Comments on: Any advice on buying new bikes? http://foldingbikesale.com/advice-buying-bikes/ folding bikes are fun, frugal, keep you fit and are good for the environment, too! Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:52:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: oddball67 http://foldingbikesale.com/advice-buying-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-814 oddball67 Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:15:00 +0000 http://foldingbikesale.com/?p=1365#comment-814 I think a lightweight hard tail mountain bike would be your best bet. I would then change the tires from knobbies to tires with minimal tread or even slicks if you are going to commute. A smoother tire will make your commute safer and faster, knobbies can be quite squirrely on pavement. If you are planning on riding off road one day you can swap tires back or buy a "trekking" style tire that can handle pavement and dirt well, see the link I put below for a good example of this type of tire. Disks are nice but are going to add to the cost, complexity, and weight of the bike. I like them but if cost was a factor they are the first thing I would do without. Their real advantage is in being able to stop in the rain but rim brakes will too if you just remember to drag your brakes occasionally to dry you rims. They also prevent heat induced tire blowout but this is only a factor on high speed or long mountain descents, it doesn't sound like your going to do that. I think a lightweight hard tail mountain bike would be your best bet. I would then change the tires from knobbies to tires with minimal tread or even slicks if you are going to commute. A smoother tire will make your commute safer and faster, knobbies can be quite squirrely on pavement. If you are planning on riding off road one day you can swap tires back or buy a "trekking" style tire that can handle pavement and dirt well, see the link I put below for a good example of this type of tire. Disks are nice but are going to add to the cost, complexity, and weight of the bike. I like them but if cost was a factor they are the first thing I would do without. Their real advantage is in being able to stop in the rain but rim brakes will too if you just remember to drag your brakes occasionally to dry you rims. They also prevent heat induced tire blowout but this is only a factor on high speed or long mountain descents, it doesn’t sound like your going to do that.

]]> By: lonepiper http://foldingbikesale.com/advice-buying-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-815 lonepiper Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:15:00 +0000 http://foldingbikesale.com/?p=1365#comment-815 Don't buy a hybrid. A friend of mine has one and they aren't that great. They say you can use them for both on- and off- road which isn't exactly desirable because it gives a mediocre performance in both spheres. A ten-speed bike is nice cause it offers you the ability to go faster with less effort. However, it has it's cons because you can't use it off-road and the ease is canceled out going up steep hills. What you probably want is a mountain bike. Don't worry so much about the size of the wheels, rather get a frame that suits you. Aluminum frames are ideal if you want a light bike. Most mountain bikes come with front shocks now. Disc brakes aren't necessary unless you're planning on being a serious rider. They are far too expensive. I suppose it all comes down to how much you're willing to spend. I suggest getting a Norco, I've had one for a while and I use it on-road and off and I really put it through a lot. I have no complaints with it yet! I hope this helps. Don’t buy a hybrid. A friend of mine has one and they aren’t that great. They say you can use them for both on- and off- road which isn’t exactly desirable because it gives a mediocre performance in both spheres.

A ten-speed bike is nice cause it offers you the ability to go faster with less effort. However, it has it’s cons because you can’t use it off-road and the ease is canceled out going up steep hills.

What you probably want is a mountain bike. Don’t worry so much about the size of the wheels, rather get a frame that suits you. Aluminum frames are ideal if you want a light bike. Most mountain bikes come with front shocks now. Disc brakes aren’t necessary unless you’re planning on being a serious rider. They are far too expensive.

I suppose it all comes down to how much you’re willing to spend. I suggest getting a Norco, I’ve had one for a while and I use it on-road and off and I really put it through a lot. I have no complaints with it yet!

I hope this helps.

]]> By: BikeHK http://foldingbikesale.com/advice-buying-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-816 BikeHK Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:15:00 +0000 http://foldingbikesale.com/?p=1365#comment-816 One option to consider is a hard-tail Mt. Bike with a set of street/cross tires such as the SpeedMax manufactured by Ritchey or the Marathon by Schwalbe. Hard-tails are the most popular model of Mt. bikes and thus there will be models in every price range. The cross tires will give you a nice street ride when commuting and provide a sturdy, grippy tire for your off-road adventures. One option to consider is a hard-tail Mt. Bike with a set of street/cross tires such as the SpeedMax manufactured by Ritchey or the Marathon by Schwalbe.

Hard-tails are the most popular model of Mt. bikes and thus there will be models in every price range. The cross tires will give you a nice street ride when commuting and provide a sturdy, grippy tire for your off-road adventures.

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