I've been walking to commute but I would like to start biking. I have $100 to work with right now but could technically wait and save more. I need to be able to travel daily 2mi each way and occasionally 5mi each way. I prefer comfort over speed and will only need to go up/down one hill by my home.
-I would like to be able to attach something to the bike for small grocery trips or carrying library books.
-My town has a few roads with bike lanes but mostly it's either the road, grass/yards, or sidewalk. I'm also curious what the etiquette is for that?
I know nothing about bikes and haven't ridden one in over 10 years so I'd love opinions on if any of these are good options or if I should hold out for something different?
by No-Detective6322
4 Comments
Do you have a local bike co-op near you? Some offer bikes in exchange for work days, and usually also have low cost older used bikes that have been fixed up by professional mechanics.
This is probably the best route given your budget. I’d be very concerned about purchasing any of the bikes you posted without having them looked over by a competent mechanic. You very well could be purchasing a “bicycle-shaped object.”
For example, the Portland Gear Hub in Portland, ME, The Reno Bike Project, or Neighborhood Bike Works in West Philly.
Don’t get a single speed. Get something with gears so you can handle hills. Out of those options I like the mongoose.
For 2-5 easy mile, then 1 or 3. Simple, comfortable, and has fenders and rack/basket.
immediately discard any option with a suspension. shocks are not for rider comfort, they’re for displacing the impact force of landing a jump at-speed in order to prevent the wheel from shattering. anything short of that is just excess deadweight, gratuitious work inefficiency, and unnecessary maintenance costs.