I want to buy a bike

[Jason Lopez-Ota]

But I don't know anything about bikes. I just want to ride it to BJJ and work.

Can you recommend me a decent bike?

[Derek Simonds]

To a bike geek that is totally a loaded question, darn close to a troll. Are you looking to buy a new bike or pick one up on craigslist? If used any modern mountain bike would probably work. If you pick up a bicycling magazine there is usually a section in the back where they reccomend bikes for people that might give you some ideas about what to look at.

[Jason Lopez-Ota]

Originally Posted by Derek Simonds

To a bike geek that is totally a loaded question, darn close to a troll. Are you looking to buy a new bike or pick one up on craigslist? If used any modern mountain bike would probably work. If you pick up a bicycling magazine there is usually a section in the back where they reccomend bikes for people that might give you some ideas about what to look at.

I'm looking to buy new or used. I would be riding it a max 7 miles or so at a time, nothing spectacular.

Would Wal-Mart be an ok place to buy one?

I don't want to end up getting a crappy bike where the brakes break within a couple months or something.

[Dave Van Skike]

Originally Posted by Jason Lopez-Ota

I'm looking to buy new or used. I would be riding it a max 7 miles or so at a time, nothing spectacular.

Would Wal-Mart be an ok place to buy one?

I don't want to end up getting a crappy bike where the brakes break within a couple months or something.

no. go to reputable bike shop, get sized, figure out what feels comfortable in terms of style, road, cross, mountain, single speed etc..then buy the most expensive helmet they sell and look for the bike you chose on craigslist.

[Blair Lowe]

Been through a few Walmart Specials. However, both of them ended up getting stolen.

They were ok, but over a few months some things get loose that never seem to be able to get tightened down. Out of the store, they typically ride fine.

If you can find a tour bike on CL, I would do so. You will cover a lot more ground on them than a Mtn bike which is nice, even in wind. Mtn bike suck in the wind.

Shimano components are always nice, imo.

[Greg Davis]

get a cheap "track" bike (single speed)... no gears but with a front brake... and then just take some black or whatever color vinyl and cover anything that looks fancy..

should be able to do it for like 500-600 bucks and you get a super light road bike

[Gant Grimes]

Originally Posted by Dave Van Skike

no. go to reputable bike shop, get sized, figure out what feels comfortable in terms of style, road, cross, mountain, single speed etc..then buy the most expensive helmet they sell and look for the bike you chose on craigslist.

Full face helmet FTW.

[Steve Shafley]

In 1990 I bought a Giant ATX 770 mountain bike that was a year old. I paid just over half it's price new. Was ~$500 at the time and was Giant's second best mountain bike.

I rode it to work and school for 2-3 years when the weather was cooperating. I rode it for the pleasure of riding it a lot. I rode it to the bar, and I rode it to and from the mechanic's shop when my beater car was getting fixed (~20 mile ride), and I rode it too and from the gym and rugby practice.

In 1996 I gave it to my brother to take to Colorado with him, in 2001 he gave it back to me, a bit more beat up, the red dust of the trails outside Carbondale on it still. I haven't washed it since, either.

2 sets of tires, 1 seat. I set of bar ends. I do need to get it tuned up because some gears skip and I would like to replace the handgrips.

I still ride the thing 3-4 times a week. Usually with my daughter on the back on a tagalong, but sometimes I'll go for a 6-10 mile ride as fast as I can make it.

My wife asks me if I want a new bike, and, honestly, I kind of do. I kind of want to get one with the bigger tires, and I kind of want one with a full suspension, and I sometimes think I can make my old one a fixie, and that would be cool.

But, fuck me, I've been riding this bike longer than both my marriages and longer than I've had kids.