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There isn't really an active bicycling thread I could find through the search function, and I didn't want to start one as I couldn't really add too much to the conversation (though it is a good topic for an op with a lot of info!) so I decided to make a blog post to maybe get some input.
So, I want to get a bike for exercise. I live on a very well maintained; paved state trail that stretches a long distance. I've had plenty of mountain bikes and BMX bikes as I was growing up (I lived in a rural area, road bikes were largely useless). From what I understand, it would behoove me to get a road bike as it covers ground a lot faster and tends to be a bit better for exercise.
Just from some quick googling, new bikes (if you're not going to wal-mart or whatever and get something that's going to be a pile of junk) can be quite expensive, so a lot of sites recommend trying out craigslist for a used bike.
Now, after a bit of trolling on craigslist, the amount of jargon can be very intimidating to someone who doesn't know what he's doing.
What are some things to look out for while looking for a used bike? Single speed, 20 speed, 22 speed? What's the difference if you're not racing or something similar that requires a high output? How big should the frame be? What should I be asking questions about to make sure the bike is in good working order and not damaged (beyond aesthetically, of course). What are some big red flags?
Thanks, some input would be great!
 
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wheels
edit: I came back to write a proper post because I felt bad for shitposting, but it looks like others have already done so. Best of luck in your search for a bike, OP.
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On May 01 2014 14:56 ReignSupreme. wrote:
wheels
Yep, this is so important that it can't be stressed more. Make sure that the bike has wheels. Even if the seller assures you repeatedly that the bike is okay without wheels, DO NOT trust him. The bike won't work properly without wheels.
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Pandemona
Charlie Sheens House51493 Posts
bicycling
Hmmm not sure if this word exists 
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What is your budget?
You look for different things based on what you're wanting to buy.
Pinkbike is a really good site to buy used bikes though, lots of information there. Seems like teamliquid users aren't being willing to be helpful, so let me redirect you here! (: --> http://www.pinkbike.com/
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I know a little. And by a little, I've built and taken apart many a standard bikes since I was a kid, ride beach cruiser all the time and maintain it the same. I've had like 3-4 bikes stolen from me. Done quite a bit of pricing and checking on CL and local stores. I also once applied for JAX bicycles (chain store) and aced their questionnaire from research and then had the longest phone interview with the guy in the history of time about all kinds of stuff (mostly bike parts and sales). [Ultimately didn't land the job, as he was more interested in the other candidate who had more bike knowledge/enthusiasm but less sales skills.]
Anyway, bikes can range anywhere from like 50$ for stolen CL bike, to like $5000+ for a professional bike (which is absurd to me, even for racers etc). To me it's kinda like how people buy all the fancy gaming gear hoping to be as good as Flash, not gonna happen. Flash would still win on his Samsung DT35 and Ball mouse with a piece of paper taped the the desk for a mousepad.
That being said, I would definitely get a decent mountain bike with good shocks on either 1 or both tires. (I got shocks on the front forks for my beach cruiser and it's a heavy son of a bitch too). I think something in the 200$ range would be well enough for you. Don't worry about having all the gears, you really never will use more than a couple if you aren't racing and shit. Avoid the generic name brands like Huffy, Magna, or whatever else crap they sell at big Dept Stores. Go to a nice bike shop and just ask a bunch of questions to get an idea. Then go home and troll craigslist for that type of bike to see if you can get a better used deal. If you can, return to that store and buy parts and shit you might need for repairs and maintenance and thank them etc. If not, buy a bike from them.
Good luck
PS- If offroading, most important things you want: shocks, decent tread tires, light weight, and durability/longevity.
If not it's just whatever is comfortable for you. Weight/seat is probably the most important. I dunno why that dickhead didn't hire me.
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I'm quite opposed to buying bikes used by the way, unless you understand everything really well.
In North America bikes retain value EXTREMELY well, and I think you would be better off going to your local bike shop, and waiting for them to have a deal on something you're looking for. Road bikes are all pretty similar, just a few differences with different pedals, different shocks, different materials, but all little things that are not too significant for a non-professional rider. Generally speaking lighter is more expensive, and that's the main difference between the $5000 bikes and $1500 bikes.
What I would do, is I would go look at a last years model on a clearance sale in your local shop, where originally the new bike was $1200-$2000 depending on how much you are willing to spend. Find the bikes with that original price at $600-$1000 dollars, discuss with the staff the little details. Check the right wheel and frame size for you before you go on google.... And you'll end up with a nice bike that will last you a long time.
Anything above $2000 doesn't get you much extra. All the technology is in the $2000 bike, besides being heavier, and less stuff being carbon fibre. Less friction losses, very minor stuff.
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I have been cycling for almost 15 years, all the time on the same old cheap bike and I was always happy with it, so I don't understand all the fuss about "technology" in bikes - if you see biking as excercise, not racing against other bikers, you shouldn't really care about miniature differences in speed and weight, as you will be excercising as much when you are going a little slower againast bigger friction, right? In particular, if you are planning on doing road/paved trail biking, you don't really need much - in serious terrain, good suspension, brakes and rigid frame do wonders, but on the road, anything goes. I would not go with a fixed speed bike (as I am lazy), I have a traditional 3x7 and I like it - it's a little heavier than the modern trend of 1xfew, but gives yo uso much flexibility.
Buying a used bike is pretty much like buying a used car - you need to see the thing in person and then decide. I don't know the English temrinology for many parts, so pardon me, but some observations:
- classical V brakes are very cheap to replace, so you should not look to much into their wear. the same goes for all the bowdens and stuff - it will probably be worn, but that's expected. If the seller replaced those consumable parts recently, it is a good bonus
- on the other hand, the transmission (speed changers) is where a repair could get expensive. You should check that all speeds go in smoothly, you should visually check that the chain doesn't come too close to the wheel or too distorted accross on the lowest/highest speeds - that would be the sign of a deformed speed changer in a crash
- the axle between your feet (with the large chain-wheel(s)) is a particularly sensitive part of the bike, in some bikes it is notselaed properly and when dirt gets in, it may need to be replaced. You must check that it moves absolutely smoothly.
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If you are low on budget and want a really good bike,buy a stolen one.
Idk how the black market is in murica but over here you can buy a bike that's 1000$ in the shop for a fraction of the price.
All of those bikes are usually in really good/perfect condition,for obvious reasons.
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On May 01 2014 14:56 ReignSupreme. wrote:
wheels
Laughed way more then i should have
Good luck with your search! Ive had no experience in "road bikes" are they really that much better then a normal mountain bike for exercise?
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OP, out of curiosity, why used? Why not new? Price?
On May 01 2014 17:21 Pandemona wrote:Hmmm not sure if this word exists
lol it definitely exists. It's a verb... "2bicycle intransitive verb: to ride a bicycle. bi·cy·cled bi·cy·cling" ( http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bicycle )
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On May 01 2014 19:00 opisska wrote:
I have been cycling for almost 15 years, all the time on the same old cheap bike and I was always happy with it, so I don't understand all the fuss about "technology" in bikes - if you see biking as excercise, not racing against other bikers, you shouldn't really care about miniature differences in speed and weight, as you will be excercising as much when you are going a little slower againast bigger friction, right? In particular, if you are planning on doing road/paved trail biking, you don't really need much - in serious terrain, good suspension, brakes and rigid frame do wonders, but on the road, anything goes. I would not go with a fixed speed bike (as I am lazy), I have a traditional 3x7 and I like it - it's a little heavier than the modern trend of 1xfew, but gives yo uso much flexibility.
Buying a used bike is pretty much like buying a used car - you need to see the thing in person and then decide. I don't know the English temrinology for many parts, so pardon me, but some observations:
- classical V brakes are very cheap to replace, so you should not look to much into their wear. the same goes for all the bowdens and stuff - it will probably be worn, but that's expected. If the seller replaced those consumable parts recently, it is a good bonus
- on the other hand, the transmission (speed changers) is where a repair could get expensive. You should check that all speeds go in smoothly, you should visually check that the chain doesn't come too close to the wheel or too distorted accross on the lowest/highest speeds - that would be the sign of a deformed speed changer in a crash
- the axle between your feet (with the large chain-wheel(s)) is a particularly sensitive part of the bike, in some bikes it is notselaed properly and when dirt gets in, it may need to be replaced. You must check that it moves absolutely smoothly.
Single speeds (not fixies) are nice in the cities, were it an option for OP I would likely advocate for one. After my old bike was stolen, a cheap $200 flippie (back tire can be switched from freewheel to fixed gear), my older brother's father in law built me this lovely little single speed and it is so much fun to roll around on.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/olptvou.png)
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On May 01 2014 21:59 ThomasjServo wrote:Show nested quote +On May 01 2014 19:00 opisska wrote:
I have been cycling for almost 15 years, all the time on the same old cheap bike and I was always happy with it, so I don't understand all the fuss about "technology" in bikes - if you see biking as excercise, not racing against other bikers, you shouldn't really care about miniature differences in speed and weight, as you will be excercising as much when you are going a little slower againast bigger friction, right? In particular, if you are planning on doing road/paved trail biking, you don't really need much - in serious terrain, good suspension, brakes and rigid frame do wonders, but on the road, anything goes. I would not go with a fixed speed bike (as I am lazy), I have a traditional 3x7 and I like it - it's a little heavier than the modern trend of 1xfew, but gives yo uso much flexibility.
Buying a used bike is pretty much like buying a used car - you need to see the thing in person and then decide. I don't know the English temrinology for many parts, so pardon me, but some observations:
- classical V brakes are very cheap to replace, so you should not look to much into their wear. the same goes for all the bowdens and stuff - it will probably be worn, but that's expected. If the seller replaced those consumable parts recently, it is a good bonus
- on the other hand, the transmission (speed changers) is where a repair could get expensive. You should check that all speeds go in smoothly, you should visually check that the chain doesn't come too close to the wheel or too distorted accross on the lowest/highest speeds - that would be the sign of a deformed speed changer in a crash
- the axle between your feet (with the large chain-wheel(s)) is a particularly sensitive part of the bike, in some bikes it is notselaed properly and when dirt gets in, it may need to be replaced. You must check that it moves absolutely smoothly.
Single speeds (not fixies) are nice in the cities, were it an option for OP I would likely advocate for one. After my old bike was stolen, a cheap $200 flippie (back tire can be switched from freewheel to fixed gear), my older brother's father in law built me this lovely little single speed and it is so much fun to roll around on.
However that strongly depends on the topography of the city (about which I have no knowledge in the OPs case). I cordially invite you to Prague to have fun rolling around on that bike  ) In general, bikes with some reasonable range of speeds are not that much more expensive and even if you lived in Netherlands (which I have biked across on a single speed bike with no problem), it gives you the flexibility to make trip to a mountanous country.
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On May 01 2014 19:04 Ru ba wrote:
If you are low on budget and want a really good bike,buy a stolen one.
Idk how the black market is in murica but over here you can buy a bike that's 1000$ in the shop for a fraction of the price.
All of those bikes are usually in really good/perfect condition,for obvious reasons.
Are you the fucker who stole or bought my Schrøder? Don't support the thieves...
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On May 01 2014 23:35 Ghostcom wrote:Show nested quote +On May 01 2014 19:04 Ru ba wrote:
If you are low on budget and want a really good bike,buy a stolen one.
Idk how the black market is in murica but over here you can buy a bike that's 1000$ in the shop for a fraction of the price.
All of those bikes are usually in really good/perfect condition,for obvious reasons. Are you the fucker who stole or bought my Schrøder? Don't support the thieves...
OMG, I have missed that post you quoted, that's high level of assholing. People who knowingly buy stolen stuff are no better than the thieves themselves.
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moral high grounds are nice and all that fly shit,but in the real world that doesn't really stop people from stealing/buying stuff out of necessity,or luxury for that matter,regardless if you do it or not.
I also didn't say it's a noble thing to do but OP sounds like someone who doesn't have much cash on his hands and I just presented him with a suggestion,as he's likely gonna get more for his buck that way than a place like craigslist or ebay.
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Thanks for people with actual helpful replies. For those asking for budget, I would say somewhere in the 250 or below range would be perfect. It's not that I can't buy something better, it's that I don't want to, as I don't know if I will be sticking to it. I want a bike that isn't complete garbage and makes the ride not fun, and would show me more or less how a decent bike would ride and let me try it out for a while. I know some people invest thousands of dollars in their bicycles, and while I can respect that, there is little use for me to buy anything anywhere near that expensive if I'm not actively using it for a sport or planning on using it a LOT over the course of many years. I figure after trying a bike out for a while, if it's something I feel I would be adding into my life as a frequent form of exercise, then I might consider investing in a bike I would use a long period of time.
For those asking about the terrain, I live on a very nice paved trail that is well maintained that stretches a very long distance across West Michigan; The Fredrick Meijer White Pine Trail, if anyone is familiar. Here are some pictures, it's really beautiful!
![[image loading]](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qJu4TvODrJ4/TeJC6B0BZVI/AAAAAAAABwE/VelN2aas7pM/w965-h685-no/019+Rockford+to+57+WPTrail+007.JPG)
![[image loading]](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1vNz7PhTbSQ/TeJDibOqlvI/AAAAAAAAAmk/LL6xWYxnrnk/w1084-h685-no/023+Copy+of+Lillys+Am+Chestnut+016.JPG)
It is maintained very well by the Friends of the White Pine Trail association which receives generous donations from Fredrick Meijer's estate, I believe. It's considered a state park, and is converted from a decommissioned rail line. It is largely flat and even and stretches over 92 miles from Grand Rapids to Cadillac(at which point the trail continues under a different name, I believe). It really seems an ideal place to cycle and I see a LOT of cyclists on it whenever I use it.
So, ideally, I would like to get into a cheap bike that rides OK to tell me if I"m going to turn cycling into a long term hobby. I'm not really familiar with road bikes at all, so I was hoping some people would fill me in on the differences between one speed and multiple speed bikes (and the difference between, say, an 18 speed and and 20 something speed bike) and what is generally accepted as the norm, as well as some things I should be looking out for to make sure the bike is going to make sure the bike is going to be comfortable for me (frame size, etc).
Thanks again
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On May 02 2014 01:31 Ru ba wrote:
moral high grounds are nice and all that fly shit,but in the real world that doesn't really stop people from stealing/buying stuff out of necessity,or luxury for that matter,regardless if you do it or not.
I also didn't say it's a noble thing to do but OP sounds like someone who doesn't have much cash on his hands and I just presented him with a suggestion,as he's likely gonna get more for his buck that way than a place like craigslist or ebay.
Whatever you need to tell yourself to sleep well at night.
You are the reason why the rest of us can't have the nice things we have worked hard for.
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EPT
