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Bike Recommendations

cyismydog

cyismydog

Well-Known Member
Apr 13, 2006
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I will be moving to the Bay Area (Menlo Park) at the end of the month, and I'm not going to have a car because it's so expensive. Where I'm living is about a mile (via a bike path and a little road riding) from where work, and I'm planning on getting a bike in the $300-$400 range. What recommendations do you have?
Also, I'm 6'6" so it has to be able to fit me.

Thanks!
 
cyismydog said:
I will be moving to the Bay Area (Menlo Park) at the end of the month, and I'm not going to have a car because it's so expensive. Where I'm living is about a mile (via a bike path and a little road riding) from where work, and I'm planning on getting a bike in the $300-$400 range. What recommendations do you have? Also, I'm 6'6" so it has to be able to fit me. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Are you looking purely for a road bike that will be used only for commuting or do you plan to use it for other activities (mountain biking, road biking, etc...)??
 
I'll be out there less than a year, so not looking to drop a ton of coin on it.
 
Just a note that the Bay area has the car rental clubs like zipcar with parking spots and hourly rentals all over that area. You do not need to own a car with all the options.
 
Here ya go...

2002-Harley-Davidson-V-Rod.jpg
 
I'd look at a Trek 7.1 or 7.2. Those should be near the top of your price range. They are hybrids so you can commute and take them on trails.
 
Had a Marin mountain bike back during my years at ISU. It was in your price range. That thing was solid. Really miss that bike.
 
As Ianoconner says, your budget is low for anything beyond reliable perfornance and you won't need more. Stick with a known bike brand rather than a big box store product. Craig's list would be a reasonable source if you have the experience to evaluate conditions such as bent components and functioning accessories.
At this level, the bike is a commodity and you can't make a huge mistake. Your decision is style. Do you need gears (derailleur or internal), fenders, racks, et.al.
Bikeforums.net has a whole section on craiglist finds from the diamonds to the rip offs. Might help if you want to go that route.
 
mtowncyclone13 said:
I'd look at a Trek 7.1 or 7.2. Those should be near the top of your price range. They are hybrids so you can commute and take them on trails.
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I agree with this. It's probably your best bet since a new road bike that doesn't suck is out of your price range.

My other advice is to get a good, name brand bike (such as a Trek) from a bike shop. They can fit the bike to you properly, and often have some kind of warranty or will do free maintenance for a year. Plus, if you want to get rid of it when you move it will be easier to sell the bike for a higher price on Craigslist or something. For the love of ****** don't buy a bike from Walmart.
 
Like others say... Craigslist is a good starting point along with Ebay actually.

I bought a Trek 7300 that was 10 years old last spring for $250 that had a rack, trunk bag, and spd clip pedals already included. All of these were extras I was going to buy anyway if the bike didn't have them. So essentially I bought a $100 bike with $150 of extras already on it. I couldn't pass that up.

My road bike brand new is $1800. I got it used on ebay 1 year old for $950 after shipping. Not a single thing wrong with it.

You can't go wrong with a hybrid in my opinion. Throw a rack on it and you should be good to go. Really wouldn't go with a road bike for commuting especially if you want to load it up with groceries and stuff from time to time. All major brands have great hybrids. Avoid Wal Mart, Target, Sports Authority, or anything along that line. You will get a piece of crap with low end components that are easier to throw away then repair.

If you go new... Check out Nashbar. Although their hybrid is sold out till 12/4/14 according to them last night. Bikes direct might be another good route.
 
rdtindsm said:
As Ianoconner says, your budget is low for anything beyond reliable perfornance and you won't need more. Stick with a known bike brand rather than a big box store product. Craig's list would be a reasonable source if you have the experience to evaluate conditions such as bent components and functioning accessories.
At this level, the bike is a commodity and you can't make a huge mistake. Your decision is style. Do you need gears (derailleur or internal), fenders, racks, et.al.
Bikeforums.net has a whole section on craiglist finds from the diamonds to the rip offs. Might help if you want to go that route.
Click to expand...

As this says, stay away from Wal-Mart/Target bikes. The components they use are cheap and won't last. If you are using it to commute to work, you will want something dependable.

For your price range, a used bike from Craigslist might be your best bet. Ride it before you buy it. Not all bikes are the same - the geometry of the frames can be quite a bit different and you will want one that "fits" you. When you get it, take it to a bike shop for a check-up. It may never have been maintained. They can also attach a rear rack for pannier bags - great for commuting.

If you can up your budget a bit, you can find some really great new bikes in the $500-600 range.

Either way, I would check out your local bike shops to try some out and see what you like. Doesn't mean you have to buy there but it is part of doing your research. Even if you decide to stick to the used bikes from Craigslist, at least you will know the model, size, etc that you need.

Personally, I bought a Marin Belvedere from Skunk River Cycles and absolutely love it - more of a flat-handled commuter bike. That thing is solid.
 
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