Re: Just another new guy who needs an expert opinion....

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"Samer Ibrahim" <sibrahim@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:dfa887a4.0404121952.236600a1@posting.google.com...
> How's it going...
> Basically I'm a newbie and I was looking into getting a bike. I
> thought this process would be far more straight forward than it
> actually is. Too many options and too few concrete opinions.
>
> Here's my useage: basically weekend warrior (and likely not to be all
> weekends), I live in the Northeast so not all year either, I'd like to
> do some city streets and parks as well as trails (but I'm not going to
> be jumping off cliffs with the bike or anything). I'm willing to
> spend a couple of hundred but not thousands. I think a cap would be
> $600 total.
>
> On my first bike shop visit the guy immediately recommended either the
> Trek 4100 ($340) or the Trek 4300 ($360). He didn't seem to be
> cutting me any deal on either but I really didn't try to see if he
> would.
>
> On my next bike shop visit the guy told me all bikes in the prices
> range were more or less comparable. He said you're pretty much going
> to get what you pay for because there is little difference possible in
> that range. He recommended either an Iron Horse Intermediate Trail
> ($500) or a Marin Palisades Trail ($600). Both seemed like more
> mountain only bikes rather than hybrids.
>
> Now I'm not sure if the hybrid thing is even a good idea or which make
> is better if any so can you please give me some advice...
>
> Thanks
> Sam
Keep researching, your getting close. If you plan on being a weekend warrior
you'd better get ready to spend a bit more for a bike with a better wheel
set and stronger frame. You can get a good bike for $600+. Norco, Giant,
Specialized, Kona, Haro has a good line. Keep looking.