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Originally Posted by ColesMommy01  Such cute pics! What brand of bike would you recommend? I'm 5 feet (barely) and I'm having a really hard time finding an adult bike that's compatible, nice looking, and will last. Maybe I should look in the kid's section?  |
if you are just getting into riding I would suggest what many call a hybrid. This type of bike will give you upright handle bars with mid size tires (width of tire) It will let you ride on paved trails and hard packed gravel, and even the occasional patch of grass or dirt. This type of terrain is what the average rider will face. If you get a road bike they will have the skinniest tires which will make the bike easier to ride/peddle but you will only be able to ride on nicely paved trails or roads, plus many come with the low type handle bars (think tour de France type of bike) Do not get a mountain bike, that type of bike has gotten very popular and for some reason new riders think that is what they need, but unless you are going to be riding on very rough muddy trails, going over tree roots, riding down steep hills and so forth you will never need that type of bike, they are also heavier with very wide tires which makes it much harder to peddle so you will get tired much faster and not be able to ride as far. I noticed quite a difference in speed when I stopped riding a road bike and went to the hybrid, but riding with Lola a slower pace is safer. Also don't get a beach cruiser which is the old fashioned looking style bike those are more for truly riding in sandy areas and for short distance, if you live in a downtown area and bike to stores and so forth they are good because you can attach baskets and saddle bags on the back and front to carry your stuff. Go to a few bike shops and sit on the various sizes also make sure you get a woman's bike especially since you are not very tall, my husband talked me into a smaller men's road bike that was a good deal and I never liked it, frankly the bar freaked me out because it made it harder to straddle and reach the ground when I would have to stand like at a traffic light or just to take a rest. If you want a mid priced bike but a good one it will cost you around $400.00. I bought my bike when a chain of bike shops were having sales, many have tent type sales in the spring, so now is a good time to start looking. For the average bike the brand will not matter much it will be the type of bike at the right price point. Bike price points can go quite high now especially since many are being made out of carbon fiber (light weight yet very strong). My husband built his own bike by starting with a carbon fiber frame, then buying all the components, he spend about $1,500.00, had he bought it assembled it would have cost double, crazy I know but many people spend more. Currently he wants me to get a new road bike and said he will build me one, but he is back to trying to talk me into a men's frame because there are more available and cheaper but this time he can stand on his head and it will not matter LOL I am not getting a man's frame
