Bicycle on a Budget

Whenever I get my nice mountain bike out these days I often stop to think about my early days of bicycling….Which in turn make me think about the intricacies of buying a bicycle on a budget.  Back in 1987 I found myself as a new college student in…..Beijing, China.  Of course one of the big decisions I had to make is what bike to buy.  Why?  Because everyone (or nearly everyone) in those days got around on bicycles.  My decision making about what bike to buy though was quickly brought to an end when I reaized that I had only 3 or 4 choices….There were not that many types of bikes to be had….Just take a look at the picture (this one is from 1989 – Shanghai – bicycle parking lot):

    amazing site With mountain bikes, focus on front suspension, wheels, disc brakes, and the drivetrain—in that order, says Troy Rarick, founder of Over the Edge Sports. Look for brands such as RockShox, Fox, SRAM, and Shimano, which have reputations for quality, even with their lower-­tier products. This lets you make value comparisons. For instance, mountain bikes that cost about $1,100 are often equipped with either RockShox XC 28 suspension or the more expensive XC 30: One with XC 30 may be a better deal. Not sure which parts are tops? Manufacturers post component details on their websites, so you can compare bikes before going for a test rideisn't it….?  How many bikes do you think are parked here?

Well, enough with the history.  Now on with the subject at hand.  How do you find a bicycle on a budget?

I will start with a quote from the end a good article in Bicycling magazine:

Finally, remember the most important part of the deal: finding something that you want to ride. No bargain is great if the bicycle ends up collecting dust in your garage

I think this was very well said.  So, how do you shop for a bike – well most importantly start with setting a budget.  I personally would recommend something between $800 and $1100.  Why ?  Because, if you are like me, you really do not want to shop for a bike every two years or so — and that is how long a cheap bike will last you if you are using it regularly!  

Second – decide on the type of bike you want to have — what and where do you ride?  Is it that you bike to work?  or out in the hills?  or on the road?  Well, you will see, read, and hear a lot of advice — consider buying a city bike if you are using it for commute… Again, let me point a snippet from the article in Bicycling magazine:

If your ride will take you no farther than the coffee shop across town, find a ­comfortable one-speed cruiser and save your cash for lattés. Conversely, if you’re planning to ride 5 miles to work and back every day, look for a city bike with racks, fenders, and integrated lights. A belt drive paired with internal gearing is also becoming a popular­ replacement for a standard derailleur-­equiped drivetrain. Models that place you in an upright position let you ­easily navigate traffic. Disc brakes are becoming more common on around-town bikes, even in lower price ranges. They add safety, especially if you ride in the rain.

If you ask me though, I would suggest that you buy a mountain bike.  Why?  They are the most versatile.  You  get components that are designed to last long and under stressful conditions of the rough roads.  You get nice geometry for a frame.  Yes, it is not letting you ride upright as the quote above suggests, but then as long as the bike is properly fitted for you, there should not be any discomfort once you build some endurance.

So, with that in mind you may want to consider mountain bikes like Trek, Specialized, among others.  Check the listings on this blog and see the bike reviews there… Here is the link (or you can select the menu option "Bike Reviews")

I liked this paragraph from the Bicycling magazine article – I found it very true:

With mountain bikes, focus on front suspension, wheels, disc brakes, and the drivetrain—in that order, says Troy Rarick, founder of Over the Edge Sports. Look for brands such as RockShox, Fox, SRAM, and Shimano, which have reputations for quality, even with their lower-­tier products. This lets you make value comparisons. For instance, mountain bikes that cost about $1,100 are often equipped with either RockShox XC 28 suspension or the more expensive XC 30: One with XC 30 may be a better deal. Not sure which parts are tops? Manufacturers post component details on their websites, so you can compare bikes before going for a test ride

Most of the bikes you would consider will have these components — and keep in mind you will be able to upgrade later on in time.  For now, focus on getting the right fit and feel of the bike.

Going back to my experience in late 1980s China — my first bike there cost me RMB260 which was a princley sum for China of those days, but in todays dollars – a tiny sum.  But I liked that bike a lot – a single speed, with the brand "Long March".  Why?   Because I picked it myself.   So you should do the same – find your local bicycle pro shop and try multiple bikes, and buy the one that feels and rides the best!