Buying a Bike

January 6, 2005 7:35 PM

Having read the other "I want to buy a bike" posts, I'll be quick: Would a new bike in the $200-250 range be so low-end as to be worthless for a 3-mile daily commute? Would I be better off with a used one? I'm the opposite of a serious cyclist.
posted by Jeanne to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (24 answers total)

I don't think so--I bought a $2xx Gary Fisher Tiburon hybrid bike and it works great for exactly that purpose.
posted by josh at 7:58 PM on January 6, 2005

Just don't get a heavy bike because it has a lot of features. You'll regret it.
posted by smackfu at 8:07 PM on January 6, 2005

How's the weight of your Tiburon, josh? That's the only real consideration I'd have with a low-end bike, as long as the components will hold up well over time. That's as long as you're not going to beat it up totally off-road, too.

A little extra weight makes a big difference on a daily commute. Then again, three miles isn't far.
posted by Shane at 8:12 PM on January 6, 2005

I agree with Josh, though I'm hardly an expert (although all my cycling knowledge comes from a friend who doesn't have a driver's license and bikes or buses everywhere). If you're not going mountain biking or racing, then I'd think you could get away certainly with the $250-350 range, and probably less when buying used. I would expect the hobbyists to scoff, but you'll probably be fine.

Mind you, you just might get into wanting reflectors, lights, cargo racks, bike tools, a bike computer, a poncho, pump, etc., so you might want to research what you'll think you'll need/want sooner rather than later to see if you can budget for that stuff too.

Good luck, and stay safe!
posted by kimota at 8:14 PM on January 6, 2005

Sorry, left a 'Null' link in there; please ignore.
posted by Shane at 8:14 PM on January 6, 2005

You bet! I commute that far on a beat-up low-end mountain bike. (Specialized Rockhopper, $100 used, plus around $50 for slick tires.) They go for around $300 new but you should be able to shop around for some deals, especially this time of year. High-end mountain bikes aren't great for commuting but the cheaper ones are hardy knocking-around bikes. Look into cross-breeds too.

If you're newish to biking I'd recommend getting a new bike and taking full advantage of the maintanence warranty. A lot of shops throw in helmets and water-bottle cages. Plus you'll be sure your bike fits well.
posted by hydrophonic at 8:23 PM on January 6, 2005

I rode my $300 Trek cruiser first seven, then nine, miles (round trip) to work for about a year and a half. The seven-mile ride was nothing—as soon as I had time to get annoyed, I was there. Nine it got a little annoying, but I think if I'd stuck with it, I'd not have minded after a bit. As it was, I got back into riding the train for other reasons.

All this anecdontal evidence says, "It's fine."

Another thing to consider is the basket/rack angle. People I know with road bikes & fixed gear carry their things on their backs. I hated that and preferred a basket, but putting a basket on a road bike is frowned upon, from what I understand.
posted by dame at 8:24 PM on January 6, 2005

Er, replace "you bet" with "it sure wouldn't."
posted by hydrophonic at 8:25 PM on January 6, 2005

Mind you, you just might get into wanting reflectors, lights, cargo racks, bike tools, a bike computer, a poncho, pump, etc.,

Reflectors and/or a light are nice for after dark, as people drive like idiots around bikes. A lightweight plastic fender will keep mud from splashing off the back tire onto your clothes. You might want a spare tire, and a little C02 pump and cartridge are ultra-convenient and take up less space and weigh no more than a small portable hand-pump, which are sometimes pretty tough to use anyway. Add an Allen-wrench-style bike tool, and you should be set for almost anything.

You'll decide on all that stuff as you go, though.
posted by Shane at 8:27 PM on January 6, 2005

I bought a low-end mountain bike (Giant) for primarily the same purpose, although my commute is about half of yours. I really prefer the style of mountain bikes over road bikes, but since I only use my bike on the pavement, I also bought street tires with a smoother tread. Less friction/smoother ride.

It pays to get a bike from a real bike shop, where they know how to assemble and properly tune a bike. The cheapest bike at a bike shop will usually be better than the most expensive bike at a mega-store, IMO.
posted by achmorrison at 8:30 PM on January 6, 2005

Well, my mom has commuted six miles for years on a succession of Wal Mart bikes purchased for under $60. It seems to work for her. If you don't have problems with the Wall, that might be an option, especially in high crime areas where Wal Mart bikes won't be worth stealing. I've found bicycle headlights and reflectors at the 99 cents only store before.
posted by calwatch at 8:30 PM on January 6, 2005

If your commute is urban, a flat or a breakdown won't leave you too far from a bus or taxi. For a three mile ride, you can probably leave the spare tube, pump and tools at home. Reflectors should come with the bike, and definitely get lights.

A good book for the noobie commuter is Urban Bikers' Tips & Tricks. Some excerpts here.
posted by hydrophonic at 8:46 PM on January 6, 2005

Three thoughts:

(1) Used bikes make sense if your budget is low. Like cars, bikes go down in value marketedly once they transition from being "new" to "used," so used bikes are great deals. Unlike cars, bikes last for decades with minimal (or no) maintenance. And there are tons of used, perfectly functional, bikes around. In fact, those of us in rich nations are swimming in so many old unwanted bikes that there are entire charities devoted to collecting bikes and shipping them off to the third world. Use the money you save to buy accessories, like clothes, helmet, lock, and a light--those will cost more than you think.

(2) Three miles is short! You can settle for a heavy bike if you need to.
posted by profwhat at 8:52 PM on January 6, 2005

First and foremost, find a bike that is comfortable for you to ride. If you will be carrying a lot of stuff or have back problems or just want a cushy ride, you may want to consider something like the Electra townies series. A big comfortable seat, a more upright seating position, and a flatfooted stop are part of the list of perks for casual riders. If you are planning to use this as a stepping stone to serious bicycling with heavy exertion, or you just have nasty hills on your way, you might want a more traditional bike. I personally ride a recumbent and find that it has definite advantages, but they're a bit too far out there for most people, and they're heavier and more expensive to boot.
posted by hindmost at 11:00 PM on January 6, 2005

If you're trying out the idea, by all means get a cheap used bike (and not a cheap new bike). As long as it's tuned up and well maintained, any bike that's comfortable would do for that commute, unless there's a lot of uneven or hilly terrain. I agree that you should plan on spending more on accessories instead- lights may be legally required at night, and a good pannier/basket/saddlebag purchase can move with you to a better bike in the future. And you'll need two locks. I buy my bikes used, then go to a local bike shop and can usually get a cheap tune-up in exchange for dropping cash on extras.
posted by obloquy at 11:49 PM on January 6, 2005

I bought a ~$250 Trek back when I live ~4 miles from my office, and rode it pretty much every day in pretty much every kind of weather (well, I didn't get very far in that blizzard...). I did end up replacing a lot of stuff, but most of it probably didn't need to be replaced, and the rest (except for chains) was under warranty.

Like others said, spend the money on lights and such, though I stopped carrying spare tires and such around, because I was "only" about a 25 minute walk from the bus stop to my apartment and the bike shop was near my office.
posted by dirigibleman at 12:23 AM on January 7, 2005

If you live in a place where bike theft is an issue, buy a secondhand bike at a thrift store for a few bucks. That way if it gets stolen it doesn't matter much. For such a short commute an expensive bike, even a moderately priced bike, is not necessary.

Unless of course you are going to start biking on weekends too.
posted by sic at 3:00 AM on January 7, 2005

Response by poster: Thanks all--that's very good to know. I figured that I could put up with a heavy weight or a bit of discomfort if it was only three miles, but I wasn't sure.
posted by Jeanne at 4:36 AM on January 7, 2005

Are you gonna weigh it or ride it? You'll be fine, why buy much more than you need? Buy a lock. Have fun, wave to people you see.
posted by fixedgear at 4:48 AM on January 7, 2005

Jeanne, the weight on the Tiburon is fine. It's not a light bike by any means--hauling it up or down stairs is doable, but requires strength. But the bike itself is great, has required minimal tune-up and repair, and is fun to ride. I like the hybrid bike approach more for commuting, since I get to work by riding on bike paths along the Charles River in Boston--it's sort of bumpity asphalt.

A while ago I asked a question about bike commuting that drew some amazing and helpful advice from all AskMe--it's definitely worth a read if you have other bike commuting questions.
posted by josh at 6:22 AM on January 7, 2005

most of this has been said above, however, as a long-term bike commuter, i'm compelled to chime in... there are many advantages, and no small measure of joy, involved in locating and commuting on a 'recycled' bicycle. i've commuted more-or-less daily for the past 10 years on 2 different bicycles, neither of which cost more than $50 (us). these bikes have both been utilitarian vehicles with fenders and racks, of the old mountain bike variety. you DO NOT need to spend $200+ on a commuter bike. it's just gonna get stolen. instead, go to your local bike shop, browse their used bikes, find anything that's rideable. put a rubber band around your right pant-leg, a helmet on your head and ride! good for you for even considering it.
posted by RockyChrysler at 6:30 AM on January 7, 2005

New Yorkers can buy used bikes in good shape at Recycle a Bicycle. (Warning: hideous site.) They don't buy bikes, so you're not supporting the bike-theft trade; everything is tuned up and reconditioned by neighborhood kids under the tutelage of bike gurus. There's a shop in the E. Village and a couple in Brooklyn.
posted by vetiver at 8:13 AM on January 7, 2005

I had a $200 dollar Trek I used to ride to work everyday. Man, that felt great!
posted by xammerboy at 3:51 PM on January 7, 2005

Oop, btw--I meant spare tube, not spare tire. A spare tube rolls up to the size of your fist. A tire, not so much.
posted by Shane at 9:28 AM on January 8, 2005