What are some decent affordable bikes? (bicycle, run, maintain, mountain)

[coolcats]

I don’t want to spend more than $200. It can be used or new. I want a hybrid-comfort type bike. Mostly I’ll just be following my kids around to the park, maybe going for longer rides on the weekends.

[JoshB]

Good question. I'd like some ideas as well.

[micrguy]

I used to work in a bike shop in college and $200 would have gotten you a crappy bike back in the early 90's. You may want to up your budget or really start hitting pawnshops or Craig's List for a used bike. Bikes don't maintain their value, so it's possible to find a decent 10 year old bike that was bought new for over $500 selling on Craig's List for $150. You are better off in the long run buying a decent used bike for $200 rather than spend the same amount for a crappy new bike from Wal-Mart.

[coolcats]

Originally Posted by micrguy

I used to work in a bike shop in college and $200 would have gotten you a crappy bike back in the early 90's. You may want to up your budget or really start hitting pawnshops or Craig's List for a used bike. Bikes don't maintain their value, so it's possible to find a decent 10 year old bike that was bought new for over $500 selling on Craig's List for $150. You are better off in the long run buying a decent used bike for $200 rather than spend the same amount for a crappy new bike from Wal-Mart.

That's exactly what I am thinking. So what are some decent used bike brands that I could find in my price range? TIA.

[micrguy]

Right off the top of my head look for Trek, Specialized and Giant. All are major brands that make a lot of bikes. What you will notice is that all of the bikes will have Shimano components (brakes, shifters, gears, etc...) and the big difference will be the frames. I used to tell people that buying a bike was like shopping for jeans. They are all made with denim, but Levi's fit different than Wranglers and you just need to keep trying different bikes until you find a brand that fits you.

[sponger42]

If you're only going for rides of a mile or five, a junk bike is fine. There's a 21 speed "mountain" bike at one of my local thrift stores for $19.95. It would take me 20 minutes, 2.50 in chain wax, and a 99-cent allen wrench set, and maybe $5.00 for two new inner-tubes to put it in working order, except that I already have two good bikes. A beat-to-heck mountain bike ($300 new 20K-ish miles ago) and another thrift-store-refurb ($30) + wax.

For a step up, try pawn shops or craigslist, but those bikes tend to be worth something, and you pay accordingly.

Brand names don't matter if it's dirt cheap and you're not using it for performance riding (speeds >15mph, distances >8 miles, or off-road riding). Schwinn is okay. I found an old Schwinn utility bike (circa 1980) in a thrift store once. Awesome looking old bike, but somebody stole it.

[SPNARD1]

I'd recommend craigslist...I bought a fairly new bike for half the price...worth a look.

[j1n]

Years ago, I did a ride from NJ to the DC area and back...with panniers and all...on a heavy, steel, Sears Free Spirit 10-speed. It worked great. I used that bike for years and years.
I'd go with a comfortable, known name-brand from a box store(a "mart"), and ride it...maybe forever...or maybe for a year or two. It's still $200 well spent, and not too much of an investment if you don't end up getting heavy use out of it.

[lchoro]

Schwinn Sierra GS Comfort Bike $219 at Performance Bicycle

2007 Schwinn Sierra GS Comfort Bike @ Performance Bicycle

[censusdata]

A Schwinn Ranger or Sidewinder goes for $150. I have one for 4 years with no problems