php?bikeid=1323010&f=26

If you still consider yourself a reasonable athlete, (if the biking is to replace the running you did before the knees went) get a road bike and learn to ride the roads. Not sure where you live but most areas of this country the bike paths are not really suitable for biking.

If you were a "jogger" get the hybrid and have fun on the bike paths.

Any relatively light frame will do, steel, aluminum, whatever. A fairly relaxed road geometry would be best. Try to avoid the twitchy steering of a crit bike. A touring frame would be ok, but as you get better if you are looking for speed, the bike may be a little too heavy and laid back.

I'd look for Shimano 105 (or the present equivalent) at a minumum for the components, although some of the lesser groups are adequate.

Make sure you get it set up properly. For a 40 year old that means relatively high handlebar height, you don't want the drop more than an inch or so.

Gasbag has got it right. Join a cycling club, do their group rides and you'll find a lot of former runners.

Get a silver Stingray with the high handlebars and banana seat. ;)

Ask your question in the what bike to buy forum

http://forums.mtbr.com/

Consider getting a geared 29er put on some big apples for the pavement and gravel roads and knobbies for some sweet single track.

Just go to Wal-Mart and buy a mountain bike for $99. If you are just doing it for fitness, your speed really makes no difference. It is the effort of your ride that matters. I ride mine 30-40 miles at a time. If you decide you don't like biking that well, you aren't out a lot of money.

I used to ride a roadbike on the roads but have read about too many riders getting killed over the years. I have a couple good rail trails to ride on but taking my roadbike just means I am going that much faster than everybody else and have to be more careful at the crossings. At the end of the day, I get just as good a workout on the mountainbike.

will a 'mountain bike' like you describe be ok for riding on paved, flat bike paths or on the roads in the bike lanes? I will not be riding on trails or mountains.

i like these

http://www.rei.com/product/744800

When is science going to find a way to regenerate cartilage for runners' knees? It seems like they have surgeries for everything that doesn't really need to be fixed, but for important stuff like keeping a person mobile, they're all out of ideas.

Unless of course the immobile person is 500 lbs., then they've got stomach stapling and Hoverounds.

BTW, don't get an $89 Wal-mart bike. Those things are heavy with crappy components, and assembled by people who don't know what they're doing. I once saw a bike at Costco with brake/shifters facing backwards! Your riding pleasure will decrease with such a piece of garbage.

Specialized, Giant and Trek will all have moderately priced bikes from $300 that will be of sound materials and reasonable componentry, well-assembled from your LBS (local bike shop). A "commuter" bike will work well for your needs. If you get a mountain bike, change the tires from the "knobbies" to slicks (like a road bike) for a better street ride.

Good luck, and enjoy the ride.

Ebay.

Get someone who Knows a little about Bikes to Advise you and perhaps even do the bidding for you.

A family member who ran with Me for years had a similar injury and is now a State Masters cycling champ.

Although I do not share his enthusiasm for cycling I can see that He and His Buddies are addicted.

Could be one day I will Have to join them.

No fear:running is a great base for cycling.

I have a Lemond Tourmelet which I bought on Ebay and it is a great Bike.

Cost Me $1050 Aust here in Australia on Ebay.

Only 3 months old and like new.

Managed to get all the accessories (sp) and delivery in the deal.

everything but the food wrote:

When is science going to find a way to regenerate cartilage for runners' knees?

never. that's when.