Bike Reqs

smetter04 · May 2016

H and I are in the market for new bicycles as we're interested in taking advantage of the trail near our home and having a fun way to get outside and get some exercise.

I've done some research and it looks like getting a good bike from a local bike shop will cost upwards of $500 per bike. We don't need high-end bikes as we want them for low-to-moderate use only, but at the same time we want to choose bikes that fit us well, are fun to ride, and will last many years. I'm hoping to not spend more than $300 per bike...but I don't know if that's realistic?

Also, we plan to start TTC this September. Not sure if that affects this, but I am concerned that we're spending $$ for bikes that we may not even get use out of for a couple years...

I'm wondering if anyone has recommendations for bikes that wont break the budget, or any pros/cons of going with a bike from Target vs. a bike shop? Thanks!

brij2006 · May 2016

I started out with a bike from Target for trail rides, then gauged whether or not I used it enough to upgrade. I purchased a mountain bike so that it had the rougher terrain tires rather than the skinnier ones as a road bike, but the trail I ride on is not paved. It's a Schwinn.

So glad that I did, because I don't use it enough to justify investing a ton of money into one. Especially now that DD is here. There are no more Saturday 15+ mile rides. Although if I bought a seat for the bike, I know she would absolutely love it. She cries whenever I go out for a run and leave her with daddy instead of putting her in the jogging stroller to go with.

If your trails are paved and you will use a bicycle for some road riding as well, then you may want to look into a Hybrid. They have a bit narrower tires and less grip to them. They flide easier on pavement than a mountain bike. There's a Schwinn 700 series at Target for right at $200.

Xstatic3333 · May 2016

I was going to recommend against a Target or Walmart bike, but bri makes a really good point that you could use it as a gauge about how much you will really use the bike, with an intent to upgrade later if needed. For a good bike that will last for years, $400-$500 sounds about right to me if you buy new. Bikes can be a great thing to buy used, however, provided that they've been well maintained. A $500 bike can be found used on Craigslist for $200-$300. You just need to really gauge the seller, get proof of ownership, etc. to make sure the bike wasn't stolen. It's really common around here. When I had my nice bike I was so careful about locking it when out and about, but then it gotten stolen out of the basement of the three decker where I lived. You can't win sometimes.

My nice bike was a hybrid, and I agree that's the way to go for paved trails. The brand was Trek, and they make a really good product. REI's house brand, Novara, also makes really solid bikes at a $400-$500 pricepoint. If you join as an REI as a member you get 10% back on all your purchases, and they also have great sales a lot.

I probably wouldn't let TTC play into your plans too much. We started in December, and I remember hesitating about signing up for my yoga membership (it's heated, so out once PG) and my upcoming 10 mile race because I "could be pregnant." Welp, here we are, very much not pregnant, and I'm glad I have those things to look forward to. If I had gotten pregnant quickly, the excitement would have overridden the concerns about wasted money. Plus, with a bike, you would have the option of keeping it for occasional rides or reselling it if you really don't use it at all anymore.

brij2006 · May 2016

Xstatic3333 said:

I probably wouldn't let TTC play into your plans too much. We started in December, and I remember hesitating about signing up for my yoga membership (it's heated, so out once PG) and my upcoming 10 mile race because I "could be pregnant." Welp, here we are, very much not pregnant, and I'm glad I have those things to look forward to. If I had gotten pregnant quickly, the excitement would have overridden the concerns about wasted money. Plus, with a bike, you would have the option of keeping it for occasional rides or reselling it if you really don't use it at all anymore.

Every single bit of this. Seriously. It can take a healthy couple a year to get pregnant. Some are lucky and get pregnant right away, others do not.

If we had put life on hold when we were TTC, we would have done nothing for 2.5 years.
Now here we are 11 months into TTC#2. Our Hawaii and snowmobiling trips that I hesitated to book, have come and gone. I've signed up for running races in the summer and fall as well. If I'm pregnant when those come, then we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

maple2 · May 2016

Another idea would be to look for a used bike. I know the local bike stores near us will take trade-ins so they often have used bikes for sale. You can also find them on Craigslist. One benefit of going to a bike store is that they should be able to help you figure out the right size of bike and let you take some test rides. That could help you make a good choice even if you end up not buying from them. In general, I don't think there is any need to have an expensive bike for casual riding. That said, there are noticeable differences in comfort and performance with more expensive bikes, so you might want to avoid test riding any that are outside of your budget.

I recently upgraded to a nice road bike from a 20 year old mountain bike, but I'd still like a mountain bike or hybrid for riding around with the kids. I'm probably going to just get something cheap off of craigslist since I don't expect to ride it more than 8 miles at a time. We got a burley (it's a bike trailer for kids) off of craigslist when our first kid was little, and it has gotten a ton of use. It's a great investment if you want to keep biking with kids, though I think they are supposed to be at least 1 before you use it. We live in a fairly bike friendly area, so we use the trailer for other things too, like grocery trips.

MommyLiberty5013 · May 2016

My bike came from a KMart (it's a Schwinn) mountain bike and it's still going strong. I think I spent $180 on it about 7 years ago. DH's is also a Schwinn, but a street bike, from Target. Also has been great. He pulls the kids in the trailer all the time.

One thing I would look into whatever bike you buy is whether or not it can have kiddie seats and/or trailers to tow kids, attached.

You can always read reviews online too.

I don't bike enough to warrant an upgrade. And, even, if I did bike a lot, I don't think I would upgrade. This bike has been great.

smetter04 · May 2016

Thanks for the feedback, everyone! @MommyLiberty5013, I'm glad to hear you're happy with your Target bikes. This may be the direction we decide to go because I need to be realistic about how much biking we'll actually be able to do.

@brij2006, thanks for the reality check

I'm a big planner so I'm probably over-thinking everything based on what could be...I know I could get pregnant right away, but I also know that I may not. I think my planning-side is freaking out about the unknowns. But you're right, we need to make decisions based on what we know now and not worry so much!

blondie42107 · May 2016

My H has a specialized rockhopper that he really likes. I need a new bike but I've been dragging my feet. H really likes our local bike shop. They have great customer service and are not pushy for sales. They really work to help customers find a great bike.

formerlyjessica490 · May 2016

We are keeping an eye out for bikes as well for a paved trail that runs through our state. We had old Mongoose bikes from my aunt and uncle but we tossed them last year when we moved. We tried 1 bike shop and walked right out when we saw they cost $400+. So we started looking at Dicks sporting goods and sports authority where they are in the 200-400 range which makes more sense for us. I think the brands were Mongoose, Schwinn and diamondback which seem to be rated well so we will go with one of those once we see some sales. If you have a Sports Authority near you, they are going out of business so we've been keeping an eye out for closing sales. We've also checked out Target and other similar store and have no objection for our casual use. Good luck!

smetter04 · May 2016

@formerlyjessica490 I never thought of checking out a sporting goods store. It seems obvious now but they just aren't stores I frequent, so out of sight, out of mind

Thanks for the good tips!

brij2006 · May 2016

Another good option is to visit a local bike shop to get some ideas on what you should be looking for in order to do what you want with the bike, as well as have them size/fit you for the proper bike.

I went to our local bike shop and had them help me figure out what type and size of bike I needed. Then I took the information home and found that same size and type of bike on Target's website.

Someday I will upgrade my bicycle, and I will happily walk back into their store and upgrade to a hybrid for when I do triathalons. It's a good place to start at and get some ideas. Especially if you're new to riding.

Erikan73 · May 2016

my parents love their touring bikes from LLBean. They have had them for a few years & they haven't had any issues. My parents go biking usually 2-3 times a week on average 20 miles a trip. Just casual riding on trails. These are bikes you could easily add a child seat or child hauler trailer to. Like a PP said the big thing is the fix. Getting the wrong fit bike is usually the #1 reason you won't be comfortable while riding. I am long in the torso so I actually had to be a mens bike when I bought one. Now they make more unisex bikes where the distance and height of the handlebars can be adjusted making it more comfortable. They like their bikes so much I got my husband one too for this year.

short+sassy · May 2016

Erikan73 said:

my parents love their touring bikes from LLBean. They have had them for a few years & they haven't had any issues. My parents go biking usually 2-3 times a week on average 20 miles a trip. Just casual riding on trails. These are bikes you could easily add a child seat or child hauler trailer to. Like a PP said the big thing is the fix. Getting the wrong fit bike is usually the #1 reason you won't be comfortable while riding. I am long in the torso so I actually had to be a mens bike when I bought one. Now they make more unisex bikes where the distance and height of the handlebars can be adjusted making it more comfortable. They like their bikes so much I got my husband one too for this year.

Haha! I always buy a kid's bike because even "shorter" adult bikes are usually just slightly too high for me to be able to comfortably put my feet on the ground during a stop.

Erikan73 · May 2016

short+sassy said:

Erikan73 said:

my parents love their touring bikes from LLBean. They have had them for a few years & they haven't had any issues. My parents go biking usually 2-3 times a week on average 20 miles a trip. Just casual riding on trails. These are bikes you could easily add a child seat or child hauler trailer to. Like a PP said the big thing is the fix. Getting the wrong fit bike is usually the #1 reason you won't be comfortable while riding. I am long in the torso so I actually had to be a mens bike when I bought one. Now they make more unisex bikes where the distance and height of the handlebars can be adjusted making it more comfortable. They like their bikes so much I got my husband one too for this year.

Haha! I always buy a kid's bike because even "shorter" adult bikes are usually just slightly too high for me to be able to comfortably put my feet on the ground during a stop.

Never thought of the shorter aspect. I know my best friend, she has a child's helmet because she has a tiny head. Any idea how hard it to find a childs helmet that doesn't look like it's for a 5 year old that a 40 year can wear?

maple2 · May 2016

They aren't super cheap, but Specialized makes some helmets for kids that could work for an adult. Some of them have fairly basic color patterns that don't scream "kid". There might be other brands too, I'm just thought of these because my kid got one recently. https://www.specialized.com/us/en/helmets/kids

short+sassy · May 2016

Erikan73 said:

short+sassy said:

Erikan73 said:

my parents love their touring bikes from LLBean. They have had them for a few years & they haven't had any issues. My parents go biking usually 2-3 times a week on average 20 miles a trip. Just casual riding on trails. These are bikes you could easily add a child seat or child hauler trailer to. Like a PP said the big thing is the fix. Getting the wrong fit bike is usually the #1 reason you won't be comfortable while riding. I am long in the torso so I actually had to be a mens bike when I bought one. Now they make more unisex bikes where the distance and height of the handlebars can be adjusted making it more comfortable. They like their bikes so much I got my husband one too for this year.

Haha! I always buy a kid's bike because even "shorter" adult bikes are usually just slightly too high for me to be able to comfortably put my feet on the ground during a stop.

Never thought of the shorter aspect. I know my best friend, she has a child's helmet because she has a tiny head. Any idea how hard it to find a childs helmet that doesn't look like it's for a 5 year old that a 40 year can wear?

I've have a bit of trouble like that with sunglasses. Most adult sunglasses just look way too big on my face. Fortunately, there are a few adult styles that look fine, so I just stick to those.

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