What bike should I buy?
365638
Take a look at commuter/fitness bikes. These are generally relatively inexpensive bikes which are a hybrid between mountain and road bikes. They're designed to be comfortable. I use an older Specialized Sport, and I ride to work most all summer. You may be able to get one used if you don't want to spend a lot of money.\n\nAlso, get a good set of lights (front and back) and reflector. Even if you don't intend to be riding after dark, you really don't want to be stuck without it. You want cars to be able to see you. You may also want to look at getting a rack and some pannier bags to tie your stuff to your bike instead of wearing a backpack. I have a nice padded bike bag for my laptop.
318307
As a big guy myself (6'5", 250lbs), I would suggest a solid framed mountain bike with a hard tail (no rear suspension.)  The rear suspension will bounce more and cause you to work harder.  I would recommend a front suspension, if you can find one in your price range, as it will increase the comfort.  Try looking in a discount sports store locally and see what they have to offer.  Your options will be limited by your price point but you may find something.\n\nAfter looking at the options, you might consider heading to a local bike shop to see if they know of anyone selling a pre-owned bike that would fit your needs.  Sometimes they will know of people trying to sell bikes.  They might even be able to put you on something that will work for a good price.
616768
Mongoose is not up there with the best, but then, not everyone is rich and not everyone needs every trick in the book! Its a good bike for getting about.\n\nIf you want something serious, durable and great to ride look at Trek, Specialised, Cannondale and Klein (amongst other good makes).\n\nMy current MTB is a Klein Attitude Race. Its superb and good value considering the very high spec'. Try one, buy it or use it as your yardstick when choosing your next bike.
326988
As a former bike shop employee and NORBA racer I can tell you there are alot of great bikes out there. Trek is and always has been a good bike. Owning one will not make you Lance.Alot of all brands of bikes are made by China-bike for their entry to mid level bikes.Specialized is a great bike.Raleigh bicycles are wonderful machines I own a R-600 road model.But!....In my opinion and I have had,Schwinn's,Diamonbacks even a Pro-flex, Cannondale Bicycles are in a class of their own. They are hand made in America by bicyclists for bicyclists.Oh....yeah I have one....a Cannondale Super V-1000.........you need one too.
797559
I think the ideal setup for you would be a mountain bike, but you can go to Wal-Mart or a LBS (local bike shop), and get some slicks (tires). These are not so nobby, so you can go 1-2 mph faster, (so the BF doesn't get bored), and cost about 12 dollars each! \n (slicks grip the road well, and often have tread)\n\nThen, get a wider seat from Wal-Mart (or the LBS) if the one installed is not very comfortable.\n\nAs for the bike, I suggest you go used. You can get something four times as expensive (a better bike) for the same price).\nGood places to fing a good bike are:\n\nhttp://sfbay.craigslist.org/about/cities.html    (I got mine there)  \nIf craigslist has a city near you, click on the link, then find the "bikes" link and click on that!\n\nAnother place is Ebay\n\nAlso, check your newspaper's classifieds!\n\nMake sure the bike fits well. It is best to get fit to a certain frame size at a LBS, but you can also search for bicycle fitting guidelines on the web. ( I only suggest this because you probably are not going to ride too much) However, you do need the right sized bike, or it will be very uncomfortable. (for the back and the knees).\n\nAs for the actual bike, a good brand should be Trek or Specialized. Everything should work fine on a test ride, and have no rust (a very bad sign of maintenance) and the drivetrain (gears, chain, etc.) should look in good shape.\nIf you do get a  bike, I suggest taking it to a bike shop for a tuneup, at least to oil the chain, etc. and to tighten everything up.\n\nGOOD LUCK!
517534
I dont know a whole lot about dirt bikes, but there was an article on consumerreports.com that said the following. Hope it helps!\n\nBikes\nWhether you plan to hit the road or the trail, you'll get more bike for your buck than ever before.\n\nIf you're planning to buy a bike, chances are your new ride will have an aluminum frame, even if the bike costs less than $500. It might even have disc brakes or 27 gears. These features, once found only on more expensive bikes, bring the benefits of lighter weight, better braking in sloppy conditions, and more efficient pedaling to cyclists with a modest budget.\n\nHigher-priced bikes are getting better, too. The best of the $1,000-and-up models in our most recent tests had the shock absorption and handling previously found only on bikes costing two or three times as much.\n\nWhichever bike you choose, there's good reason to buy it from one of the nation's 5,300 bike shops, rather than from a department store or toy store. And you don't have to spend a fortune. We found fine choices for pavement rides that cost less than $300 and very good bikes for off-road cycling for $440. The bikes for serious trail riding cost $1,000 or more.\n\n\nWHAT'S AVAILABLE\n\nBrands include Bianchi, Cannondale, Diamondback, Fuji, Gary Fisher, Giant, GT, Iron Horse, Jamis, Klein, Landrider, LeMond, Mongoose, Raleigh, Schwinn, Specialized, and Trek.\n\nFull-suspension mountain bikes. These bikes are best for rough terrain with steep slopes. You'll get a shock-absorbing suspension fork and rear-suspension frame, which provide the best control and comfort on the roughest terrain. Most have 27 speeds and 26-inch wheels. All have wide, knobby tires; narrow or moderate-width saddle; and flat or riser handlebars.\n\nPrince range: $1,000 to more than $4,000.\n\nFront-suspension mountain bikes. These bikes are best for less-rugged off-road trails. You'll get a shock-absorbing suspension fork and rigid frame, fine for tamer trails. These bikes need less maintenance and are more efficient on smooth terrain than full suspension mountain bikes. Most have 24 or 27 speeds; 26-inch wheels; wide, knobby tires; narrow or moderately wide saddle; and flat or riser handlebars.\n\nPrice range: $400 to more than $2,000.\n\nHybrid bikes. These bikes are best for moderate-speed riding on pavement and smooth dirt paths. A cross between comfort and road bikes, most hybrids have a shock-absorbing suspension fork and seatpost; 24 speeds; 700C wheels (a designation from the French system, indicating size and width; it's about 27-inch); midwidth, fairly smooth tires; moderately wide saddle; and riser handlebars.\n\nPrice range: $400 to more than $500.\n\nComfort bikes. These bikes are best for casual cycling on pavement and smooth dirt paths. Most comfort bikes have a shock-absorbing suspension fork and seatpost; 21 speeds; 26-inch wheels; wide, relatively smooth tires; wide saddle; and riser handlebars. Generally have most upright riding position, which casual riders often find most comfortable.\n\nPrice range: $250 to more than $400.\n\nRoad bikes. These bikes are best for fast and/or long distance rides on pavement. Most have a lightweight frame with no suspension; 18 to 30 speeds; 700C wheels (about 27-inch); narrow, smooth tires; narrow saddle; and drop handlebars. The bent-over riding position reduces wind resistance at higher speeds, while the narrower seat facilitates pedaling.\n\nPrice range: $500 to more than $3,000.\n\n\nIMPORTANT FEATURES\n\nBrakes. Long-arm cantilever brakes (V-brakes or linear-pull brakes) are fine for most uses. For rough, sloppy terrain, go with disc brakes, which will spare your wheel rims from the abrasion of muddy braking. Some bikes are sold with your choice of brakes. Discs add $100 or more. You can retrofit some bikes with discs; ask at the bike shop.\n\nHandlebars. High-rise handlebars let you sit fairly upright. With low-rise and flat handlebars, you lean forward.
636887
I like Diadora and they are mostly under $100.\ncheck out this link\n\nhttp://street-bikes.ridegear.com/shop/Street_Boots.html?ref=pi_boo
1146798
Believe it or not, you are not that heavy...  any good quality bike should work for you, but you might want to start on a mountain bike.\n\nTake a look at www.specialized.com and ride safe!
140151
Best place to get a really cheap bike is somewhere called Halfords. They are a car acessory chain but they also sell bikes. They do some at around £70 (circa $110 USD. If you want a decent bike you can pay around £300 for a decent servicable bike.\n\nAnother place to look is Evans Cycles. They are a London based chain and have some cheap bikes but more mid-price to expensive.\n\nYou may want to try Argos as well. They are a catalogue chain and have stores all over the country. They sometimes have bikes and they are really cheap.\n\nObviously buying a cheap bike has the associated risk of it being crap!
1084873
a good mountain bike for casual riding and NOT trail riding will run you about 200-700 depending what you get and where you go. If you are going for looks, believe me, you will not pay anything less than 1500 because all the lookers are in Trail Bikes, Downhill Bikes, and even some Cross Country bikes. Try the specialized Rockhopper or Stumpjumper. Or, the Trek 3000 series, Or, Cannondale's F series, Or Giant XTC or Anthem. Anything other than these and you start running into specialty bikes and the price also go higher.
544762
Both are rubbish.\n\nSave up a little longer and buy a quality bike that you'll enjoy long term. \n\nMost important of all, buy your bike from a good bike shop. It makes a BIG difference, because they'll help you choose the best for your budget and for your intended use of the bike. They'll also give you good advice and they'll look after you into the future (you won't get any of this from Wal-Mart etc).
195138
Road bike would be fun. I would get the hybrid though. Hard to ride a bike in the rain or snow.
827574
Trek bikes  are the truth........frame design and specs are just better than giant ...buy the trek you wont be dissapointed
650516
Hi,\n\nI assume that you are trying to decide whether to purchase a hybrid or a mountain bike. The answer depends on your riding style and the intended use for the bike. If you plan to ride the bike within city limits (along the path close to the river, to school, to the coffee shop, etc.), then go for the hybrid.\n\nIf you plan to take the bike on gravel roads and maybe some dirt trails the wider tires and suspension will make the experience much more comfortable and safe - you should go for the mountain bike. \n\nUltimately visit a local bike shop. They will be able to provide the most help. And stay away from big box stores (Walmart, Costco, etc.).\n\nHappy riding,\n\nCarlos\n\nPS: don´t forget to ride with a helmet!\n\nhttp://www.lava-tours.com
12744
You made an excelent question, and often an overlooked factor when buying a bicycle.\n\nAs a rule of thumb never buy a serious bike at a departament store, always go to a local bike shop, where you will get great advise.\n\nThe most important measures when buying a bike are\n\n1.- Frame size. There should be 1 or 2 inches between your crotch and the top tube. A longer top tube will give you more stability.\n\n2.- Saddle height. Your leg should be slightly bent while sitting on the saddle and the pedal is at the lowest.\n\n3.- Handlebar Height/lenght. Depending on what you want to do, your handle bar could be 1 or 2 inches below the saddle (mostly MTB and race bikes) or even with the saddle ( touring ) - A short stem will gove you better handling.\n\n4.- Saddle. Once again it will be determined by your riding style, you should find the center of gravity for your riding\n\nThere are a lot of internet sites that could help you make a decision, I suggest you read more on the subject and most important, go to a local bike shop where you will get expert advice.
492053
Of the brands you've mentioned (and presuming the $500 budget from your previous question still stands), I'd be looking seriously at Specialized and Giant.\n\nThe Specialized Hardrock range do really well in reviews, as they have geometry that makes them handle as nicely as some of the more expensive models. With Giant you alsways get a lof of bike for your money, and I like the way thhey ride too. I think the Yukon is probably in the region you're looking for price-wise, but also look out for a 2005 model called the Terrago, which is a great bike.\n\nAlternatley, Mongoose have seen a real resurgence in recent years. Their Amasa model does superbly in reviews, though the slightly less expensive Tyax range are also worht a good look apparently.\n\nTrek do make great bikes, though at the entry level price point I find that their frame geometry is quite conservative - an upright riding position. This is great for comfort and confidence when gently cruising along undulating trails, but if you want to get a bit gnarlier or faster, you may find the bikes a bit limiting.\n\nDo your research, then try sitting on the bikes you like. Test ride the most comforable, and then pick the one that feels like it suits you best.
1055875
Get thee to your local bike shop...  they will help you find the right wheels to help you ride safe!