<p>Some of the bike shops around here also do daily rentals of bikes. If you’re not sure you’ll even use these rent first…sort of like skis…I rented for a while before I bought my own. </p>
<p>Dad II…with two kids in college you want to be sure that you are buying something you are really going to use, not something you think you are going to use. You’ll kick yourself if you spend a ton of money and then don’t really use the bike as often as you thought you might.</p>
<p>I’m guessing there is more than one bike shop within commuting distance. Make some calls. Like I said…most shops have a variety of bikes…many prices to suit many types of buyers. Trek bikes are very nice. I tried several of them and never found one that was the right size and position for me…but my husband loves his Trek and so does my son.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t get caught up in brand names. I think most people are the most familiar with Treks because that’s what Lance rides and they are very popular, but there are many other good brands out there too.</p>
<p>I ride a Cannondale but Giant, Raleigh, Bianchi, Fuji, Specialized, Orbea ($) are other good brands that come to mind - really, fit is more important than what your downtube says.</p>
<p>my kids ride their bikes alot- neither has a car- although one does live ina town with good public transportation.
She is riding a bike I bought at a garage sale up the street for $50. I think it is a schwinn or sears .</p>
<p>Especially because almost all of the brands (especially in popular high-volume price ranges) are made in the same two or three Asian factories and all have pretty much the same components at a given price range.</p>
<p>If money has been as much of a huge concern as you claim, why not get a cheap bike from the local good will store first and see if you really like riding a bike before you spend more of your hard earned money on an other expensive toy? My father bought a bike an a helmet several years back. Both are still in his garage untouched-- with the tags still on them.</p>
<p>I would also recommend going to a bike shop to understand your size and what you may/may not want in a bike. Since it’s getting to the end of summer, some manufactures and the shops may be offering discounts on the current models to clear them out. Look for a shop that offers ski equipment - they may want to clear floor space.</p>
<p>I’m familiar with the Trek line. The 7 series is a good hybrid bike. I have a Trek Lexa S n road bike that I bought for triathalons - got the 2011 model in May for 25% off the list price.</p>
<p>DadII- Don’t forget the expense of a helmet- and maybe clipless pedals and bike shoes. It all adds up. And you need to bike about 4 miles to get the equivalent exercise as a running mile. Biking is great, but it takes time, and you are going into cold weather season… You might want to check out an indoor cycling spin class to see what you think of cycling. Outdoors is more fun, of course, but it will give you an idea. And maybe when you finish paying tuition for your kids you will get some triathlon wheels for your bike like my son did- $$$several thousand dollars. And you thought running shoes were too expensive…</p>
<p>But at least you don’t have to buy a new bike every few months. :)</p>
<p>We have a local shop that takes old bikes and rebuilds them for resale. The guys in the shop are total bike nerds. DH and I took our ca. 1981 Trek road bikes in and got a store credit for something like $50. DS then put that towards a rebuilt bike which he uses for commuting and occasionally for longer rides. He loves the bike and actually likes that the frame has some wear on it; he doesn’t have to worry so much about theft. Maybe you have a store like that in your area?</p>
<p>I recently bought what they call a “city bike” around here, mostly for errands around town. I thought I wanted a Trek, but after I road a lot of bikes I ended up with a Cannondale Quick. I feel like I’m eight years old again when I get on that bike. That is, until I put on my helmet. (Were helmets even available back in the day?)</p>
<p>You might have to if you don’t invest in a good bike lock.</p>
<p>You may think that you don’t need a lock because you’re only going to ride around your hometown, starting and ending the ride at your house. But then one day, you’ll be interrupted by a call of nature and you’ll need to visit the facilities at a gas station, convenience store, or fast food place. In many communities, if you leave an unsecured bicycle outside while you go into one of those places for even a few minutes, it will not be there when you return.</p>
<p>Look at the “beach bikes”. Giant and Trek carry nice models. These have slightly wider tires, comfortable seats, foot breaks, no gears-single speed and are very comfortable. I thought this is what I wanted, but now I am looking at a Trek Navigator.</p>
<p>Our S kept him & D in bikes. He bought two of the cheapest & ugliest he could found (about $7 apiece). They functioned for him while he attended private U & he got back what he paid when he sold them. The benefit was that no one was interested in stealing the bikes. In fact, D was offended that her chain & lock was stolen but they left the bike! They are sturdy, clunker bikes with balloon tires & coaster breaks. Works fine for their flat riding in urban LA. Bought them on Craigslist.</p>
<p>When he moved to DC, a friend sold him a used Craigslist bike from a friend who was relocating for about $20-40, forget which. It is gorgeous and fits in front of his car in his covered, gated parking space in the garage of his condo.</p>
<p>Lots of good advice here from the usual suspects.</p>
<p>I was new, or at least hadn’t ridden a bike in 20 years, when I bought my bike a few years ago. The late Sheldon Brown’s bike guide online was a great help in understanding the world of bicycles in today’s era.</p>
<p>My two cents; foggies like us should probably stick to a commuter or city bike kind of bike. Don’t worry about all the components. Get a wide and comfortable seat, particularly if you are male or have an “ample” caboose. Set the handle as high on the fork as possible for the most comfortable upright riding position.</p>
<p>A used bike from a shop can be a great option. A private sale can result in satisfaction if you are handy with wrench, screwdriver etc.</p>
<p>Get a helmet. Get a helmet. Get a helmet. Oh, did I remind you to get a helmet?</p>
<p>Our shop sells nice city bikes for about $500 and we will talk to you about it for as long as you need to. I would suggest that you buy an inexpensive bike that feels comfortable. If you get into it, you’ll have the experience to know then what you want. Your local bike shop welcomes your business even if (especially if) you buy off craigslist, as you will still need helmet, flat repair, tuneup…</p>
<p>Interesteddad: you can take that bike to a bike shop and modify things for your comfort. Different handlebars, different seat… not very expensive.</p>
<p>And just one more note: many craigslist bikes are stolen bikes. If the price is too good to be true and the seller doesn’t give a good account of the bike… probably stolen.</p>
<p>Dmd77, I read somewheres that Portland has a relatively high rate of bicycle theft. If I were talking to an alleged owner about buying his/her high quality bike at what seems to be a bargain basement price, I’d ask to see either the original bill of sale or recent bike shop repair receipts. Can’t stand a thief.</p>
<p>I just saw that my Cannondale city bike was an editor’s pick in Bicycling magazine–
“The Quick 4 was simply fun to ride. An ideal balance between its upright position and its lively- handling made everyday excursions a blast.”</p>
<p>My new helmet just came today and I want to pass along that the very cute Nutcase helmets (from an Oregon company) got very poor impact ratings from Consumer Reports. I was sorry to take a pass.</p>