Any Bikers or Cyclers Here?

[Thats Camping!]

Hey all,
Mike is trying to talk me into buying a new bike for him. Anyone have any good or bad reviews? We don't want to spend a fortune. Yikes, some bikes can cost as much as a used car!

We're heading out today to shop. Don't know if we will find one or not, but I figured it might be a good topic.

Right now we have department store bikes, they really have lasted years and are still in good shape. Are department store bikes still a good bargain, or has the quality gone down in recent years?

[NYCgrrl]

What kind  of cycle are you looking for?
Lightweight for racing/ road camping?
Mountain bike?
General touring?

[Thats Camping!]

Thanks for replying, NYCgrrl.

We ended up at the LL Bean Outlet stores in Manchester and Nashua NH and he found a nice Schwinn, it's a hybrid type. Good for both streets and dirt roads. We're not much into the full on mountain biking hills. Just breezing around our town and campground dirt roads.

[GaryWT]

Deb, does the outlets have some good prices on bikes?  How was the selection?

[Thats Camping!]

Gary no there wasn't a large selection. There was a nice matte black bike at Manchester (I can't recall the brand name), and one of the customers even told us he bought that bike last year and it was a good bike.

LL Bean Outlet was having a 30% off sale but it was only for the weekend and ended Sunday. We got ours for $223. Outlet reduced price was $318 down from the regular price of I think $400 

The black bike was I think a little bit higher but it's not 30% anymore.

We also went to walmart and toys r us and they had a good selection but nothing we thought could match the quality and price of the schwinn at the outlet.   

Let us know if you find something you like.

[GaryWT]

Thanks Deb, I really need to do some riding and was going to use my sons bike which is a nice one and holds me but he informed me that he wants to bring it to Maine, I think he is afraid of not having gas money now that he has an apartment. LOL.

Thanks

[Thats Camping!]

You might also check the sports stores, like Dicks Sporting. Also, don't forget used. Craig's List probably has a bunch of bikes too!

I think that is great that you want to start riding again! I love it. I still want to try jogging, but somehow the bike is just so fast. I can get where I am going so much quicker! LOL

The only thing I am concerned about now is a helmet. Does anyone use a helmet on the streets? We usually ride on sidewalks, but still, it could be so dangerous if something happens. I feel sort of dorky with a helmet though.

[Thats Camping!]

I moved this topic to the Healthy board. I wasn't sure where it belonged initially, but it seems like this is a good place for it now.

[GaryWT]

Wait a second, this is healthy stuff, I will have to rethink that,LOL.

I think I will look around and see what I can find because I need to do something.

[Thats Camping!]

nuh uh, you can't back out now, Gary. Healthy is good. LOL

Did you find anything yet? I bet Craig's list is full of bikes!