Bicycle enthusiasts - let me know your opinion of this bike
CJMST3K
Posts: 9,722
I'm looking to get some general exercise, and thought a new bike would be worth it. I can buy the following bike for $299 on clearance (everywhere online and in the store it says the bike was $530). It seems to have good reviews. The seat is a little wider than all the rest of the mountain bikes, but it's super comfortable when I tried it. The only thing that threw me off is that it had a bell... but I assume that's like judging a one of those new VW bugs because it has a place to put a flower next to the steering wheel?
Here's the bike's specs, and it has four good reviews:
http://www.buzzillions.com/dz_271885_fu ... .0_reviews
2007 Fuji Monterey 1.0
w/ 29" wheels
I'm looking to do some riding around mostly flat streets, and maybe a little bit on trails near me and hopping a curb here and there. Nothing hardcore at all, but I don't want it to break either if I put it thru some strain.
If you bike, what's your thoughts?
Here's the bike's specs, and it has four good reviews:
http://www.buzzillions.com/dz_271885_fu ... .0_reviews
2007 Fuji Monterey 1.0
w/ 29" wheels
I'm looking to do some riding around mostly flat streets, and maybe a little bit on trails near me and hopping a curb here and there. Nothing hardcore at all, but I don't want it to break either if I put it thru some strain.
If you bike, what's your thoughts?
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It seems like a good enough price. It was a pretty good ride, but I have nothing really to compare it to but my 20 year old generic bike. I think I'll buy it later today. On a sizing chart by Fuji this was called a "lifestyle" bike as opposed to a street bike or a mountain bike.
*NYC 9/28/96 *NYC 9/29/96 *NJ 9/8/98 (front row "may i play drums with you")
*MSG 9/10/98 (backstage) *MSG 9/11/98 (backstage)
*Jones Beach 8/23/00 *Jones Beach 8/24/00 *Jones Beach 8/25/00
*Mansfield 8/29/00 *Mansfield 8/30/00 *Nassau 4/30/03 *Nissan VA 7/1/03
*Borgata 10/1/05 *Camden 5/27/06 *Camden 5/28/06 *DC 5/30/06
*VA Beach 6/17/08 *DC 6/22/08 *MSG 6/24/08 (backstage) *MSG 6/25/08
*EV DC 8/17/08 *EV Baltimore 6/15/09 *Philly 10/31/09
*Bristow VA 5/13/10 *MSG 5/20/10 *MSG 5/21/10
right.
meaning - it's not meant for *serious* riders...whether mountain or street. people who are hard-core about their riding, usually go for a bike specifically for their purpose b/c the design of each is so different, different requirements, etc. from your descrption of use, i think it should suit your usage just fine. my husband is an avid and serious mountain biker so knows a good deal about bikes, and i think he would say the same. idk much about fiji bikes, all i do know is a million years ago when my sister was a serious street bike rider, she paid a lot of $$$ for a fuji 10speed that she adored. :P me, i enjoy riding...but more in line with what you are suggesting for yourself. my bike is probaby close to 15 years old, got it with my hubby not long after we were married, i think. it's a hybrid, specialized hard rock model. it suits me and my usage just fine. this fuji bike sounds like a very good price, it is a known brand, looks pretty decent, i think you'd do ok with it.
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
Anyway, what was it Lance said? It's not about the bike? You'll definitely run across people who will tell you you HAVE to have Dura-Ace components, carbon frames, titanium seat posts, etc. Don't listen to them. They're mostly status-seeking dweebs
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well said.
and let's be honest, there are snobs of every variety....be it bikes, bags, music equipment, home decor...you name it! always someone will have something 'bigger and better'....and let em, who gives a shit!
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
You make what you want out of it, wheather it be 7 days a week or maybe only 2 .
and your only reservations about the bicycle is the bell?
so, take it off with a screwdriver and go for it !
dont know if youve seen my I rode my bicycle to Brooklyn thread,
i have only recently started riding on a more regular basis ,
for me it provides some relaxation and time to reflect.
Right now my bicycle is my best friend.
enjoy !
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Bells can be very helpful at times, I'd keep in intact.
I'd be buying from Performance Bike. It's a franchise or a chain, but all they sell are bikes and they also service bikes too. I checked the size chart from Fuji and it says for this bike: Size16" = Height 5'3"-5'7"
I'm 5'8" or 5'7" (depending on whether you ask me or my girlfriend
...and I know a bell is nothing to consider a bike on, but it threw me because the only time I've seen a bell on a bike is for a tricycle. I wasn't sure if I'd be buying the dork-bike right off the bat.
*NYC 9/28/96 *NYC 9/29/96 *NJ 9/8/98 (front row "may i play drums with you")
*MSG 9/10/98 (backstage) *MSG 9/11/98 (backstage)
*Jones Beach 8/23/00 *Jones Beach 8/24/00 *Jones Beach 8/25/00
*Mansfield 8/29/00 *Mansfield 8/30/00 *Nassau 4/30/03 *Nissan VA 7/1/03
*Borgata 10/1/05 *Camden 5/27/06 *Camden 5/28/06 *DC 5/30/06
*VA Beach 6/17/08 *DC 6/22/08 *MSG 6/24/08 (backstage) *MSG 6/25/08
*EV DC 8/17/08 *EV Baltimore 6/15/09 *Philly 10/31/09
*Bristow VA 5/13/10 *MSG 5/20/10 *MSG 5/21/10
I love this! It's so true...who gives a shit about what gadgets or brand names you have on your gear....just enjoy the wind blowing through your hair and don't forget the music on your rides
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It's funny... I was going to suggest that he keep an eye out for crappy components (front and rear derailleurs) until I read these. Guess I'm a dweeb.
Honestly, the frame doesn't really matter much unless you're looking to shave a few pounds off the overall weight of the bike. Get something you're comfortable sitting on. You can do a lot of modification later on if you decide that something isn't working correctly.
+1 on buying it at a local shop though. They really do put time into making sure it's assembled correctly and will function for you.
My brother-in-law somewhat agreed with his assessment, but said that they're known to try to upsell you. This guy wasn't really trying to steer me towards the very expensive bikes, but said if I have any intention to go on any trails that aren't flat that I should get a mountain bike, since this has no ability at all for any up-and-down trails. I think they had some near the $300 price range.
I'm gonna try to get my brother in law to go with me to the store today. If I can't he said I can borrow his 7 year old good mountain bike for a couple of weeks since he's having the ol' "snip snip" surgery (yes, that one) on Friday and won't be able to ride for a while.
My brother in law did say that when he rides his mountain bike his back does hurt after a while.
I didn't want to miss out on a good buying opportunity for a name-brand clearance bike, but aside from that, maybe I should really think about what I'm going to use if for.
Feel free to add your opinions! ...and the reason I'm being picky is because I didn't plan on buying a bike until just a couple of days ago, for a little exerclse.
*NYC 9/28/96 *NYC 9/29/96 *NJ 9/8/98 (front row "may i play drums with you")
*MSG 9/10/98 (backstage) *MSG 9/11/98 (backstage)
*Jones Beach 8/23/00 *Jones Beach 8/24/00 *Jones Beach 8/25/00
*Mansfield 8/29/00 *Mansfield 8/30/00 *Nassau 4/30/03 *Nissan VA 7/1/03
*Borgata 10/1/05 *Camden 5/27/06 *Camden 5/28/06 *DC 5/30/06
*VA Beach 6/17/08 *DC 6/22/08 *MSG 6/24/08 (backstage) *MSG 6/25/08
*EV DC 8/17/08 *EV Baltimore 6/15/09 *Philly 10/31/09
*Bristow VA 5/13/10 *MSG 5/20/10 *MSG 5/21/10
so yea......definitely need to think about what you REALLY want to do, what kind of riding you want to do.....
and as for your bro-in-law....he'll be back in the saddle in no time.
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
Don't let anyone upsell you. I think it's fair to assume that only hardcore bike-nerds would work at a bike shop. Same way that hardcore music-nerds work at record stores. Fact of the matter is that a hybrid bike (or whatever they're calling it) would probably work just fine for you. No hardcore biker would ride one because they ride more aggressively and have greater expectations out of the bike, its components, and its overall performance. A real bike-nerd would be dismissive of a "lower capability" bike just like a real music-nerd would be dismissive of a Meredith Brooks or Third Eye Blind album. That doesn't mean that the Meredith Brooks or Third Eye Blind album doesn't work though. You can still put them into your cd player and listen to that one hit song.*
What you'll find is that "cheaper" or less-expensive components like the derailleurs affect your ability to shift into another gear quickly and accurately (or without the chain flying off of one of the sprockets). For most people this is 100% just fine because they're never in a position where they need to shift rapidly and with great precision. If all you're looking for is a casual or comfortable ride, there should be nothing wrong with the bike you picked out.
If you're holding back on the purchase because you think that you might upgrade in the future to something more trail worthy (a hard core ride), my advice is don't bother. Go ahead and pick this bike up. Fact is as of right now you don't know if you're even really going to like riding the bike let alone have time for it. Why spend $800-$1200 on a bike just to have it hanging on the wall of your basement because you never take it out? If you do decide that you want to upgrade, sell the old one and pay for a better model. It'll be worth it.
HeavyHands
bike & music nerd
*side note- I've always thought that song "the Jumper" by Third Eye Blind had something to it. Then I realized that the nice little guitar noodling in it was almost the same melody as PJ's "Black." Guess it did have something to it.
Just figure out what you are going to use it for, clean it after the muddy runs, keep the chain lubed. Even a walmart mongoose will treat you right if you do the same.
On a side note, I just dropped change for a used TRek Liquid 20 (bike nerd here too) for my son, hard core stuff, and now I have to try to keep up with him. My knees already hurt!
And if your brother-in-law's back hurts when he rides, the frame isn't the right size for him or something's not adjusted quite right...he might try getting his bike "fitted" for him...
You should be able to get a half decent bike for under $500. If you go too cheap, you might have problems. I'd recommend going to another bike shop and letting them know exactly what you'd be using the bike for. You should get some recommendations in various price ranges...
Ok, this thread was a little further back, but since I've spent some time at the bike shop this weekend (my getting-around bike was stolen so I had to buy a new one!) I felt like responding. I know a little about bikes- I ride one everywhere, hence my "getting-around" bike, and I also occasionally do really long rides for fun, for which I have a fairly nice road bike. I've taken a few bike maintenance classes and gone shopping for bikes quite a bit, but I am far from an expert.
First, you really have to be careful of what "the bike shop guy" tells you. Bike shops are notoriously annoying places. The sales people can be huge snobs, and even if they know nothing they will be such a snob, they'll come off like they know a lot. They will also often try to sell you whatever they have in stock. Before I knew better, I went to one bike shop that sold me a 17.5" comfort bike and I'm under 5'4" with miniature legs! You really have to find a good bike shop where you feel comfortable. There is one very close to me where they don't work on commission. I would recommend looking for something similar. That being said, always buy a bike from a bike shop, not a big retailer. They will give you deals on accessories and maintenance, and the accountability is much higher.
In terms of that bike being a grandma bike: I may agree with this assessment based on what I could see from the web site- it seems to really be a comfort bike- it has a very upright geometry. I tend to think of very upright bikes as grandmaish. I have owned 2- the problem is you can't get up a hill!There are many different types of "hybrids," not just comfort bikes. It is difficult to classify bikes as "road, mountain, or hybrid"-many bikes will have their own unique combination of features, but sometimes if you don't want a grandma bike, you really have to be specific when telling the salesperson what you want. So rather than say, "I'm looking for a hybrid," a better approach would be something like, "I'm just looking for something to get some exercise, maybe run some errands, but I don't want anything too upright..." etc.
Generally, geometry and size are probably the MOST important thing. Some bike makers make very long bikes and some very short, so you have to find a maker that matches your body type unless you are looking to customize a bit. If you have long femurs (relative to the rest of your leg) and/or a long torso, you want a bike that is longer.This can be a difficult to figure out, and it helps if you go to a shop where the sales people spend some time with you. Size can be complicated too. One thing I've been told is if you stand over the bike and lift up on the handlebars, if it doesn't immediately wack you in the crotch, you're good.
As for the Fugi brand itself, I really don't know much about it. I think I have heard recently that it has been lumped in with Schwinn as sort of a department store brand, but I don't know. $400 would have gotten you a pretty decent hybrid a couple years ago, but as someone mentioned they have really gone up in price. It's still not bad though. I bought a Gary Fisher hybrid this weekend, and the low-end was $489, the middle (which I got) was $600, and the high end was over $900. The difference between these bikes is the parts. The higher quality parts you have, the easier it can be to maintain.
I would disagree with this. I think shocks are unnecessary unless you are mountain biking. Most "urban" or commuter bikes don't have shocks, they are more like more stable road bikes. Not having shocks makes for a much smoother ride. If you are positioned right on the handlebars, you shouldn't have wrist injuries (and there are handlebar adjustments and swaps you can make if you need to). In my opinion, shocks slow you down on the street, and kind of make the ride too comfy. They also can add to the price of the bike unnecessarily. I call my commute "the urban adventure" because if there is a possible obstacle you could hit on a bike, you will find it on my route! But I don't have shocks. It comes down to matter of preference, but I definitely wouldn't say they are a "must" for the city.