Bike advice?

bassman1185 · #1 03-26-2010, 08:15 AM

I live about two miles from my job, and I am looking into buying a bike for making my commute.

What should I look for in a bike? I live in one of hilliest (if that is a word) neighborhoods in Des Moines, plus I'm just not that cool, so a fixed gear or single speed is kind of out of the question. The roads around here are pretty rough, but I don't know if they are bad enough to actually warrant a mountain bike or something with shocks.

If it helps at all, I am a dude who's about 5'11" tall, and I weigh about 185 pounds.

I'd like to keep the price cap around $200, and definitely not more than $300, which I know is kind of limiting, but I'm not looking for anything high end, just something that will be able to get me from point A to point B and back.

Any suggestions?

CapnSev · #2 03-26-2010, 08:55 AM

Hilly in Iowa? A 2-mile commute? Get a single speed Nancy.

bassman1185 · #3 03-26-2010, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapnSev

Hilly in Iowa? A 2-mile commute? Get a single speed Nancy.

Spoken as someone who has probably never been to Iowa.

Believe it or not, we actually have some really hilly areas. Not mountains, but good sized, steep hills. For an idea of the topography of my neighborhood, think about a smaller version of San Francisco.

spade2you · #4 03-26-2010, 09:25 AM

$200 is barely above department store junk. When you drop the price that low, reliability comes into question and they're usually a hunk of heavy alloys that might make the hills feel even worse.

bassteban · #5 03-26-2010, 09:55 AM

If you can get ahold of a knowledgeable(read *experienced)cyclist who can help you avoid a total POS, you might find a decent MTB in CL or the like for 2 bills. I strongly suggest a MTB for the wide-ranging gears, comfortable riding positon, durability & standard-sized parts like tires, etc. A good entry-level MTB(suitable for mild commuting as opposed to full-on off-road stuff w/serious climbs & descents, which I'm guessing/inferring from the OP that you're not going to be into just yet, which is entirely cool)goes for just over $300 brand-new; I see them go for half of that or less occasionally.
I also feel I MUST say that anyone suggesting a single speed is not considering the fact that you do not have much saddle time in. No offense- I raced SS MTBs for several years in the early 80s when NO ONE was doing it, so I have a little bit of practical experience. The first time you turn into the wind or head up a medium-to-fairly-steep climb, you'll be ready to swap that oh-so-fashionable SS rig for anything w/a derailleur.

doctorjazz · #6 03-26-2010, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spade2you

$200 is barely above department store junk. When you drop the price that low, reliability comes into question and they're usually a hunk of heavy alloys that might make the hills feel even worse.

This.

At your price range, you're guaranteed to get something atrocious unless you find something on Craigslist, and even then it'll take some luck.

bassteban · #7 03-26-2010, 10:01 AM

Bassman1185, feel free to PM me if you want more in-depth info- we can go to emails & I might be able to help steer you clear of junk.

fokof · #8 03-26-2010, 10:04 AM

If you want a reference in Price vs quality in bikes , think of it as almost the same as in basses.

A 200$ bass is a WallMart quality instrument that gonna need repair and you won'T have much fun on it. You can find good instruments at 200 used but need a little luck and patience.

And spring is the worst time of the year to buy a bike, the prices are at their highest.

darkfinger · #9 03-26-2010, 11:16 AM

Everyone is absolutely on target with saying that a new $200 bike is basically garbage on wheels.
For a new bike (imho) you're looking at spending a minimum of closer to $700. With bikes the old adage "you get what you pay for" really is true.

While spring may be the worst time to buy a new bike, it's the best time to find a used bike at a garage sale. I have found several diamonds in the rough (including an early '90s Specialized mtb that I converted to a single speed commuter, as well as a 1986 Peugeot that I converted to a fixed and is now my daily commuter).
Another great resource is a bike coop, not unlike this: http://www.dsmbikecollective.org/bikes
The coop in my city does the same sort of thing, and in lots of cases they will let you help build or set up your bike, teaching you basic maintenance practices as well as repairs.

Hope this helps,
Cheers.

Truktek2 · #10 03-26-2010, 11:37 AM

From the description of your commute I would suggest a hybrid bike. It's a compromise between a road and mountain bike. A lot more comfortable than the road and a lot less rolling resistance than a mountain. Perfect for commuting. Throw on a rack or panniers and you're good to go.

MakiSupaStar · #11 03-26-2010, 11:55 AM

I would spend about 500 bucks on a good used mountain bike. Brands that are good. Specialized (I have an M-4 hardtail), Trek, Univega, there are others too. Look into suspension. The more suspension you have the more expensive it's going to be. I'm personally not a big fan of all suspension bikes (I find them kind of mushy climbing hills - but downhill they rock), so I like hard tails (front suspension only). You're looking at frames, then components, then gravy. Above mentioned brand names are great for frames. Then for components your best bet is Shimano. If you get a bike with a front suspension, good frame and good components (brakes and derailleurs), then you're going to be at a pretty good starting point. This is doable used for 500 bucks.

joshmickelson · #12 03-26-2010, 11:58 AM

craigs list! new won't get you much.

I have a fixed gear and I hate the thing, I want a real bike with gears.

Truktek2 · #13 03-26-2010, 12:01 PM

Personally I wouldn't bother with a suspension on a commuter. It would just absorb all the energy your trying to transfer to the wheels when you're riding uphill. This more so with cheaper bikes and cheaper components. Plus they are heavier than rigid forks and hardtails so more mass to push down the road. Just my 2 cents.

fdeck · #14 03-26-2010, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Truktek2

Personally I wouldn't bother with a suspension on a commuter. It would just absorb all the energy your trying to transfer to the wheels when you're riding uphill. This more so with cheaper bikes and cheaper components. Plus they are heavier than rigid forks and hardtails so more mass to push down the road. Just my 2 cents.

+1 to both of your posts. A mountain bike for urban commuting is the wrong tool for the job.

My commute is about 8 miles round trip. I ride from March to November, every day that I don't need to have a car at work. My bike has a 3-speed enclosed gear hub and chain guard, but is otherwise equivalent to a hybrid.

Once you are "in the saddle" so to speak, then there are some upgrades to consider. I would recommend carrying the means to fix a tire on the road. I also carry lightweight rain gear, and have attached a side basket, mainly for my all important Lunch.

Knowing that you could ride in less-than-ideal weather will help make bike commuting a habit.

And it goes without saying, wear a helmet.

bassteban · #15 03-26-2010, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fdeck

A mountain bike for urban commuting is the wrong tool for the job.

I'd say it depends largely on the OP's commute- in my employed days there was a stretch of 6 or 8 years wherein I commuted a good 8-10 miles each way, & I would NOT want to do it on a roadie or hybrid, due to potholes, weather & idiot drivers. I ran slicks or dual-purpose rubber for efficiency, but the versatility of a(slightly modded, if you will)MTB was the ticket- for me.

fdeck · #16 03-26-2010, 05:57 PM

It does depend on conditions. Traffic is certainly a consideration. On my commute, there are plenty of potholes (living in a hard winter region), but traffic isn't very heavy, so I simply steer clear of the worst hazards.