Any other bikers out there?

[ExcuseMyIgnorance]

I'm looking for a new bicycle that offers the best value for around $500 (used). I've only ridden Walmart bikes in the past. Can anyone point me in the right direction? I've heard mixed reviews about nearly every brand. What's the best place to find used bikes? I'd like to go that route, if plausible.

Thanks!

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Bike shop. One that sells only bikes.

[John Doe]

This is an excellent question.

Is it worth it in the long run to keep buying $100 Walmart bikes every year or two...or to spend $500 or $1,000 on a fancier bike and hope it lasts longer?

My experience has been that the "sweet spot" price point for a bike investment is $200 to $300 if you select a good bike, treat it well, keep it maintained, but still ride it semi-regularly. You can spend $500 or $1,000 or even $15,000 on a bike - but I don't think you're going to get as good of a return on investment.

But the biggest factor is how much you ride it and what you use it for. If you're racing, then you're going to want to spend big bucks for the lightest machine to shave seconds off your race times. If you're touring across the state or riding century (100-mile) rides, then you're going to want something that will last. If you're riding to work every day, you're going to want something durable. But if you're just riding a couple times a week for exercise, you really shouldn't spend too much.

I get a lot of information from customer reviews on Amazon. You can hear from thousands of people about whether their bikes fell apart, how much they used them, and how much they paid for them. I don't think Consumer Reports does reviews on bikes, do they?

As for used bikes on Craigslist or eBay, that adds another factor into the mix. How much can you save? How reliable are the goods? My experience is that used goods typically shave 10% or 20% off the price if they think it's in mint condition. But a lot of used goods sellers price things badly. Sometimes you can get a great deal if the person is in a hurry or doesn't know what the product is worth. But you have to shop around, inspect the goods for yourself, and take your chances. I bought a used bike through Craigslist, inspected it first, probably paid a tad bit too much, but it was overall a good experience.

[Outdoorsygal]

I'm looking for a new bicycle that offers the best value for around $500 (used). I've only ridden Walmart bikes in the past. Can anyone point me in the right direction? I've heard mixed reviews about nearly every brand. What's the best place to find used bikes? I'd like to go that route, if plausible.

Thanks!

Absolutely no big box stores. Bike Shops are too expensive and big box stores produce mass cheap products, that is the biggest mistake people make. BUY USED instead from a private party

To almost ensure a good bike, check out your local Bike Clubs newsletters. Those are hardcore riders who know about bicycles so wouldn't have one for sale they previously used that wasn't half way decent. That's what we did. We are now pretty hardcore cyclists, have been for over a decade

[msomnipotent]

I bought and sold several used bikes off of CL. Good experiences. My current bike is used. I knew what I wanted and waited for it. I planned on riding mostly on streets and maintained trails. I wanted something lightweight and rode smoothly but didn't have to be fast. I wound up with a 2 year old Trek Navigator in mint condition for $100. It is absolutely perfect for me. I also bought a $30 Huffy mountain bike for our exchange students. It is heavier, but perfectly fine for what we need.

There is something to be said for buying new, better quality bikes, too. My husband and I paid about $600 each for Trek mountain bikes in 1998. We still have them, and they have only been in the shop once each. My daughter rides mine now and loves it. I want to sit more upright in my old age. It just turned out that all of the family bikes are Trek. I wouldn't put one brand name over another. If it rides comfortably for you at a reasonable price, get it.