Hi,
I am thinking about buying a bike to ride to work each day, but i don’t know much about them at all. I will be riding 10km each way, everyday. My price range is about 500-600 dollars for the bike and accessories (helmet, chain etc.) Is that going to buy me a decent bike?
Is a mountain bike going to be more ideal? or road? etc
And if i’m going to be riding it each day 10km, what kind of features should i be looking for? such as gears, suspension… and how much? (like 24 speed…etc.)
What if i buy a good second hand bike, but because it’s second hand it’s price will be reduced?
Thank you for your help.
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Look at fitness,hybrid bikes like the Trek FX series if you don’t plan on a lot of off-road. Get a bike with 700c wheels(as opposed to 26″ wheels) and skip disc brakes and suspension.
You can get a nice hybrid bike for that amount. They will be much better for the road then a mountain bike. You can still ride them on smooth gravel bike paths if you like. A 24 speed bike will have better components then the older 21 speed bikes.
Commuter bikes are also nice and will have a rack and fenders. Check out the local bike shops and try a few out. Bike fit is very important for comfort. If the roads are smooth get a bike without any suspension it is not needed and will save weight, money and will pedal easier.
For your price range you can do a considerable amount of good in both quality and quantity. I would suggest you opt out of both a mountain bike and a road bike at this price point you have set.
Mtn bike: will have wider tires for added rolling resistance which will make your 10 mile trip take both longer and slower. Any hardtail bike would be sufficient (NO full suspension!) but will not be necessary for just paved surfaces.
Road bike: narrower tire yes, but at this price range will be poorly equipped with Shimano Tiagra or Sora 8 speed which is ok and you would easily cover a 10 mile ride in no time however as entry level bikes go you would be better served with a …
Hybrid: features a mountain/ road mix with a narrower tire and a more upright seated position than a road bike and would have a slightly wider tire than a road bike but narrower than a mountain bike and near $600 would get you alot of bike for your money.
Used: fine if you know what to look for but used bikes dont come with bikefax reports on them so you never know what youll get?!
Here is a good example of a hybrid in your range: http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1026657_-1_20005_20000_20500 there are several on that page to choose from and an 8 speed (24) is just fine. Front susp is all you need with a lockout and no more than that. Gears will give you more options on those ups and downs too. Road bike is not out of the question for you though but look around and see what you like. Always test ride before you buy too! Disc brakes would be a better option too for a 10 mile (20) mile round trip. they stop better and last much longer with little maintenance too. THey also dont wear down the rim wall either.
id look at hybrid bikes. look for 700c wheels and make sure the bike fits you properly. 500-600 will buy you a decent hybrid bike. speeds don’t really matter. fit is the key thing to look for