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wanderlyte

Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 4:21 pm

Joined: 06 May 2006 Posts: 62 Location: Afloat somewhere in Puget Sound

I have a friend who is looking for a road bike for commuting and recreational rides. The most she can afford to spend right now is $650. Since most of you know a lot more about bikes than me, thought I'd ask for some suggestions here.

What are the best value new bikes at or below that price? What are good shops in Seattle that carry that kind of bike? Any opinions on the Trek 1000 WSD or the Giant OCR 3 W. Other suggestions?

She's about 5'8". Anyone have or know of a good quality used bike in that price range that might be suitable? She is watching craigslist.

Thanks,

--Matt

langston

Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 4:24 pm

Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 5547 Location: Columbia City

wanderlyte wrote:

Marin makes a nice roadish hybrid for well under that amount. CHeck out 2nd Time Around

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Aaron

Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 8:42 pm

Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 4645

Fixie, all the cool kids ride one...

Around $500

martin

Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 9:30 am

Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 712

Aaron wrote:

Fixie, all the cool kids ride one...

Around $500

Doesn't that come with a flip-flop hub so she can be like Henry and rock the freewheel when she wants?

derrickito

Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 11:05 am

now with 50 percent more EVIL Joined: 22 Jul 2005 Posts: 10566

i wouldnt suggest a a fixed gear to be the best thing for someone just jumping back into biking

i got my kona jake for under 650 (on massive sale though). plenty of gears, and brand new, not a used bike. from what i saw when i was out shopping for that, there are quite a few available for that price range. each shop around town carrying different brands and varying stock. gotta hit the pavement a bit.

Aaron

Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 8:55 pm

Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 4645

Most makers make "inexpensive" road bikes now. Usually around 4 to 7 hunderd dollars.

Most important is to make sure the bike fits. You can have that done BEFORE you buy. We do fittings (Fit Kit).

Derrick, don't you know fixies are hip? Ask Scottie, he is our resident fixed gear guru, dont-cha know!

lieutenantsean

Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 10:38 pm

Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 1255

Fixies are gay. Touring bikes are what the cool kids ride.
Can I get a witness Dane?

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Jasperjowls

Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 12:16 am

Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 7 Location: Seattle

"Fixies are gay. Touring bikes are what the cool kids ride.
Can I get a witness Dane?"

Touring is fun, although not cheap

zuvembi

Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 7:28 am

Joined: 24 Jul 2005 Posts: 942 Location: Little Addis Ababa

lieutenantsean wrote:

Fixies are gay. Touring bikes are what the cool kids ride.
Can I get a witness Dane?

Hallelujah Brother! Testify!

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lieutenantsean

Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 8:30 am

Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 1255

Jasperjowls wrote:

Touring is fun, although not cheap

That's a matter of perspective.
I'm a few thousand dead presidents into my touring bike and assorted gear. On the other hand, I would have spent the money on something anyway, now I have something cool.

My biggest expense in touring is food. I can throw back 5000 calories a day touring (almost triple my normal daily intake). On a normal day, I'll spend $20 a day on food.

Were I (gasp) to do the same distances car camping, it would cost $6 in gas plus another $10 or so in food. But cars can't stay in hiker-biker sites. $4 for the bike vs. $15 for a car site. Bike cost is now $24, car cost is $31.

Bike touring is cheaper than car touring, QED.

Plus, there are some things that you can't put a price on.
1) Watching the people in the RV cringe as they watch your feeding habits.
2) The people in the RV offering you a cheese burger and beer because whatever the hell you are doing, it seems to be making you hungry.
3) Passing cars on crowded highways (e.g. 101 in Oregon) on holiday weekends.
4) Finding cool shit along the road.
5) The state park worker happily telling you they have plenty of space for you right after she turned the Rhode Island-sized RV away.
5) Watching the state park worker tell the aforementioned RV pilot that they have room for the "crazy bastard on the bicycle" because all the RV sites are full but there are plenty of hiker-biker sites.
6) Being called the "crazy bastard on the bicycle."
7) Sharing campsite, beer and stories with other cyclists who have clearly been on the road a bit too long for their own good.

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Jasperjowls

Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 12:47 pm

Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 7 Location: Seattle

"That's a matter of perspective.
I'm a few thousand dead presidents into my touring bike and assorted gear. On the other hand, I would have spent the money on something anyway, now I have something cool."

Weren't they looking for a bike under $650? Otherwise funny looks are funny looks are fun.

joby

Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 12:56 pm

goes to eleven Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 3899 Location: The Cloud

Touring is as expensive as you want it to be. People cross entire countries on $200 bikes.

lieutenantsean

Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 2:34 pm

Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 1255

One of my profs in grad school rode all over Mexico on a three speed. It is as expensive as you choose to make.

My touring bike has been a labor of love over the past few years. I've built the bike I've always wanted a component or two at a time. Barring theft, totaling it in a crash or giving into the urge to buy a tandem, I don't plan on buying another bike in my life.

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mork the delayer

Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 1:04 pm

Joined: 06 Apr 2006 Posts: 548 Location: Providence, RI

[quote=lieutenantsean]Plus, there are some things that you can't put a price on. [/quote]

8) Blowing past a couple hundred cars waiting in line for the Clinton-Mukilteo ferry at ~20mph.
9) Passing that sign in the line of cars waiting for the ferry that says "Ferry Wait before this point 90 mins."

My friend Evelyn and I biked to the San Juans last weekend. This great scene was on our way back on Sunday.

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SeditiousCanary

Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 1:47 pm

sorry, can't make it! Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 2315 Location: Fremont Troll

joby wrote:

Touring is as expensive as you want it to be. People cross entire countries on $200 bikes.

Such as Vatican City.

henry

Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 2:05 pm

somewhat piggish Joined: 05 Aug 2005 Posts: 5415 Location: on porch with shotgun

mork the delayer wrote:

My friend Evelyn and I biked to the San Juans last weekend. This great scene was on our way back on Sunday.

when you were going up/down whidbey did you just stick to the highway or did you take the senic route?

what was the mileage from seattle to anacortes?

I MUST KNOW THESE THINGS

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Stanglor

Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 2:14 pm

Joined: 28 Jan 2006 Posts: 555 Location: Wallingford

When I've done it I take the main road on Whidbe and it ends up being just a hair shy of 90 miles from North Seattle to Anacourtes.

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Torch

Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 8:56 pm

Terrance Joined: 24 Jul 2005 Posts: 1637 Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands

my trek 1000 was about $600, and i've ridden the hell out of it, and it's still doing mostly superb.

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