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

Can you speedwalk?

A Harley.

cannot run anymore wrote:

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.

my wife is big into biking. last weekend she did almost 200 miles with a few of her girlfriends. she also works in a bike shop. a few thoughts from her:

if you are not going to ride on trails, don't get a mountain bike. there is a huge difference in tires and you need to work a lot harder to pedal with mountain bike tires than with road or hybrid tires.

i think it is also a much better ride without mountain bike tires.

if you do not plan to ride on trails do not get a mountain bike. i made that mistake and regretted it. you can get a "road bike" - what you refer to as a 10 speed bike - without the "drop" handle bars - several versions of the road bikes come with "flat bars" which are more like a mountain bikes handle bars.

for example:

depending on how comfortable you are with "thin" wheels you can have thicker wheels put on. that is not an issue.

in the end "fast is fun" and you will be able to ride much faster on a bike like this. PLUS it has the advantage if you ever want to do a "duathlon" with a little running, you can still be competitive with the bike.

dont fall into the trap of thinking a mountain bike is better b/c i will have to pedal harder so i will get a better workout. you can pedal harder on a road/hybrid bike too and you will also want to have casual fun rides. mountain bikes are very limiting.

at the shop my wife works in, they have group rides every wednesday. slow people can come and keep up, but not if you are on a mountain bike.

if i were you, i would get a hybrid or a road bike with flat bars."

I also work at a bike shop--a Fuji and Diamondback cycle shop in Tallahassee.

I have to say that one of the most demanded types of bikes are hybrids. They are great for those who aren't going to get heavily into cycling. Their tires are also better for use on pavement and streets--the thinner, more road-bike style tires prevent wear and help with speed.

Personally, I recommend the Diamondback Edgewood. It's an average bike/average price, but not a hybrid that looks like a beach cruiser (as many do, with fenders and wide handlebars.) But, if you're into that, then the Fuji Crosstown 3.0 is the way to go.

But, nothing's wrong with a lower end mountain bike (assuming you're not going to get into anything off road that's too difficult.) There's a bonus side of being able to take them on trails in parks near by if you get bored of riding the same old route. Plus, they're very hardy.

I recommend the Diamondback Peak or Response.

They have very good Shimano components and hold up well on normal trails.

Remember, when you're sizing a bike:

When you're standing over the frame, on a mountain bike there should be around 2-3 inches between you and the top tube.

On a hybrid, there should be around 1.5-2.

Size is critical. Do no settle for the wrong size, or you could end up with wrist, lower back, or shoulder pain.

I am 5'6" and I use a 19" frame mountain bike. That should give you an idea for a comparison.

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a link:

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shop girl wrote:

I am 5'6" and I use a 19" frame

I am not sure what that means, but it sounds dirty.

Are hybrids good enough for use on gravel paths or should I go with a mountain bike?

Bump.

I'm injured too - I can't stand the stationary bike any more, I need to be outdoors. So is the consensus that for a novice rider who will only use it for riding to work or training when injured, a hybrid would be best?

No, those are two different things. When riding to work, you're just trying to get from one place to another without sweating too much. You will ride much harder for cross-training/rehab-ing a running injury.

Commuting to work - hybrid. Training - either a road bike or a mt. bike with slicks (no suspension). Remember that you're athletic, and chances are very good that just bumbling around on a bike will not suffice for long, and you will eventually want to be competitive on two wheels, if you can no longer run (or even if you can).

Get a quality bike that will be ready to toe the line when you are.

I have a Marin Larkspur for commuting to work and riding with the kids. Works great. Comfortable, sturdy and fun.

I also have a Lemond Alpe D'huez for training... drop bars, clipped in...

The Marin is comfortable and fun. Great for rides to the grocery store with kids. Also works fine for light trails.

The Lemond is a machine... you feel fast... you are fast.

The OP should start with the Marin type hybrid and spend a year or two on that before buying anything else.

cannot run anymore wrote:

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.

You don't want a mountain bike as it will be too hard on the knees. I had a hip replacement and experienced the same non-running depression you are. I bought a Trek 1200 road bike and love it. I can race it, joy ride it. whatever. I thought is was a good value for about $800. I find that I get that same quality workout as running, but don't feel nearly a beat up afterwards. It takes a little longer, but you go a heck of a lot faster.

Good luck.

Get a good road bike with flat bars. Spend some cash (around $800 ) if its your only way to stay fit. Don't mess with wal mart bikes.

I have a Specialized Crossroads that is nice. It's about 10 years old and built on a hybrid frame but without the knobby mountain tires. It's really nice. I think the style of those has changed now. It's worth checking out.

Just about any Trek hybrid will work for you.

I started out on my Specialized but it's pretty heavy. Any hybrid is going to be. I bought a used LeMond from a professional rider who only had it for a month and ride it all the time now and used the Specialized for family rides.

The road bikes take some getting used to, but once you do, they are a lot of fun. My top speed is 45 mph (down hill of course) and it was a rush.

If you like going slow or really want to go off road, buy a mountain bike.

If you like going fast and/or are going to mostely be on roads (even some crushed limestone type paths), buy a road bike.

I'm surprised cyclocross bikes haven't come up in this thread. I tend to like to stay on pavement, but if i was going off a little bit, i might consider this route.

Compact frame road bikes are pretty good if you like a bit more upright position (i have one of these and like it quite a bit)

People will say that the more you spend, the happier you will be with the bicycle. They are probably right, but you can get a perfectly serviceable road bike for around 500-$600, less if you go the hybrid route.

oh, and don't buy a trek...everybody will call you "Lance"

Loads of awful advice here so far.

Please, try to borrow a good mountain bike and a good road bike from friends and ride each a few times before you buy anything. Have a knowledgeable friend look at the fit and adjust things so you can get an accurate feel for the bikes.

I used to race road bikes, now prefer mountain ... both can be fun but they are very different experiences. If you don't have good trails close to home a road bike may be the way to go.

If you just want to putz around a cheap hybrid might suit your needs. But if you are looking to replace a competitive running habit with a new sport (if you're on LR I suspect you're a bit competitive) you should get the best bike you can afford.

Running and cycling offer basically the same deal, in terms of commitment and rewards. If you put a lot into either they will give a lot back.

Or you can dink around a be a "fitness" runner or cyclist.

The runner's dilema: Pound it out in your early years and burn out by middle age or pace yourself and make running a lifetime activity.

if you are still itching for the competition, get a good road bike, show up on one of the weekend hill rides with real cyclists (not the posers with big assess) and try to hang. former runners tend to be good climbers and you just may find yourself as passionate about biking as you once were about running. you can ride 1000 miles a week and not sustain an overuse injury. you can get that great feeling of being so thrashed that you can't stay awake at dinner but you can get up and hammer again the next day.

Boricua wrote:

The runner's dilema: Pound it out in your early years and burn out by middle age or pace yourself and make running a lifetime activity.

For some. For others, you can "pound it out" all your life. Some burn out because they don't take the time to take care of themselves as the hard running demands.

what happened to you guys wrote:

Bump.

I'm injured too - I can't stand the stationary bike any more, I need to be outdoors. So is the consensus that for a novice rider who will only use it for riding to work or training when injured, a hybrid would be best?

Don't forget "touring" bikes. They are not as aggressive and light as the racing bike frames, but are dependable and great on longer rides. Visit a Cannondale or Trek LBS and ask to see a catalog (or print what you want from their websites), they can usually order what you need. Also, get yourself a bike fitting - it's worth every penny.