Help buying a new bike

Quoted message said:

Hi,
I have been riding the same old mountain bike for the past 13 years.
It was never a very good bike, but it served me well in high school and
college. I now live in New York, and found that I was not riding all
that much. However, I recently started riding again, and found that my
bike is ready for the trash heap.

I have a budget of about $500 - $600 for a new bike. I started looking
at hybrids. I was told that I cannot get a decent road bike for that
price range, and anyway, I am not sure I would be comfortable on a road
bike (seems kinda like an accident waiting to happen on the mean
streets of NY). Besides, I went to a bike shop (Larry and Jeff's) and I
was told that I could not get a road bike in that price range.

At that bike shop they had me try out a specialized Sirrus (which I
rely liked). I have also been looking at the Raleigh C500, and the
trek 7500 FX (which is a bit out of the range of what I wanted to
spend). Reading this newsgroup, the manufacturer does not seem to
matter as much as the fit of the bike, however, I was wondering about
the comparison of the components on the bikes. Which is a better bike?
What other bikes should I look at in that price range?

Also, can anyone tell me if there are any other good bike shops in NY
city? My in-laws use larry and jeff's, which is why I went there, but
they only had two hybrids (and no road/touring bikes) in my price
range. Are there any places with a good selection and good after
purchase care?

Should I be looking at road bikes? How about touring bikes? Are these
kinds of bikes suited well to New York City streets, and the bike paths
in central/riverside park? I find that when I ride, the thing that
ends up hurting me most is my neck, because I am always looking up (my
MTB has its seat higher then the handle bars).

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks,
Jonathan

PS I don't know if it matters, but I am about 5'8" and I weigh 155-165
lbs.

I wholly endorse the Trek 1000. If you're looking to ride more I -strongly-
advise against getting a straight bar bike. You have literally one hand
position and the bar is too wide, canting your wrists at an unnatural
angle.

I know - I had a Trek 7500fx, and put about 4000 miles on it before finally
deciding I'd had enough with numb hands and the cramped feeling of sitting
upright too much. It's a nice bike, but the straight bars will kill you if
you ride more than about 70 miles per week and want to go faster than
14-16mph - imo.

With the Trek 1000, I have about six different positions, including drop
bars. I'm 54, and have been riding for two years, typically putting
3500miles per year on the bike. Cost of the Trek was exactly $600 bucks
plus tax and the guy threw in a pair of Shimano 520 pedals and swapped out
the stem for a longer one, no charge. (The original list price was $649
bucks but I talked him down, probably since I bought a bike there
previously, and will buy my next bike there as well in two years from now -
it's not unusual to dicker about 50 bucks on a 600 purchase, especially if
you've bought other biking supplies there..). ;-)

HTH,

jj

i have heard good things about the 'fuji sagres'. it is a more
agressive style hybrid with mtb style handlebars, road bike style frame
and tires, and is abour 40500 bucks. check it out.

Lots of places have used bike shops and some large shops take and resell
their trade-ins. I bought my first road bike for $100 that way just to
see if I would like them, and I did. Now it's my backup road bike and I
still enjoy riding it. The mountain bike is going to the charity
auction and I am going to stick with two roadies.

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Should I be looking at road bikes? How about touring bikes? Are these
kinds of bikes suited well to New York City streets, and the bike paths
in central/riverside park? I find that when I ride, the thing that
ends up hurting me most is my neck, because I am always looking up (my
MTB has its seat higher then the handle bars).

If you're concerned with the bike holding up to bad pavement -- and/or if
you're 200lb+ person -- then wheels are your issue. A touring bike or
cyclocross bike is more likely to come off the shelf with more robust wheels
than a racing-style bike, although even then making sure the wheels are
properly tensioned and stress-relieved by the shop is critical.

If you're going to be riding in bad weather, the ability to mount fenders is
important; if you're commuting you probably want a rack. Again, this points
to a touring or cyclocross frame.

Racing-style road bikes are fine for training and group rides and recreation
and, yes, even racing. Look at bikes from Jamis and Fuji, two of the brands
that consistently offer the best bang-for-the-buck.

Jamis makes a nice steel all-rounder, the Aurora, that sells for under $800.
The Bianchi Volpe and the Fuji Touring are popular choices in similar bikes.
Jamis and Fuji also make entry road bikes that sell for under $600.

I agree with the poster who recommends against flat bars, and with his
reasoning. Many buyers are leery of drop bars and that's what made "flat bar
road bikes" popular (along with the fact that manufacturers could use less
expensive shifters and grips on them). But it's entirely normal to order a
bike with drop bars and specify (1) that the steerer tube not be cut before
the bike fitting, and (2) a stem with the correct extension and rise be
fitted so as to put the bars at a height and distance that's comfortable for
you. I have three bikes, all with drop bars, and on all of them the saddle
and the tops of the bars are at about the same height.

If you truly can't afford the right bike, either start looking for a used
one, save some more money, or go into debt. Seriously; a bike that doesn't
fit, that isn't comfortable, that doesn't work for its intended function, or
that can't withstand prevailing conditions will be a waste of money.

RichC

[email hidden] wrote in news:1118545156.549618.49670
@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

Quoted message said:

I have a budget of about $500 - $600 for a new bike. I started looking
at hybrids. I was told that I cannot get a decent road bike for that
price range, and anyway, I am not sure I would be comfortable on a road
bike

If you're doing longer rides (40 miles and up), then a road bike will
definately be more comfortable. A hybrid will be more stable in slow speed
traffic jams, though. Giant, Trek, and others make good quality road bikes for
around $600.

So does anyone know a good reputable bike shop in NYC that can find a
bike that fits me well (do any of these shops sell used bikes?). I
have nothing against buying a used bike, though I don't want to get one
on e-bay, because if it does not fit I am out of luck. The advice I
have gotten so far seems good, but I want to try riding one of these
bikes before I buy. I can also go to jersey to buy a bike, though I
would prefer to buy one where I live (since I don't have regular
access to a car).

w0den wrote:
:: So does anyone know a good reputable bike shop in NYC that can find a
:: bike that fits me well (do any of these shops sell used bikes?). I
:: have nothing against buying a used bike, though I don't want to get
:: one on e-bay, because if it does not fit I am out of luck. The
:: advice I have gotten so far seems good, but I want to try riding one
:: of these bikes before I buy. I can also go to jersey to buy a bike,
:: though I would prefer to buy one where I live (since I don't have
:: regular access to a car).

You really do need to buy a bike from a LBS near where you live. Also,
buying a used bike that doesn't fit you will be a nightmare. Your chances
of getting a good fitting bike are probably much better in a good bike shop.
If I were you, I'd start calling around talking to the bike shops that are
near you. Tell them what you told us, and ask if they have any used bikes.
Some shops help their customers who have upgraded sell their old bikes.
Plus, they can measure you and give you good info on what size bike you
need. Don't get a bike with a flat bar. It might be wise to wait a bit and
save up more money or, as someone said, go into debt. You might want to get
a professional fitting after you've had the bike a while. And don't forget
the extras - riding shorts (a must), water bottles, rack, computer (not
necessary but nice), gloves (a must) and a helmet.

Note: a lot of the bikes you see in most shops use the same components,
depending on the price of the bike. More expensive bikes use the lighter
(better?) components. If you stick with the major names, you'll be okay in
terms of components. Within your price range, pick the bike you like best
based how subjective matters like how it rides, the color, the LBS people
(very important), location of shop relative to your location, etc.

Your neck problems should go away after you start riding more.

Quoted message said:

Hi,
I have been riding the same old mountain bike for the past 13 years.
It was never a very good bike, but it served me well in high school and
college. I now live in New York, and found that I was not riding all
that much. However, I recently started riding again, and found that my
bike is ready for the trash heap.

I have a budget of about $500 - $600 for a new bike. I started looking
at hybrids. I was told that I cannot get a decent road bike for that
price range, and anyway, I am not sure I would be comfortable on a road
bike (seems kinda like an accident waiting to happen on the mean
streets of NY). Besides, I went to a bike shop (Larry and Jeff's) and I
was told that I could not get a road bike in that price range.

At that bike shop they had me try out a specialized Sirrus (which I
rely liked). I have also been looking at the Raleigh C500, and the
trek 7500 FX (which is a bit out of the range of what I wanted to
spend). Reading this newsgroup, the manufacturer does not seem to
matter as much as the fit of the bike, however, I was wondering about
the comparison of the components on the bikes. Which is a better bike?
What other bikes should I look at in that price range?

Also, can anyone tell me if there are any other good bike shops in NY
city? My in-laws use larry and jeff's, which is why I went there, but
they only had two hybrids (and no road/touring bikes) in my price
range. Are there any places with a good selection and good after
purchase care?

Should I be looking at road bikes? How about touring bikes? Are these
kinds of bikes suited well to New York City streets, and the bike paths
in central/riverside park? I find that when I ride, the thing that
ends up hurting me most is my neck, because I am always looking up (my
MTB has its seat higher then the handle bars).

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks,
Jonathan

PS I don't know if it matters, but I am about 5'8" and I weigh 155-165
lbs.

Last June I bought a Trek 7100 for around $300. I use it for commuting
from Flushing to Chelsea three or four times a week. Right through the
winter. 12.2 miles each way. Maybe 3000 miles so far? More?

I leave it outside at work so I didn't want to buy something that
would really [censored] me off if it got stolen. I've had very few problems
with the bike. I also prefer flat handlebars because being hunched
over while biking through the city is not my idea of a good time.

I'm thinking now that I might want a better one but this one is doing
ok. Perhaps I'll just upgrade the parts. I'm going to need new wheels
soon. I seem to be wearing grooves in the rim from the brakes.

dgk wrote:
:: On 11 Jun 2005 19:59:16 -0700, [email hidden] wrote:
::
::: Hi,
::: I have been riding the same old mountain bike for the past 13 years.
::: It was never a very good bike, but it served me well in high school
::: and college. I now live in New York, and found that I was not
::: riding all that much. However, I recently started riding again,
::: and found that my bike is ready for the trash heap.
:::
::: I have a budget of about $500 - $600 for a new bike. I started
::: looking at hybrids. I was told that I cannot get a decent road
::: bike for that price range, and anyway, I am not sure I would be
::: comfortable on a road bike (seems kinda like an accident waiting to
::: happen on the mean streets of NY). Besides, I went to a bike shop
::: (Larry and Jeff's) and I was told that I could not get a road bike
::: in that price range.
:::
::: At that bike shop they had me try out a specialized Sirrus (which I
::: rely liked). I have also been looking at the Raleigh C500, and the
::: trek 7500 FX (which is a bit out of the range of what I wanted to
::: spend). Reading this newsgroup, the manufacturer does not seem to
::: matter as much as the fit of the bike, however, I was wondering
::: about the comparison of the components on the bikes. Which is a
::: better bike? What other bikes should I look at in that price range?
:::
::: Also, can anyone tell me if there are any other good bike shops in
::: NY city? My in-laws use larry and jeff's, which is why I went
::: there, but they only had two hybrids (and no road/touring bikes) in
::: my price range. Are there any places with a good selection and
::: good after purchase care?
:::
::: Should I be looking at road bikes? How about touring bikes? Are
::: these kinds of bikes suited well to New York City streets, and the
::: bike paths in central/riverside park? I find that when I ride, the
::: thing that ends up hurting me most is my neck, because I am always
::: looking up (my MTB has its seat higher then the handle bars).
:::
::: Any help would be greatly appreciated
:::
::: Thanks,
::: Jonathan
:::
::: PS I don't know if it matters, but I am about 5'8" and I weigh
::: 155-165 lbs.
::
:: Last June I bought a Trek 7100 for around $300. I use it for
:: commuting from Flushing to Chelsea three or four times a week. Right
:: through the winter. 12.2 miles each way. Maybe 3000 miles so far?
:: More?
::
:: I leave it outside at work so I didn't want to buy something that
:: would really [censored] me off if it got stolen. I've had very few problems
:: with the bike. I also prefer flat handlebars because being hunched
:: over while biking through the city is not my idea of a good time.

Flat handlebars don't keep you from being hunched over.....think about it.

::
:: I'm thinking now that I might want a better one but this one is doing
:: ok. Perhaps I'll just upgrade the parts. I'm going to need new wheels
:: soon. I seem to be wearing grooves in the rim from the brakes.

Roger Zoul said:

::
:: Last June I bought a Trek 7100 for around $300. I use it for
:: commuting from Flushing to Chelsea three or four times a week. Right
:: through the winter. 12.2 miles each way. Maybe 3000 miles so far?
:: More?
::
:: I leave it outside at work so I didn't want to buy something that
:: would really [censored] me off if it got stolen. I've had very few problems
:: with the bike. I also prefer flat handlebars because being hunched
:: over while biking through the city is not my idea of a good time.

Flat handlebars don't keep you from being hunched over.....think about it.

::

No, I like the flat handle bars (as opposed to the road kind that bend
down) because I don't have to hunch over. Having to look up to keep an
eye on traffic is a neck killer. Great if you're just flying down the
open road.

dgk wrote:
:: On Mon, 13 Jun 2005 10:07:43 -0400, "Roger Zoul"
:: <[email hidden]> wrote:
::
::
:::::
::::: Last June I bought a Trek 7100 for around $300. I use it for
::::: commuting from Flushing to Chelsea three or four times a week.
::::: Right through the winter. 12.2 miles each way. Maybe 3000 miles
::::: so far? More?
:::::
::::: I leave it outside at work so I didn't want to buy something that
::::: would really [censored] me off if it got stolen. I've had very few
::::: problems with the bike. I also prefer flat handlebars because
::::: being hunched over while biking through the city is not my idea
::::: of a good time.
:::
::: Flat handlebars don't keep you from being hunched over.....think
::: about it.
:::
:::::
::
:: No, I like the flat handle bars (as opposed to the road kind that
:: bend down) because I don't have to hunch over. Having to look up to
:: keep an eye on traffic is a neck killer. Great if you're just flying
:: down the open road.

Think about it....the ones that bend down (the road kind)...you don't have
to put your hands in the drops...just put them on the top of the bar or on
the hoods above the shifter/brakes levels...bottom line, you can adjust the
handlebar height to suit your flexibility. just because you have drops
doesn't mean you must use them....I use mine only rarely. The flat bars
actually give you fewer options unless you add bar ends...

dgk said:

I also prefer flat handlebars because being hunched
over while biking through the city is not my idea of a good time.

As if those were the only true alternatives.

Bike companies are cashing in on this myth that "flat bars = upright,
drop bars = hunched over." Yet on my road bikes, the tops of the bars
are higher, relative to the saddle, than on many mountain bikes with
flat bars.

The height of the bars is a product of how the bike is set up, not of
the type of bars. With the tops of your drop bars at saddle height you
can sit upright and relax, you can lean forward and ride on the hoods
for cranking out the miles, you can get into the drops for beating
headwinds.

Misconceptions about drop bars lead buyers away from the most versatile
bikes on the market -- touring bikes, cyclocross bikes, and similar
"all-around" designs -- and bike companies don't mind because flat-bar
bikes are cheaper to make, while bike shops benefit from their being
easier to fit and set up. They're an easier sell to the "returning
cyclist" market.

I commute 26 miles rt in and out of downtown Philadelphia, and while
I've done it on a flat-bar bike I vastly prefer my drop-bar bikes.
There's no difference in terms of seeing and being seen, but the drop
bars are narrower (easier to fit through narrow spaces, like car and
curb), the multiple grip positions eliminate hand fatigue, and being
able to get in t an aero position on a certain bridge where the wind
seems to always be 30 mph into my face is very welcome.

Plus, the same bikes are ever more ideal when I do long rural rides on
the weekends.

RichC

Quoted message said:

I'm thinking now that I might want a better one but this one is doing
ok. Perhaps I'll just upgrade the parts. I'm going to need new wheels
soon. I seem to be wearing grooves in the rim from the brakes.

dgk said:

Quoted message said:

Flat handlebars don't keep you from being hunched over.....think about it.

::

No, I like the flat handle bars (as opposed to the road kind that bend
down) because I don't have to hunch over. Having to look up to keep an
eye on traffic is a neck killer. Great if you're just flying down the
open road.

Hey man, great to hear about you going clipless.

Also wrt to 'flat handle bars', I think you're totally, er wron...uh,
confused.

When I'm holding my drop bars on the tops (close to the stem) I'm sitting
up almost more than when I was riding my hybrid. Think about it:

--/-------|--------\-- <----hands on a typical flat bar bike - spaced far
apart. (straight line is the stem). In addition your wrists may be canted
outward too much. Think of the regular keyboard vs the ergo-keyboard.

./,,,|,,,\, <---hands on 'flats' of road bike - much closer together.
( )

That means in theory, I'm sitting very tall (almost uncomfortably so) in
that position on my roadbike. (think of close hands pushups, versus wide
hands pushups) I rarely use this hands on top position, though, like you,
at first I wanted to sit upright.

You just need to get fitted on a road bike with a slightly longer 'stem'.
However maybe it's not your 'time' to come to this realization. That's ok,
just keep it in mind down the road, haha, so to speak.

Even on the 'hoods', with a slight bend in my arms, I'm sitting much too
'high' for my liking and I can see perfectly. However by bending my arms
more (making the forearms more parallel to the ground) I can easily adjust
my the angle and thus my height.

Not trying to antagonise you, just being an enthusiastic supporter of the
many good features in having drop bars.

Now the solution may -not- be to go have the LBS cut your straight bar h/b
shorter! If you do that you'll be sitting more upright, but you'll probably
find the bike is now too short! <g>

jj

jj wrote in message ...

Quoted message said:

Not trying to antagonise you, just being an enthusiastic supporter of the
many good features in having drop bars.

At the risk of breaching netiquette, I will have to add "me too". I am
pretty much in the "sit-up-and-beg" position on my new bike when my hands
are on the tops of the drop bars. Most of the time I'm with my hands on the
hoods, which is nice and comfy, not "hunched". I'm typically only in the
drops on descents, or where I really need good leverage on the brakes.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/
See the books I've set free at:
http://bookcrossing.com/referr­al/Cpetersky

In article <[email hidden]>,
"Roger Zoul" <[email hidden]> wrote:

snip

Quoted message said:

Think about it....the ones that bend down (the road kind)...you don't have
to put your hands in the drops...just put them on the top of the bar or on
the hoods above the shifter/brakes levels...bottom line, you can adjust the
handlebar height to suit your flexibility. just because you have drops
doesn't mean you must use them....I use mine only rarely. The flat bars
actually give you fewer options unless you add bar ends...

I own bikes with both flat bars and drop bars.

As in anything bicycle, FIT, FIT, FIT is most important

I have bar ends on the flatbar and Shimano flatbar shifters for a
52-39-30 front set-up. The bars are near 3 1/2 in. below saddle height.

My drop bar bike's bars are 5 inches below saddle height ( for the tops )

Both bikes are very comfortable for me at least.

I am an olde farte and I am as fast as "a slug on a fresh lettuce leaf".
I rode the flatbar bike coast to coast and pulled a trailer too.

Read Rogers last two sentences several times.

Ride what you like!

HAND

rdclark said:

Bike companies are cashing in on this myth that "flat bars = upright,
drop bars = hunched over." Yet on my road bikes, the tops of the bars
are higher, relative to the saddle, than on many mountain bikes with
flat bars.

When I was in the LBS weekend before last I looked at the bikes that were
in for repair and at all the bikes for sale.

Hundreds of straight bar bikes with hyoouge knobby tires and low seats in
the repair area. Hundreds of shiny, new straight bar and fully-suspended
bikes with hyoouge knobbies on the tires.

I started thinking - dayum, there's gotta be a community of mutants that
are riding these things. Bikes weighing >35lbs, the resistance of knobby
tires, and cheapo-full-suspension rigs that are bottoming out on jumps.

There's no way I'd have the horsepower to ride those bikes - just looking
at the knobby tires and imagining riding those on the street or even packed
dirt roads - trying to imagine riding at even 15mph was making me feel
tired. LOL.

I keep expecting to see a group of gigantic-thighed "Gimli"s with 35"
quads, and short stubby bodies doing a group ride on those in the hills
around here, lol.

jj

jj wrote:
:: On 13 Jun 2005 07:53:12 -0700, "rdclark" <[email hidden]>
:: wrote:
::
::: Bike companies are cashing in on this myth that "flat bars =
::: upright, drop bars = hunched over." Yet on my road bikes, the tops
::: of the bars are higher, relative to the saddle, than on many
::: mountain bikes with flat bars.
::
:: When I was in the LBS weekend before last I looked at the bikes that
:: were in for repair and at all the bikes for sale.
::
:: Hundreds of straight bar bikes with hyoouge knobby tires and low
:: seats in the repair area. Hundreds of shiny, new straight bar and
:: fully-suspended bikes with hyoouge knobbies on the tires.
::
:: I started thinking - dayum, there's gotta be a community of mutants
:: that are riding these things. Bikes weighing >35lbs, the resistance
:: of knobby tires, and cheapo-full-suspension rigs that are bottoming
:: out on jumps.

On university campuses, students ride those kinds of bike all over....and
seeing them do it makes me want to do it too.

::
:: There's no way I'd have the horsepower to ride those bikes - just
:: looking at the knobby tires and imagining riding those on the street
:: or even packed dirt roads - trying to imagine riding at even 15mph
:: was making me feel tired. LOL.

I think it may be a way to get some good exercise without riding far and
long!

::
:: I keep expecting to see a group of gigantic-thighed "Gimli"s with 35"
:: quads, and short stubby bodies doing a group ride on those in the
:: hills around here, lol.

Plenty of hills around here. I see little girls (as in of the 90 lb
variety) flying up the hills...none have big thighs, but they are quite
shapely! 🙂

Roger Zoul said:

jj wrote:
:: I started thinking - dayum, there's gotta be a community of mutants
:: that are riding these things. Bikes weighing >35lbs, the resistance
:: of knobby tires, and cheapo-full-suspension rigs that are bottoming
:: out on jumps.

[...]

Quoted message said:

:: I keep expecting to see a group of gigantic-thighed "Gimli"s with 35"
:: quads, and short stubby bodies doing a group ride on those in the
:: hills around here, lol.

Plenty of hills around here. I see little girls (as in of the 90 lb
variety) flying up the hills...none have big thighs, but they are quite
shapely! 🙂

I spend part of the year in Hong Kong, and I'm familiar with being
passed on climbs by sub-100-lb women. The ones that have done this
weren't riding 35 lb bikes, however.

Riding a bike which weighs more than a third of your body weight is
a pretty significant penalty when climbing.

Dennis Ferguson

Alright, so y'all convinced me not to get a hybrid, but to look fro
something with drop handle bars, probably a road bike, maybe a touring
bike. I am also convinced that I should buy a bike at my LBS (for me
that is anywhere in NYC, or even Brooklyn). So I have $600 to spend.
Waiting until I have more money is not much of an option (since my
current bike is really almost dead). I would rather avoid debt, since
I hate being in debt. Besides, I don't want to blow a ridiculous
amount of money since bikes seem to disappear in NYC very easily. So
how do I best maximize my money? I checked out the Trek 1000. Seemed
pretty cool, it was very light. Unfortunately I have read that the
front derailer is a problem. What is the difference between the Trek
1000 and the Trek 100C? The guy at the bike shop told me that for
$500-$600 you get a crappy road bike with low end components, but for
the same price you get a good hybrid with pretty good components. Why
don't they make a reasonable compromise? it is really annoying (like a
hybrid with drop handle bars).
I looked at some Fuji bikes (in that price range). They seem to have
the same exact components, except the Fuji has a better front derailer,
while the Trek as a CF fork and seat post. Which will be more useful
in the long run?

Also, how do I know if the store is doing a good job with fitting me?
What should I expect (in terms of them measuring me)?

One other totally un related question, Like I said, I live in NYC. How
do I best protect my investment? I looked at lots of locks; I was told
that the only really good locks are the heavy chains. These things
weigh about 8lbs, it seems insane to lug around an 8lb chain on a 20 lb
bike. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Jonathan