Poll of the Day > Who knows about bikes? I'm trying to buy a bike for my dad's bday next week.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Any tips? What should I look out for? What's hot on the market right now etc?
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Bicycle btw, not motorbike.
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Take him out and let him pick one out for you to buy. He'll benefit from getting to test ride a few to pick one he's really comfortable with.
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Hah, I was about to tag adjl, but too late.

Yeah, I'd say that as well. As nice as it is to surprise people, for some gifts that ends up not being a great idea. It kind of depends on how serious of a rider he is, though. I don't think that trying out a bike is as universally crucial as, say, trying on a pair of shoes.

ok thats a good idea

But still would like to know what's good and how somebody goes about choosing a good bike. He likes cycling but I don't think he actually knows much about bikes. So I wouldn't want him to fall in love with a bike that ends out to be garbage

Also hopefully he doesn't pick out something that costs a bajillion pounds
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Chewster posted...

It kind of depends on how serious of a rider he is, though. I don't think that trying out a bike is as universally crucial as, say, trying on a pair of shoes.

That is true. That said, though, unless he becomes really serious and upgrades accordingly, this may well end up being the only bike he ever uses. It's not like buying a bike for a kid, where they'll outgrow it in a few years and that'll be that.
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I think if you go to a proper bike shop, all the bikes there should be decent quality, but I don't really know. I just know that I got my current one at a bike shop after years of only owning Walmart bikes, and there was definitely a difference. Obviously if he tries them out he can at least get a feel for what they're like to ride and see how much they weigh. Other than that you can't really know how they'll be long-term unless you have a reliable recommendation from someone.

Somebody more experienced like adjl could probably tell you more specific stuff like what kind of shifters and brakes tend to be better.

Get him one with pegs

FatalAccident posted...

But still would like to know what's good and how somebody goes about choosing a good bike.

That really depends on what he's doing with it. Most bike shops are going to be well prepared to answer "I'm looking for a bike to do X and my budget is Y," so that's probably your best bet. Buying from a local shop is also generally a better option than ordering one online or whatever, since different shops specialize in different brands and will be more likely to have matching parts if he needs to replace stuff. Just check reviews for local bike shops to see who doesn't suck, and check out some of them.

FatalAccident posted...

Also hopefully he doesn't pick out something that costs a bajillion pounds

You should expect to pay somewhere in the $3-500 range for a decent one. There's a pretty sizable jump in quality going to that tier from the <$200 range. You get more diminishing returns going higher, but it may be worthwhile if he's serious about it. If you're taking him shopping, though, you can always give him a pseudo-gift certificate sort of thing and give him money that's meant to go toward whatever bike he chooses. That way, you won't end up spending too much if he decides he wants to go for something higher-end.

Chewster posted...

Somebody more experienced like adjl could probably tell you more specific stuff like what kind of shifters and brakes tend to be better.

Eh, I wouldn't say I'm experienced in the sense of being able to comment on that. I haven't done anything more than fairly rudimentary maintenance. I chose my bike (2010 Marin Toscana CX) because it was the one I liked best of the 3-4 I test rode, and that was the extent of the research I did before buying. I quite like my bike and I ride it a lot, but I can't really generalize that to what anyone else should buy.
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Alright thanks man. I like that idea, although my sister is insisting we buy him one and wrap it up for a surprise factor. I may have no choice in the matter - but that shouldnt be the end of the world right?

The one thing Im worried about is suspension. Mountain bikes normally have suspension but Im looking at road bikes which dont seem to. Are they still quite comfortable? For example when mounting and demounginh(?) kerbs on the road.
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Lighter is better and frames are made to suit certain heights, you also have to consider if he's going to be cycling on road, dirt tracks, or both.
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Hes cycling on the road and on cycle paths only. Anything about the below I should be worried about?

Aluminium frame and carbon handlebar fork so quite light I think

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-520-flat-bar-road-bike-sora-id_8322799.html
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FatalAccident posted...

The one thing Im worried about is suspension. Mountain bikes normally have suspension but Im looking at road bikes which dont seem to. Are they still quite comfortable? For example when mounting and demounginh(?) kerbs on the road.

Personally, I don't go over curbs very often when I'm riding around the city. There are enough driveways and other ramps to facilitate that where needed, plus I spend very little time on the sidewalk anyway. When I do, it's definitely not a gentle bump without suspension, and I need to stand up off the seat if I want to avoid getting castrated while doing it, but it's not unmanageable. In general, I'd say suspension isn't necessary for city riding, since you won't be dealing with major bumps and suspension adds quite a bit of weight.

FatalAccident posted...

I like that idea, although my sister is insisting we buy him one and wrap it up for a surprise factor. I may have no choice in the matter - but that shouldnt be the end of the world right?

It won't be the end of the world, but he will almost assuredly end up with a bike he likes better if he picks it himself. I do get where your sister's coming from, since giving people actual presents is much more fun than throwing money at them, but you would probably be better off coming up with a creative way to give him the money than buying him a bike that might not fit perfectly. Maybe build a bike out of paper towel tubes and wrap that, along with the money.
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Okay thats cool bro

Thanks for your help man
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FatalAccident posted...

Hes cycling on the road and on cycle paths only. Anything about the below I should be worried about?

Aluminium frame and carbon handlebar fork so quite light I think

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-520-flat-bar-road-bike-sora-id_8322799.html

Looks solid enough, at the very least the base is good so anything he's not fond of, he can swap out.
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