Need help finding my first quality bike

Hi! I need help finding a bicycle. To give some more background information, I live in Chicago, and the last time I rode a bike was when I was 10. But even then, I had problems with balance going slow, and never really mastered it. I'm 25 now and want to ride a bike around the city/lake. I was just going to get a walmart bike at first, but then I realized that I could instead invest in a better bike.

However, I know nothing about bikes - how to maintain it or what are good bikes. I was hoping someone could point out a few good ones for me off craigslist or something? I was hoping to spend under $200. I'm short for a guy, 5'5" so I think I probably need a small bike (52cm/ 15"?). I think I'm looking for more of a comfort bike than a road bike. I don't want to be leaning forward...I want to be sitting upright. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I don't think you can get a middle of the line bike for $200 anymore. If you are looking at Wal Mart bikes they tend to 1) NOT have very good selection 2) Be lower quality models, and 3) Products that are toward the end of their life cycle. For those reasons alone, its best to go to a bike shop to get a feel for things. They have helpful personnel that can answer questions and make recommendations. I think middle of the line bikes are now $400-700 range. We are talking something that has a light frame, good seat, decent gears/breaking system.

The biggest problem with bikes on craigs is stolen property...one of the first places thieves go to unload stuff. Bikes are one of the more commonly stolen items.

You might go to the Giant company website and take a look at some of their stuff and specs...

$200 is low end for a new bike. I suggest Trek, Cannondale, Giant, etc. The difference in price is typically the difference in weight. Lighter = more expensive. Personally I like disk brakes. But a bike with those will be out of your price-range. And +1 to Craigslist bikes largely being stolen property. Same with pawn shops.

Here is a really good bike for the price with an aluminum frame to boot.

http://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-Dis...ds=schwinn

I have a Trek 7100.

And it's rusting. Things I wouldn't expect to have rust, like the adjusting screws on the brakes and the brake sleeves. I mentioned that to the place that sold it while it was under warranty when I brought it in for it's inspection and they said it's my fault and I should wipe it dry after it gets wet. Right. I'm gonna dry off every screw and sleeve on it every time it rains. Using materials suitable to be wet on a quality bicycle is not unreasonable.

I did have a rear axle break; the thing that runs through the rear wheel. Apparently it's a problem on a lot of the imported bicycles. It's a small part that has a lot of stress on it. Cost $80 to replace the wheel because the bearing raceway self destructed without an intact axle.

With that said, it's still a fun bike to ride but how's one know if they're getting quality anymore?

Don't buy a walmart bike. It might be worth your while to be patient and look for something in your size on craigslist. I would go ahead and buy a road bike rather than a hybrid... while you might be thinking about comfort being a priority now, you'll thank yourself later for going with a faster, lighter bike (which will be more comfortable and enjoyable in the long run).

Friends have had good luck with bikesdirect.com. Nashbar is also a great place to get cheap bike gear.

It really isn't possible to get anything good for $200 unless you buy used. Walmart and all the other department store bikes are complete garbage. http://www.bikesdirect.com will be your best chance at getting something new for close to that price that isn't awful.

The first thing you need to do is to test ride bikes and get a better idea about the frame size and exact type of bike. 50-52cm is a good start, but some bikes may still be measured in inches.

Plus I have no idea what type of bike you want (road, hybrid, MTN)? I assume road bike, but I have no idea what you want.

Nashbar [nashbar.com] is having a sale with some decent simple bikes in the $200 range or cheaper. Might need to pay someone to assemble if you aren't handy, but a good deal. Sale ends today I think.

You are definitely thinking along a good path. Hybrid bikes are designed for what you want to do, but companies sell a lot more mountain bikes, so you can usually find more of them at a better price. Plus mountain bikes tend to be made with better components. Mountain bikes are comfortable to ride, but some of the higher end ones may have more of an aggressive handle bar position than what you would like. You can get slick tires if you don't like the knobby ones that typically come standard. They give you a nice smooth and cushy ride on city streets/sidewalks.

I can't give a you a ton of info in terms of fit, it is best to go and try the bike out and see if it will work. Higher end bike use an Allen wrench to adjust the seat height, make sure you adjust it before you try it out. I'll list ads below and update periodically.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl...55472.html *caution* looks like it could be a scam

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc...00325.html an older bike, but appears to have been superbly maintained, and should be quite comfortable to ride

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc...08524.html

http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl...31655.html another olde bike that looks like it was well maintained

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc...40348.html listed location is Milwaukee... not sure when that became NW Chicago

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc...41369.html looks like a nice bike and should fit you well. If it is in good shape $200 is a great price

http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox...37736.html has slick tires, which are nice if you don't plan to go off road.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc...18843.html

Quote from bzhayes : You are definitely thinking along a good path. Hybrid bikes are designed for what you want to do, but companies sell a lot more mountain bikes, so you can usually find more of them at a better price. Plus mountain bikes tend to be made with better components. Mountain bikes are comfortable to ride, but some of the higher end ones may have more of an aggressive handle bar position than what you would like. You can get slick tires if you don't like the knobby ones that typically come standard. They give you a nice smooth and cushy ride on city streets/sidewalks. I can't give a you a ton of info in terms of fit, it is best to go and try the bike out and see if it will work. Higher end bike use an Allen wrench to adjust the seat height, make sure you adjust it before you try it out. I'll list ads below and update periodically. http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl...55472.html *caution* looks like it could be a scam http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc...00325.html an older bike, but appears to have been superbly maintained, and should be quite comfortable to ride http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc...08524.html http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl...31655.html another olde bike that looks like it was well maintained http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc...40348.html listed location is Milwaukee... not sure when that became NW Chicago http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc...41369.html looks like a nice bike and should fit you well. If it is in good shape $200 is a great price http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox...37736.html has slick tires, which are nice if you don't plan to go off road. http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc...18843.html

Thanks! I think I like some of the bikes you found, particularly the Trek 4100.

I also saw on bikesdirect, the following bikes. I was wondering, are these better than the ones listed on Craigslist? They are marked down a lot from the MSRP. I might be willing to pay a little more if it's newer and better quality. Thanks!

http://www.bikesdirect.com/produc...dover2.htm

http://www.bikesdirect.com/produc...ch_xii.htm

http://www.bikesdirect.com/produc...gbikes.htm

http://www.bikesdirect.com/produc.../jub_3.htm

http://www.bikesdirect.com/produc...nue_fb.htm

http://www.bikesdirect.com/produc...ra_ig3.htm

Quote from dragonchan : I was hoping to spend under $200. I'm short for a guy, 5'5" so I think I probably need a small bike (52cm/ 15"?). I think I'm looking for more of a comfort bike than a road bike. I don't want to be leaning forward...I want to be sitting upright. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

If your looking to spend $200 for the 1st year, then get a $50-150 bike at Goodwill or Craigslist. Fix it and disable the suspension if its a mountain bike. That way you get a crash course into biking. You maybe able to trade for one too.

Here's some pricing info. and reviews to help you get an idea of what to look for on Craigslist.

Best Road Bikes | Top Picks [consumersearch.com]
Best Mountain Bikes | Top Picks [consumersearch.com]
Cheap Mountain Bikes [cheapism.com]


Also, get a nice lock.


Abus Steel-O-Chain 685 Bicycle Lock Review [cheapism.com]
OnGuard Bulldog Mini TC 5013TC Review [consumersearch.com]

Quote from dragonchan : Thanks! I think I like some of the bikes you found, particularly the Trek 4100. I also saw on bikesdirect, the following bikes. I was wondering, are these better than the ones listed on Craigslist? They are marked down a lot from the MSRP. I might be willing to pay a little more if it's newer and better quality. Thanks! http://www.bikesdirect.com/produc...dover2.htm http://www.bikesdirect.com/produc...ch_xii.htm http://www.bikesdirect.com/produc...gbikes.htm http://www.bikesdirect.com/produc.../jub_3.htm http://www.bikesdirect.com/produc...nue_fb.htm http://www.bikesdirect.com/produc...ra_ig3.htm

The problem with bikesdirect.com is the bike shows up in a box. Putting together a bike is not a trivial task. You can pay money to a bikeshop to put it together for you, but you should factor that into the cost. Also, none of those bikes you linked are name brand.... they might be nice bikes, but I have no way of knowing.

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