Help me choose a bike.

August 10, 2009 6:02 PM

Bike filter: which bicycle should I buy for commuter purposes?

I have a commute in the Boston area, and I've been looking for a bicycle to get me back and forth. The problem is I don't know anything about bikes. I've noticed that there are many mefites whose knowledge of bikes runs vast and deep, and I was hoping to channel some of that in my decision.

Relevant stats: My commute will be about 3 miles on well-paved roads, pretty flat. I'm a large guy, about 6 feet and almost 300 pounds.

I'm thinking about buying this bike. It's from LLBean, and though I like the bike, I wonder about quality. Should I worry about this from an LLBean bike?

My other option is the Jamis Commuter 3, which seems to be a bike a lot of local bike shops are selling. It seems nice, and it's a "name brand", but it costs an extra $200. And honestly, I like the feel of the other bike a bit more.

I'll get free tuneups for a year with either purchase.

Do you think I will be fine with the LLBean Bike, or should I shell out the extra money for the Jamis bike? I haven't really been able to find a lot of info on the quality of LLBean Bikes...

posted by HabeasCorpus to Travel & Transportation (20 answers total)

There's no better judge than you on the bike, actually riding it. I take it you haven't ridden either. Where will you get free tuneups with this LL Beaner bike? At a local shop? The website doesn't give much info on the components. Which level Shimano?

I would always go with the bike sold at a local shop over a catalog.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 6:13 PM on August 10, 2009

I just bought a new foldable bike, but my old bike, which I sadly gave away when I moved, lasted years, easily took me over a couple thousand miles of terrain, and cost me about $400. I bought it because the frame was a good fit for my body and riding posture. My advice would be to never buy a bike you haven't road tested. There will be expensive bikes that won't fit you comfortably, and there will be cheaper bikes that might be perfect fit.

Also: Over the years I replaced most of the parts on the bike, which is inevitable on almost any bike that's used frequently. Learn how to do basic repairs and maintenance, care for your chain and frame, and mend tires.
posted by HotPatatta at 6:20 PM on August 10, 2009

You can't seriously be thinking about buying a bike from LL Bean.

Specialized is a good brand to check out. Trek has some nice commuter bikes. I like Giant's line of commuter bikes. If you can find Brodie where you are, I would check them out!
posted by KokuRyu at 6:52 PM on August 10, 2009 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: I've taken both bikes for a ride, and I like the LLBean bike better. LLBean has a catalogue, but also opened a new store near my parent's house. I took the bike for a ride there, and that's where I will get free tuneups.

The LLBean store periodically has free demonstrations on how to mend tires, etc. and I definitely plan on going to one.

HotPattata, thanks for the info on bike laws, that is very helpful, and I will keep it in mind.
posted by HabeasCorpus at 6:54 PM on August 10, 2009

Response by poster: KoKuRyu,

I guess this is getting to the heart of my question: Why can't I seriously think about buying a bike from LLBean? Are they inferior in some regard? What specifics should I be looking for? How do I tell a decent bike from a crappy one?
posted by HabeasCorpus at 7:12 PM on August 10, 2009

Best answer: Generally speaking, you shouldn't buy bikes from a retailer or manufacturer that doesn't specialize in bikes. For example, they may cut corners on parts such as the headset or the bottom bracket, and whoever puts your bike together may do a less than stellar job. Just go to bike shops. In the long run, you'll be happier.
posted by KokuRyu at 7:28 PM on August 10, 2009 [1 favorite]

Best answer: There's some things that give me pause about the LL Bean bike:

1. Mention of "Shimano" components without specifying what group (Shimano makes low end stuff too, though much of it is pretty decent), or the specs on hubs/rims/brakes.
2. 24 gears (i.e. way more than you really need, especially on a commuter)
3. It looks like it has cheapo cantilever brakes. Which can actually work quite well, but are often thrown onto cheapo bikes.
4. Suspension on the seatpost.

These are typical of BSOs (Bicycle Shaped Objects), where marketing is more important than actual utility and durability, and quality of assembly may be low. Which isn't to say that there's anything wrong with it; it may be a great bike for the price and your needs. These are just warning signs that should make you really check it out closely.

The real reasons I'd buy the Jamis (or comparable) are:
1. Internal hub. Keeps road crud out of your shifting mechanism.
2. Fenders. Absolutely critical for commuting in Boston.
3. The Bean's bike has some assembly required (though maybe not if you get it at the store?).
4. Braze-ons for installing a rack on the Jamis frame.
5. Chainguard. It's a little thing, but it might help keep your work pants un-greased some day when you forget a pants clip.
6. Not that big a price difference for a much superior bike.

(All this comes with the caveat: buy what you like riding the best, since a crappy broken-down bike that you like is better than a fancy one you don't)
posted by Dr.Enormous at 7:30 PM on August 10, 2009 [1 favorite]

Any bike shop worth its gels will have classes on basic repairs. Changing a tube is not particularly hard, and you'll pick it up after a few tries.

Specifics? Grade of the components. Wheel set. Frame quality.

Most of the descriptors on the web site aren't exactly distinguishing features. A suspension seatpost? Yawn. Slick tires? You can buy those anywhere. Caliper brakes? Are you doing cross races?

Check out more bikes. Lots more bikes.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 7:34 PM on August 10, 2009

I bought this bike for commuting short distances in Boston about a month ago, and so far I really like it. It's a single-speed, so no easy gear for tough hills and sometimes I wish I could go just a little bit faster on nice straightaways, but then most of our hills aren't so bad and most of our straightaways have stop lights every couple of blocks. It's simple to ride and maintain, it's very light and quick, and the price is not bad. You can get fenders, racks, etc. for it. I don't actually know that much about bikes, but I can say that I really like this one.
posted by dreadpiratesully at 7:49 PM on August 10, 2009

You tell a good bike from a crappy one like you do any other thing: build quality, materials, technical specs, and aesthetic appeal.

I would say look for a butted aluminum frame and fork, tig welded, obviously---carbon fork is better.
Shimano 24 to 27 speed. Triple up front and eight to nine in back. Campagnolo and SRAM also make groups, but they'll probably be out of your price.
Double-pivot brakes if you can get them.
The lighter wheels you can find the better.
Saddle really comes down to shape and how it fits you.
Adjustable stem would be good.

From what I can tell online, the LL Bean bike looks pretty good. The Giant FCR 3 might also be in your price range at an end-of-season sale. You should certainly ride it before you buy it.
posted by luckypozzo at 7:51 PM on August 10, 2009

Witout looking at the Jamis specs, Dr.Enormous above indicates that it is internal hub. For a commuter bike, this is a VERY GOOD THING. I wouldn't now buy anything else (as a commuter over about 10km mostly flat each way myself).

Why?
Little/no maintenance for the life of the bike.
No disgustingly greasy hands
Chain guard - this saves your pants leg.
posted by wilful at 7:57 PM on August 10, 2009

Are there any good commuter bikes under 300$ (asks the guy currently riding a Dasani brand bike with plastic brakes)
posted by cyphill at 9:02 PM on August 10, 2009

I have commuted on a bike with derailleur gears, and I have commuted on a bike with a five speed hub. Both have their place. If your route were hilly, you'd want the derailleur gears for their wider range (assuming you're not about to spend serious money on something wonderful like a Rohloff Speedhub) and you'd want riding clothes, as commuting in your work clothes would get them sweaty, greasy and nasty. On mostly flat terrain, commuting in work clothes can be a workable option, and if that's what you intend to do you will definitely be happier on a bike with internal hub gears, a good chainguard (fully enclosed if you can find it) and good mudguards, preferably including a front mudflap.
posted by flabdablet at 9:02 PM on August 10, 2009

Ride more bikes first. There are various positions to sit and there is a lot of difference between them. You might even consider used bikes, the bike shop rebuilds them and then you can get a really nice bike for less than the L.L. Bean.

Got my bianche for $120 and it hasn't failed me yet.
posted by psycho-alchemy at 10:40 PM on August 10, 2009

Please, please, please do not buy a bike from a department store of any type whatsoever. It will bring you nothing but pain, sadness, and when it comes time to get it fixed, scorn and frustration. They're assembled by people who don't know what they're doing at all.

The fact that the bike from LL Bean doesn't show ANY component details in the description should be enough to make you run and scream and hide. So, if that's not enough, here's a list of what will go wrong that you really don't want to go wrong while you're commuting. I can't promise this is what will happen with absolute certainty, but I'd be willing to wager on it.

1. Your rear derailleur will come improperly adjusted. I can't tell from the picture, but if they're stamped metal, run. Run quickly. This will lead to ghost shifting and chain pops, which are extremely dangerous.

2. Your wheels will go out of true, and will not stay trued. This will impact braking, ride quality, and safety. Machine built wheels are fine and all, but someone should still hand check the tension before a ride. A department store will not do this.

3. That adjustable stem? Every time I see one of those, I die a little inside.

Now, having said all of that, I'm pretty sure that's a rebranded Schwinn. A friend of mine has a very, very similar bike, and I've spent a fair deal of time working on it. The problems she's had have been detailed above. She almost got hit by a car due to a ghost shift, hit a different car because the headset came loose, and this was a bike that WAS assembled by professionals. A 2-3 mile ride to college should not be enough to warrant extremely regular maintenance.

Seriously, if you're commuting, the second to last thing you want is for your bike to break on the road. The last thing you want is for your bike to break in a way that'll jettison you into the path of a pre-coffee morning commuter.

Oh, and please, wear a helmet. Concussions are no joke, and it only takes one fall to lose a few months to a haze of anger, frustration, and confusion.

Anyway, here's what I'd do if I were you:

Go to a bike shop and talk to them. If you start taking up a lot of their time, offer to buy them a six pack. You'd be surprised how far little things like this go.
posted by onedarkride at 3:56 AM on August 11, 2009

Not to be too rude about it but at 300lbs you will need to think about more than just a standard bike. A commuter hybrid may not have the strength to withstand the forces you will subject it to when you go over a curb or add panniers to the mix.

On my hybrid I blew a spoke out when I added two 5kg bags of gravel to my weight ( 205 at the time). The spoke head shot off like a bullet and sent a bunch of magpies 20 feet away scampering for cover.

I'd suggest looking into a touring bike as they are built to handle more weight. You definitely want racks. It is far more comfortable to carry loads in panniers than on your back (far less sweat too).

Be careful about bike stores though. A lot of them are more interested in selling high end racing bikes and mountain bikes and a commuter customer can get pretty poor treatment from the rad dudes planning their next race or ride. Make sure you find a commuter focused shop where the staff don't look right through you if you do go the bike shop route.
posted by srboisvert at 5:47 AM on August 11, 2009

One thing about the LL Bean bike is that LL Bean has a 100% satisfaction guarantee return policy. So, if you ride the bike for a year and have problems with it as described above, or even if you just don't really like it, you can bring it back and simply say you are not satisfied with the quality and get all your money back.

And, just to clarify, LL Bean stores have full-service bike shops with actual bike mechanics who assemble and service the bikes (not just their brand - they sell Specialized, Globe, and others). This is not like a department store where you have whatever random person who happens to be on shift putting the bikes together.

That said, it is made by Schwinn and doesn't come with the best components (you can get a list of which ones exactly at the store) so you are getting what you pay for. As with others, I'd recommend riding more bikes and going with what feels good!

(disclaimer: I don't work for LL Bean but I am in Maine so I automatically know people who do)
posted by mikepop at 8:07 AM on August 11, 2009

I think the distrust of LL Bean is that they're not a household name in bikes, so to speak. In my area, there aren't LL Bean stores that I know of. If they are made by Schwinn and sold alongside other established brands in a place with a bike shop--well, that would say to me that it's worth considering, at least.

The Jamis is likely a better bike, and that brand gets tons of good reviews from commuters. The internal hub is a natural for your commute, and the Jamis will probably need adjusting less (both because it has better components and because it has an internal hub). As a full-time bike commuter, I appreciate less maintenance more and more. Bike shops want me to leave my bike there for service--how am I supposed to get to work, then?

The "feel" you mention is important, and you say you like the LL Bean bike more. A good bike shop will help you dial in the fit of the Jamis to match what you like about the Bean bike (generally by adjusting stem height and reach). Perhaps you don't like that handlebar style (or the look?) Consider a Jamis Coda which appears to be similar to the price of the LL Bean bike, and has similar styling/features as well.

Most bikes sold as commuter bikes will not have issues with heavier riders. The weakest component in that regard is the wheels, and bikes sold as commuters generally have high spoke counts (like 36 spokes), which can deal with that just fine.
posted by RikiTikiTavi at 8:36 AM on August 11, 2009

You're paying for the branding on the Bean bike that's probably made in China. So it's probably a lot cheaper in quality than the $200 worth of quality.


Jamis are quality bikes. I have one of their hard tails. And I look for and only buy quality.
posted by Zambrano at 9:49 AM on August 11, 2009

One feature that's just making it to market right now is a toothed belt drive. Instead of a chain, you get a Gates toothed belt and an internal rear hub. Trek is selling a commuter bike with this system and it looks great. The big deal is extra low maintenance, no external lubricant and very low noise. Seriously agreeing with "anything but department store bikes". Buy a bike from a bike dealer.
posted by Carmody'sPrize at 11:51 AM on August 11, 2009