Hey all, I'm new to the forums but I'd really like to get into biking. I'd like to ride about 15-20 miles a day. The surface I would be riding is pavement and it seems logical that I would go with a road bike. Though I would like to have the option to be able to trail ride as well. Maybe this is unrealistic but you all would know best.
Im looking to get a bike I guess based on that criteria and if its just recommended to buy a road bike than im cool with that. The main problem is my budget. I really dont have the money to spend that is probably recommended. My budget at most is 300 dollars for a bike and most semi-decent starter bikes run twice that. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Im a college student and pretty much supporting myself so I do not have a lot of money.
You've got lots of options, and a road bike wouldn't be my first recommendation, based on what you tell us. A hybrid or mountain bike can be gotten cheap (e.g., Trek's 7000 or FX series) and can be fitted with slick or knobby tires for road or light trail riding, respectively. You might not keep up with a road bike on the road or be able to rip down a mountain, but does that really concern you?
If you're patient and have a bike-savvy friend that can make sure you don't get ripped off, you could buy used, too. If you've done some riding already and want to go for a bike with drop bars (road bike-style), you could look for a bargain on a cyclocross bike, which are versatile enough for on- and off-road riding. They're normally more expensive, but I got an older Bianchi Volpe for $400 on craigslist.
