Just another new guy who needs an expert opinion....

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

Quoted message said:

How's it going... Basically I'm a newbie and I was looking
into getting a bike. I thought this process would be far
more straight forward than it actually is. Too many
options and too few concrete opinions.

Here's my useage: basically weekend warrior (and likely
not to be all weekends), I live in the Northeast so not
all year either, I'd like to do some city streets and
parks as well as trails (but I'm not going to be jumping
off cliffs with the bike or anything). I'm willing to
spend a couple of hundred but not thousands. I think a cap
would be $600 total.

On my first bike shop visit the guy immediately
recommended either the Trek 4100 ($340) or the Trek 4300
($360). He didn't seem to be cutting me any deal on either
but I really didn't try to see if he would.

On my next bike shop visit the guy told me all bikes in
the prices range were more or less comparable. He said
you're pretty much going to get what you pay for because
there is little difference possible in that range. He
recommended either an Iron Horse Intermediate Trail ($500)
or a Marin Palisades Trail ($600). Both seemed like more
mountain only bikes rather than hybrids.

Now I'm not sure if the hybrid thing is even a good idea
or which make is better if any so can you please give me
some advice...

Thanks Sam

Keep researching, your getting close. If you plan on being a
weekend warrior you'd better get ready to spend a bit more
for a bike with a better wheel set and stronger frame. You
can get a good bike for $600+. Norco, Giant, Specialized,
Kona, Haro has a good line. Keep looking.

On 12 Apr 2004 20:52:47 -0700, [email hidden] (Samer Ibrahim)

Quoted message said:

How's it going... Basically I'm a newbie and I was looking
into getting a bike. I thought this process would be far
more straight forward than it actually is. Too many options
and too few concrete opinions.

This why you should be shopping for the right bike shop, not
the right bike. It's their job to know what is out there, to
listen to what you want, help narrow things down, and make
the best match

Quoted message said:

He didn't seem to be cutting me any deal on either but I
really didn't try to see if he would.

Don't expect much. Bikes shop work on low margins. If they
give you good advice, good service, and will make future
choices easier, don't try to drive them out of business.
Again, shop for a shop, not a price. $10, $20, even $50 at
your price range is not worth bad advice and bad service.

Quoted message said:

Now I'm not sure if the hybrid thing is even a good idea or
which make is better if any so can you please give me some
advice...

Concrete advice?

Marin Muirwoods. Swap the stock tires for Continental Travel
Contact tires. Get some good shorts, a lock, a helmet if
that's your thing, a patch kit and pump. You'll be out the
door for under $600, have a nice bike that will let you know
how much you really want to get into this thing. And when
you get a new bike in the next year or two, you can turn the
Muirwoods into a nice commuter/shopper.

One thing I found when looking at your price range- you'll
get a lot more bike if you forget the front shock.

Best advice- find the right bike shop. Then ride a few
bikes. Don't agonize- spend a week or so, research, then
drop your money and get riding.

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

Quoted message said:

How's it going... Basically I'm a newbie and I was looking
into getting a bike. I thought this process would be far
more straight forward than it actually is. Too many
options and too few concrete opinions.

Now I'm not sure if the hybrid thing is even a good idea
or which make is better if any so can you please give me
some advice...

I think mountain bikes are a better choice if you become
more than an occasional cyclist. They're more versatile in
that you can put slicks on them for the road or knobbies for
the trails.

Don't expect much of a discount on a new bike, particularly
at this time of the year. Margins aren't that high on bikes,
but they are on accessories. Consider how much other stuff
you're going to have to buy. Make a list, ask the shop if
they'll discount the accessories. Most shops in our area
give 10% club discounts, asking 20% off accessories wouldn't
be out of line.

Being a noob, getting a good setup is the most
important thing, and you should pick the bike shop
rather than the bike.

[email hidden] (Samer Ibrahim) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

How's it going... Basically I'm a newbie and I was looking
into getting a bike. I thought this process would be far
more straight forward than it actually is. Too many
options and too few concrete opinions.

Here's my useage: basically weekend warrior (and likely
not to be all weekends), I live in the Northeast so not
all year either, I'd like to do some city streets and
parks as well as trails (but I'm not going to be jumping
off cliffs with the bike or anything). I'm willing to
spend a couple of hundred but not thousands. I think a cap
would be $600 total.

On my first bike shop visit the guy immediately
recommended either the Trek 4100 ($340) or the Trek 4300
($360). He didn't seem to be cutting me any deal on either
but I really didn't try to see if he would.

On my next bike shop visit the guy told me all bikes in
the prices range were more or less comparable. He said
you're pretty much going to get what you pay for because
there is little difference possible in that range. He
recommended either an Iron Horse Intermediate Trail ($500)
or a Marin Palisades Trail ($600). Both seemed like more
mountain only bikes rather than hybrids.

Now I'm not sure if the hybrid thing is even a good idea
or which make is better if any so can you please give me
some advice...

Thanks Sam

I wouldn't want to give detailed recommendations based on
what you say, but some general advice would be:

1. Go only to bike shops that sell a wide range of bike
types - that way you stand a better chance of finding
something that precisely meets your needs.
2. Judge the shop by how they treat you: if they ask you a
lot of questions about your intended use for the bike
(and listen to your answers), this is clearly a good
sign. Also they should be very concerned to get
something that fits you well. If 'fitting you to the
bike' just means asking you to straddle the bike to see
by how much you clear the top tube, go somewhere else.
There is a lot of competition at the price point where
you are looking and those bikes tend to be very good
value for money, but only if they fit you well. Even a
really expensive bike won't get ridden if it's
uncomfortable.
3. Spend time test-riding potential buys. If the shop seems
to be losing patience with you, go somewhere else.
4. Don't go for a bike with high-tec-looking wheels. Even
the best of these offer few if any advantages over
conventional wheels and what you will be buying at this
price will be inferior look-alikes.
5. Since the wheels on whatever bike you buy will almost
certainly be machine-built, allow a litle in your budget
to have an experienced wheelbuilder properly tension and
stress-relieve the wheels. This will save you money and
aggravation in the long run and give you wheels of hand-
built quality at minimal cost.

Nigel Grinter Spokesperson, Well-Spoken Wheels Inc.

On 12 Apr 2004 20:52:47 -0700, [email hidden] (Samer Ibrahim)

may have said:

How's it going... Basically I'm a newbie and I was looking
into getting a bike. I thought this process would be far
more straight forward than it actually is. Too many options
and too few concrete opinions.

Here's my useage: basically weekend warrior (and likely
not to be all weekends), I live in the Northeast so not
all year either, I'd like to do some city streets and
parks as well as trails (but I'm not going to be jumping
off cliffs with the bike or anything). I'm willing to
spend a couple of hundred but not thousands. I think a cap
would be $600 total.

[snip]

Quoted message said:

Now I'm not sure if the hybrid thing is even a good idea or
which make is better if any so can you please give me some
advice...

I agree with much of the advice already posted, but I'll
chime in with these additional observations...

First, don't limit yourself to new bikes. There are some
great deals on used bikes, and for just light weekend usage
to start with, it might be better to get a second-hand unit
to use in discovering what your preferred style, equipment,
and riding patterns are. Once you really know from direct
experience where and how you like to ride, it's easier to
zero in on the new bike that will really suit your needs.

Second, if you're going to be doing a mix of street and off-
road riding, consider the concept of having one bike (on an
mtb frame) but two sets of wheels. An acquaintance nearby
uses this tactic to good advantage. For his daily paved-
surface rides, he has a pair of inexpensive wheels with
slicks; for the weekend runs through the woods, it takes him
all of a couple of minutes to swap out to the better set
that has the fat knobbies.

Third, unless you really feel that you need the suspension
for some reason, I'd advise against spending a dime more for
a new bike with a front shock than you'd spend for one that
has a solid fork but better components in the drivetrain and
shifters. Cheap suspension forks neither provide much useful
travel nor offer any real damping, and on a bike that sells
for under $500 new, a very cheap, very basic non-adjustable
unit is the only type of suspension fork that you're likely
to get. Good shifters and derailleurs, however, can make
riding a lot more fun.

Fourth, and here I'm at variance with some of the others,
I'd say that it's better to spend the money on the bike
rather than the add-on stuff. You don't *need* cycling
shorts, a computer, fancy water bottles, special shoes or
the other trappings in order to get on the bike and ride.
Once again, after you've had a chance to get some miles
in, you'll begin to discover which, if any, of the
accessories really are needed by *you*. The possible sole
exception to this is in the area of lighting. If you're
pretty sure that you will be riding at night.then yes, buy
the lighting with the bike.

That's just my opinion.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Werehatrack said:

You don't *need* cycling shorts, a computer, fancy water
bottles, special shoes or the other trappings in order to
get on the bike and ride. Once again, after you've had a
chance to get some miles in, you'll begin to discover
which, if any, of the accessories really are needed by
*you*. The possible sole exception to this is in the area
of lighting. If you're pretty sure that you will be riding
at night.then yes, buy the lighting with the bike.

I'm with you with perhaps one modification. After the
lights, the next most important upgrade is pedals and shoes.
I suggest a cheap pair of clipless pedals and shoes (~$100
for the set) will be quite valuable to the weekend warrior.

I ride with non-cycling clothing (shorts, tee-shirts, etc)
regularly. But the bike in my stable that has toe clips and
"regular" pedals doesn't get ridden very much.

--
Dave dvt at psu dot edu

Quoted message said:

Now I'm not sure if the hybrid thing is even a good idea or
which make is better if any so can you please give me some
advice...

Sam,

If the trails you are going to be riding on are fairly flat,
and have a good surface (like well-packed dirt or gravel),
then a hybrid is probably what you want. But, if you want to
do more aggressive riding, then you should go for a mountain
bike. The hybrid will be easier to pedal, because of its
(potentially) narrower rims and tires.

I have no idea about which of the models you list is
preferrable. However, I would also budget for a helmet and a
pair of cycling shorts. And very importantly, make sure the
bike is adjusted properly for you. If it's not, you're going
to be uncomfortable and will not enjoy the experience.
Adjustment includes not only seat position, but stem height
(and possibly extension) as well.

In the same vein, check out the seat. Generally speaking,
many bikes in this price range will have pleather or plastic
seats over foam. Make sure you get both proper positioning
(CRUCIAL), and a decent seat. Most shops have a bin full of
seats that they can swap out for the one that comes on the
bike. You can of course, also pay extra for a better seat.
My preference would be for one with a lycra or leather
cover, and a gel insert. You might also want to look at ones
with a prostate cutout.

I wouldn't get too wrapped around the axle as to which is
the better buy. There are a whole host of other factors that
you need to look at as well.

Bob Pawlak (remove 1et.tw to e-mail) Chess Assistance
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