Hey everybody 
I'm new here. (Obviously). I've been visiting my LBS for a few days now. I haven't ridden a bike (well, as of last Saturday I hadn't) for about 15 years. (!)
As I've test-ridden bikes, though, I realize I'm not all that rusty at it, and that I really can pick back up fairly fast. I've ridden a number of Trek and Specialized bikes, including the 7000 series Trek and the Specialized Rockhopper, Sirrus, and Hardrock Sport.
My budget is very small. My wife would love it if I would just give up and go to Target to pick up their $70 special. I cringe when she says so. I mentioned that I didn't like the shifting on the Trek - they're the lowest priced of the bunch I tried - and she asked me if I really need to shift that much. (!)
So the Hardrock Sport is in the lead right now. I doubt I'll be doing a LOT of trail riding, mainly road riding and I might consider having them put semi slicks on instead of the knobby tires... but I rode it around yesterday with the knobby tires and I really liked it - and the price point wasn't bad at all.
The LBS will give me two free servicings the first year, so I'd save more on service than I'd spend on the Target bike in the first place.
So hopefully by Friday or Saturday, I'll have my new bike! I'm heading back there today to ride again, providing the weather cooperates. I might even put some cash down to hold it for me. (I'm pretty anxious and excited about getting back into biking.)
Over the years, I've managed to put on the weight - I'm about 100 lbs over where I should be right now, and I'm hoping that rediscovering the love of hopping on the bike and just GOING will help me to lose some of those extra pounds AND get me out of the house more often.
Anyhow, that's enough of an intro, I suppose. Advice is always welcome, even though I'm pretty hardheaded a lot of the time, I love to learn. I've been away from biking for so long that I have a LOT to learn! One thing I've gleaned from these forums, however, is that the best thing a beginner can do is to get out and RIDE, RIDE, RIDE!
I'm new here. (Obviously). I've been visiting my LBS for a few days now. I haven't ridden a bike (well, as of last Saturday I hadn't) for about 15 years. (!)
As I've test-ridden bikes, though, I realize I'm not all that rusty at it, and that I really can pick back up fairly fast. I've ridden a number of Trek and Specialized bikes, including the 7000 series Trek and the Specialized Rockhopper, Sirrus, and Hardrock Sport.
My budget is very small. My wife would love it if I would just give up and go to Target to pick up their $70 special. I cringe when she says so. I mentioned that I didn't like the shifting on the Trek - they're the lowest priced of the bunch I tried - and she asked me if I really need to shift that much. (!)
So the Hardrock Sport is in the lead right now. I doubt I'll be doing a LOT of trail riding, mainly road riding and I might consider having them put semi slicks on instead of the knobby tires... but I rode it around yesterday with the knobby tires and I really liked it - and the price point wasn't bad at all.
The LBS will give me two free servicings the first year, so I'd save more on service than I'd spend on the Target bike in the first place.
So hopefully by Friday or Saturday, I'll have my new bike! I'm heading back there today to ride again, providing the weather cooperates. I might even put some cash down to hold it for me. (I'm pretty anxious and excited about getting back into biking.)
Over the years, I've managed to put on the weight - I'm about 100 lbs over where I should be right now, and I'm hoping that rediscovering the love of hopping on the bike and just GOING will help me to lose some of those extra pounds AND get me out of the house more often.
Anyhow, that's enough of an intro, I suppose. Advice is always welcome, even though I'm pretty hardheaded a lot of the time, I love to learn. I've been away from biking for so long that I have a LOT to learn! One thing I've gleaned from these forums, however, is that the best thing a beginner can do is to get out and RIDE, RIDE, RIDE!
!
