How do I choose a bike?

I want to buy a bicycle for just exercise and casual use. No training or mountain biking for me....

So, what do I look for? I'm short. The last bike I had (which I forgot to get from the garage when I moved from Chicago) was a 24" which was fine. I'd like to have a girlie bike, too -- I'm getting kind of old to throw my leg over the boy-bar.

Yeah, my old bike was cool. Rat traps, paniers, way way cool. But now a 10-speed is passe. 24 speeds????

Can I get by with a $70 bike from Target? Seems like that would do, but wanted to see what you all had to say.

for casual use. Also my experience has been the more speeds a bike has, the more you will have to work on it.
Edit-typed gears instead of speeds.

I didn't know that about the gears. My old squeeze kept the bikes in pretty good shape so I didn't do much work on them.

I'm guessing that there is likely a pretty cool, laid-back bike shop in Phoenix, where you can find a nice, way-cool cruiser or city bike with seven speeds and a rack. Probably for under 200$. Probably with a pretty good warrantee (and someone who remembers you when you come back in). I'm guessing that they'll help you find the one that fits best, and let you take a couple different bikes for a ride around the block to see which one feels right, too.

Local is good.

I'll look into that. Maybe I can get a used bike someone traded in.

Thanks a lot for the insight!

A bunch of rather anarchic cyclists (a very good thing) get together, usually on a Friday, and ride en masse as a demonstration against cars. Some Masses are more "passively confrontational" than others, legitimately taking control of one or more traffic lanes. A very good thing. I've ridden in Austin, NYC, Philly.

http://criticalmassphx.tripod.com/index.htm

UPCOMING EVENTS IN PHOENIX -

Friday, June 27, 2003
Monthly Ride
5:30pm | Park Central Mall
On Central, North of Thomas
Theme: GLOBAL WARMING
Bring/Wear hats, swimsuits, squirtguns, sunscreen, spraybottle, fun and a super-smile!


Bike Party at The Tribe
7:00ish pm | 24th St. & Oak | (602)244-9295
Admission: Free (Tiny charges for paint/supplies)
Make Bike Jewelry or Art, Paint Your Bike or Helmet, Be in the Bike Fashion Show & Rock Out to Bike Songs


Saturday June 28th 2003
Bike-In Movie Night
7:00pm | ThoughtCrime | (602) 341-0424
Admission: $0-5 Sliding Scale
Two amazing underground bike movies:
"Eco-Updates 2003: Times Up"
"Bike Like You Mean It"
for more information visit: www.phxarts.org/focus

ALSO -
If you're looking for a used bike, I think that Phoenix has/used to have a "Yellow Bike" project. Donated bikes fixed up and painted one bright color - deposited on the street for free use. Such projects usually have bikes for sale as well.

<snip>
OCTOBER 20, 1997: To the cynic, it may seem a foolish idea: Spend hours repairing and painting something, leave the fruit of your labor untethered on a city sidewalk, and invite complete strangers to borrow it for a while. Yet since January, that's exactly what Austin's Yellow Bike Project (YBP) has been doing. With volunteer labor and donated bicycles, the fleet of schoolbus-yellow two-wheelers has grown from 24 to 157 in about 10 months. People are using the bikes to go to class, the store, the bank, or just to cruise. And while some have been stolen or vandalized, many are still on the street, waiting for a rider.

MORE - http://weeklywire.com/ww/10-20-97/austin_pols_feature3.html

HAPPY TRAILS

that sounds fun. Can you imagine a Hummer commercial with the Hummer coming up behind a group of cyclists taking up an entire lane? I'd hate to think what the Hummer would do.

Thanks for the ideas...

Heh heh heh.

We just had a session about bicycles as part of Environment Week at the office. We all brought our bikes and an technician went over them.

If you're serious about biking (eg. racing or heavy duty commuting) you'll want a lighter frame than steel. This gets into real money. If you want something durable steel is fine.

18 speeds is more than enough.

It's the little things that count - adjustable tension on the derailleur instead of having to move the cable around. Canteliver brakes instead of side-pull. Fenders are nice.

A $70 Target special might be just the thing.

I paid $100 for my bike and it turned out to be one of the nicer bikes there.

Get something you like and can afford, you feel comfortable with and can adapt to your tastes later.

http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/03/flavor/flavors.html

It's only one manufacturer, but it'll give you a sense of what's out there. Once you determine the style you want, I'd recommend that you talk with your local bike shop people. They can let you know which brands are good and which are not...ask them about the $70 Target bike, if you remember the brand.

I bought all our family bikes from our local shop: http://www.bicyclefun.com/page1.htm
I like knowing that I have a place to take my bike for maintenance and repairs. And I can be certain that the bike is properly assembled by someone who knows bicycles--not video games and Barbies.

Great thought about maintenance and repairs. I hadn't thought of that and it tips the balance... I'll look for a bike shop this weekend!

I bought it about 5 years ago and have put hundreds of miles on it without a single problem. It's a Silk Path hybrid, heavier than a road bike and lighter than a trail bike. It has front and seat shocks which make a big difference on my back. I love that bike. I'd recommend getting a used Cannondale.

nothing worse than a bad fitting bicyle seat, can really hurt ye sensitive areas.

preferably padded.

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1244068&cp=713103.1764525.887571

On edit: check out the "comfort" bikes on that website!

my butt is wider than 5". Who on earth decided bike seats should be smaller than the average human derriere? Thank god for gel cushions :D

That is so pretty -- and it looks like it would be a comfortable ride, too. I'll spend the weekend checking out a couple local shops....

Thanks!

you've got it all wrong!!

you NEED this bike.. NEED it i say!



only about 3100 right now.

Those are good bikes.

I sure can't do that!

It's pretty strange looking.

Campagnolo sells a 10-speed rear cluster that, combined with a three-ring crank, will give you 30 speeds. It's titanium. Anyone want to hazard a guess as to what they want for it?

If you just want it for exercise and casual use, the good old Schwinn Cruisers are pretty kewl.