Just getting started

baal said:

I haven't ridden a bike since I was a teenager, any suggestions on a
basic inexpensive Touring Bike to start out with?

Visit some bike shops (not Walmart or even sporting goods stores) and look
around. Tell the salesperson(s) what kind of riding you want to do and what
budget you have in mind, and go from there.

The right bike will find you 🙂

"Touring" type bikes are pretty rare these days, even though they're
the best sort of bike for most riders, as they can change personalities
with a tire and accessory switch.

"Hybrids" have mostly replaced them, which have some of the flexibity
of touring bikes, the same size wheels, but flat handlebars. As they're
very popular, you can find an OK entry level bike for $3-500. Lots of
brands to choose from, I'm not getting into that.

You can get an entry level road bike for $500, which is often a fun
bike to have if you just use it for exercise on sunny days. A bike with
drop handlebars that's capable of accepting fenders, racks, or fatter
tires--a touring bike--will start at around $800.

The shop is the most important thing. Ask around. In my neck of the
woods I've got three horrendous ones, two wonderful shops, and a very
nice REI with great cycling folks. If you've got an REI nearby, they
almost universally good places to buy a bike.

baal said:

I haven't ridden a bike since I was a teenager, any suggestions on a
basic inexpensive Touring Bike to start out with?

Heh,
Huffy. $50.00 to find out if you even like riding anymore. If you don't
give it to a kid. If you do, go out and find a $500 to $5,000 bike you
can live with for a long time.
Now I expect to get blasted for not telling you to start with a $500 Trek.
Bill Baka

Dispite former comments to the contrary, real road touring bikes (not
hybrids) do still exist, but are extremely rare in the lower price
range. Plainly put, the model just doesn't sell well enough for
manufacturer to make any money on lower priced models.

The true road tourer usually prefers better made machines, so that's
wear most true touring bikes lay, in the upper market range.

However, there are still a few relatively inexpensive models around (the
Trek 520 is one example). Ask you friendly neighborhood bikeshop owner,
tell him/her what you're looking for and he/she will lead you in the
right direction.

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On Mon, 22 May 2006 21:41:28 -0400, [email hidden]

(Chris Z The Wheelman) said:

However, there are still a few relatively inexpensive models around (the
Trek 520 is one example). Ask you friendly neighborhood bikeshop owner,
tell him/her what you're looking for and he/she will lead you in the
right direction.

Another option is the Fuji Touring Series. Mine compares quite well
with my girlfriend's 520.

jeverett3<AT>earthlink<DOT>net http://home.earthlink.net/~jeverett3

John Everett said:

On Mon, 22 May 2006 21:41:28 -0400, [email hidden]

(Chris Z The Wheelman) said:

However, there are still a few relatively inexpensive models around (the
Trek 520 is one example). Ask you friendly neighborhood bikeshop owner,
tell him/her what you're looking for and he/she will lead you in the
right direction.

Another option is the Fuji Touring Series. Mine compares quite well
with my girlfriend's 520.

The Jamis Aurora is another nice lower end touring style bike. I went
out with a coworker and we picked that out for him. He had a hybrid,
but he decided he wanted something more in the line of a road bike.

--
Dane Buson - [email hidden]
Time Lords rule! Everything. Forever.

Dane Buson said:

John Everett said:

On Mon, 22 May 2006 21:41:28 -0400, [email hidden]

(Chris Z The Wheelman) said:

However, there are still a few relatively inexpensive models around (the
Trek 520 is one example). Ask you friendly neighborhood bikeshop owner,
tell him/her what you're looking for and he/she will lead you in the
right direction.

Another option is the Fuji Touring Series. Mine compares quite well
with my girlfriend's 520.

The Jamis Aurora is another nice lower end touring style bike. I went
out with a coworker and we picked that out for him. He had a hybrid,
but he decided he wanted something more in the line of a road bike.

Indeed, I'd forgotten about it till you mentioned it as no shops around
here carry it. Good price and great component choices, arguably a
better deal than the Trek, though both are fantastic. The Jamis is
redder, so therefore faster of course.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The Jamis Aurora is another nice lower end touring style bike. I went
out with a coworker and we picked that out for him. He had a hybrid,
but he decided he wanted something more in the line of a road bike.

Indeed, I'd forgotten about it till you mentioned it as no shops around
here carry it. Good price and great component choices, arguably a
better deal than the Trek, though both are fantastic. The Jamis is
redder, so therefore faster of course.

Don't be absurd. Everybody knows that yellow bikes are faster.

Pat in TX

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I haven't ridden a bike since I was a teenager, any suggestions on a
basic inexpensive Touring Bike to start out with?

Heh,
Huffy. $50.00 to find out if you even like riding anymore. If you don't
give it to a kid. If you do, go out and find a $500 to $5,000 bike you can
live with for a long time.
Now I expect to get blasted for not telling you to start with a $500 Trek.
Bill Baka

yawn