Hey Guys,
I am just starting to bike around the city and need an inexpensive bike to start off w/ - I will most likely be biking around central park and prefer a mountain bike Can any of you direct me to a cheap bike store in Manhatta - used or new I really dont care. Thanks for all your help.
Good place to buy a bike?
Sun, 05/07/2006 - 11:30am
Mon, 05/08/2006 - 5:44am
#1
To make the right choice you need to spend time around other cyclists and find what will works of you. If you are new to NYCC post a message on the bulletin board and buy something used. Also, thanks to competition, there are a lot of $400 bikes that are light with good components. Spend a raining afternoon at Barnes & Noble browsing though bike magazines.
WARNING: Beware of bike shops. Most NYC bike shops are great. However, many sell by brand and a lot of sales people are part time. They may sell you just something in the inventory. Chose weekday afternoons to search for a bike and leave your credit card at home. BTW, taking a ride around the block isn’t going to tell you much.
Finally, you may be looking for two different types of bikes. To enjoy laps around Central Park you may want a road bike. Also, if you cycle with NYCC, you probably will need a road bike.
In the future you could consider another option. Cyclo-Cross can be used as a road and dirt bike. It does take time to change tire and tubs or just keep an extra set of wheels. The benefit - your apartment doesn’t get cluttered with bikes.
This is a website about cyclo-cross: http://www.cyclo-cross.com.
Mon, 05/08/2006 - 9:17pm
#2
Larry and Jeffs 87th and 2nd
Casey is very cool and knowledgeable, he's helped me out of a few jams.
Thu, 05/11/2006 - 7:23am
#3
absolutely larry & jeffs! but if you need a road bike i have a great Giant for sale!
Sun, 05/07/2006 - 12:30pm
#4
My experience is that it's best to buy from a store that is near your neighborhood. Otherwise, it's a pain when you need a small adjustment/repair, etc. Probably any store will have something inexpensive to recommend. There is always Recycle a Bicycle, which refurbishes donated bikes; but when I tried to use them, I found I could buy a new bike for less.
What neighborhood are you?
Sun, 05/07/2006 - 10:57pm
#5
Hey...Thanks for your post.
I am on the UES - 86th & Lex - do you know of any good places around here? Thanks.
Mon, 05/08/2006 - 3:53am
#6
Larry and Jeff's Bicycle Plus
They are on 87th and 2nd. Very friendly staff. Ask for Casey and tell him Hector sent you. If he doesn't kick you out of the store, he will take good care of you. lol.
Mon, 05/08/2006 - 6:12am
#7
If you are on the UES...
... there is only one place to go:
http://sidsbikes.com/index.cfm
Zoltan will look after you.
Wed, 05/10/2006 - 7:28pm
#8
I have to 2nd the Larry & Jeff's rec
You can also tell him Betsy sent you. He's the best. When I was bike shopping he refused to let me buy a bike on the first day. He told me I had to shop around a little. Needless to say, I'm now a loyal customer. I won't go anywhere else and I live in Inwood.
Fri, 05/12/2006 - 8:47am
#9
"""Casey""? All these years I thought his name was ""KC"" !"
but yeah, he's a doll. Two thumbs up for Casey/KC @ Larry & Jeff's.
Mon, 05/08/2006 - 11:19am
#10
Trek 1000 ranked best entry bike
I'd go with Hector's advice, if you are looking for anything but Trek. But if you want a Trek you have to go to Metro Bikes at 88th and Lex. Metro is the only Trek dealer in the city.
Bicycling Magazine's April issue ranked Trek's 1000 as the best entry level bike at $710. Bianchi steel bikes are also good entry level bikes, but they are heavier than aluminum. You will be looking at aluminum and steel bikes in the entry price range. Carbon and titanium are lighter but more expensive.
http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,3253,s1-15267-P,00.html?category_id=361
Mon, 05/08/2006 - 2:58pm
#11
other NYC Trek dealers
Both of these are also Trek dealers in Manhattan:
BICYCLE HABITAT
244 LAFAYETTE ST
BICYCLE RENAISSANCE
430 COLUMBUS AVE
Would recommend Bicycle Habitat head and shoulders above others.
Mon, 05/08/2006 - 9:23pm
#12
Hey Guys,
Thanks for all the reference - $800 is a little out of range for me, esp since it will be my first bike as I just want to get the feel of things first. What would you guys say would be a well priced bike? Thanks.
---Parag
Tue, 05/09/2006 - 3:57am
#13
Which way ...to go from here?
Which way...to go from here?
That depends a good deal where you want to get to
I don’t much care where ---
Then it doesn’t matter which way you go
--so long as I get somewhere
Oh, you’re sure to do that… if you only walk long enough
The Cheshire Cat to Alice ---Lewis Carrol
You are asking parochial questions. This is your MONEY and your BIKE. Get out from behind your computer & do some legwork. Cycling is an outdoor activity.
Tue, 05/09/2006 - 4:00am
#14
Bicycle Habitat
"Bicycle Habitat just expanded on Lafayette St. and should have a lot of bikes in all price ranges now. From what I've seen, entry-level hybrid bikes by major manufacturers begin around $300-$400. Charlie should have a good selection of those in stock, will let you test ride them, and will make sure you're happy with it.
Anything less than that amount, if new (e.g., Wal-Mart), will get you poor quality components that don't shift or brake well or that wear out after a short time. Avoid them if you want a bike to last more than 300 miles.
If you're just riding around the city, you don't really need a mountain bike, with the heavy (and costly) equipment. A straight-handlebarred hybrid may suit you fine. You could also try a zippy single-speed from NYC Bikes or Bike Works. Less componentry = lighter, cheaper good-quality bike.
Be sure to read the section on Habo's web site about bike fit. Many first-time (and second- and third) buyers end up getting bikes too big."
Thu, 05/11/2006 - 7:32am
#15
good bike for you!
Hi Parag, i have a great first road bike for you! i am seeling my giant ocr 2, it was my first road bike, i have had it almost 3 years and it is fabulous! it retails for about $900, and i am looking to sell for $500, the frame is a Small, i dont know how tall you are i am 5'5 1/2 and that is my size.
best,
dana
Mon, 05/08/2006 - 2:54pm
#16
"FYI, I know of several people, myself included, who have not had good experiences at Sid's. A friend of mine was recently looking for a new road bike in the 800 dollar range, inspected Sid's web page and saw that they had a bike in this price range. When he got to the store, he told the salesperson about his price range, but was immediately shown 1200+ dollar bikes. When he asked about the 800 dollar bike posted on their web site, he was told they did not have it in the store. Actually they did, and my friend (who was more knowledgeable than the salesperson realized) pointed the cheaper bike out to him. The salesperson just said, in an extremely rude manner ""oops, I guess we do have it"". I know of others, including myself, who have been treated similarly at Sid's.
They defintiely have great stuff at Sids', and if you know exactly want you want, it's fine. But I would warn someone who still doesn;t know exactly what they want, that at least some of the salespeople have serious attitude and will try to get you to pay more than you planned.
I've also been to Larry' and Jeff's, and have had only positive experiences with the staff there.
That's my 2 cents.
-Jimmy"
Thu, 05/11/2006 - 6:40am
#17
Bike Shopping
"
I think an educated consumer makes the best customer. It's good you started here, but don't end here. Get out there and ride, talk to people, visit multiple shops, read magazines and books. You will likely find that a mountain bike with big knobby tires, while it may appear/feel comfortable at first, is not the most appropriate bike for riding in and around New York City. Mountain bikes are great for riding in the mountains, but with their small knobby tires and relatively heavy frames they are not very efficient on the road. At the very least, one can replace the big tires with ""city-slickers"" that are better for riding on-road. Road bikes come in a variety of styles, from light and racey, to more relaxed and comfortable. The key is to find a bike that is comfortable for you and that FITS you, as well as your budget. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find a good road bike for <$500 these days. Most of the bikes in this price range are mountain or ""hybrid"" bikes. But if you are savvy you can find some really great deals.
Most of the shops in the city are alright. You will hear good and bad things about all of them, depending on who you ask. Salespeople are unfortunately almost never neutral, and are suscpetable to high-power marketing strategies on behalf of the manufacturers. Keep this in mind.
Good luck!"
Thu, 05/11/2006 - 12:36pm
#18
Advise
"Hey,
Thats for all the really great suggestions;
I came across this bike at a fairly descent price - the ""2006 MOTOBECANE ELITE FS"" ($330) and the ""2006 MOTOBECANE ELITE"" ($280) - do you think these bikes are good for starters? Any ideas?
Thanks in advance!"
Thu, 05/11/2006 - 7:30pm
#19
Motobecane
Motobecane is old Italian (I think) brand, whose name has been resurrected and used to brand asian-made frames. I've never ridden one, but most mid-range aluminum frames are pretty generic - I bet it will ride just fine. The price is right and would certainly be a great package to get started on. Be sure to carefully investigate the appropriate size before you buy.
Thu, 05/11/2006 - 10:00pm
#20
Did you come across these bikes online (bikesdirect.com)? Components on these bikes are definitely worth the value but someone new to the scene, I suggest doing a lot of homework (for proper fitting) before purchasing a bike online. Motobecane once was a premier French brand. A Taiwanese company (nothing worng with that... most European and American brands have thier carbon fiber frames manufactures in Asia) purchased the brand name along with Mercier. The components alone make the bikes a value but like I said becareful purchasing your first bike online.
Good luck!
Fri, 05/12/2006 - 5:40am
#21
"I used to have a Motobecane Super Mirage. It's actually an old French name, not Italian. It was perhaps my very first bike. It had a kickstand, a speedometer, the shifters were on the handlebar stem, and it had those soft brake levers on the tops of the handlebars.
Time passes.
Now I'm riding an Eddy Merckx AXM, decked out in all it's Campagnola glory. The Merckx is cutting edge, a rocket, it was featured on the cover of Bicycling Magazine. And we all know that I'm now - as time has passed - the absolute fastest bike in all of New York City.
So, yeah, a Motobecane is defineately an excellent ""starter"" bike.
Christy
"
Fri, 05/12/2006 - 9:37am
#22
Motobecane
"The new Motobecanes are made in China or Taiwan and have absolutely no relation to the French company of that name that made your Super Mirage. Motobécane filed for bankruptcy in the early '80's. They were bought by Yamaha and rebranded as MBK, and they still make bicycles, motorcycles, and mopeds. The Fagor team of the '80's (including Roche and Robert Millar) raced on MBK's, as did the Cofidis team a few years ago.
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.bicycles.tech/msg/133b4d1773116da2"
