What kind of bike should I buy?
It's time for me to get a new bike. What kind of new bike should I buy?
While I anticipate doing mostly street riding, I would like to be able to do some mountain biking again. I would probably bike several times a week for distances that are about 5 miles round trip. Front shocks, sealed bearings, a triangular frame, and quick release wheels are desirable features. My price range is $400-700, but I'm open to suggestions about more expensive bikes.
What has changed since I bought a Trek 4300 in 2000? What technology should I seek now? What about disc brakes?
Thanks in advance for any help!
Posted 49 days ago
jessica
Responses to this thread:
jhota:
you don't need/want shocks. trust me. in your price range, shocks are nothing except systems for robbing pedaling force and adding weight.
jhota:
aaargh! did it again. anyway. that said, you probably won't be able to avoid front suspension either. i'd look at the Specialized Myka HT Comp and HT Elite ($600 - 700 msrp - probably less street). another pair of bikes i'd consider (given your intended use) would be the Surly Cross-Check and Long-Haul Trucker. the Cross-Check in particular is an excellent do-it-all bike. msrp is a little out of your price range, but you should be able to get/build one cheaper. you'd probably want to change the bars on the Surly anyway. re: disc brakes. good disc brakes kick ass. that said, they COST. retail on the brakes on my geared 'cross bike is around $100 per wheel - and that's not the levers/cables/etc. that's just the caliper and rotor. hydraulic brakes are even better - and cost accordingly. disc brakes often add price to the detriment of other component quality; i.e., the company charges more for disc brakes on a complete bike, but puts cheaper parts on otherwise to maintain/enhance margin.
jessica:
I don't know enough about other equipment to know if the bike manufacturer is replacing other parts with cheaper ones to balance the cost of disc brakes. Any thoughts about for what I should look to see if that's a problem?
jessica:
Thanks for the advice, by the way. And, yes, I don't think I've seen a mountain bike yet without front shocks. You're the only person to tell me I don't need them.
todd:
jhota:
some of that advice is good. some of it's just dumb. although the "don't get car advice from someone who enjoys rebuilding carburetors" is spot-on. and that's speaking as someone who enjoys rebuilding carburetors.
