anyone know anything about bikes???

I am an avid mt biker but I can't see the link to your bike. Here's a thought, though: a great site where you can post your question is mtbr.com. They have a very helpful forum and you will get advice from folks who have recently been in the market (like yourself) and from experts. Theya re sure to steer you in the right direction.

I'd say that for what you want--low-end off road riding and lots of bike path riding--you might look at low end ("recreational") Giants, Treks, or even a Schwinn mesa. Ebay has the best deals, of course, but a reputable bike shop can help you with the most crucial thing of all: bike fit. (A mountain bike is not fitted in the same way as a road bike--a fact I learned only AFTER my first mt bike purchase!).

Good luck.

Well, they make something called a hybrid that... is really good for neither the road nor the hard mountain trail. Where it excels is easy but non-cement/asphalt terrain, however. If you could describe the type of path you intend to ride upon? Also, if you want to go off the path and do some offraoding, you may seriously need a mountain bike. I'd skip anything with dual suspension, it's not necessary in most cases. Hardtails do fine and I actually prefer them in all cases so I can feel the trail better.

I forgot to say, Shimano has some good quality stuff. They also have some low end trash... it all depends on the group. Check out that site listed. Don't expect any hardcore cyclist to tell you can get a good bike for $250. You can, however, get a nice entry level bike to thrash about on for that with some looking.

cheech said:

yeah, i know that 250 isn't a high price for a bike, but seeing how it's just a passtime for me, it should do the job.

I don't think I'm going to go with this bike. It looks a little too freaky for me. It looks like it should be worth much more than it is, so that makes me think that it's trash, dressed up to look pretty.

I'd rather spend 250 $ on a bike that looks like it's worth 250 $, than spend it on a bike that tries to pull off looking like something's that worth much more but doesn't perform like it should.. lol.. if that makes any sense to you..

Click to expand...

Believe it or not, it does.

Again, dual suspension is just... not needed, especially at first and as a hobby. If you get real serious, then hey, you can go and spend $250 on a deraileur or some clipless peddles or...

Cheech, make sure you find a bike shop that you feel comfortable with first off. For $250 you can get a good bike that does what you want. If you want the option to do any off roading, no matter how rare or mild, avoid hybrids. They're great as cruisers but their high center of gravity will mean crashes when you hit a trail.

Rear shocks are 100% not necessary and you won't find a good reliable bike that has one until you hit the $750 range most likely. For $250 you can get a bike with a good front suspension fork and that will work just great for you.

As mentioned, fit is crucial. Test ride the bike. Hit a hill with it, downhill with it, ride off a curb, sprint, etc. You're not looking for subtleties. The bike will either fit you or it won't. Some adjustments can be made for fine tuning but bigger changes will require parts swap outs so its best to be comfortable on the bike pretty much off the rack. If the first one you ride feels fine, keep test riding different bikes until you find one that stinks. That way you'll really know the difference.

If given the choice between a bike with a better frame and a bike with more flash and expensive components, go with the better frame. That way if you decide you want to upgrade in the future to better components you'll be more confident in doing so since the frame is decent.

Do not, under any circumstances buy a bike from a big box store. Those are not reliable bikes. They are made more poorly than the bikes you see in the shops. Also, bike dealers tend to make very little profit marging off of bikes. They make their money on accessories. So, if you want to haggle for a deal, go for discounts or freebies on accessories like helmets and Camelbaks rather than a discount on the bike!

T

That is great advice. My first bike came at a time when I was making money, was single, had few expenses etc, so I was able to get a nice frame and decent compnents. I spent $450 in 1994 on it and I still have that Specialized Topanga SE. The biggest changes come in weight, it seems to me. I still see the same components group offered for nearly the same price. Just that my frame is CroMo and a tad on the heavy side these days. I bought from a local bike shop and was very happy I did so. I had a bad crash within my first month and my handlebars came clean off, bent the stem and neck. Got a newer, lighter more durable Zoom model for no cost and they actually said, "Sorry, that should never have happened."

Also, helmet safety. Buy one. Please. I have a friend that would be dead without hers. She had a bad crash in Big Bend National Park. Not even on a technical part of a trail, just fell and her head hit a rock. Cracked her helmet, not her skull. I swear by them no matter how dorky they look.