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I am doing without a car for a bit (due to some costly auto repairs) and am thining about getting a bike to supplement bus use.
The idea is to get a bike that I can ride to the bus (our bus system has racks for bikes), but also one that I can use for errands here in suburbia.
The errand use will probably be the main one, since I will use the bike to do grocery shopping, maybe take things to & from the dry cleaners, packages to UPS and the PO, even to the mall to do some clothes shopping (very infrequently). Mostly for grocery shopping.
So Im looking for a good pratical bike to take on sidewalks and highways that has a lot of storage capacity, say things like baskets or trailers and trailer hitches (I think they have these).
could probably by a hybrid bike for around $500-$1,000 that has thicker tires than a road bike for off-pavement riding but not a heavy frame like a mountain bike.
I'd recommend a Giant Boulder SE. Its priced at the low end for good bikes. I got mine for $285 4 years ago and its still in great shape. It doesn't have storage, but it is good for riding in any conditions
Still the best thing is to get a bike shop bike that is properly fitted to the particulars of your anatomy and is put together properly. These two things are impossible to do with a Wal-Mart or equivalent big-box store bike.
For trailers, I looooove my B.O.B., but they are expensive (another $300-400).
On a tighter budget? Google "bicycle-coop" + "your location" and build your own. Many people also fashion their own trailers out of discarded kiddie-carriers. The local co-op has workshops to teach people how to make "baskets" out of old kitty-litter containers. Talk about "green".
Yes, this Trek is a good choice. However, if ALL your cycling is local low key riding then consider a Cruiser (AKA Beach cruiser) that is the granddad of all American bike styles.
Trek cruiser with 3 speed gearing (great for in town!)............
Trek Bikes | Bikes | Cruiser | Classic Steel 3-Speed (http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/cruiser/classic/classicsteel3speed/ - broken link)
So Im looking for a good pratical bike to take on sidewalks and highways that has a lot of storage capacity, say things like baskets or trailers and trailer hitches (I think they have these).
What ever you get, stay off the highways. And if you must ride on the sidewalk make sure you are always going in the direction of the traffic.
Thanks for your alls advice. I probably wont be doing too much touring, mostly for errands & groceries, though maybe a bit of touring on weekends on one of our bikepaths.
I should say our bus system has bike racks on all the busses, so I'll be able to get around town pretty well this way, at least where I want to go.
Good advice about highways. In my suburb the policy is to treat the sidewalks as bikepaths since it is dangerous to ride the highways. In the city they have these painted bike lanes and "sharrows".
But thanks about the bike types, too. For price range I hadn't given it much thought, but it sounds like bikes are more reasonable than I thought, if the upper end is around $1K for those hybrids bike plus $600 for a trailer.
Does anyone have an opinion on collapsable bikes?
Seems like they'd be sweet since you could carry them onboard a bus, or stow them in your car trunk or backseat rather than on a bike rack
But thanks about the bike types, too. For price range I hadn't given it much thought, but it sounds like bikes are more reasonable than I thought, if the upper end is around $1K for those hybrids bike plus $600 for a trailer.
Folding bikes are mainly to travel on mass transit and not much else.
As to a trailer.......
Why buy what anyone can build with simple hand tools? I built this trailer 30 yrs ago and use it still at a cost of $25 using salvaged material. New material will raise the price to around $100 so that would save you many $$$$$$ that could be used buying a bike.
Oh yes, bigger tires on a Cruiser get fewer flats if kept inflated properly.
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