#1 2010-02-26 00:38:55

InvisibleRobot
Member
From: south east austin
Registered: 2010-02-25
Posts: 11

commuter new bike advice

im starting a new job downtown and want to start bike commuting again from downtown ot far east william cannon, any ideas ona  good commuter bike that can be had for under $300.00

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#2 2010-02-26 12:43:37

dougmc
Administrator
Registered: 2008-06-01
Posts: 620

Re: commuter new bike advice

If you're familiar with bikes, Craigslist is *the* place to find good deals on bikes.  (You do need to know bikes, however, or have a friend who can does who can help.  Otherwise, you can easily spend too much for junk ...)

If you want a new bike, that price point will have at the low end, but there's a number of reasonably good bikes available at around that price.  (I'm hard pressed to give specifics, however -- I always buy used.)   But you can get a much better bike if you go used and wait for the right deal and pounce on it when it appears.

That price point will get you some of the best department store bikes, or the lower end bike store bikes.  You're probably better off avoiding the department stores, though their higher end bikes often aren't that bad.

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#3 2010-02-26 13:36:58

Chuck_McNeil
Member
Registered: 2008-06-05
Posts: 33

Re: commuter new bike advice

http://austin.craigslist.org/bik/1618963125.html

That seems to be about what you're looking for.  Not sure on the size, but the price, style, and quality are good.

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#4 2010-03-08 13:25:17

InvisibleRobot
Member
From: south east austin
Registered: 2010-02-25
Posts: 11

Re: commuter new bike advice

i ended up going the route of a cheap old cro-mo mountain bike, got replacement tires and just need to replace the plastic pedals eventually and probably remove the bar ends and put some real grips instead of the electric tape custom job on there now...Once i get into the swing of things and get to where im riding more  (and can handle hills a little better)then ill invest in a better bike like a kona worldbike

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#5 2013-01-16 09:36:28

AusTexMurf
Member
From: South Austin
Registered: 2008-11-21
Posts: 439

Re: commuter new bike advice

If you are new to bicycle commuting and are looking for a good bike (other than knowing what you are doing on CL), gear, advice, repairs, maps, etc....

If you are in South Austin, I love the scene at BikeAlot on the bike route @ Pack Saddle and Ben White.  Great bikes, gear, prices, and service.
http://www.bikealotaustin.com

Very commuter oriented.

I am not affiliated with them in any way, just impressed with the management and what they choose to stand for and sell. I am also thrilled with its location in my micro community and love to eat tasty, fresh food at Ah La Carte next door.

North central - Clown Dog Bikes
East - Eastside Pedal Pusher

Just saying, don't forget to use your quality, neighborhood bike store as a resource.

My two cents......

Last edited by AusTexMurf (2013-01-16 09:52:53)

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#6 2014-04-07 11:23:59

Jack
Member
Registered: 2013-03-27
Posts: 344

Re: commuter new bike advice

Visit:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex3sTL9B47g  Best bikes for riding to work, perhaps.  But try to buy local, instead of mail order from overseas.

Last edited by dougmc (2014-04-07 13:23:29)

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#7 2014-04-07 13:28:13

dougmc
Administrator
Registered: 2008-06-01
Posts: 620

Re: commuter new bike advice

What you posted, Jack, is possibly the most awesome bicycle advertisement of all time.

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#8 2014-06-02 08:27:53

Darron
Member
Registered: 2014-05-22
Posts: 131

Re: commuter new bike advice

For those that go the CL route, a good bike research resource is http://www.bikepedia.com.  They have a lot of information on what came stock on the bike and the original MSRP.  Here is a Kona commuter example: http://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/Bike … el=Dr.+Dew.  The color/paint is usually a dead give away on the year model and is a good test to see if someone is being truthful in their CL ad (or at least knows what they are selling).

I used this when researching a decent road bike and found it very helpful.

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