None said:Hi, I'd like to buy a not-expensive ($300?) bike for recreational use
in and around Los Angeles. I'd like to use it on streets and on park
trails, which I figure means I want a hybrid bike. Also, I'm 6' 4" (and
190 or so pounds), so I need a pretty big frame. I'm not intending to
race or anything, so it doesn't need to be the last word in speediness,
but it would be nice if it were light enough to get it up my stairs
without much hassle.
Would appreciate any advice re: brands / models / stores. Also, I'd
love to go with a used bike-- anyone know a good source in LA?
Watch your local Craigslist, shop the garage sales, and check the
thrift stores for hybrids, and for older lightweight roadies that you
could inexpensivly convert to flat bars. When shopping the used-bike
market, there are a vast number of possible models that you might run
across; you'll probably do better by evaluating what's available
rather than seeking out a specific bike. If a given unit fits the
bill and the budget, buy it; if it doesn't, keep looking.
You might want to read the entries on Sheldon Brown's website about
chain and sprocket wear, and take along a good ruler to check the
chain, when you go to look at a used bike. A badly-worn chain is a
warning flag that the sprockets may be worn out as well. On the other
hand, a chain that's obviously old but which has little or no wear is
a sign of a bike that wasn't ridden much. You'd be amazed at how many
of these end up in thrift shops like Goodwill and Salvation Army.
Here's the webpage I mentioned:
http://sheldonbrown.com/chains.html
--
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