Beginner Bike?

Hi Meghan,

I just got a Raleigh Sport at Play it Again Sports (a new bike, just happened to be cheaper there) for $350. I also tried a Fuji Ace and I know there are a few people here that have that bike. I like the Raleigh because it has some steel in the frame that absorbs just a little bit of the shock. If you don't mind a bit older bike, there are tons of used bikes out there. I'm 5'8" and have a 53 cm frame, but what the sizes mean vary from company to company, so your best bet is having a bike pro help you out.

Happy shopping!!! Good luck!

Hi Meghan,
Good for you for getting the extra equipment, bike riding is a lot of fun! I would suggest going to a local bike shop, they can size a bike to your height and what's most comfortable for you... once you know the 'specs' on the size surf around the internet for good deals, Ebay could be an option! Depending on what you need the bike for they range in price, so you should definitely shop around! Good luck!

Not sure exactly what level you're at, but if you're TRULY a beginner, take a look at this one:

http://www.litespeed.com/shop/detail.aspx?ID=10

Always good for a laugh, bear.....

I think I'll get that one for my two-year-old. She could ride it for years and never wear it out!

Rick

Haha, I love it... but I guess I'm not that much of a beginner

Good one, bear...my wife is due in December...what do you think?

d

Bear,

You're out of control again! Nicely done...

It's nice to see the technology filter down to the grass roots level. But $850 for a tricycle!!!
JoeCoolSMB

Fortunately, my 3 y.o. wouldn't be caught dead on a tricycle that isn't red and my 2 y.o isn't interested in anything she can't break.

yeah, can anyone explain that price? it it an adult sized tricycle?? can it do 80mph? does it weigh 5 ounces? Is it infued with Lance Armstrongs sweat? whats the deal?

But back to the original topic... i bought a fuji ace a month or 2 ago and love it... about 500 bones... definatly check out as many bikes as you can in your price range before you settle down w/ anything to

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Please let me know where you can get that "10% rate of return compounded annually" in today's environment. My savings account is paying 0.75%.

not that it is really the question at hand, but you can get a consistant rate of return (~10%) on an index fund which tracks the s&p 500 motley fool on index funds

to the bike question, i bought a well used specialized epic allez (the 93/94 model) in late 99...i've put enough miles on it that i should retire it (and will just as soon as i finish paying off college debts), but it has served me very well. pick a maximum price, then i would look at ebay for bikes, talk to the local bike/tri shop, and ask other members of the local tri community (one of them probably has a bike they would sell you, and you would get to ride it before you bought it). you don't need anything fancy (although the titanium trike was WAAAAY cool), but aerobars are handy, although just getting a standard road bike with drop bars and then adding aero 'clip ons' works well. find something that fits you physically, and is within your budget. you can always upgrade in a year or three when you 'outgrow' the bike

/joshua

I would disagree with that "consistant" portion of your statement, although long-term averages may equal/exceed 10%. Five-year average of the S&P:
-2.2% does indicate a "consistant rate of return (~10%)"

http://flagship3.vanguard.com/VGApp/hnw/FundsSnapshot?FundId=0040&F...

Edited by the bear 2004-08-10 9:20 AM

Josh,

By the way, since we're already off topic, what the heck is "Polyamory"

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Sorry to be on topic here but check in your area for a used bike shop that sells good quality bikes, you can probably pick one up for way cheaper than new and if the shop is decent, they'll have made sure everything is in proper working order.
If you don't have one a used bike shop, check the papers for people unloading pricy bikes they never rode. Happens more than you'd think :P For 5'3" you're going to probably want a medium sized frame, in the 16-18" or 43-47cm range, but it completely depends on your riding style and your body, so check out the bike first. Look for a bike where you can position the seat so that your knee is not bent as you pedal -- if you've not ridden since you were a kid this will feel wierd at first but is vital.
If you can afford it, there's no substitute for going to a proper bike shop and talking to knowledgable people about the style and size bike that's right for you. Ride several types and brands to see what you're most comfortable on and be upfront about your price range -- a good shop will totally respect that and not try to upsell you on something you can't afford.

Cheers and luck
madeye

Additionally... ask around... try to get a referral from someone you trust, to a bike shop **THEY** trust... Word of Mouth is KEY!

Lara,

Thanks for the investment lesson

the bear
MBA, 1990
Senior Credit Analyst

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This user's post has been ignored.

What good does it do to estimate a rate of return anyway? Who messes with that crap? Didn't I say my funds are in savings?

Actually, I spent most of the 90s in index funds (see below), went to cash in , what, early 2000, and am just now dollar-cost averaging back into the market.

Edited by the bear 2004-08-10 10:21 AM