Quote:
Originally Posted by Mary2014
I will be retiring the end this year and moving to southern Delaware - where it is nice and flat. Southern DE has a lot of bike trails. I will be in the market to buy a bike and I appreciate any information on what I should be looking for when I walk into a bike shop to find the right bike for me.
I think I am looking for what they call a comfort bike. I have not owned or ridden a bike for many years - just a rental bike recently when visiting the DE beaches. I love to walk -five miles is an easy walk because the area is so flat. For longer distances I think a bike would be my choice of transportation. I may need a bike rack for my car to be able to avoid busy highways and get to bike trails where it would be safer to ride. I also know that the buses have bike racks on them if I want to take my bike on the bus to areas where it would be safe for me to ride.
A little about me - I am now officially a senior citizen. I am female, 5'6" and only 115 lbs. Not a lot of upper body strength - so ease of getting a bike on and off a bike rack is important. Comfort when out and about biking for several hours is important. Also if I want to bike down to the local grocery store to pick up a few things - some sort of basket to carry stuff is important. I want to also be sure I get a bike that "fits" me - only 5'6" but I have long legs. Some sort of bike lock is important because I am likely to bike down to the ocean and leave the bike locked to something while I go walking on the beach. (Really looking forward to retirement!)
I plan to buy a bike at a bike shop so I buy something that "fits" me - instead of purchasing from a big box store. But, I am not interested in buying something pricey that I don't really need. So, a realistic idea of what a bike meeting my needs should cost ( a general price range) is appreaicated.
Can you give me some suggestions with regard to brands/models that I might look at on line - before I set foot in a bike shop to actually figure out what "fits" me. Can I expect a bike shop to actually let me try out a bike before I buy it? The area where I will be retiring is near a beach town - so there is a big rental market for bikes during beach season. I was thinking a good idea might be to rent a similar bike and try it for a week before I buy a new bike.
Suggestions/comments are appreciated.
Mary2014
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Any decent bike shop will let you test ride the model of bike you want to try out. If they don't, walk away.
Go into the shop and just walk around. Just tell them you are looking, nothing is particular, just looking. Watch how customers are treated and the type of clientele. If most of the people in there act like they have a fish hook caught in their nose with the line pulling their noses up and back, go elsewhere. Go to the service department and ask them what the waiting time is for a tune-up. You'd be surprised that sometimes the wait can be weeks, tough if your bike needs an adjustment and they are always backed up.
Ask about a return policy. We bought a bike and that day realized it just wasn't going to work out. Forgot to check and upon going back to the store, no returns or exchanges even with a restocking fee. This was from a super popular bike store. Lesson learned.
Then when you pick a shop, explain just as you did here as to what your needs are. If the salesperson shows you a bike that doesn't match your needs that means they weren't listening or are trying to sell you something you don't want. Warning sign.
Here is one important thing: don't get a heavy bike. Believe me, the lighter the better but also generally the more expensive. It takes a lot more effort to pedal a bike that weighs 40 pounds than one that weighs 30 or less. Don't pay too much attention to the tech talk about what the bike is made from and all that. You could care less. More important is the warranty, does the shop handle warranty issues directly, will they insure your bike is adjusted to you and then re-adjust it after a week or so of riding without making you wait in line for service? The bike fitting part will just involve taking some time to compare and test ride models.
It will take a while for your rear end to become accustomed to a bike seat so expect some soreness at the beginning. Seats are interchangeable but get a good one from the start. Do not listen to the sales people that tell you the thinly covered leather seats will break in and become comfortable. They will but long after you've given up riding that bike.
Do get a helmet. Only the brainless and those wishing to be ride without a helmet. Some gloves too. You don't need spandex riding pants, tight shirts and things like that. We're riding bikes here not trying out for bozo the clown auditions.
Also get one spare inner tube and a tire pump. Forget patching it, it is just as easy to replace the tube. Get a lock for it. You don't need a $500 lock for a bike. What works really well is one of those thin cable locks for laptop computers made by Targus. About $40 but has a nifty alarm you can activate if someone moves the bike. Thing is very loud, you don't have to use the alarm part. The cable is long enough to link through the wheels and frame.
When you get the seat as you like it, dump the quick release adjustment and us a bolt/nut combo. The store can do it when you return for the initial re-adjustment. That prevents casual theft of the seat, something kids do these days just for laughs.
Get a bell. Shouting at people to tell them you are passing is nonsense. A nice single "ding" bell works like a charm. People can hear it from a long ways behind them and almost all know what it means.
Take your time choosing and try out more than one store. Even if you do it all on the same day you can hit 2-3 stores and go back the same or next day to buy.
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