BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

you forgot the price range part

Which price range is that?

Based on the Greenfield thing, I'd recommed a compact crank or a triple, but the compact has a better Q factor if you want to toss terms like that around. Either way having the smaller ring on a road bike makes those days when the big hills look so steep much more bearable.

Whoops! $500.

Next question, what sort of riding does he want to do? Long rides, bike path rides with roads to and from, just bopping around?

City riding, river trail riding, commuting. Casual, not racing.

your "friend" could go down to thick and check out the new and used collection they gots. mon-sat, 10-6

My first "real bike" was a KHS Flight 220 from Iron City. The bike is very solidly built and perfect for city riding. It's actually very fast (compared to the full suspension Wal-mart Mongoose I had before). You can easily attach fenders and a rack. I would recommend upgrading the pedals to better suit your riding style. Also invest in some puncture proof tires. I think I bought the 700 x 25C RiBMos by Panracer.

I think I paid about $520 2 years ago. The bike might be retailing for about $550 now.

The bike has a compact crank set and I can easily climb greenfield ave in it. (Well not easily, but you get the point).

http://www.roadbikereview.com/ is a very comprehensive website.

Ha ha.

cburch suggests something from Fuji which Thick does indeed carry.

Forgot about KHS too.

If he's buying in the next week or so REI bikes are 20% off. They seem to sell some sensible urbanist bikes, too.

Trek makes some nice flatbar road bikes in that price range that come in sizes to fit giants like your friend.

Thick carries Torker bikes these days and should have a Graduate in stock, and it is available in giant sizes as well. $500, internal gears, fenders, upright... Erok reviewed it for us at Urban Velo.

http://urbanvelo.org/torker-graduate-commuter-bike-review/

My standard gear rant:

The lowest gear I have is 22 tooth front and 30 back.

My 2nd gear is 22F 26B, which, means I have two gears lower than what seems to be standard 28F 32B, 3 chainring setup.

2nd gear is the gear I use the most.

Plenty of folks will stress the need for a low gear, but then try to sell a set with many gears, but in too narrow a range. "You won't have any trouble with this once you get in shape!" (uh. wrong.)

If you stress how you want a low gear, some folks will try to sell a 11-34 cassette, but the 2nd gear has 26 teeth - giving you a 31% gap between first and 2nd gear. That is appropriate for a 3 speed or 5 speed bike, but means you will spend time meditating on that gap as slowly climb Greenfield Ave.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlBqo8Pco_A

In the $500 and lower range, my advice probably means look for a bike where the chain rings are bolted, not riveted, so you can get what you need.

Good luck.

If your friend wants drop bars, sti shifter in the brake levers etc, it looks like you have to go up the $600-$650 or so level. The Trek 1.1 and the Jamis Ventura Sport are two that come to mind. @Brad is right there are bunch of flat bar bikes that come in nicely at that price range.

STI shifters are not important. The low end Fuji actually has down tube shifters.

Scott Sub, Cannondale Quick, Novara buzz, all flat bar "urban" bikes in your price range. All can be had with rack and fender mounts.

low end Fuji actually has down tube shifters.

Old skool!

Good suggestions. Thanks all.