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12-28-2004, 10:29 AM

foots <foots@aohell.com> wrote:

>Thanks everyone for the great advice. I have been looking at bikes on
>E-Bay, there is quite a selection out there. There are MSRP $850 -
>$1000 (new) going for $400, and also some MSRP $ $500 for $200 - $300.
>The drawback is I'd have to assemble myself or take to a shop and no
>follow up service / trade ins. I'm mechanically inclined, so assembly
>is no problem.

Some of those could be overstock or last years models. No big deal
but your LBS will have similar deals at certain times of the year
(spring, back to school, model yr change, Xmas and prolly year end
inventory reduction).

>I'm 60# overweight and 47 years young so the full suspension is
>attractive to me. I've lost 20#'s already by diet and riding my old
>Sears Kennsington 15 speed.

My comment on that was entirely annecdotal. I seemed to see "a lot"
of full suspension bikes among those least inclined to seriously rough
riding (like grandfathers riding with grandkids), so I asked. As an
alternative to full suspension, you could look at just adding a
suspension seat post /if/ you actually need it.

If your main intent is weight loss and excercise, forget the hybrid.
A mountain bike will burn more calories per mile (or hour) than either
a hybrid or a road bike.

>Motobecane, Micargi, Sick by Worcycle, Firmstrong, Tank, Giant...
>whew, so many choices.

Most of those arent exactly the first names that come to mind when one
ponders a quality, name brand affordable bicycle ('website coming
soon' and no dealer list is a clue). Check out
http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/ for user ratings.

Look at Trek, Raleigh, Giant, Fuji and Trek as well.

>I am going to take the advice and go to a local shop before I buy
>anything.

They will likely let you ride them a bit too.

12-28-2004, 10:29 AM	#33 (permalink)
VBadJuJu Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Newbie needs help foots <foots@aohell.com> wrote: >Thanks everyone for the great advice. I have been looking at bikes on >E-Bay, there is quite a selection out there. There are MSRP $850 - >$1000 (new) going for $400, and also some MSRP $ $500 for $200 - $300. >The drawback is I'd have to assemble myself or take to a shop and no >follow up service / trade ins. I'm mechanically inclined, so assembly >is no problem. Some of those could be overstock or last years models. No big deal but your LBS will have similar deals at certain times of the year (spring, back to school, model yr change, Xmas and prolly year end inventory reduction). >I'm 60# overweight and 47 years young so the full suspension is >attractive to me. I've lost 20#'s already by diet and riding my old >Sears Kennsington 15 speed. My comment on that was entirely annecdotal. I seemed to see "a lot" of full suspension bikes among those least inclined to seriously rough riding (like grandfathers riding with grandkids), so I asked. As an alternative to full suspension, you could look at just adding a suspension seat post /if/ you actually need it. If your main intent is weight loss and excercise, forget the hybrid. A mountain bike will burn more calories per mile (or hour) than either a hybrid or a road bike. >Motobecane, Micargi, Sick by Worcycle, Firmstrong, Tank, Giant... >whew, so many choices. Most of those arent exactly the first names that come to mind when one ponders a quality, name brand affordable bicycle ('website coming soon' and no dealer list is a clue). Check out http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/ for user ratings. Look at Trek, Raleigh, Giant, Fuji and Trek as well. >I am going to take the advice and go to a local shop before I buy >anything. They will likely let you ride them a bit too.