How to Choose a New Bike

Just reading this article a couple of years after it was written....I couldn't agree more with most of what said. Tho I regularly ride a long wheelbased recumbent, I wish ya'll could try one out, it can be expensive to by new, but there are many used out there for similar prices as the "1895 safety" bikes on todays market.

One thing about helmets, I agree with the man who said "Helmets are not a simple "nuff said" proposition"...tho I totally disagree with his claim that helmets are a 'social issue' - no, No, NO! Helmets are a SAFETY issue. Yes, there are programs out there that teach "skills training" and every single one of them stresses wearing a helmet (the Texas Bicycle Coalition, TBC, has an exemplary course - check it out for your community)

I personally owe my continuing life to helmets, while I may ride defensively...the auto drivers just don't seem much (talking on cell phones, eating, drinking, shaving, applying lipstick, reading...all while driving) or are just "bike blind". I've had a car turn right in front of me, had one back/zoom out of a blackened drive late at nite...I did everything correct but still had to dive to the side.
as for that man's ending "I'd rather be bare headed and skilled in riding in traffic than uninformed and helmeted." All I can say is, which is the same thing I say to motorcyclists who don't want to wear helmets: I just wish that you had to pay for your own neurological care, instead of your insurance, when the worst happens

I am now on my twentieth bike, having lost 18 to theft, all heavily used. The other two fell apart from heavy use. Three of the stolen bikes were falling apart. Most of the bikes cost less than $100 each, the most expensive was $350. The bike I have now costs about $100. Two weeks after purchase, the right pedal broke off. Five months later, the rear wheel became severely bent, five spokes broke, and 14 were loose. Also the axle broke. I bought it at Wal-Mart, big mistake. The Next Ultra Shock, sold at Wal-Mart, has been recalled because the front wheel often falls off, causing injury.

Don't forget recumbent trikes. Yes, trikes. Particularly for folk who have not been on a bike recently, or for folk with back, knee or balance problems. They are a far cry from the old-style upright single speeds of the past. Good and bad, as with all bikes/trikes, but well worth a look. Check them out in your browser.

I saw no mention of electric bikes. I know they are probably not for most of this crowd, but my observation is that the majority of people who have bikes rarely use them. Having an electric motor to assist your pedaling may be just what some people need to leave their car behind. There are even scooter-style electric bikes: they look and handle like a scooter yet they meet the federal criteria for electric bicycles (thus avoiding the need to register or license in most states). I'm biased--I liked the Veloteq scooter-style ebikes so much after buying one for me and one for my wife that I have since become a dealer; but any brand may be of some interest to the "environmentally conscious yet not very athletic."

Nice article but you forgot 5 essential items: seat bag, tire tube, tire irons, pump, and ability to use them. Don't leave your house with out these items.

If you want to put a lot of miles on a bike I would suggest you learn mantainance and repair skills.
Luckily I was taught as a child how to do this, for those who are not that mechanically inclined but want to learn.
I would get an old bike, people toss bikes out on garbage day all the time or you probably know someone who has one that they are willing to give you.
Take that old bike pull it apart and put it back together, once you have a understanding of it you can feel safe about working on your real bike.
You can save a small fortune by taking care of your own bike, I have 8 year old bike with thousands of miles on it.
It still looks like new and I have probably spent $30 on it over the years and half of that was buying some tires that luckily were on clearance, otherwise they would of cost $40 a piece.

John -

I agree absolutely that the best way to avoid harm is to be skilled. Everyone who wants to cycle should learn to do so well. That is best for each individual, and for all on bikes (in that it helps keep pedestrians and drivers, e.g., from resenting or hating cyclists).

I disagree with your implication that being skilled and wearing a helmet are mutually exclusive. How is that the case? Answer: it's not.

An optimal solution is to be a skilled cyclist AND wear a helmet.

Happy trails!

A. Helmets are not a simple "nuff said" proposition. Wikipedia helmets to find out more. There is an entire social issue - many people riding to work or for very short trips are seriously inconvenienced by helmets, and far more protected from injury by learning cycle skills.
B. Why is it that the panacea seems to be wear a helmet when the best way is to avoid the crash in the first place (skills training) rather than mitigate the results of a crash? Remember, a helmet will only protect your head up to impact speeds of 23 km/h. I'd rather be bare headed and skilled in riding in traffic than uninformed and helmeted.

Nice article on buying a bicycle. Several points to add though:
1. Do not forget to look at the recumbent type of bicycle.
These are the bikes where you sit in the seat and not on it, much like a kicthen table chair and the pedals are in front of you. This type of bicycle is very good for those with back problems.

2. I use my mountain bike only on the road as a communter for going to work and because I work the afternoon turn once in a while need a good light system. DO NOT be afraid to go to the local PEP boys or other auto parts store and buy a driving light kit. You will also need a battery and charger ( I would recommend a battery tender which is automatic)and a tail light. The tail light should be a blinking safety beacon in amber color since some states do not allow red or blue blinking lights on bicycles. The tail light can be obtained from Allelectronics for $10.00.

By building your own light system you will have something better then can be bought. When I built this light system it cost me less then $100.00. To buy premade would cost over $200.00

3. Ride. Ride. ride. Have fun. Do learn the safety rules.

Oh yeah, and I thought the same thing about the Zinn versus Zen thing, and then I saw the book in REI this weeked:

http://books.rediff.com/bookshop/bkproductdisplay.jsp?prrfnbr=81489625&pvrfnbr=82098838&multiple=false&frompg=

So, Nate was right!

Thanks for this article. With your help, I bought myself a shiny new bike this weekend. I ended up buying a city bike from REI, because I know that they've got a great policy on repairs and things. I pedaled to work this morning with a huge smile on my face. Now all I need is a bell.

A good comprehensive artical, but I think you mean zen, not zinn.
Now if I can just find the balance to actually ride a bicycle... .

Thanks for the great article. Perhaps you could have used the word "spouse" in place of "wife" in that last bit, just so you don't alienate the women who would also like to purchase a bike.

Thanks for the article here....shouldn't the book reference be spelled "Zen" instead of "Zinn"?