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#1 (permalink) |
Psycho
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Recommendations on Bicycles
It's been a couple of years now since I've bought a bike and was wondering if anyone had some recommendations or warnings about certain brands. I plan on riding to the gym in the morning (~5 mi.), then riding the 1/4 mile to work. As well as riding around town whenever I can.
I was also looking into the chainless bikes. They look pretty good, but if anyone has some experience with them I'd love to hear how they are. |
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#2 (permalink) |
Too Awesome for Aardvarks
Location: Angloland
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Giant are always a safe bet for tough, reliable bikes. I've absoloutly abused the giants me and my friends have, and they still come back for more.
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#3 (permalink) |
Junkie
Location: Pats country
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You really can't go wrong with Trek or Specialized (Giant is pretty good as well, tho made in China as the low level Treks and Specialized's are). Trek is number one in the world and Lance armstrong's choice, so they get a lot of promotion. I tend to avoid more gimmicky stuff like chainless bikes, auto shift bikes and so forth, and go with simple proven technology. I can probably answer more of your questions in a PM if you want since I work in a bike shop.
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"Religion is the one area of our discourse in which it is considered noble to pretend to be certain about things no human being could possibly be certain about" --Sam Harris |
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#4 (permalink) | |
“Wrong is right.”
Location: toronto
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Hope I'm not patronizing you if you already know this. Bike shop employees are your best bet for questions. In my experience they rarely try to sell you something you don't need (of course that's a massive generalization). Good luck!
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!check out my new blog! http://arkanamusic.wordpress.com Warden Gentiles: "It? Perfectly innocent. But I can see how, if our roles were reversed, I might have you beaten with a pillowcase full of batteries." |
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#5 (permalink) | |
Too Awesome for Aardvarks
Location: Angloland
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Quote:
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#6 (permalink) |
Psycho
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Thanks for the recommendations. I live in a small town in mississippi, so I'm not really close to a dedicated bike shop. I was planning on ordering off the internet if possible since I wouldn't have to drive ~ 2 hours to a shop, although if it comes down to it I can.
I'm probably about to lose power due to Dennis, so I might be off the forum for a while. Thanks for all the help though. |
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#7 (permalink) |
Observant Ruminant
Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town
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Just want to second everybody's advice -- do buy in a bike shop if you can. I bought a Trek, which I recommend is a good brand. And I bought in a bike shop with good service. A few months after I bought the bike, I blew a spoke on the rear wheel and the bike shop fixed it no charge, on warranty. A couple of months later I blew _another_ spoke on that wheel. I asked the bike shop if it was my fault (I'm pretty heavy), but they said no, the manufacturer makes thousands of wheels a day and sometimes there's a bad one. They were on the phone to Trek then and there, and got permission from the company on the spot to build me a new wheel at no cost to me. I haven't had any problems since.
If you haven't got a good shop near you, you should do what you have to do. But that's why picking a bike shop is almost as important as picking the bike. As a guy who has had back problems, I'd also recommend a bike with cruiser-style handlebars -- the kind that don't require you to lean forward while riding. Not as cool-looking, but much more comfortable. |
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#8 (permalink) |
Psycho
Location: In transit
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Another bike shop employee here. Avoid the chainless bike. Like another poster said, avoid the all gimmik bikes like the auto-shifter etc. They usually run about the same quality as a Wal-Mart/Sears/Toys'R'Us bikes (complete crap) and are produced by some fly by night company with all kinds of promises of lifetime warranties and gaurentees, meanwhile they go out of business a year later. These bikes also use a good deal of proprietary parts, wich means you could be SOL if something breaks (especially if the company closes up shop).
Since the closest bike shop is 2 hours away... you might also want to invest in some tools to fix your bike when the inevitible happens. Tires go flat, rims bend, bolts losen, stuff breaks. You dont want to have to drive 2 hours just so a bike mechanic can tighten a shifter cable for you. get aquanted with http://www.parktool.com ![]() Another brand to consider is Cannondale. Top notch stuff. I find that most first time buyers take to Giants though. Not quite on par with a Cannondale or Trek, in my opinion, but very close. The prices for Giant bikes are usually very very reasonable for the level of components (brakes, shifters, wheels etc) they are equiped with. Also, if youd like a nice barely ridden trek carbon fiber cross country mountain bike, im trying to get rid of mine. Its the deal of the century ![]()
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Remember, wherever you go... there you are. Last edited by sprocket; 07-10-2005 at 08:11 PM.. |
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#9 (permalink) | |
A Storm Is Coming
Location: The Great White North
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Quote:
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If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves. Stangers have the best candy. |
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#11 (permalink) |
Getting it.
Super Moderator
Location: Lion City
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A good solid bike a Raleigh...
I would second most of what has been said here by the way...
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#12 (permalink) | |
A Storm Is Coming
Location: The Great White North
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Quote:
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If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves. Stangers have the best candy. |
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Tags |
bicycles, recommendations |
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