So, in AZ our asshole excuse for a Governor is playing games with our gyms.fitness centers and I am losing hope daily of being able to get back to my regular workout routine anytime soon.

Decided that maybe a bike might help as walking is way to boring and I need something I can do with some level of intensity.

That said, I know there are some avid cyclists on here so I figured i would ask before i went out looking.

I used to have a decent road and mountain bike but that was years ago and I am heavier/older now and as much as I would love a really nice bike I need to be honest about how much and what I need vs want.

Goals are general fitness riding on paved bile paths and mild dirt trails.

I am a big guy weight wise (I've lost 80lbs in past year but still have a long way to go)

Want to keep it cheap but also dont want something I am going to wat to upgrade in 6 mos.

Ideas? Advice?

Bikes improve and change over time. I would start by checking the local bike shops in person.

Definitely would go with a mtn bike due to your weight. Also go with disc brakes, a big safety improvement for rainy weather. Also look for low gears, which will be needed until your weight drops.

Just upgraded my bike this year.
Trek's and Specialized are crazy expensive.

Got a Giant Talon mountain bike. 29 inch tires, disc brakes, for under 800.
Bike Smith in Prescott if you come up this way.

Probably a good idea to have a budget, these things go from $100 at wal-mart to $$$$$ bikes.

Do you still have a road bike? If so, investigate an indoor "Smart Trainer" that can be hooked up to Zwift on an iPad or your TV.

Here's a Zwift demonstration:



And you can check out Zwift's website...

Zwift

If you're in the market for a bicycle, I've heard there are literally NONE to be found, unless you want to spend a couple of thou$and...

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Probably a good idea to have a budget, these things go from $100 at wal-mart to $$$$$ bikes.

Good call...I am thinking $400 - $600 range

The problem you might experience is that it's hard to find any bike right now. The run on bikes is as bad or worse than on firearms, at least around here. I imagine it's nation wide.
I was recently at a local shop and he basically has nothing to sell, a few kids bikes, a few E-bikes, that's basically it. He has 800 bikes on back order. I didn't ask but I suspect the category in highest demand is the $350-$750 range.
You might want to check Ebay or Craigslist for used bikes, but I'm sure everyone else is too.

You'll have to jump through a lot of hoops to buy a bicycle right now. Everyone is doing the same as you so the bikes are gone. Racks are empty. If you can decide on which make/model you'll have to place an order most likely and wait for it to fill. I've seen it Academy myself and a friend is big into MTB and is trying to get his girlfriend a MTB and they don't have the model they want anywhere. It's crazy.

Home gym equipment is the same. You can buy it but you won't get it for months. My gym is open but I'm tired of the clowns in there with no gym etiquette so I researched and picked out a home gym, adjustable dumbbells, stationary bike, hyperextension bench, all sold out.

If your budget is $400-$600, be prepared to wait. The gyms might be open by the time you are able to purchase your bicycle. If you were writing this on April 4th, you might be ok, but on August 4th, you are way too late.

The run on bicycles, of all types and price points, is unprecedented in the industry. Even $2,000-$3,000 bikes are hard to find. Every shop looks like they are at the end of a going out of business sale.

Check your local shops, you might get lucky, but be prepared to be disappointed.

OP, Mountainside Fitness (my gym) won it’s case against Ducey and they will Be allowed to re-open.

quote:

Originally posted by Kevmo:

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Probably a good idea to have a budget, these things go from $100 at wal-mart to $$$$$ bikes.

Good call...I am thinking $400 - $600 range

Trek Verve is right in that price range. However...

quote:

Originally posted by JoseyWales2:
The problem you might experience is that it's hard to find any bike right now. The run on bikes is as bad or worse than on firearms, at least around here. I imagine it's nation wide.
I was recently at a local shop and he basically has nothing to sell, a few kids bikes, a few E-bikes, that's basically it. He has 800 bikes on back order. I didn't ask but I suspect the category in highest demand is the $350-$750 range.
You might want to check Ebay or Craigslist for used bikes, but I'm sure everyone else is too.

That's the problem I've been running into.

I've been searching for a Trek road bike in the $3500 range and all the shops here are sold out and even ordering it would have a wait until December. I didn't think at that price would be in such high demand. They do have them but for the really tall people.

I'm trying to take advantage of their 12 month financing special. Trying to get a century ride in this year but don't want to do it on my hybrid (which I'll be keeping).

Saw a lady on FB marketplace trying to sell a $99 Walmart Huffy for $450 and she was roasted for even trying it.

Sent you an e-mail.

quote:

Originally posted by xmod:
OP, Mountainside Fitness (my gym) won it’s case against Ducey and they will Be allowed to re-open.

Just made my day...Ducey is a complete asshole and deserves to be curb stomped

A quick look over at bikesdirect.com confirmed what everyone has been saying. SOLDOUT!!!!

That said, a used bike would be the way to go. There are a lot of kept in the garage for 10 years out there. Just need to find one off of a craigslist etc. try to verify it is not stolen.

BikesDirect.com has a few bikes in stock but many of their sales at the moment are preorders for September, October, and beyond. I think they hit the credit card at order, too, rather than waiting for shipping (that was the note when I was looking at one a couple of weeks ago). We purchased our daughter a really nice mountain bike from them a few years ago. She loves the bike and has put a lot of miles on it and we had a good experience with that sale but I’m not lending them money on my credit card for several months.

Next door neighbor just drove 5.5 hours to Denver to pick up a new Specialized Roubaix $$$$.
Said most places are either sold out or have a meager at best selection available. Hence the road trip.

Me? Still have my 1991 Bridgestone CB-0 (Zip) on a Minoura rimdrive trainer.


Lots of old school goodies like the Scott AT4 Pro handlebar, Gorilla rear brake "beefer", Specialized toe clips with Christophe leather straps, Rhode Gear rear view mirror, Avocet Cross kelvar tires, etc.

I've bought 2 bikes in the last year from TheProsCloset. They are local (Boulder). good, helpful people (mostly).
Trek Domane and KHS gravel bike.

https://www.theproscloset.com/collections/road-bikes

Kevmo,

One of the ones I was considering at Bikes Direct is the Gravity FSX 1 at $399 shipped (plus tax). They're currently showing those shipping later this month so you'd have it by Labor Day. I confirmed that they do hit the card at order, but this one isn't for months like some of the other options they have.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/gravity/fsx_1.htm

Here's one more, a Motobecane with some upgrades at the same price shipping in August:

http://www.bikesdirect.com/pro...er_mountainbikes.htm

quote:

Originally posted by Kevmo:

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Probably a good idea to have a budget, these things go from $100 at wal-mart to $$$$$ bikes.

Good call...I am thinking $400 - $600 range

You can find a decent mountain bike for that price. My nephew has been saving up and trying to find one in the $500 range. He has a Specialized one he wants but finding it has been tough.

I was in an REI store today and they normally have lots of bikes. They had some but nowhere near what I normally see. You can still find bikes but may have to do a little extra legwork.

I would look at bike shops or REI and talk to them. Then do your own research. My brother and nephew were in a small local bike shop and they had marked up their bikes by 30% or so. National stores like REI are unlikely to do this but beware of the single shop that may try and take advantage of people right now.

Please consider going to a "real" bike store to be fitted for a bike. Given the lack of bikes for sale, you don't want to be guessing at the size you need. Once you have the size, you'll be good to go for FB marketplace, CL, online, etc.

Keep in mind that "old" bikes have components for which current inventory is low. 26 inch wheels? Old. Tires and tubes could be hard to find. So, buy with some awareness of the age of the bike. Trigger shifters are a must. Don't get the twist grip stuff.

Steel frame? Not good. Even some aluminum mountain bikes can push 30 pounds. I had one. Weight = money. Low weight = high money. There are diminishing returns.

You should be able to jog / run about 1/8 the distance you can ride for the same caloric exertion. Say it takes you 12 minutes to jog a mile. You might be able to ride 10-12 miles per hour, at that fitness level. But, for that hour, you'll get no where near the caloric burn that you do jogging. You have to invest far more time in biking than in jogging for the same burn.

Don't forget that you have to carry a bike. That can be very expensive. If you have a pickup truck, you can bungee cord the bike into a safe spot, no problem. Some cars can hold a bike, inside. Some SUV can. But, trailer hitch racks, roof racks, they all cost big money. Unless you live near a great bike roadway, you will find yourself wanting to drive to the exercise area and that takes time.

You'll need water bottles, helmet, gloves, cycling shorts, and if you are doing it right, cycling shoes. More money. If you are doing it safely, you'll get a taillight and headlight, to alert cars that you exist. This is a good idea. More money. Tires lose air pressure. Daily. You need a good floor pump. And, you need a seat bag with a spare tube, tire changing levers, and some way to pump up the spare tube. More money.

Cycling is not as simple as I would like it to be.