What bike should I buy?

Question

I recently had an operation on my foot which makes it painful to run. I want to start cycling to keep my fitness levels up but not sure of which type of bike to buy or where to buy from. I dont want to spend a fortune. All advice appreciated.

Answer 1

Firstly, do not buy a bike from Walmart, Tescos, etc. Next you will need to spend about £350 minimum.



The reason for this is simple. The better engineered the machine, the more reliable the components, the lighter the overall weight. A full susser for £80 will have hideous gemetry, weigh a ton and fall apart, or at least out of true, at the first bump.



What sort of riding do you want to do? Road, general cycling to and from work, XC, All mountain, etc. This will dictate that style of bike that you buy.



If this is about fitness, then you are looking at a road or hybrid bike. Mountain biking is harder on your joints and takes more grunt. You cadence tends to be better than road users. However, you have just had an op on your foot. This might not be the best choice. Stick with Road or Hybrid.



Cycling is a component game. Stick with brand like Shimano (Dura Ace), SRAM. Get a frame with a good quality aluminium. 6061 or 7005. Also, buy from your local bike shop. Not a car place that also does bikes, or a supermarket. Do not buy off of the internet unless you know how to set a bike up.



I would recommend Giant, Trek, Specialized, Dawes or Claude Butler.



However, there may be another issue. If you are flat footed, like me, running and especially cycling can cause problems. I.E. It can throw your knees out. Go and see your GP and preferably talk to your physio and find out what stretching exercises you might need to do, or if there will be any other problems.



Let us know how you get on, we might be able to offer you advice on your choice of cycle, if you post links to models, or give us a budget.



Luck

Answer 2

I don't give a rat's behind about video games, so of course I would buy the bike. For you, the answer would be determined by the amount and type of riding you do. If the bike more or less meets your needs, fix it. If not, then get one that does. Tires and brake pads are things that get replaced regularly and often. Not a good enough reason to dump a perfectly good bike.

Answer 3

Your top priority should be to find one that is comfortable; one that fits your body size, puts you in a comfortable position, and is suited for the kind of riding you will be doing. I would go to a bike shop, even if it means going used or the low end of new ("entry level"). I believe the lowest grade bike you get at a good bike shop will be better than anything at the department store. You may want to watch your local paper classifieds, too. I would start, however, by at least getting familiar with what you are looking for at the bike shop. The mountain bike suggestions above are good. Suspension systems (front shock only to stay reasonable in price) will add weight and may not be necessary if you are mostly on smooth surfaces.



Above all, find one that is comfortable and you feel good riding, whatever it takes. If it's not comfortable, you won't ride it very long.

Answer 4

If you are serious about using a bike for exercise, the best place to start is in a store where they sell and service bikes. You might be able to buy one in a department store, but if you have a problem with it, they will not be able to fix it, and since it will have been assembled by someone with limited mechanical ability, you are more likely to have a problem. In addition, a bike shop will have people who can help you select the right bike for your needs. You don't have to spend a fortune. I would visit more than one shop, listen to the advice given, and make a selection from the shop that fits your needs best.

Answer 5

Hi KiKi - I love cycling and do miles and miles in the summer, I dont have an expensive bike tho. Mine is a mountain bike and cost £120 from Halfords and I LOVE it (to the point it has a name, but we'll skim over that haha). Id suggest trying a few out in store before committing as some styles may "suit" you (ie be more comfortable) than others. Have fun choosing xx

Answer 6

Visit the local bike shop and tell them where you want to ride. They can set you up with the bike that will suit your riding style and a frame that will fit you. Don't buy a bike from Walmart or other department store. They are made of low grade components and are never assembled correctly.

Answer 7

Buying a bike is like buying a set of golf clubs. You have to try before you buy. Before I bought my last bike I decided on how I was going to use the bike. I had to make a choice between trail riding or on the road riding. After many trips to my local bike store to look at the bikes in my category, talk to the sales personnel, and test ride the bike I made the choice of the bike in my price range. If you have friends who bike ask them why they like ( or don't like) the bikes they ride.



Good luck

Answer 8

some more serious bikers will say you need to be measured and custom-fitted and all that jazz but you can get a cheaper generic one from walmart or toys r us. you may want to go a little higher-end though. dont go too cheap because they can be terrible. i got a super cheap one and the brakes dont work that well and half the gears dont work at all lol. so you dont have to spend a fortune but you need to spend enough to get decent quality and stay safe.



i would personally go for a mountain bike (bigger tires with chunkier treads) so that you can go off-road onto grass and dirt if needed. get something with more than one speed so you can change gears it will help you ride against wind and up hill easier. or if you are going on flat and want a better work out you can switch gears to make it a little harder on your body.

Answer 9

Read the other hundreds of which bike should i buy questions.

Answer 10

Buy one with 2 wheels, there the best ones.

Answer 11

A unicycle. The answer below is a bit 'wheelist'.

Answer 12

a tricycle