New bike

[TakeAHike]

I am looking into getting a new bike this summer. I can't spend a ton on it but I would like one that is good quality. We usually ride on trails and not on the road. What can you guys recommend?

[ppine]

Buy a used mtn bike off Craigslist or similar place.

[GA_gal]

I think I would probably buy an all-terrain bike or something like that. How often will you be biking? My mom and her boyfriend bike about once a week during warm weather and they actually bought their bikes from Wal-Mart. I'm sure they didn't buy "the best", but the bikes have served their purpose thus far AND they were affordable.

[oldsarge]

I agree, getting a used mountain bike or one of the cheaper ones from Walmart can save you a lot of cash. If you get really serious into biking later on, you can always upgrade to what suites your needs.

[Boroffski]

As a bike fanatic(my wife says), I have owned, worn out, repaired, built and upgraded all sorts of bicycles. From top of the line $5000 full suspension mountainbikes to the cheap department store bikes. I currently have a road bike, 29" hardtail mountainbike and a seatless single speed trials bike.

IMO, if you are just looking to start out, go buy a department store bike. Then ride, ride, ride. In the future, if you decide that bicycling is your thing, go to a dedicated bicycle shop and buy a quality, upgradeable bike that is sized and priced to fit you. Remember... Even the best bike $ can buy will still make you miserably sore if your ride outside your fitness level.

Specialized, Trek, Diamondback, Giant and many others offer entry level, upgradeable mountainbikes for around $500. Airborne Bicycles is a direct to customer bike company that has some really nice bikes for less than $500 Airborne Bicycles.


Of course though, if $ is no object, skip the dept store and go straight to your local bike shop. They will gladly put you on a machine that would blow your mind.... And lighten your wallet.

[jason]

Great advice from Boroffski.

For brands I have Specialized and Trek. Trek is my hybrid, Specialized is my mountain bike. Both great bikes and little to no problems with them.

[ibgary]

I love my Sportster. I take it up forest service trails to camp, down the twisty canyons.

[carmen]

A friend of mine runs a sports and bike shop in Arizona, I have checked out their website and some of those prices are just crazy. I would stick with a regular bike too, who knows. In a year you might want to ditch the bike and try something new.