Biking...

[LadyOnslaught]

Is anyone into bikes here? I want to get a bike so I can ride and take my dogs with me to get them more exercise. I've never bought one although I can ride. My parents just bought them for me when I was younger (I'm 26 now) so they just bought the ones are like Wal-Mart of the like. I went to a bike shop and the guy showed me 2 and they were over $300. I know you get what you pay for but would it be bad to buy one from a department store?

The main reason I want to do that is because we are renting so I will have to lock it up outside and not inside a garage or anything. Later on once we have a home I wouldn't mind spending more money on a better bike but now I just don't know if I want to. What if it does get stolen? Any tips/suggestions?

 

[tonyshuman]

There are basically 4 kinds of bikes: road, mountain, hybrid (a hybrid of road and mountain), and comfort.

Do you want to bike on roads, trails, sidewalks, or a combination? I have an old (mid-80s) road bike that I LOVE to go on roads and paved bike paths with. It's fast, fun, and gets me to class on time! Comfort bikes (or cruisers) are good on paved surfaces, but don't go as fast as road bikes. They're a more upright seating position though, if that matters to you.

If you want to go on anything unpaved though, like a gravel trail or road, or a dirt trail, you're going to need a hybrid or mountain bike. They will have tires that are wide enough to handle that kind of terrain. The wider tire makes them more steady, and they can still be pretty fast. Mountain bikes also have suspensions to deal with bumps. Most of the bikes at Walmart are mountain bikes.

A lot of people around here bike to work, and the most popular bike for commuting and occasional recreation is a hybrid bike. They go fast like a road bike, but are more stable with wider tires, like a mountain bike.

My opinion is that if you get a well known brand of bike, it should last you a long time. The Walmart brands will work for a few years, but a $300 bike now will last you a lot longer, especially if you don't bang it up. My bf has a Schwinn from 69 and although it has its problems, it still goes pretty well. Paying more than 300$ at a bike shop is pretty much par for the course.

Things to consider about storing it outside: some newer bikes have "quick-release" wheels and seatposts. This makes them easier to take apart to put in your car, but also a lot easier for people to come along and steal your wheels or seat. You'd need to make sure you use a sturdy lock (the Kryptonite U-locks are great) and loop it through your front tire as well as the frame at the very least. You can get a separate small lock for your seat. Some cities have a bike registration program where you purchase a registration for your bike and if it gets stolen it's a little easier to track down. Bikes are really hard to track down when stolen, however, especially because they can be taken apart for parts. Also, when seats get wet, they are not fun to sit on. Most new bikes won't rust, especially those from a bike shop, but you'd have to be sure your chain is well-oiled.

 

[slavetoabunny]

I deleted the duplicate posting for you.

If you only want to ride recreationally, then a department store bike should be fine, especially if you have to keep it outside. My husband is a serious bike rider and has two bikes - one cost about $2,500 and the other over $5,000. You will probably never need anything like that.

Bike riding is great exercise and fun too. Enjoy!

 

[Thumpers_Mom]

I just started biking a couple of weeks ago myself. I wanted to excercise my dog and spend some quality time with my kids.

How often do you plan on riding? Where do you plan on riding?

I didn't want to spend a lot of money and know that I won't be riding every day, probably just on the weekends so an expensive bike I did not need. I got mine at ToysRUS for $120. It is a mountain bike and is pretty awesome. My doggie is smallish (5-6lbs) and I was able to mount a basket with no problem for when he gets tired or too hot.

Good luck on your bike hunt it is a good way to exercise and bond w/your doggies.

 

[LadyOnslaught]

Thank you for the wonderful information . I will mainly be using it for sidewalk riding but some on trails. Not really steep or bad trails (that won't be my intent). Just either paved or easy dirt trails.

I do not really mind paying more money for a good bike as I know they are better quality but I don't want to buy one and then not have proper storage for it. For that I would rather just get a cheaper one until I can properly store it.

Thank you for the information about the 'quick release' wheels and seats too.

 

[LadyOnslaught]

slavetoabunny wrote:

I deleted the duplicate posting for you.

If you only want to ride recreationally, then a department store bike should be fine, especially if you have to keep it outside. My husband is a serious bike rider and has two bikes - one cost about $2,500 and the other over $5,000. You will probably never need anything like that.

Bike riding is great exercise and fun too. Enjoy!

Thank you for deleting that. I don't know why it double posted. I doubt I would ever need anything that expensive but if needed I wouldn't mind getting a little bit better quality bike at some point. I'm really looking forward to getting going!

 

[LadyOnslaught]

Thumpers_Mom wrote:

I just started biking a couple of weeks ago myself. I wanted to excercise my dog and spend some quality time with my kids.

How often do you plan on riding? Where do you plan on riding?

I didn't want to spend a lot of money and know that I won't be riding every day, probably just on the weekends so an expensive bike I did not need. I got mine at ToysRUS for $120. It is a mountain bike and is pretty awesome. My doggie is smallish (5-6lbs) and I was able to mount a basket with no problem for when he gets tired or too hot.

Good luck on your bike hunt it is a good way to exercise and bond w/your doggies.

I would love to say I want to do it everything, ultimately that would be my goal but at least several times per week to start out with. I know me, I need to build myself up to things. I can't get 'overwhelmed' with the idea of too much or else I won't do it.

I think right now I'm going to get a cheaper one as what if I decide I hate doing this. I'm going to look tonight as I need to go grocery shopping so I will look while I go.

 

[Pet_Bunny]

tonyshuman wrote:

There are basically 4 kinds of bikes: road, mountain, hybrid (a hybrid of road and mountain), and comfort.

Goodreply Tonyshuman. :thumbup

I spent $2000 on my Trekmountain bike, but most of my biking is on city streets and bike routes, soI did some changes to make it more of a road bike.I loved the speed of a road bike and the ruggedness of the mountain bike. No way would I leave it locked outside.Is there anyway for you to take your bike in every time you come home.

If you spend alittle more, you would appreciate it better and it should be more reliable. Don't buy the latest and newest gadgets, or the high tech stuff which adds up in price.

Read up on some ofthe Biking Magazines available.

 

[pinksalamander]

I just got a bike a few months ago and i love it. Of course i've had bikes when i was younger but i hadn't had one since i was about 10. Mine was £100, on sale. It is a bit heavy but it does the job. I use it to get to friends houses or down the town. Annoyingly i live at the top of a huge hill, so although i get to speed along at the top i end up having to struggle up it. I usually get off and walk

Fran :hearts :brownbunny

 

[pamnock]

My son is a bike mechanic - he rides a Fisher

I have a Trek - make the investment in a better bike. My daughter has a nice department store bike, and I hate it - it's a piece of crap. You'll hate bike riding if you settle for the poor quality bike.

Here's my son Ryan on Youtube (do not try this at home). He dislocated his shoulder and may have to have surgery He's a maniac.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6AXUcbCnQo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6AXUcbCnQo[/ame]



Pam