Help me find the right bike.

May 26, 2010 1:38 PM

Help me find the right bike.

A search on previous asks didn't find quite the right info.

I want to bike to work and around the neighborhood. I had an old old mountain bike that I rarely rode because it didn't feel very comfortable, and never really got the hang of changing gears etc. I am now in my late 40's (female) and would sometimes carry groceries from the market etc.

I live in FL where it's pretty much flat flat flat. My butt is bigger than it was when I rode the other bike. Sometimes I might be wearing a skirt if on my way to work.

I want to buy a bike I will really be happy to ride, and there are so many styles and options - I know I can go to a bike shop and they'll help me, but I want to have an idea about what I want before I go. Please help me understand a little about "city bikes" "commuting bikes" etc. I also want to stay in my budget of about $500 but if spending a little more for something that is easier to ride or more comfortable makes sense I want to do that. This will be a bike I'll want to ride for the next 10 or mor years if possible.

posted by pinkbungalow to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (22 answers total)

For your needs, you don't need a high end performance bike -- a nice solid street bike will do, and those will be the bikes in the $200-500 range. You could probably even get away with a very cheap bike at under $200; they are much more likely to break with heavy use, but your use doesn't sound like it will be heavy. Some dedicated bike shops will not carry middle and low end bikes; the one near me starts at $1000. That's already too much bike for me, and I ride pretty hard. You can get good bikes at chains stores like Walmart and Target -- up here in Toronto, Canadian Tire caries Raleigh, which is a good solid mid-range maker.

You can get bikes with softer, wider seats -- and for your purposes, it sounds like you would like a medium sized tire, a sit-up traditional handle bar set up, and a woman's frame (for wearing with skirts). Perhaps something in this shape? (not advocating the brand - it was just the first I saw)
posted by jb at 1:50 PM on May 26, 2010

The biggest decision you'll have to make is what sort of bike you want. I'll use bikes from one manufacturer, to somewhat compare apples to apples. Roughly in order of low performance to high performance.

The Milano is a good example of a "city bike." Generally, you have somewhat wide tires, back-swept handlebars, a bigger seat, and a heavier bike. Sometimes they have a single gear, sometimes an internally-geared hub (a nice deal, if you want a few gears to choose from but think that changing gears is kind of a pain), sometimes a full cassette (think road bikes). These bikes are nice for tooling around town, and the chain guards will keep your skirts clean.

Hybrid bikes. These were all the rage a few years ago, built to tackle roads as well as dirt paths and the like. I wouldn't recommend them; they're heavier than they need to be, for no real gains.

Flat bar road bikes. These have the skinny tires and gears of a road bike, without the leaned-over posture. Good if you want to do some quick commuting and still stay comfortable and visible in traffic.

From your description, a city bike with an internally geared hub sounds like it would be right up your alley. $500 is a good price point; lots of manufacturers make solid bikes starting in that price range, and you can do even better if you buy used, though if you go the used route you may need a little more knowledge to do it well.
posted by craven_morhead at 1:51 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

Oh -- just noticed that the bike I linked to has a chain guard -- that is a great thing if you are going to have a nice skirt or trousers. I so need to get one.
posted by jb at 1:51 PM on May 26, 2010

If you're on very flat land, want to wear a skirt, and never got the hang of gears, some kind of cruiser with a "step-through" frame would probably suit you. They usually don't have any gears to shift and use coaster brakes, like the bikes you had when you were a kid, instead of brake levers on your handlebars. However, some have three gears, which are useful if you hit a small incline while moving groceries. The chains are usually covered with chainguards, so you won't get grease on your legs, either.

This site reviews several models, some of which are very expensive and others that seem to fit in your price range. I can't personally recommend any of them, as I'm a mountain bike user myself, but I'm sure people with personal experience will chime in.
posted by maudlin at 1:52 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

For What It's Worth... my friend has a great bike - a Raleigh Detour (hers was a 3.0 - she bought it a few years ago and they now have higher numbered models). She told the bike salesperson she basically wanted to "ride a sofa" and she was directed to this bike. I tried hers and really liked it and now am planning to get one for myself. $300 range, if I remember correctly.
posted by sarajane at 1:53 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

FWIW, I have a big ass and rode a bike with a big padded seat for awhile. Damn, that thing was uncomfortable after a few blocks.

Otherwise, watching this thread. I SO want a bike again.
posted by mollymayhem at 1:54 PM on May 26, 2010

Raleigh is a good make of bicycle. They used to be tanks, now they are a bit cheaper (and more cheaply made), but still good.
posted by jb at 1:59 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

it's counter intuitive, but for most people wide seats are the most uncomfortable thing in the world. they look scary, but those thinner seats with the cut outs are the bomb.
posted by johnnybeggs at 2:07 PM on May 26, 2010 [3 favorites]

My first bike (at 29!) was an Electra Townie, and I highly recommend it for tooling around town, getting a bit of groceries, etc. Very comfortable relaxed ride; I have a 21-speed men's version, but if you want to wear a skirt you might find the women's a little nicer, and if it's flat where you are, you could go with fewer gears. The ones with multiple gears have "grip-shifters" which seem much more intuitive to me than any other kind. Mine was about $400 IIRC -- that was 6 years ago, but they seem to be holding steady around that price.

I did end up replacing the saddle for one that was more comfortable, like johnnybeggs says, wide seats are less comfortable than they look. Something with a cut-out was key. :) Also, if you can get it preloaded with fenders & rack, do it. Putting those on after was a PITA, not least because the shape is rather unusual.

Good luck, have fun, and MeMail if you want to know more about my bike.

(I love the Townie so much that I keep it around even though I now ride a crazy cargo bike. Also, I've gone from not knowing how to ride to commuting 10 mi/day.)
posted by epersonae at 3:10 PM on May 26, 2010 [2 favorites]

I second @epersonae's comment. When I was a teenager I used to ride a mountain bike, but I never loved it and when it got stolen I pretty much stopped riding for about a decade. I bought an Electra Townie Balloon 8i (8-speed) last Fall (at 30) and I love it. On closeout, the price was about $450. I live in very hilly terrain but on flat ground you could go with one of their 3-speed models and I'm pretty sure the price would be less than $400, even for a current model. Going with a 3-speed will also give you access to a broader selection of Electra's slick designs.

The riding position is very different from most bikes and lets me sit happily upright. The seat is quite wide which really enhances the comfort for me since I don't have the saddle-callouses of a serious rider. Touching the ground at stops is also far easier than it is with most competition bike styles.

One thing I love on mine is the internal gearbox, which replaces the greasy exposed gears on previous bikes. It looks like riding an old single-speed but I get good gearing. It's also got big fat tires which do a great job of cushioning the ride even without fancy shocks and such.

I'd be glad to extol further if you want to MeMail me.
posted by qbject at 4:02 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

I recommend getting a bike with hand brakes, not coaster brakes. More stopping power, less tendency to skid if you are trying to stop quickly.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 4:50 PM on May 26, 2010

Another vote for the Townie. I spent a recent weekend shopping with a friend who has very similar needs and she's still trying to decide between the Townie 21, step thru or a Trek Allant. I'd avoid a proper cruiser because they tend to be a bear (heavy) on any sort of incline. It may be flat where you are but I'm talking *any* incline.
posted by FlamingBore at 5:09 PM on May 26, 2010

Best answer: I've been researching bikes for a few weeks, and when I first started, I wanted the exact things you do. I narrowed the style (road, mountain, cruiser, etc) down to a crank forward, and then I read up on every type of CF out there.


I'm going to the bike shop this weekend, and I'm considering either the Electra Townie or Trek Pure. Both are well made Crank Forward bicycles, and both under $500. They come with wide, comfortable seats so they won't need replacing after the purchase. The Townie has 1, 3, and 7 speed versions, and the Trek has a 7 speed, so the gears shifting has a low learning curve.
posted by Sufi at 5:48 PM on May 26, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'd consider a used bike. It may need restoration, but you can get that done at your local bike shop, or visit a Bike Cooperative (if you have one nearby) and learn to fix it yourself with the help of their mechanics. Department store bikes should be a last resort, IMHO - as a volunteer mechanic, I've seen too many cases of "Target put my bike together wrong and it broke" to recommend them, and they aren't likely to last 10+ years.
Things to look for include:

• Internal-gear hub, as mentioned above. Three-speed hubs are common on older bikes, five-speeds are gaining traction among the new townies. They shift in a very intuitive manner and are particularly good for town riding, since you can shift while stopped at an intersection. (I have a three-speed on one of my bikes and love the convenience of it.)
• Narrow, slick tires. Unless you intend to ride through sand/dirt/grass for a large part of your commute, these will reduce the rolling friction, making your ride faster and easier. Keep them at the maximum recommended pressure, too, unless you're on very bumpy roads.
• Not an especially wide or squishy saddle (both tend to crush nerves). Maybe a spring-supported one.
• Bike rack that's suitable for panniers (or buckets). You can also get some good folding baskets at most bike shops.
• Fenders, chain guards, and skirt guards are all good ideas if you intend to ride with a skirt, as is a step-through ("ladies") frame. (Fenders are a good idea anyway.)
• Other thoughts: If you're riding in a flat area, don't worry too much about weight (though light is nice). Keep your chain well oiled. Learn some basic maintenance if you don't yet know how (fixing flats, adjusting brakes).

The best advice I've heard, though, is "get something you want to ride." Whatever you end up with, I hope you enjoy it!
posted by sibilatorix at 5:49 PM on May 26, 2010

"The Townie has 1, 3, and 7 speed versions".

I'm pretty sure you mean 3, 8 and 21 speeds. That's what I saw at the store and that's what their website says as well. They do have other bikes with the 1/3/7 speed options though.
posted by FlamingBore at 6:44 PM on May 26, 2010

Oh, and the nice thing about the Townie21 is that it has front suspension, which if you're on the road or a bumpy bike trail will make for a smoother ride.
posted by FlamingBore at 6:45 PM on May 26, 2010

FlamingBore, I just checked the Townies again:
Original 1 (single speed)
Original 7d (7 speed)
Original 3i (internal 3 speed)

They do have 8 and 21 speeds as well.
posted by Sufi at 6:54 PM on May 26, 2010

Huh. Weird. You're right. Sorry.
posted by FlamingBore at 7:07 PM on May 26, 2010

There isn't much difference between brands. That is, a $500 bike from one manufacturer will be about the same as a $500 bike (of the same style/design) from another. Well, maybe the color. Get the one with the color you like.
posted by Rich Smorgasbord at 11:15 PM on May 26, 2010

A bike shop in town started carrying Linus Bikes, and they are fun to ride and reasonably priced. Since you are in a flat area, an 3-speed bike should be more than enough for trips around town. This one lists at $555, and that includes fenders, chainguard, a rack for a bag or basket, a 3-speed internal hub and even a bell.

If you want to forgo gears altogether, the single speed version of the bike lists for $399.

But as everyone says, there are a lot of bike brands with bikes that fit your needs in your price range, so have fun trying some out!
posted by mikepop at 6:06 AM on May 27, 2010

I'm a mid-40 year old woman who went from biking somewhat to biking a lot and loving it on a Jamis Explorer. It moves well and is comfortable. I added fenders, a kick-stand, and a basket and am as happy as can be.
posted by Pineapplicious at 6:52 AM on May 27, 2010

Response by poster: OK! Thanks so much for all the great info and suggestions. Saw and tried the Electra Townie today and that's the bike.... now just need to figure out how many speeds I need, color, accesories :-) Very fun!
posted by pinkbungalow at 7:25 PM on May 27, 2010