Good used bikes in NYC?

June 26, 2008 9:50 AM

Where can I find good used bikes in NYC?

My girlfriend lives in DC, comes to visit me in NYC a fair bit. We'd like to start biking together in the city ... she's looking for a used/good enough bike to keep up here for her use on the weekends. Price range tops out around 400 bucks or so. She doesn't need the fastest thing on 2 wheels, just something to use to get around and have some fun with this summer.

Barring the "dude on the corner" approach which is just karmically a bad idea, do you guys have any suggestions?

posted by jeffsimmermonTWC to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (7 answers total)

I got my used bike at Recycle a Bicycle. A good cause as well as a used bike shop. Their stock is constantly in flux as people bring stuff in to donate. I got a road bike that I love for $450, but I'm sure you could find something in your price range. They do give a guarantee on bikes that you buy there, so you can bring it back within a certain period of time for free repairs (a month, maybe?) if there are problems. I definitely recommend checking them out (one location on the LES and one in Brooklyn).
posted by otolith at 10:08 AM on June 26, 2008

I was at the Recycle a Bicycle location on the LES a few weeks back and they had basically no bikes in stock, save a pair of folders. I was told that Saturday before 5 is the time to go, it's when they get the most donations or something like that. No idea if the Brooklyn one has more stock.
posted by Skorgu at 10:46 AM on June 26, 2008

Craigslist is the usual source for used bikes, at least in Chicago. I imagine NYC is similar.
posted by jrockway at 11:06 AM on June 26, 2008

craigslist or a thrift shop, sometimes salvation army has a few bikes laying arnd that can be repaired
posted by radsqd at 11:13 AM on June 26, 2008

CL, or there's a guy on 6th St between 2nd and 1st (I think. Might be 1st and A) who rebuilds bikes and sells them. He'll build basically whatever you want for cheap.
posted by youcancallmeal at 11:23 AM on June 26, 2008

Also, if you are feeling hardcore about it, you can go by the 321 Community Space in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, (321 Thompkins) and build your own bike with help from some freegans. It will be cheap or free.

But seriously be careful in Bed-Stuy after dark.
posted by fuq at 12:22 PM on June 26, 2008

There's also the Hub Station, on Morton Street in the West Village. Recycle A Bicycle has a shop in Dumbo, too.

Craigslist, in my experience, is highly variable, so finding a suitable rig for your GF could take some digging. $400 does put you in the low end of prices for new bikes. Check out Bicycle Habitat, on Lafayette Street in the LoLita/SoHo area.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 6:55 PM on June 27, 2008