New Bike....Husband of the Year Award...

[mikeysab]

Ok bike pros. Wifey wants a bike for mothers day. Anybody think I can find a decent mountain bike for around $500? She doesn't need anything fancy,except maybe a good helmet. Any suggestions for a beginner bike?

 

[Ply318ci]

Trek 4300 it was my first bike and I loved it the V-brake version also.

 

[pnj]

Does she want a mountain bike?

Does she have people to ride with?

Is she in some kind of shape (besides round ) now or is she a bike noob?

Are there places she can ride often with easy access?

with a $500.00 bike, get the one she's going to want to ride the most. IF that means getting a red one vs. a grey one, do it. If she really wants a comfort bike, get that. etc.
I think all the bikes at that price point are pretty much in the same league.

Helmets. Buy one at a bike shop. They are all pretty much the same. The more expensive ones have more vents and are usually lighter. But they all do their job. Same goes for a bike, get it at a bike shop. Ask them if they do free tune up's or what other goodies they'll throw in. Some shops will do free maintenance for the first six months or so. (cables/chains stretch and need minor adjustments, etc).

 

[RobMT]

I like a little more suspension with my mountain bikes...

The Giant served me well until I noticed cracks running around the headtube welds. That got replaced by the Foes, and I couldn't be any happier with that frame.

 

[mikeysab]

Does she want a mountain bike?

Does she have people to ride with?

Is she in some kind of shape (besides round ) now or is she a bike noob?

Are there places she can ride often with easy access?

with a $500.00 bike, get the one she's going to want to ride the most. IF that means getting a red one vs. a grey one, do it. If she really wants a comfort bike, get that. etc.
I think all the bikes at that price point are pretty much in the same league.

Helmets. Buy one at a bike shop. They are all pretty much the same. The more expensive ones have more vents and are usually lighter. But they all do their job. Same goes for a bike, get it at a bike shop. Ask them if they do free tune up's or what other goodies they'll throw in. Some shops will do free maintenance for the first six months or so. (cables/chains ?stretch and need minor adjustments, etc).

She wants a bike to ride on the street and some possible trails and stuff. I'm taking my brothers Cannondale, so we'll do some riding together. She's a total noob, but she's in good shape. She kickboxes, so she wants a change of pace from doing that everyday.

 

[KayaBrew]

I like a little more suspension with my mountain bikes...

The Giant served me well until I noticed cracks running around the headtube welds. That got replaced by the Foes, and I couldn't be any happier with that frame.

Only way to get those bikes uphill is on the chairlift! I'd love a DH bike...maybe next year....

 

[KayaBrew]

Okay guys, I just sealed the deal on a used Yeti 575! Fox Float 140mm fork, RP23 shock. I plan on swapping the XTR wheels it came with for my Easton Havocs. I also plan on swapping the XTR brakes for my brand new Maguras. I only paid $1200 for the complete bike, and with the parts swap I think I can get at least $1200-$1500 for my Titus. I'm stoked!

 

[Ply318ci]

Not a bad deal sweet bike. I took my hard tail 26er out today not so fun on the downhill but flew up hill I just need better tires for it the nanorapters on it now suck.

 

[supaphly42]

Nice, my buddy has had 2 Yetis, love those bikes! This is one I miss (Azonic DS-1)... Right now I'm down to a Devinci roadie and an Access (no name brand, but nice solid frame) I built up myself. Working on another play bike, hehe.

 

[ndsgr]

I've been looking for a bike myself. I have no idea what to look for. I plan to mostly ride street.

My problem is that I'm not that serious about biking. I run a lot and just thought it might be nice to bike once in a while, mostly with the family. I've been hitting garage sales, but nothing like the bikes I had when I was a kid - everything is cheap junk. I can't do a wally world special, been there, done that, broke the pedals and various other pieces the first week (I'm about 6'1 and 190lbs).

Any suggestions on something decent, but not hard core? I ask my bike enthusiast buddies, but they always pitch some $1k something or other. Can you not buy a bike that won't break in the first year for a reasonable amount of cash anymore? I don't need a lot of bells and whistles. If I could have a decent 80s style 10-speed, I'd rock it. :rockin:

 

[pnj]

Todays bikes are better than ever. Go into a bike shop, tell them you want to spend less than 'x' amount. You should be able to get a pretty nice road bike* for under $800.00 maybe even less. Test ride some bikes. ask questions, etc.

If the bike you shop you go to has employees that suck, find another one....

*I suggest you buy something you can take off road. The woods are fun....

 

[KayaBrew]

Nice, my buddy has had 2 Yetis, love those bikes! This is one I miss (Azonic DS-1)... Right now I'm down to a Devinci roadie and an Access (no name brand, but nice solid frame) I built up myself. Working on another play bike, hehe.

Is that the indoor bike park in the 'Cuse? I've heard about that place. I think I need to go check it out!

 

[acefaser]

Bikes and beer. Cant get any better! Here are some of my bikes:

Specialized Epic 29er

Specialized Enduro Comp 26:

Cyclocross! Redline Conquest Team:

Time Trial QR Lucero:

 

[supaphly42]

Is that the indoor bike park in the 'Cuse? I've heard about that place. I think I need to go check it out!

Nope, Ray's in Ohio. First went there like a week after it opened. Love going there, but so stoked that they have a place here in the 'Cuse now. Haven't been yet, but heard it's amazing, even better than Ray's.

To the guy looking, You can get something decent for $500 or less. Go for brands like Specialized and Trek. I'd suggest a hybrid, upright sitting position, better for roads than a full on mtn. bike, but can still handle light, smooth dirt trails. Great for just cruising around with the family on bike paths and such, if that's what you're looking to do. Ask if you have any more questions! (source: been building my own bikes for 15 years, and was a tech at a bike shop a few years ago)

 

[captianoats]

Geez... You guys make my bike look like junk. Mine is a Diamondback Response. Fit good and the price was right. I'm just getting back into it after a decade or so off the trails, and I couldn't justify a high end until I knew I would stick with it.

 

[jonmohno]

My bike sucks,i need a new one.Comfort schwinn crap that cant hold up to hills or any thing other than a joyride once a year.. I bike country hills 2x a week 12+ miles.Its a pita.pieca shate! Thanks Target.

 

[punkrockdave]

This is my modified single speed.

 

[WYOBrews]

That's rockin' man! I know a guy who is right now riding his single speed mountain bike 1,500 miles! He started riding Sunday in Oslo Norway and will end in Spain. He rode this same bike in the coninental divide race several years back which went from Canada to Mexico. Good stuff! If anyone is at all interested you can watch his progress here: http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glld=0FcNu98qM1Zp6vQCSXP5avqf6ziYuWTKP

 

[beersteiner2345]

My two babies. Wife's two in the garage (Surly 1x1 and Kona Cinder Cone).

Adding a Salsa Spearfish 2 to the stable in the next week or two...

Sweet gift btw. Nice to see other folks in the sport. I am assuming I have spoken to some of you on the Beer part of MTBR?

 

[KayaBrew]

Geez... You guys make my bike look like junk. Mine is a Diamondback Response. Fit good and the price was right. I'm just getting back into it after a decade or so off the trails, and I couldn't justify a high end until I knew I would stick with it.

Definitely not junk! There's an old saying in mountain biking..."run what you brung". In otherwords, all that matters that you're out there, riding your bike having fun!

 

[Ply318ci]

I agree the cost of your bike and the fun you have are not proportional. I have just as much fun on my 100 hard tail as I do on my 2500 dual suspension it just depends on the mood I am in.

 

[beersteiner2345]

yup. My funnest bike I ever had was also one of my least expensive ones, and sadly it is no longer with me. It cost less than half what either bike in my photo costs and my smile stretched from ear to ear whenever I rode that thing.

Was a Surly Karate Monkey single speed rigid. Blast to ride, but my knees couldn't handle the ss here in the mountains where we moved. :/

And for the record... there ain't nothing wrong with a Diamondback. They've been building mountain bikes for decades and turn out real nice frames.

 

[pnj]

I am assuming I have spoken to some of you on the Beer part of MTBR?

for sure. I have the same user name over there.....

 

[davis119]

here is mine ..... have been on it in like 8months....ugh

11' gf/trek mamba

 

[WYOBrews]

All of you guys are awesome! It doesn't matter what your riding as long as you are out there! Kids have me super busy with Little League right now, but we hope to really start getting after it now! Our biking crew is rolling now and the stoke factor is there!

 

[jonmohno]

How do you guys feel about micargi? I just ordered one,my comfort schwinn just didnt hold up to my abuse of consistently riding country hills.After i ordered wooops, i seen a few reveiws(micargi) that its ultra low quality and made in China.I happen to notice that Schwinn stuff is made in China?Not shure if that matters.
I do know i will not get a car starter made in mexico though after dealing with replacing a lifetime starter every few years with this crap.Kinda off topic but just sayin.What a ripoff-got a good quality on from napa,so hopefully i dont have to deal with replacing starters every few years.

I could be wrong. Schwinn is Made in Wisconsin though.? Ive also seen some contraditory comments that its well made.I almost bought a trek fx series i think it is but was crying about spending over 400 so i chanced iton this micargi i guess? Im kinda just the weekend warrior type i guess so it seems fitting.Really i ride during the week consistantly also. Ive had bad luck buying expensive bikes also or anything expensive which always something seems to happen wrong with.Im talking more "bad luck" with expensive things- so i tend to shy away from that.

 

[KayaBrew]

Finally have time to post a pic...here she is!



https://www.homebrewtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=63723&stc=1&d=1338824700

 

[pnj]

Schwinn is no longer an American brand. Was sold to Pacifico years ago. To my knowledge, they only do low end bikes now.

Being made in China vs. USA doesn't matter. it's the QC on the parts/frames that matters.

As for the brand you are asking about, I have no idea. Most important is that YOU like it and ride it. If you like it, you'll ride it more. If it breaks, replace it with something higher quality....

 

[Horace]

I could be wrong. Schwinn is Made in Wisconsin though.?

Schwinn had a racing division called Paramount. The Paramount name was sold but the factory remains in the Schwinn family, Richard Schwinn. The shop was renamed to Waterford Bikes and is located in Waterford Wisconsin.

Waterford is the finest riding steel frame bike on the planet. Period.

They also mass produce, Waterford is a custom made, a line of bikes under the Gunnar name.

They have several summer rides along with shop tours that are worth looking into if you are in the area. Cool place, Cool people and a wealth of knowledge on frames, fit and history...

 

[beersteiner2345]

Just got me a new toy yesterday... did a 20 mile night ride last night and I am smitten.