I'm looking for a bicycle....

I know absolutely NOTHING about bikes so I thought I'd ask some TWers and maybe you guys can help me out.



I'm looking for a primarily road bike that I would ride around the city, but also use it for occasional recreation use (like trails at parks and stuff, nothing hardcore...).


I'm also not looking to spend a lot of money. I plan on just getting one on Craigslist. I just have no idea what to get.



I'm 5'10 and 190 pounds so I don't know what length bike I'd need...



Thanks guys!

 

your park trails, are they all paved?
I would take a trip to your local bike shop and ask them to fit you to a bike that fits your style. If they are not willing to help you out since u won't be buying one of their brandy new ones, find another shop. A good shop will be willing to help you get into the sport regardless of you leaving money there.
There will come a time we you need some parts for the bike and they may have just gained your business.

used is a nice place to start. just be sure to test the bike before buying. getting a solid frame with some wearing parts is a better investment than shiny parts and a cracked frame. wheels can be trued, tubes, chain, tires, cables, pads replaced at a decent price

 

Not necessarily paved, but no dramatic terrain changes...




That's good advice, I'll do that today.

 

i asked b.c u don't want to be taking a road bike on unpaved paths, they are just not fun or stable. there are cyclocross bikes which are like road bikes but with slightly wider tires and a bit more tread, but that's a specialized set up for specific riding.
a mountain bike is too much work for your road riding unless tires are changed then u might as well just get a beach cruiser.

single speeds are fun for flat riding for the newbs, as getting the lungs and legs for a single speed takes time to build, I have buddies who ride Fixed gears around the city and street, another blast to ride.

again, ask the shop and see what they recommend

 

Yeah, I'm definitely looking for a cross. I should've added I do NOT want a road bike.

 

I both rode ride and mtn bike a lot and find I use the mtn bike 90% of the time. Basically anything other than long rode rides like the MS 150 or longer training rides, I ride my mountain bike.

 

Word on finding a good shop. I probably could have gotten a better deal on the bike I just picked up if I shopped around a little, but the people were very helpful where I got it from. I don't mind spending a little more money when the customer service is terrific. I just purchased a Specialized Rockhopper (which is a mountain bike) and I found that I ride more paved areas than trails. And the bike works great for both. In my opinion, I would rather have a mountain bike than a road bike, since a mountain bike can do both.

 

Weird, I was looking at this:
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/bik/1879192380.html


But Albert (w8n4mud) is an avid mountain biker and said it would probably be a bit too long.

 

I agree that a good shop is worth a little extra money. I have purchased about 6 bikes over the last 12 years. The 3 that I have been the most satisfied with have all come from Sun N Ski Sports. I've bought others online or ebay, etc, and ended up selling them again for various reasons (I did get one online I really liked). I can't speak for all locations but the SunNSki by me has been great...free adjustments on bikes purchased there, good customer service.

My two current bikes (road and mountain) are Marin's purchased there.

 

For you a 17, 18 or 19 inch frame may be the best fit based on your height. I'm currently shopping for a bike right now too. They are expensive new, but I've been scouring ebay/craigslist for the past 2 weeks with nothing sparking my interest in my price range or size.

Whats your budget?

 

Probably between $125-$175...

 

Yes, sounds like you should go the mt. bike route, and remember that you can always change out the tires to suite your riding style better. Skinnier road tread at higher PSI, or more knobby, wider, low-PSI if you find yourelf off-pavement more. Gee, just like trucks...

If you haven't had a bike before (or recently), you'll likely want the more upright position of a Mt. Bike.

Since you are in San Diego, check carefully for rust and corrosion, especially on expensive stuff like the derailleurs. BTW, good derailleurs and shifters make a world of difference to your riding experience. Quick, crisp shifts are important, especially if you are riding areas with sudden grade changes or hills. So make sure you like how the bike shifts and that the drivetrain has been maintained, or be prepared to work on it.

 

A hard tail (front supesion) MTB w/a 29 inch rim. I has the same diamter of a road bike but you can have a wider and more knobby tire for trails and stuff. I own a gary fisher cobia. www.mtbr.com they have great reviews on a lot of bikes.

 

I've got a Specialized Sirrus and i ride the piss out of that thing on the back roads. My usual ride is about 14 miles and i hit that 3-4 times a week when weather permits.

Think i paid about $550.00 for it new, but have put some tires on it over the 2-3 years i have had it, and just paid my 'dealer' $200.00 to get it back up to speed after i drove it into the ground. New tires, chain and tune-up. Rides like a champ again.

The spandex guys don't like me showing them up. though. After three knee operations, Oprah can kick my ass in the 40 yard dash, but on a bike, i can fly, and i think i have that Lance Armstrong enlarged heart thing going on....

Honestly, look into the 'Sirrus' from 'Specialty'.

 

Look towards a Giant STP