Bicycle noob, help me save gas

[Holy-diver]

i am a complete bicycle noob, so help me out here. i want to ride to work and the gym and around town (fairly close) to save on gas and get a little excercise. i dont want to spend a shit ton of money maybe 3-500 bucks. i am willing to buy used. this would mainly be ridden on pavement. what should i be looking for?

[esizer]

I think Ovid could chime in here. I think he rides a bike fairly often. Sorry I can't help personally, I just ride a trek single track bike everywhere if I'm riding a bike.

[RIFF]

Depends on your terrain.. If dirt or rough roads are taken, go with a mountain or hybrid.
I have my full suspension all mountain, but thats a little much for around town, & suspension absorbs some of your power. Im looking for something with about 2" tires that can handle SOME off road, no suspension, & at least a rear set of gears.

Something like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cannondale-Quick-CX-4-Disc-Size-M-/300916065629?pt=US_Bicycles_Frames&hash=item460ffec55d&nma=true&si=gtiyfl8Ja8g5WBMpAt6lIA4GplM%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557


Another thing, its great to use a bike, but you cant haul much. Youll probably want a roomy backpack or rack for casual carrying of goods.

[newholland]

for a townie-- i.e. something you use for quick transportation around town, mebbe carrying stuff-- i'm a big fan of converting old steel or aluminum traditional frame mountain bikes. they weren't so wildly different than the frames of old 3 speeds-- but you have a wider range of gearing, they take racks and fenders for carrying stuff in any weather, and the parts are readily available and relatively indestructible, AND you can put whatever tires you need on them from big fat dirt knobs to something like a skinnier road tire for less rolling resistance.

like this:

nothin' fancy-- but good for about anything. you can pick up old mountain bikes like this for 200 bucks and convert them for practically nothing-- i rode a bike similar for my sole form of transport for like 10 years, rode it everywhere in terrible weather, and it was super reliable and NEVER stolen. nobody cares for a transportation hog.. not enough bling!

check craigslist-- and try and find a decent branded bike. it'll cost you a bit to convert it-- but make sure it's a decent frame with good components-- if you need help, just ask, be glad to help out!

[Dave]

I still need to convert my trek like that, Dan.




OP, I spent ~$250 on mine and its been great. Used deal off CL:





I ride it all the time and it works just fine.

[NinjaRaf]

I agree with newholland here. I've had my nice mountain bike get stolen once and vandalized/have pieces stolen off of it while it was locked up at school. Look for an old cheap traditional frame mountain bike and then get some slick tires for it, or some hybrid tires, comfy seat, and upgrade whatever you think needs it, or whatever doesnt work. You'll end up under budget and have something that will work awesome, ride great, get you around town, and people wont want to steal it.

[ovid9]

I agree with these guys. If you're just bombing around the city, looking an older decent mountain or hybrid bike is the way to go.

Buy used, upgrade whatever's needed and you should be set.

[Holy-diver]

ok that sounds like a good plan... but what brand/ bike specifically should I look for?

[newholland]

where do you live-- i'll shoot you a list from craigslist!

[Holy-diver]

I live in temecula / inland empire california. I appreciate it man!

[Holy-diver]

I'm about 6'1" as well

[newholland]

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/bik/4028751546.html nice! perfect, and cheap. first choice-- go!

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/bik/4028255639.html these're good too, but pricier.

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/bik/3981103410.html newish, and not a bad deal if you wanted something newer and cooler.


that trek 930 is a PERFECT platform for a townie.

[Dave]

Those old USA made steel treks are indestructible. I like my alum frame when carrying it up stairs but give me a comfy well designed steel frame any day for riding around town.

[newholland]

see.. THIS is what people do with them that want to ride around the world. seriously- this is a righteous bike, and it'd be at home doing serious riding like this, or even just getting groceries. i built a turquoisey one for my wife with some gullwing bars and just a rear rack and fenders, and she never uses the car around town. panniers (bags) on the back rack, and she hits the library, the coffeeshop, her running group in the park.. you name it. it has these on it- http://www.amazon.com/Panaracer-Pasela- ... B000650ZXG runs fast, too.

[whiskey_face]

fuck I wish I lived in a smaller town not a massssssive urban sprall.

[ovid9]

Those old USA made steel treks are indestructible. I like my alum frame when carrying it up stairs but give me a comfy well designed steel frame any day for riding around town.

+1

And yes, that Trek 930 is EXACTLY what you want.

[Holy-diver]

I got that trek, 60 bucks. ill post pics later I guess
its steel but its lreally light

[ovid9]

I got that trek, 60 bucks. ill post pics later I guess
its steel but its lreally light

Awesome!

[newholland]

nice! congrats-- THAT was a really well spent 60 bux! that leaves some room to get it tweaked out to do just what you want it to do..

right on.

[newholland]

I still need to convert my trek like that, Dan.


OP, I spent ~$250 on mine and its been great. Used deal off CL:



I ride it all the time and it works just fine.

heck yeah, man-- seriously-- a pair of 26 x 1.5" panaracer paselas and a set of SKS fenders and a rack, and you'd have an urban assault vehicle.. i rode a 1989 specialized rockhopper set up pretty much like that with a set of bike nashbar panniers for forever in pittsburgh in rain and snow. i still have it.. although it's in pieces-- but until the recent spate of buying better, lighter bikes started in the past few years- it was still my main squeeze.

amazon price list: paselas-- $50, tubes $15, sks fenders $50, rack $30. if you put that stuff on yourself? sheeit.. $145 for an all purpose fitness gas saver cargo truck that rides in any weather. and trust me.. fenders are the ultimate anti-theft device..

IRT OP: with any used bikes-- first thing i do is rebuild them-- but i do my own wrench work. at a shop-- they'd probably charge $75-100 to pull it down, redo chain and cables. seriously-- the BEST thing you can do is replace the chain and cables. 1992 was a million miles away in terms of technology for cables and housing.. and your bike would work 10 million times better with modern stuff. chain's important too-- they're built differently nowadays. but they'll check your bottom bracket and headset too- that's for safety. new tires are important too-- old rubber isn't super safe-- it dry rots. a good shop is a great ally anyhow-- just let them know you're setting up a bombproof commuter, and usually they'll keep you on track for not going bonkers on blowing cash if it's not full of assholes.

[Elessar [Sly]]

CAG

[Reverse Entropy]

Like OP, I didn't want to waste a lot of money as I started to ride for exercise.

I knew a few good modern brands - Gary Fisher, TREK, Giant, a few others. I watched my local Craigslist ads for a few weeks. I saw a few bikes that "needed a tune-up" but were actually thrashed out. As suggested above, I ended up with a 10 year old aluminum framed Fisher mountain bike. I paid $180 for it. I rode it for a few weeks, and then decided it DID need a tune up so it would shift 100% right (it was only slightly goofy). I paid $85 to have all the cables replaced (badly frayed) and a new chain. I've ridden it since March with no real troubles.

I'd suggest doing something like what I did. A surprising number of good bikes are on Craigslist.

[whiskey_face]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5FSWkjFPxs[/video]

saw this today reminded me of this thread

[Lloyd Blankfein]

I save money by buying contract fuel. None of this wussy bicycle riding shit.