Me and the wife just picked up a couple of bikes last month. So, I might be able to offer a few notes...
- Trek, Specialized, and Giant are big names but there's a lot more out there. Giants are generally cheaper (200-300) while a Specialized will run you closer to 500. I personally liked the Giant's I tried out, but ended up with a Specialized Crosstrail due to it's gear shifting.
- From what I've read, about 500-600 is the sweet spot for bikes. Anything more expensive is just adding more features to the rig
- Hit every bike shop near you and test ride everything. seriously. I spend a month's worth of weekends driving to every one in the area and taking one out for a test ride. Ask them to write down the prices and models so you'll have that to refer to when you go back home
- Expect a number of additional purchases right off the bat, including car carrier, helmet, saddle, inter-tube, pump, tire patches, lube, and all of the crap you need to care and feed a baby bike. Bike shops will normally give you x% off if you pick them all up whenever you get a bike.
Eh, sort of a braindump. Hope some of that helps you. Don't hesitate to hit me up if you have any questions!
I'm not super knowledgeable I'm afraid, especially when it comes to light commuter type bikes because I'm a mountain bike guy. It is possible to save money and still get a great bike by buying something used, but maybe not the best idea if you don't know what you're looking for unless you can find someone knowledgeable to help you in your search. Sometimes people buy bikes and never really get around to using them, and then they sell them cheap even though they're in really good condition. So yeah, if you could find someone who knows a little bit about bikes to check them out with you, that's one option.
Fixed gear bikes or "fixies" seem to be popular at the moment. I don't know anything about them except that they seem to be cheaper and lighter, so they work well for some people.
I agree with idlethreat about Giant, I've had good experiences with Giant bikes. Of course there are loads of other great brands too!
Me to. I have a ok bike now, but it's not a good fit for me. I want a typical "Dutch" bike with a rack front and back and a upright riding position (and proper mud guards, chain guards and so on). So looking at a Workcycles Fr8 at the moment. Possibly with retrofitted e-assist. We'll see ...
A bicycle! My old one got stolen :c Enjoy your new rig, it's totally worth the investment in my opinion!
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Me to. I have a ok bike now, but it's not a good fit for me. I want a typical "Dutch" bike with a rack front and back and a upright riding position (and proper mud guards, chain guards and so on). So looking at a Workcycles Fr8 at the moment. Possibly with retrofitted e-assist. We'll see ...
Do you go to work/school with the bicycle or do you enjoy riding as a hobby?
Mostly as a hobby but I use it for transport sometimes too