CSNbbs

Full Version: Bicycles
You're currently viewing a stripped down version of our content. View the full version with proper formatting.
Pages: 1 2 3
I live on the Greenline and want to get a bike.
Probably a mtn bike so I can get on the trails at Shelby Farms.
Any ideas for a beginner are appreciated.
(10-08-2010 09:15 AM)TiggerFan Wrote: [ -> ]I live on the Greenline and want to get a bike.
Probably a mtn bike so I can get on the trails at Shelby Farms.
Any ideas for a beginner are appreciated.

I was just visiting the Greenline website and was thinking the same thing. I have no clue in what to buy or how much to budget for. The last time I was wanting a bike, to be cool you had to buy a Haro, Redline or Mongoose.
Although you may end up with a mountain bike, there are several categories of bike that you might want to look at for the Greenline.

The categories are usually called Urban, City, or even Bike Path depending on the manufacturer. Trek has a line of bikes without chains that use rubber drive belts that is really quite innovative. Check out Trek.com to get an idea.

I ride a pretty serious road bike, but have friends that want to try out the Greenline who just ride regular bikes. I want to get a bike for the sole purpose of riding the Greenline.

I may head over to the Peddler Bike Shop on Highland today to check out some bikes and brochures. They carry the Trek lines and I want to check those out.

Any reputable bike manufacturer will have something that can fill your need. Take your time and there are tons of bikes on Craigslist to be had for very little money. Make SURE you buy a bike that fits, though.

The Greenline is great---looking forward to them extending it in both directions.
Always check out Craigslist when looking around. There are some great bikes out there at great prices and some will haggle. Just something to keep in mind.
I'd highly recommend going to a bike shop and getting fitted properly. Visit two or three, tell them what you'll be using it for, check out their deals and go with the shop you feel most comfortable with. There's a ton of options for your purpose.
(10-08-2010 09:55 AM)georgiatiger Wrote: [ -> ]I'd highly recommend going to a bike shop and getting fitted properly. Visit two or three, tell them what you'll be using it for, check out their deals and go with the shop you feel most comfortable with. There's a ton of options for your purpose.

Thats what I did with mine before buying on Craigslist. Find a bike that fits you and then shop it. Just use all of your options.
Quote:I want to get a bike for the sole purpose of riding the Greenline.

I may go that way as well to get started.
Also, re: Craigslist, are the bikes new?
Craigslist usually aren't new, but you will find many that are practically new or in very well maintained condition.

Here is an example, but there are many more out there:

http://memphis.craigslist.org/bik/1994406697.html
I can see a bunch of bikes being for sale in a year or two on craigslist in this area. If I were you I would start out with a $150 mongoose from WalMart and make damn sure you enjoyed it before you put up big bucks at a bike shop. JMO
(10-08-2010 09:53 AM)ByrdDogX Wrote: [ -> ]Always check out Craigslist when looking around. There are some great bikes out there at great prices and some will haggle. Just something to keep in mind.

If you don't know what you're looking at you can get ripped off on Craigslist. I'd buy a road bike from there in a heartbeat but not a mountain bike that's been thrashed. IF YOU DO BUY FROM CRAIGSLIST check the frame for cracks and the wheels to make sure they are true. Those are your big money items to get fixed but you can buy a brand new TREK mountain bike (entry level) for about $300-$350. So if you see and add for one that's $200 and think it's a deal check it out and see what you have to put into it to get it ready to ride.

I can't wait to get out there on my bike thinking about going out on my road bike while my wife rides my mountain bike this weekend should be fun
(10-08-2010 12:59 PM)tigertommy Wrote: [ -> ]I can see a bunch of bikes being for sell in a year or two on craigslist in this area. If I were you I would start out with a $150 mongoose from WalMart and make damn sure you enjoyed it before you put up big bucks at a boke shop. JMO

x2 on this if you haven't ridden a bike since childhood. You may hate it. If you love it you can always "donate" your used bike to a charity and get a writeoff and buy a new one at the bike shops. Check the standover height to make sure it fits. If it's to tall you can sing the national anthem at our next football game soprano.
(10-08-2010 09:15 AM)TiggerFan Wrote: [ -> ]I live on the Greenline and want to get a bike.
Probably a mtn bike so I can get on the trails at Shelby Farms.
Any ideas for a beginner are appreciated.

You don't just need a bike. You also need:

-Helmet
-Some shoes (mountain and road bikes have different kind of shoes and pedals)
-Some bike gloves
-Some bike shorts
-Some kind of hydration.
-Bike bag with patch kits and an extra tube
-Frame pump or inflator

The Peddler or RB's are pretty good shops. I generally try not to buy accessories from them because of their selection and they are a bit high. Bike Nashbar and BikeTiresDirect are a couple of good online shops.
(10-08-2010 01:34 PM)mairving Wrote: [ -> ]
(10-08-2010 09:15 AM)TiggerFan Wrote: [ -> ]I live on the Greenline and want to get a bike.
Probably a mtn bike so I can get on the trails at Shelby Farms.
Any ideas for a beginner are appreciated.

You don't just need a bike. You also need:

-Helmet
-Some shoes (mountain and road bikes have different kind of shoes and pedals)
-Some bike gloves
-Some bike shorts
-Some kind of hydration.
-Bike bag with patch kits and an extra tube
-Frame pump or inflator

The Peddler or RB's are pretty good shops. I generally try not to buy accessories from them because of their selection and they are a bit high. Bike Nashbar and BikeTiresDirect are a couple of good online shops.

You don't need that stuff if you're just doing the greenline. It's a good idea but not needed. I would take an extra tube and a mini pump of some sort but that's about all I take in my pack when i ride. A water bottle in your water bottle cage will more than take care of your hydration needs for what the OP is doing.

You really don't need special shoes and pedals or padded shorts
(10-08-2010 01:37 PM)JTiger Wrote: [ -> ]
(10-08-2010 01:34 PM)mairving Wrote: [ -> ]
(10-08-2010 09:15 AM)TiggerFan Wrote: [ -> ]I live on the Greenline and want to get a bike.
Probably a mtn bike so I can get on the trails at Shelby Farms.
Any ideas for a beginner are appreciated.

You don't just need a bike. You also need:

-Helmet
-Some shoes (mountain and road bikes have different kind of shoes and pedals)
-Some bike gloves
-Some bike shorts
-Some kind of hydration.
-Bike bag with patch kits and an extra tube
-Frame pump or inflator

The Peddler or RB's are pretty good shops. I generally try not to buy accessories from them because of their selection and they are a bit high. Bike Nashbar and BikeTiresDirect are a couple of good online shops.

You don't need that stuff if you're just doing the greenline. It's a good idea but not needed. I would take an extra tube and a mini pump of some sort but that's about all I take in my pack when i ride. A water bottle in your water bottle cage will more than take care of your hydration needs for what the OP is doing.

You certainly need a helmet. Some of the needs also depend on what kind on bike you have. If you have a road bike you will need some good shorts and shoes and will have to worry more about flats than with a mountain bike.
Somebody told me Target is selling Schwinn bikes. Quality Schwinn or some watered down version that won't last?
(10-08-2010 01:48 PM)TiggerFan Wrote: [ -> ]Somebody told me Target is selling Schwinn bikes. Quality Schwinn or some watered down version that won't last?

Schwinn isn't what it used to be but they are okay.
Just got back from the Peddler on Highland. Their selection is very limited right now.

Apparently the bike sales in Memphis have gone through the roof. Not surprising given that Memphis has never been a cycling town--- and now we are (for a little while).

If you want to go the way of Craigslist, Ebay is a good place to do some research--- their bike selection covers everything produced in the last 40 years. Be careful and don't buy the first bike you go look at unless you are sure.

I would buy a good bike on Craigslist before buying a Schwinn or Mongoose from Target. The price would be comparable.
(10-08-2010 01:47 PM)mairving Wrote: [ -> ]
(10-08-2010 01:37 PM)JTiger Wrote: [ -> ]
(10-08-2010 01:34 PM)mairving Wrote: [ -> ]
(10-08-2010 09:15 AM)TiggerFan Wrote: [ -> ]I live on the Greenline and want to get a bike.
Probably a mtn bike so I can get on the trails at Shelby Farms.
Any ideas for a beginner are appreciated.

You don't just need a bike. You also need:

-Helmet
-Some shoes (mountain and road bikes have different kind of shoes and pedals)
-Some bike gloves
-Some bike shorts
-Some kind of hydration.
-Bike bag with patch kits and an extra tube
-Frame pump or inflator

The Peddler or RB's are pretty good shops. I generally try not to buy accessories from them because of their selection and they are a bit high. Bike Nashbar and BikeTiresDirect are a couple of good online shops.

You don't need that stuff if you're just doing the greenline. It's a good idea but not needed. I would take an extra tube and a mini pump of some sort but that's about all I take in my pack when i ride. A water bottle in your water bottle cage will more than take care of your hydration needs for what the OP is doing.

You certainly need a helmet. Some of the needs also depend on what kind on bike you have. If you have a road bike you will need some good shorts and shoes and will have to worry more about flats than with a mountain bike.

You don't need an expensive road bike for the greenline a fat tire bike will be fine. Is a helmet a good idea? Yes but I often ride without my helmet if I'm not going to be around traffic or on a technical trail or clipped in with pedals. It's good but not needed. City pedals are fine on a fat tire bike setup on the greenline. I rarely wear padded shorts on my mountain bike but I wouldn't make it a mile without them on my road bike. Most mountain bikes have a decent saddle so you don't need padded shorts. If you get saddle sores by all means "invest" in them but not at first. Remember this is an introduction for the OP, he may hate it. You can always buy those things later if you become a cycling freak like us.

What kind of setup do you have?
(10-08-2010 02:07 PM)cleotis Wrote: [ -> ]Just got back from the Peddler on Highland. Their selection is very limited right now.

Apparently the bike sales in Memphis have gone through the roof. Not surprising given that Memphis has never been a cycling town--- and now we are (for a little while).

If you want to go the way of Craigslist, Ebay is a good place to do some research--- their bike selection covers everything produced in the last 40 years. Be careful and don't buy the first bike you go look at unless you are sure.

I would buy a good bike on Craigslist before buying a Schwinn or Mongoose from Target. The price would be comparable.
Sales have been up for the last couple of years. It's the new cool sport/activity. That is why it's a sellers market for bikes. If you try to lowball someone another buyer will come along and give you asking price depending on the bike.
(10-08-2010 02:52 PM)JTiger Wrote: [ -> ]
(10-08-2010 01:47 PM)mairving Wrote: [ -> ]
(10-08-2010 01:37 PM)JTiger Wrote: [ -> ]
(10-08-2010 01:34 PM)mairving Wrote: [ -> ]
(10-08-2010 09:15 AM)TiggerFan Wrote: [ -> ]I live on the Greenline and want to get a bike.
Probably a mtn bike so I can get on the trails at Shelby Farms.
Any ideas for a beginner are appreciated.

You don't just need a bike. You also need:

-Helmet
-Some shoes (mountain and road bikes have different kind of shoes and pedals)
-Some bike gloves
-Some bike shorts
-Some kind of hydration.
-Bike bag with patch kits and an extra tube
-Frame pump or inflator

The Peddler or RB's are pretty good shops. I generally try not to buy accessories from them because of their selection and they are a bit high. Bike Nashbar and BikeTiresDirect are a couple of good online shops.

You don't need that stuff if you're just doing the greenline. It's a good idea but not needed. I would take an extra tube and a mini pump of some sort but that's about all I take in my pack when i ride. A water bottle in your water bottle cage will more than take care of your hydration needs for what the OP is doing.

You certainly need a helmet. Some of the needs also depend on what kind on bike you have. If you have a road bike you will need some good shorts and shoes and will have to worry more about flats than with a mountain bike.

You don't need an expensive road bike for the greenline a fat tire bike will be fine. Is a helmet a good idea? Yes but I often ride without my helmet if I'm not going to be around traffic or on a technical trail or clipped in with pedals. It's good but not needed. City pedals are fine on a fat tire bike setup on the greenline. I rarely wear padded shorts on my mountain bike but I wouldn't make it a mile without them on my road bike. Most mountain bikes have a decent saddle so you don't need padded shorts. If you get saddle sores by all means "invest" in them but not at first. Remember this is an introduction for the OP, he may hate it. You can always buy those things later if you become a cycling freak like us.

What kind of setup do you have?

I would still wear a helmet nevertheless. The reason is that they are a little bit harder than most people's heads and you can replace a helmet but not a head. It wouldn't be tremendously difficult to take a tumble on the Greenway. Plus it says in your signature to buy a helmet.

Yep, padded shorts are a necessity for a road bike. I have a Klein that I ride. It's a decent bike but a little stiff and bumpy if I am coming down a bumpy hill fast. I ride a lot on Memphis-Arlington rd. It's one of the better bike roads around.
Pages: 1 2 3
Reference URL's