Comments on: Need Bike Buying Advice http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/need-bike-buying-advice/ Investing and Personal Finance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:34:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: MLR http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/need-bike-buying-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-13793 MLR Sun, 26 Apr 2009 16:39:08 +0000 http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/?p=4000#comment-13793 I actually bicycled across Europe. It would be worth it to get a good bike maintenance book and learn how to work on them yourself. Then the cheapest route is to get a bike from one of the direct from manufacturer stores. You pay less because they don't have a storefront and you don't get any service once the bike is yours. You could even, if you care enough, build your bike from components you choose. If you don't feel like working on it yourself I don't have any good advice All of the bike stores rip you off because you get "free lifetime checkups" and stuff like that. Oh and if you are worried about people stealing your nice bike: Wrap the frame in electric tape or put stickers all over it, get a chain and a u-lock. Works for me, your paying for the components not the paint job :) MLR I actually bicycled across Europe.

It would be worth it to get a good bike maintenance book and learn how to work on them yourself.

Then the cheapest route is to get a bike from one of the direct from manufacturer stores. You pay less because they don’t have a storefront and you don’t get any service once the bike is yours. You could even, if you care enough, build your bike from components you choose.

If you don’t feel like working on it yourself I don’t have any good advice All of the bike stores rip you off because you get “free lifetime checkups” and stuff like that.

Oh and if you are worried about people stealing your nice bike: Wrap the frame in electric tape or put stickers all over it, get a chain and a u-lock. Works for me, your paying for the components not the paint job :)

MLR

]]> By: HybridBikerEnthusiast http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/need-bike-buying-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-13543 HybridBikerEnthusiast Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:54:54 +0000 http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/?p=4000#comment-13543 I had a 26" wheel Schwinn Searcher. Has like road tires that are smooth-like and then on the edges has like knobbies of tred for making turns or for light use gravel/mud areas. Check with the Schwinn bikes, also Target has some other brands too of comfort bikes. Its around 200, not the most expensive, but it should last a year or two of very active riding. If you want to do lots of road travel , day after day, try a hybrid with some thinner tiers,and maby a 27" wheels. Check with Sears, Target, and Kmart to see. Sometimes you can walk into Kmart and test a bike out, other stores get all bent out of shape and don't want you testing any bike. I had a 26″ wheel Schwinn Searcher. Has like road tires that are smooth-like and then on the edges has like knobbies of tred for making turns or for light use gravel/mud areas. Check with the Schwinn bikes, also Target has some other brands too of comfort bikes. Its around 200, not the most expensive, but it should last a year or two of very active riding. If you want to do lots of road travel , day after day, try a hybrid with some thinner tiers,and maby a 27″ wheels. Check with Sears, Target, and Kmart to see. Sometimes you can walk into Kmart and test a bike out, other stores get all bent out of shape and don’t want you testing any bike.

]]> By: Matt http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/need-bike-buying-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-13526 Matt Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:54:56 +0000 http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/?p=4000#comment-13526 http://www.silentsports.com/store/content/23/Swaps/ I bought a touring bike (Norco Alta) for about $400 from the swap sale at Silent Sports in Thornhill. It's next weekend. There are usually a ton of bikes. Make sure to show up before it opens as there will be a line-up and usually the first people in get the best bikes. You can get some great deals on new and used bikes and the staff are really helpful. I also recently bought a nice mountain bike from Toronto Police Auctions on Ebay for $60. There are lots of deals out there if you look for them. http://www.silentsports.com/store/content/23/Swaps/
I bought a touring bike (Norco Alta) for about $400 from the swap sale at Silent Sports in Thornhill. It’s next weekend. There are usually a ton of bikes. Make sure to show up before it opens as there will be a line-up and usually the first people in get the best bikes. You can get some great deals on new and used bikes and the staff are really helpful. I also recently bought a nice mountain bike from Toronto Police Auctions on Ebay for $60. There are lots of deals out there if you look for them.

]]> By: pacific http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/need-bike-buying-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-13512 pacific Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:11:55 +0000 http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/?p=4000#comment-13512 http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/09/cusa/model-8ASW3.html Made in the USA. Light . Nice http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/09/cusa/model-8ASW3.html

Made in the USA. Light . Nice

]]> By: Elaine http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/need-bike-buying-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-13508 Elaine Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:38:06 +0000 http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/?p=4000#comment-13508 Go to a good bike store and get a proper fit session. A bike doesn't do you much good if it's too uncomfortable to ride it. Go to a good bike store and get a proper fit session. A bike doesn’t do you much good if it’s too uncomfortable to ride it.

]]> By: Colourful Money http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/need-bike-buying-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-13505 Colourful Money Sun, 19 Apr 2009 22:25:26 +0000 http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/?p=4000#comment-13505 Of course you can get a bike off Kijiji and Craiglist without it being stolen! Many ambitious, at the time, people will vow to get exercise riding bikes only to give up days later. Good luck on your search! Of course you can get a bike off Kijiji and Craiglist without it being stolen! Many ambitious, at the time, people will vow to get exercise riding bikes only to give up days later. Good luck on your search!

]]> By: Trish http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/need-bike-buying-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-13499 Trish Sun, 19 Apr 2009 16:32:24 +0000 http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/?p=4000#comment-13499 I bought a mountain bike a few years ago and the only advice I have for your wife is to get a bike that is the proper size for her. I had a problem where my arms had to reach too far for the handle bars and my shoulders and neck would be sore every time I rode. You can adjust the height of the seat for most bikes but there's usually not much room to move the seat back and forth. Also, you're more likely to find a knowledgeable staff member at an independently owned store. I bought a mountain bike a few years ago and the only advice I have for your wife is to get a bike that is the proper size for her. I had a problem where my arms had to reach too far for the handle bars and my shoulders and neck would be sore every time I rode. You can adjust the height of the seat for most bikes but there’s usually not much room to move the seat back and forth. Also, you’re more likely to find a knowledgeable staff member at an independently owned store.

]]> By: Tyler http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/need-bike-buying-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-13497 Tyler Sun, 19 Apr 2009 12:40:54 +0000 http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/?p=4000#comment-13497 If looking for something new and good quality, the Trek store on Yonge south of eglinton is a good start, lots of product of varying prices and a very knowledgeable staff If looking for something new and good quality, the Trek store on Yonge south of eglinton is a good start, lots of product of varying prices and a very knowledgeable staff

]]> By: mfd http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/need-bike-buying-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-13491 mfd Sun, 19 Apr 2009 08:26:50 +0000 http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/?p=4000#comment-13491 Hey FP, You live in the beaches area eh? We're practically neighbors. I agree with Steve and get it at the big box. You know you don't want something fancy so just go to Canadian Tire Hey FP,

You live in the beaches area eh? We’re practically neighbors. I agree with Steve and get it at the big box. You know you don’t want something fancy so just go to Canadian Tire

]]> By: Potato http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/need-bike-buying-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-13486 Potato Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:50:48 +0000 http://www.moneysmartsblog.com/?p=4000#comment-13486 If you intend to keep the bike on the roads and paved paths then I recommend getting a hybrid with slightly larger, narrower tires (generally, they come in the same diameter as a road bike, but slightly thicker with more tread than road slicks). The smaller, wider mountain bike tires are pretty much a necessity if you're going to go off-road or even on loose gravel, but they'll just slow you down on the pavement. The front suspension can be nice to smooth out the ride, and Wayfare, who is not a confident cyclist thinks it helps her balance even on the sidewalk, but I personally always figured it was a waste of money. If you intend to keep the bike on the roads and paved paths then I recommend getting a hybrid with slightly larger, narrower tires (generally, they come in the same diameter as a road bike, but slightly thicker with more tread than road slicks). The smaller, wider mountain bike tires are pretty much a necessity if you’re going to go off-road or even on loose gravel, but they’ll just slow you down on the pavement.

The front suspension can be nice to smooth out the ride, and Wayfare, who is not a confident cyclist thinks it helps her balance even on the sidewalk, but I personally always figured it was a waste of money.

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