How to Bike
June 11, 2020 10:03 AM Subscribe
What kind of bike do I want?
I'm not an athlete or anything. But I love to bike around my neighborhood for groceries, errands, sunshine. The occasional very-beginner trail. I've always had beater second hand mountain bikes. I haven't replaced my last one that got nicked.
I don't like the crouched position of a mountain bike, and I want a little carrier on back.
What kind of bike style am I looking for, what's the price range? Any recommended manufacturers, models?
Thanks!
I'm not an athlete or anything. But I love to bike around my neighborhood for groceries, errands, sunshine. The occasional very-beginner trail. I've always had beater second hand mountain bikes. I haven't replaced my last one that got nicked.
I don't like the crouched position of a mountain bike, and I want a little carrier on back.
What kind of bike style am I looking for, what's the price range? Any recommended manufacturers, models?
Thanks!
Best answer: If by 'trail' you mean some sort of bike path instead of an offroad gravel and dirt type situation, you'll probably be happy with any one of a number of options that usually are marketed as 'city', 'commuter', or 'Dutch style'. They're generally spec'd for comfort and ease of use. Price range could be anywhere from a couple hundred to over a thousand USD depending on factors like branding, quality of components, etc.
As far as a 'little carrier' - you want a pannier rack. Some are integrated into the bike frame, but it's more common as a bolt-on accessory (that may or may not be pre-installed). You can attach a box/crate to this, or use pannier bags (which I prefer because it keeps the center of gravity on lower).
posted by BrandonW at 10:10 AM on June 11, 2020 [3 favorites]
As far as a 'little carrier' - you want a pannier rack. Some are integrated into the bike frame, but it's more common as a bolt-on accessory (that may or may not be pre-installed). You can attach a box/crate to this, or use pannier bags (which I prefer because it keeps the center of gravity on lower).
posted by BrandonW at 10:10 AM on June 11, 2020 [3 favorites]
It’s a taste thing too. I rock a big double set of wire baskets on the back of an old 70’s 3-speed Schwinn, I like them better than panniers and they were far less expensive, and the Schwinn is a nearly indestructible tank. (I can handle plenty of gentle dirt and gravel on city bikes, ymmv)
Electra and Linus are two brands that make nice modern city/Dutch bikes, I’d recommend trying them if they are in budget (and sadly avoid new schwinns).
posted by SaltySalticid at 10:33 AM on June 11, 2020 [6 favorites]
Electra and Linus are two brands that make nice modern city/Dutch bikes, I’d recommend trying them if they are in budget (and sadly avoid new schwinns).
posted by SaltySalticid at 10:33 AM on June 11, 2020 [6 favorites]
Best answer: Like BrandonW says, the term you're probably looking for is "city bike". Upright posture, swept back handlebars, and will either come with a rear rack by default or it will be very easy to add one.
Some stores will probably point you towards a "hybrid" bike, which are very popular but I personally recommend against. These bikes share some aspect of mountain and road bikes, and while they are very forgiving to infrequent cyclists the flat handlebars can cause wrist pain if you're riding regularly. That said, if you find a hybrid you like then by all means go for it. The upside of a hybrid is that they're cheaper, everyone carries them, and they are "good enough" for a variety of uses.
I've had a Brooklyn Bike Co city bike for ~5 years that I've been very happy with. These bikes are probably mid-market, $500-700 new. Note that some city bikes will have a full range of 21 or 24 gears, but many (like the ones linked) will only have 3 or 7 gears -- fine in many cases but not for everyone.
The best piece of advice is to test as many bikes as possible. Bike shops should be happy to let you try a bunch of bikes, and if they start pressuring you than you should take your business somewhere else.
posted by no regrets, coyote at 10:39 AM on June 11, 2020 [3 favorites]
Some stores will probably point you towards a "hybrid" bike, which are very popular but I personally recommend against. These bikes share some aspect of mountain and road bikes, and while they are very forgiving to infrequent cyclists the flat handlebars can cause wrist pain if you're riding regularly. That said, if you find a hybrid you like then by all means go for it. The upside of a hybrid is that they're cheaper, everyone carries them, and they are "good enough" for a variety of uses.
I've had a Brooklyn Bike Co city bike for ~5 years that I've been very happy with. These bikes are probably mid-market, $500-700 new. Note that some city bikes will have a full range of 21 or 24 gears, but many (like the ones linked) will only have 3 or 7 gears -- fine in many cases but not for everyone.
The best piece of advice is to test as many bikes as possible. Bike shops should be happy to let you try a bunch of bikes, and if they start pressuring you than you should take your business somewhere else.
posted by no regrets, coyote at 10:39 AM on June 11, 2020 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Just an FYI, and I don't know how regional this information is, but we've been trying to buy my daughter a new bike and have been told by multiple places that there's a supply-chain issue right now due to Covid-19 (we're in Southwest Ohio). The shops we've been to/called all have significantly reduced merchandise (one of them even closed half their shop because they have so few bikes right now). They don't know when they'll be getting new bikes in and orders are taking forever to process.
posted by cooker girl at 10:47 AM on June 11, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by cooker girl at 10:47 AM on June 11, 2020 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I really liked the Trek Verve 2 - it has adjustable handlebars and I put them all the way up. It was about $400 for a last-year model. It comes in all sorts of sizes, I recommend you find a Trek dealer near you. There's lots of options for baskets and racks as well.
posted by bbqturtle at 11:38 AM on June 11, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by bbqturtle at 11:38 AM on June 11, 2020 [2 favorites]
An upright style bike (a hazy category also referred to as 'city bike' or 'cruiser bike' or 'Dutch bike') seems like what you're looking for.
It would have cruiser-style handlebars, also known as upright bars. These are raised handlebars on a tall, upright stem that allow you to sit upright and maintain good control of the bike. They are wide and swept backward to put your wrists in a more comfortable position. The more upright position will be easier on your neck and shoulders. The long stem combined with wide cruiser handlebars also leaves lots of room for a front-mounted basket in addition to a rear rack if you want additional carrying capacity.
With a more upright position, you'll also want to have a nice comfy saddle, maybe one with springs (a 'sprung saddle') since your weight will be more directly on the seat.
When dealing with local bike shops, be clear about what kind of riding you do. If the location in your profile is accurate, a lot of your local shops will be heavily invested in mountain bikes, gravel bikes, and fitness bikes and they may be less well-stocked with the style you're looking for. You might have some significant hills in your area, which can be a problem for upright bikes since they tend to be heavier and have less gear-range, making those climbs and descents harder to deal with. So when talking to local shops, they might be able to help you find something that isn't quite like what I've described, but will still be well-suited to your specific needs.
posted by theory at 11:40 AM on June 11, 2020 [1 favorite]
It would have cruiser-style handlebars, also known as upright bars. These are raised handlebars on a tall, upright stem that allow you to sit upright and maintain good control of the bike. They are wide and swept backward to put your wrists in a more comfortable position. The more upright position will be easier on your neck and shoulders. The long stem combined with wide cruiser handlebars also leaves lots of room for a front-mounted basket in addition to a rear rack if you want additional carrying capacity.
With a more upright position, you'll also want to have a nice comfy saddle, maybe one with springs (a 'sprung saddle') since your weight will be more directly on the seat.
When dealing with local bike shops, be clear about what kind of riding you do. If the location in your profile is accurate, a lot of your local shops will be heavily invested in mountain bikes, gravel bikes, and fitness bikes and they may be less well-stocked with the style you're looking for. You might have some significant hills in your area, which can be a problem for upright bikes since they tend to be heavier and have less gear-range, making those climbs and descents harder to deal with. So when talking to local shops, they might be able to help you find something that isn't quite like what I've described, but will still be well-suited to your specific needs.
posted by theory at 11:40 AM on June 11, 2020 [1 favorite]
My wife has a Dutch bike and I've ridden it around a fair bit (our son preferred the child seat on her bike to the trailer on mine). Comfortable, smooth ride, handles well although it turns a bit wider than the bikes I'm used to. Hers has 8 speeds so it is OK on hills although for bigger ones it's probably still better to hop off and walk the bike up once it gets tough. She's even ridden it on dirt paths without issue. It's a great bike for doing stuff around the neighbourhood. I'm not sure how good it would be for longer rides - it would be comfortable but pretty slow.
As far as budget I think anything above the $200-300 price range ought to be OK. My last two mountain bikes were in the $500-600 (Canadian) price range and I loved them and they lasted. I gave the first one to a friend who somehow destroyed it before it was 10 years old (he gets into accidents a lot) but I've been riding the second one for 14 years now.
Bikes are one thing where if you spend more money you'll notice a difference in a fairly linear fashion BUT if you never ride on something better you'll never miss that difference either. Like I remember when I bought that first mountain bike. I was going from the cheapest bike at a department store to a fairly low-end Gary Fisher but it felt like the fastest thing ever and everything worked so much nicer. But at the same time I rode that department store bike everywhere - I even did a week-long cycling trip with it - and it was fine.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:49 AM on June 11, 2020 [4 favorites]
As far as budget I think anything above the $200-300 price range ought to be OK. My last two mountain bikes were in the $500-600 (Canadian) price range and I loved them and they lasted. I gave the first one to a friend who somehow destroyed it before it was 10 years old (he gets into accidents a lot) but I've been riding the second one for 14 years now.
Bikes are one thing where if you spend more money you'll notice a difference in a fairly linear fashion BUT if you never ride on something better you'll never miss that difference either. Like I remember when I bought that first mountain bike. I was going from the cheapest bike at a department store to a fairly low-end Gary Fisher but it felt like the fastest thing ever and everything worked so much nicer. But at the same time I rode that department store bike everywhere - I even did a week-long cycling trip with it - and it was fine.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:49 AM on June 11, 2020 [4 favorites]
Best answer: I'd say watch out for so-called "cruiser" bikes as they are often very heavy. They are a PITA to put away in a garage or to maneuver around obstacles. These were in style big-time back in the '90s as they had an old-timey kind of appearance that some people equated with "basic." But they are heavy tanks in my experience.
I'd also recommend getting a kick stand. These are talked down among "biker types" as they add extra weight. They do add extra weight, but they make dealing with the bike much easier for everyday use. I HIGHLY recommend getting lightweight mud fenders to avoid splashing greasy mud up your back. Yes, it's a little extra weight, but for simple practicality they are essential.
I ended up getting a Jamis brand "Citizen" model a few years back. This has straight handle bars that turn up a little. I got the previous year's model (those are always marked down and 100% fine). Go to a local bike store, as many bikes you find at Walmart, etc don't have good third party parts like Shimano gears, etc. I paid about ~$400 after asking a local shop for a "city bike" and at age 50, this is my favorite bike I've ever had. Also get battery powered light set: white for front, red for rear. These cost me $30 total and I've only had to replace the batteries one time in five years, though I do not ride much at night.
Do not spend a lot because bike theft is real and common and the thieves target expensive bikes. Again, go to a local shop. But be wary of people trying to sell you performance/road bikes. With the amount of theft and vandalism that happens everywhere, I think it's nuts to spend more than $5-600 on a bike that you want to use, lock up in various places and not be horribly worried about.
Make sure to test ride it and feel comfortable. If you ain't feeling comfortable, don't buy it, no matter what the salesperson says. Some "bike types" would have me perched up so high that I'm on the tips of my tippy-toes unless I'm off the seat. I say bullshit to that. I ride in a city and I'm a casual rider who wants control more than the extra 3% cranking power from a gear-heads idea of a perfect posture. As a casual, you're gonna stumble a bit at crosswalks, curbs and various moves around, and you want to be able to feel steady and balanced when you're fumbling around from time to time.
Make sure the brakes feel tight. Tighter than they might NEED to feel when at the shop, because the cables will indeed stretch after using them a bit. Most small shops will include a quick tuneup for tightening these cables a few months later. It's worth asking if they include this, and it is totally worth getting it done. It's just plain natural for things to loosen up and stretch after some use.
There's a big portion of bikers in the USA who treat biking like a performative and showoff lifestyle. If your shop or salesperson is feeling that way to you, politely decline. You want comfort and stability, not "performance" or high technology or the lightest bike possible.
posted by SoberHighland at 12:05 PM on June 11, 2020 [2 favorites]
I'd also recommend getting a kick stand. These are talked down among "biker types" as they add extra weight. They do add extra weight, but they make dealing with the bike much easier for everyday use. I HIGHLY recommend getting lightweight mud fenders to avoid splashing greasy mud up your back. Yes, it's a little extra weight, but for simple practicality they are essential.
I ended up getting a Jamis brand "Citizen" model a few years back. This has straight handle bars that turn up a little. I got the previous year's model (those are always marked down and 100% fine). Go to a local bike store, as many bikes you find at Walmart, etc don't have good third party parts like Shimano gears, etc. I paid about ~$400 after asking a local shop for a "city bike" and at age 50, this is my favorite bike I've ever had. Also get battery powered light set: white for front, red for rear. These cost me $30 total and I've only had to replace the batteries one time in five years, though I do not ride much at night.
Do not spend a lot because bike theft is real and common and the thieves target expensive bikes. Again, go to a local shop. But be wary of people trying to sell you performance/road bikes. With the amount of theft and vandalism that happens everywhere, I think it's nuts to spend more than $5-600 on a bike that you want to use, lock up in various places and not be horribly worried about.
Make sure to test ride it and feel comfortable. If you ain't feeling comfortable, don't buy it, no matter what the salesperson says. Some "bike types" would have me perched up so high that I'm on the tips of my tippy-toes unless I'm off the seat. I say bullshit to that. I ride in a city and I'm a casual rider who wants control more than the extra 3% cranking power from a gear-heads idea of a perfect posture. As a casual, you're gonna stumble a bit at crosswalks, curbs and various moves around, and you want to be able to feel steady and balanced when you're fumbling around from time to time.
Make sure the brakes feel tight. Tighter than they might NEED to feel when at the shop, because the cables will indeed stretch after using them a bit. Most small shops will include a quick tuneup for tightening these cables a few months later. It's worth asking if they include this, and it is totally worth getting it done. It's just plain natural for things to loosen up and stretch after some use.
There's a big portion of bikers in the USA who treat biking like a performative and showoff lifestyle. If your shop or salesperson is feeling that way to you, politely decline. You want comfort and stability, not "performance" or high technology or the lightest bike possible.
posted by SoberHighland at 12:05 PM on June 11, 2020 [2 favorites]
ALSO: Have the bike seller demonstrate removing the front wheel for you. Then, right there, try doing it yourself. Taking it off, "unclipping" the brakes, then putting it back on straight and repositioning the brakes. You will need to do this eventually, and depending on the model of the bike, it may be slightly tricky.
posted by SoberHighland at 12:17 PM on June 11, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by SoberHighland at 12:17 PM on June 11, 2020 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Have a look at the following possibilities:
The late Sheldon Brown has a fantastic website on all things bicycle, updated and maintained by John Allen and Sheldon's widow, Harriet Fell. The page for beginners is useful. For tips on how to ride safely and predictably, see John Allen's Bicycling Street Smarts.
posted by brianogilvie at 1:48 PM on June 11, 2020 [2 favorites]
- Jamis Commuter series.
- Breezer Uptown LX
The late Sheldon Brown has a fantastic website on all things bicycle, updated and maintained by John Allen and Sheldon's widow, Harriet Fell. The page for beginners is useful. For tips on how to ride safely and predictably, see John Allen's Bicycling Street Smarts.
posted by brianogilvie at 1:48 PM on June 11, 2020 [2 favorites]
Oh, another tip for bike shopping: unless you have your heart set on a particular bike, your first step should be to shop for a good shop. That is, check out several bike shops in your area and choose one where you feel comfortable and where the clerks listen to what you want instead of pushing whatever they want. Then see what they carry that fits your needs.
posted by brianogilvie at 1:50 PM on June 11, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by brianogilvie at 1:50 PM on June 11, 2020 [4 favorites]
Best answer: *hearteyes* Biking for transportation! Underrated activity. Excited wall o' text ahead.
As has been covered above, you're looking for a "city bike." The upright riding position, wide tires (I had zero interest in competing for hair trigger reaction times and speed with the roadies, I wanted tires that could handle Boston potholes), and low step-through frame were what drew me to my current bike (replacing a Trek WSD 5.2 hybrid). I ride my bike in all conditions - when I lived in Boston, I was a winter rider, and honestly it was safer for me to ride the cleared streets to the train station than to walk on the icy sidewalks - and I do so wearing anything from a skirt suit for work to a cocktail dress for a party to bootcut jeans for whatever.
Features/accessories I've found useful to look out for:
- a kickstand. Bikers who belittle kickstands are concerned with expelling every last "excess" gram of weight on their bike in the name of speed. You want to be able to prop your bike upright while parking, getting your groceries out of your panniers, etc.
- a back rack. My Sommer came with a back rack for panniers; I'm not sure why it's not showing up any more on the site, but it's damn useful. I had these panniers for years and they ripped just before we moved, so I'm currently looking at replacements. But they could handle 40 lbs of groceries easily - that gallon of OJ, canned tomatoes, and delicate strawberries and eggs cradled on top, cushioned with a sweater. And they were water-resistant enough to make it through heavy rainstorms.
- fenders. Riding through a puddle, you don't want to get a wet skunk stripe up your back.
- a chainguard or a chaincase - you'll see people who roll up their right pants leg so it doesn't get caught in the chain; having a chainguard or chaincase means you don't have to worry about that.
- hub gears - I love the convenience of being able to change gears while stopped, and how low-maintenance they are; I will never, ever go back to a derailleur system (especially after my chain snapped on my previous derailleur bike in the middle of a five-way intersection). I feel much more strongly about this than most, though. ;)
- locks, multiple. Bikes are thief magnets during the best of times; right now, bike theft is way up. I have: 1. a frame lock, attached to the bike frame; that goes through the rear wheel and prevents it from being rolled or ridden away, forcing any would-be thief to physically have to pick up my bike. 2. A standard U-lock that I feed through the rear triangle of my bike when attaching it to a bike rack. 3. A cable that I feed through the front wheel that attaches back to the U-lock. 4. I got rid of all "quick release skewers" on my bikes, replacing them with locking skewers, making it harder to steal my wheels or saddle. I have never once in a dozen years of adult riding needed to remove my front wheel or saddle quickly, why make it easier for thieves?
Normally, I would tell you to go down to your Local Bike Shop (STRONGLY seconding brianogilvie that finding bike shops that will listen to you and match you with what you want is incredibly valuable, especially because they will be helping you maintain your bike) and do some test rides to figure out what you find comfortable, especially if they sell any secondhand bikes, which you could probably have gotten for $300-$500, but I don't know if that opportunity exists for you right now, both because COVID has meant the process of handing off a bike for a test ride is more complex, and because bike sales are WAY up right now so many stores are cleaned out of whatever stock they had.
If I were shopping for a new bike today that fit those criteria (and could handle the hills you're likely to encounter based on your profile location), I would consider these options:
* Linus Dutchi 7i
* Breezer Downtown 7 Step-Through
* Public C7i (you'd have to add a back rack on afterwards)
* Electra Townie 3i comes in lower on the list because it's only a 3-speed; I could've sworn Electra had a 7- or 8-speed internal hub Townie but can't find it right now. It's not that the lowest gear couldn't handle hills, it's that the 3 gears are more spread out to cover a sufficient range, and I would be willing to pay more for the more nuanced options more gears give you when riding hills. Similar reasoning for the Brooklyn Bikes Willow 3.
The above bikes are in the $500-$800 range. You can get a little cheaper, but then you have to start adding back *on* some of the accessories aftermarket, which isn't always easy or possible. Like the Liv Flourish is ~$400, but it doesn't have fenders or a back rack or a chaincase. At least the Suede 2 has a chaincase! ... ooh, and their Suede 1, if you can find it somewhere, has *everything* on my feature list above except the hub gears!
More expensive ($1000+) but they still have my heart:
* Gazelle Tour Populair (classic Dutch bike)
* Pashley Princess Sovereign this is the dream bike I got to test ride right before lockdown.
posted by Pandora Kouti at 3:10 PM on June 11, 2020 [6 favorites]
As has been covered above, you're looking for a "city bike." The upright riding position, wide tires (I had zero interest in competing for hair trigger reaction times and speed with the roadies, I wanted tires that could handle Boston potholes), and low step-through frame were what drew me to my current bike (replacing a Trek WSD 5.2 hybrid). I ride my bike in all conditions - when I lived in Boston, I was a winter rider, and honestly it was safer for me to ride the cleared streets to the train station than to walk on the icy sidewalks - and I do so wearing anything from a skirt suit for work to a cocktail dress for a party to bootcut jeans for whatever.
Features/accessories I've found useful to look out for:
- a kickstand. Bikers who belittle kickstands are concerned with expelling every last "excess" gram of weight on their bike in the name of speed. You want to be able to prop your bike upright while parking, getting your groceries out of your panniers, etc.
- a back rack. My Sommer came with a back rack for panniers; I'm not sure why it's not showing up any more on the site, but it's damn useful. I had these panniers for years and they ripped just before we moved, so I'm currently looking at replacements. But they could handle 40 lbs of groceries easily - that gallon of OJ, canned tomatoes, and delicate strawberries and eggs cradled on top, cushioned with a sweater. And they were water-resistant enough to make it through heavy rainstorms.
- fenders. Riding through a puddle, you don't want to get a wet skunk stripe up your back.
- a chainguard or a chaincase - you'll see people who roll up their right pants leg so it doesn't get caught in the chain; having a chainguard or chaincase means you don't have to worry about that.
- hub gears - I love the convenience of being able to change gears while stopped, and how low-maintenance they are; I will never, ever go back to a derailleur system (especially after my chain snapped on my previous derailleur bike in the middle of a five-way intersection). I feel much more strongly about this than most, though. ;)
- locks, multiple. Bikes are thief magnets during the best of times; right now, bike theft is way up. I have: 1. a frame lock, attached to the bike frame; that goes through the rear wheel and prevents it from being rolled or ridden away, forcing any would-be thief to physically have to pick up my bike. 2. A standard U-lock that I feed through the rear triangle of my bike when attaching it to a bike rack. 3. A cable that I feed through the front wheel that attaches back to the U-lock. 4. I got rid of all "quick release skewers" on my bikes, replacing them with locking skewers, making it harder to steal my wheels or saddle. I have never once in a dozen years of adult riding needed to remove my front wheel or saddle quickly, why make it easier for thieves?
Normally, I would tell you to go down to your Local Bike Shop (STRONGLY seconding brianogilvie that finding bike shops that will listen to you and match you with what you want is incredibly valuable, especially because they will be helping you maintain your bike) and do some test rides to figure out what you find comfortable, especially if they sell any secondhand bikes, which you could probably have gotten for $300-$500, but I don't know if that opportunity exists for you right now, both because COVID has meant the process of handing off a bike for a test ride is more complex, and because bike sales are WAY up right now so many stores are cleaned out of whatever stock they had.
If I were shopping for a new bike today that fit those criteria (and could handle the hills you're likely to encounter based on your profile location), I would consider these options:
* Linus Dutchi 7i
* Breezer Downtown 7 Step-Through
* Public C7i (you'd have to add a back rack on afterwards)
* Electra Townie 3i comes in lower on the list because it's only a 3-speed; I could've sworn Electra had a 7- or 8-speed internal hub Townie but can't find it right now. It's not that the lowest gear couldn't handle hills, it's that the 3 gears are more spread out to cover a sufficient range, and I would be willing to pay more for the more nuanced options more gears give you when riding hills. Similar reasoning for the Brooklyn Bikes Willow 3.
The above bikes are in the $500-$800 range. You can get a little cheaper, but then you have to start adding back *on* some of the accessories aftermarket, which isn't always easy or possible. Like the Liv Flourish is ~$400, but it doesn't have fenders or a back rack or a chaincase. At least the Suede 2 has a chaincase! ... ooh, and their Suede 1, if you can find it somewhere, has *everything* on my feature list above except the hub gears!
More expensive ($1000+) but they still have my heart:
* Gazelle Tour Populair (classic Dutch bike)
* Pashley Princess Sovereign this is the dream bike I got to test ride right before lockdown.
posted by Pandora Kouti at 3:10 PM on June 11, 2020 [6 favorites]
Good advice above. One other thing: if your area is fairly flat, and if you're able to stand and pedal on the occasional hill, consider a single speed city bike. If you do want gears, an internal hub gear is nice. These both look nicer, reduce maintenance, and allow for chainguards which protect your pants from grease stains.
All that said, "beater second hand mountain bikes" are popular for your purposes too. You can certainly put a rack on one, and even change the bars for a more upright position. Just don't get one with suspension-- cheap suspension adds unnecessary weight and complication.
posted by alexei at 3:17 PM on June 11, 2020 [1 favorite]
All that said, "beater second hand mountain bikes" are popular for your purposes too. You can certainly put a rack on one, and even change the bars for a more upright position. Just don't get one with suspension-- cheap suspension adds unnecessary weight and complication.
posted by alexei at 3:17 PM on June 11, 2020 [1 favorite]
My wife initially wanted a Pashley Princess Sovereign but ended up getting an Achille Craighton Pure Omafiets instead. It's a very nice bike.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 3:22 PM on June 11, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 3:22 PM on June 11, 2020 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Bikes are very much in short supply right now (recently I learned that lots of bikes are made in Wuhan, and there has been a lot of demand this spring).
In regular times I'd encourage you to go to your local big independent bike shop (not a big box store and not REI), and ride two to four or five bikes that we might be called city bikes or urban bikes or commuter bikes. Some will already have fenders and a rack, but if not, these are easy things for the shop to add. But ride a few of these and see how they feel. They should be more upright than a true mountain bike, and also lighter. See if you can ride to someplace with at least a little bit of a hill so you can play with changing gears.
Yes, avoid cruisers or anything without gears that's very heavy.
So in these times, I'd encourage you to call your local bike shop and see what they have in stock and if they're doing test rides. You can find entry level city bikes for $500, and you can spend a lot more too. There are lots of fine brands, but you might find that one bike just fits a little better than another, so I wouldn't worry too much about brands right now.
posted by bluedaisy at 4:33 PM on June 11, 2020 [2 favorites]
In regular times I'd encourage you to go to your local big independent bike shop (not a big box store and not REI), and ride two to four or five bikes that we might be called city bikes or urban bikes or commuter bikes. Some will already have fenders and a rack, but if not, these are easy things for the shop to add. But ride a few of these and see how they feel. They should be more upright than a true mountain bike, and also lighter. See if you can ride to someplace with at least a little bit of a hill so you can play with changing gears.
Yes, avoid cruisers or anything without gears that's very heavy.
So in these times, I'd encourage you to call your local bike shop and see what they have in stock and if they're doing test rides. You can find entry level city bikes for $500, and you can spend a lot more too. There are lots of fine brands, but you might find that one bike just fits a little better than another, so I wouldn't worry too much about brands right now.
posted by bluedaisy at 4:33 PM on June 11, 2020 [2 favorites]
Best answer: My husband started at the same place as you very recently. He thought about Fat Bikes for a while because he just wanted to have fun, but after a ton of research eventually realized mid range hybrid would suit him best. He got a Trek FX 3 and loves it now. He just tools around the neighborhoods on it; he’s not an intense “cycling” guy. I’m pretty proud of myself for predicting the Covid-19 supply chain issues related to bikes so I encouraged him to buy it at the outset in March after he’d reached his decision, but it definitely may affect your options.
posted by hellogoodbye at 4:49 PM on June 11, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by hellogoodbye at 4:49 PM on June 11, 2020 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Avid cyclist here. I agree that what you are looking for is a city bike. Years ago after a trip to Amsterdam I came home and bought a step through frame upright position bike with a rack and kickstand. It was the best bike for short grocery trips and errand like you’re describing. Just realize there is a downside to that upright position that is not just slower speed. When you sit upright on a bike it changes the muscle you utilize while peddling-you don’t use your glutes, which are you biggest muscle. For anything other than short flat rides the bike will feel cumbersome and you’ll fatigue quicker. I found myself gravitating towards my road bike even for my 3 mile commute. If you might want to ride farther or ride hills then a hybrid might suit you better. It’ll be lighter than the mountain bike but with a lower position- the key to not being uncomfortable in that position is getting a good bike fit. If the reach to the handlebars is too long ( pretty likely if your a woman riding a men’s bike) - your back will hurt. A good bike shop should be able to help with the fit- As a tall women I usually end up buying a men’s bike and swapping out the stem for a shorter adjustable one to dial in a comfortable position.
posted by morchella at 9:39 AM on June 13, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by morchella at 9:39 AM on June 13, 2020 [2 favorites]
I am a big fan of Dutch-style "omafiets" models that actually descend from the British "roadster" design from before the war. You may find models that have a front basket rack attached to the downtube (rather than the fork) nice. I have two at home: a refurbished Royal Mail bike, and a WorkCycles Secret Service. The neat thing about the WorkCycles is that you can lift the basket and frame out without tools, and take it up to the office after locking up. Or you can slip a padlock through the ends of the thing to secure it in place.
I recommend a step-through model for the kind of trips you're thinking about. When you have your bike loaded up with groceries, swinging your leg up and over a giant pile of boxes just isn't fun, and it's easier to hold it steady if you can just step over the downtube and truss structure.
I notice you're in Colorado, and the weight of these bikes is a concern for some people when going up steep hills. that said, the weight of your shopping would probably also be a concern so it's kind of a wash usually.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 9:57 AM on June 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
I recommend a step-through model for the kind of trips you're thinking about. When you have your bike loaded up with groceries, swinging your leg up and over a giant pile of boxes just isn't fun, and it's easier to hold it steady if you can just step over the downtube and truss structure.
I notice you're in Colorado, and the weight of these bikes is a concern for some people when going up steep hills. that said, the weight of your shopping would probably also be a concern so it's kind of a wash usually.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 9:57 AM on June 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks all! Super useful. I learned so much. I searched around and found some good candidates online.
Alas, as for the supply...my local super-highly-recommended bike shop responded to my email:
Alas, as for the supply...my local super-highly-recommended bike shop responded to my email:
I am sorry to say that we don’t have this model and TREK indicates the next availability to ship is Oct. 21st. If you can find one buy it asap as the world inventory of under $1,000 bikes is basically sold out.posted by j_curiouser at 10:55 AM on June 20, 2020
« Older Photoshop CS4 on OS X Mojave worked fine for years... | How to deal with a grumpy, hostile neighbor Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by j_curiouser at 10:04 AM on June 11, 2020