Women's Bikes - Opinions
 

I received an American Express Card for $75 so I think I would like to apply that towards a bike. I dont want to put a lot of money with it but I am looking at some bikes.

I thought that would be a good thing for Sam and I to do this summer for great exercise and get some sun.

Of course Sam would be in a basket!

Here is one I found at WalMart and it wouldnt require to much $ with it.
Walmart.com : 26" Womens' Cranbrook Cruiser Bike : Bikes, Scooters & Skates

ETA: Do you have a bike and if so what kind do you have?

I have a bike but honestly idk what kind it is lol All i know it is very old, my mom bought it used but i love it. I love riding my bike, it's so fun, the best is going down hills after a long workout trying to get up one lol I even have a basket where i put the girls in:)

If you are going to do hills I think you will need a bike with more than one speed. Makes a big difference. I have a Schwinn , but I bought it a long time ago.

Nah we dont have a lot of hills around where I live and the ones we do have are very small (not that big of a deal).

I checked out the paper for an used one but didnt find one. I need to ask around work as well- someone might have one.

I too want a bike... I was looking at a Schwinn also... Kmart sometimes has great bikes on sale for $68-$69.... good luck in your search!

the one you picked is cute....

I have bikes but not the kind you're looking for I'm sure. It doesn't matter really a whole lot what you get as long as it feels comfortable (relatively speaking of course;)) and is simple to ride. For simple riding (I race), I love having a mountain bike (or similar) that has at least a few gears that are easily accessible. Which most of them are these days. They're more comfortable for recreational riders and much more stable b/c the center of gravity is lower and the tires are wider. If you're planning on using it a lot, you might take into consideration how much the bike weighs (TOTAL...meaning with all the parts on it....some bikes they tell you just how much the frame weighs which might not be so bad, but once you get everything on it (pedals, handlebars, seat, gears, etc) it can really change in a hurry! You just don't want a big super heavy bike b/c it will be more work for you to ride.

Check into getting a gel-seat (or a gel cover for the seat; they sell them at almost all bike shops and for all I know, Walmart may have them too); it will make riding much more comfy I promise you. Bikes are my passion; there's nothing I love better than a bike:).
My favorite of my 5 bikes below: it's a rocket:D

Thanks for the tip! I got a big ole butt so the gel seat will surely help!!!

Now for that pic of bike... that kinda scares me:eek: Nothing holding the seat up -- scary!!!

That bike looks like a pretty decent bike~ I'd rather have one with gears, but I've been riding all my life. I think it's a great price for a bike with tires and everything! These are what I started out with: (excuse the goofy hairdos), but that big bike was the best present I EVER got in all my life (til I got Max of course:))....I was SO EXCITED (it was second hand, obviously, LOL) I was afraid it was going to vaporize if I smiled, hehe. It weighed a TON, but I LOVED IT TO DEATH!!!

Love the hair :p and absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the bike! Thats the exact kind that I want!

Great thread I was going to post one similar as I'm looking for a new bike too and one that I can add the bike basket we got for Izzy.

I love this one and never saw one like this with the seat not attached to the frame like normal. :rolleyes:

Do you mind me asking what price range this bike is in and if I can put a doggie basket in front? Thanks so much. :D

Actually, I know it looks kinda weird, but it's the most comfortable bike I've ever had I think. I have one that's a lot more "upscale" but I really have only ridden it a handful of times. The "beam" on this bike is made of fiberglass so it's strong even tho it looks like you're "out there" on your own, LOL.

Another thing, once you get your bike, make sure you can adjust the seat up or down....your leg should extend ALMOST fully when you're seated on the bike and have your feet on the pedals and have one leg in the down position...you don't want it to be locked out and you don't want it to not extend almost fully; otherwise, you'll end up with knee problems (plus, it will be harder to ride and control). And control is VERY important!! And don't forget to get a helmet.....one saved my life once and I'd post the photos but they're too graphic....it was ugly. You never know what might happen sometimes...a rock in the road, a flat tire, a car......much better to be safe than sorry!

Do you mean my racing bike:confused:. It cost me a couple of thousand with everything on it, but that company no longer manufactures bikes. You could probably pick one up used for a whole lot less. But it's not the kind of bike you'd put a basket on; it's made for triathlons basically and has aerobars on the front....you wouldn't be riding upright, you'd be hunched over the handlebars sort of lying down almost. It would be very dangerous to put a basket (Or even to ride with a dog) on it.....if you saw what happened to my face when I crashed (they're very fast and very light and when you put on the brakes in an emergency, they kind of do a trick like a horse kicking his rear legs up and bucking you off), you'd never want to have a little doggie on it. The tires are about 3/4" wide.

But if you want a great racing bike, it's called a Softride....there's several different models out there (basically same design, just different stuff on them), but either the PowerWing, the Classic TT, or the Classic IT are all awesome.

Otherwise, depending on what you want to spend, I'd look at any Trek bikes (they have a lot in a lower price range) esp. their mountain bikes (or Cannondale makes FABULOUS bikes...my NEXT:D)....or there's some bikes called "Hybrids"..kind of a cross between a road bike and a mountain bike I think...don't know much about them but I know my sister got one quite a few years ago. I just know that I love riding my mountain bike around town and they're so stable...that's why I like them so much I guess. I think they'd be great for a basket and riding with a dog.

I am in LOVE with this bike.. they had it one time at $69 and I could kick myself now for not getting it.. its soooo cute...Schwinn 26" Women's Windwood - Model S5113KM at Kmart.com

I love that one as well!! Its got a "rack" on the back and looks easy enough to add a basket on the front but there is ONE huge draw back -- $90 for shipping!!! OUCH!!!!

do you guys think that the only way to get exercise while bike riding is to go with a mountain bike and not a cruiser?

good question and my thought would be it depends on the level of exercise that you are wanting. I am looking for something mild for the evenings and/or weekends.

Probably the best as far as exercise is whatever gets you to ride it more often or further;). A bike with no gears is going to be fun, but with gears, it makes it easier to ride esp if you have a hill (and you wait....you THINK there's no hills.....when you're on a bike, you'll wonder where that dang incline IS b/c all of a sudden, you're having a harder time pedaling and you're going slower and slower, LOL).

I think for just casual, bebopping around (I mean, if you're talking about taking a dog on the bike with you, you're probably not going to be going for a 40 mile ride and you probably don't want to be going 28 mph) the bike she's looking at is fine; I say a mountain bike b/c I personally would rather have one that's more versatile if I've only got one bike(like what if you find that you really LOVE riding a bike and want to go further or faster sometimes when you're by yourself???) and also, the tires are a lot less prone to flats, and they have more traction than slick, skinny tires.

If you're looking for exercise, you want to get the one that you really enjoy riding.
One thing you can do is go to a bike store (a real bike store that sells only bikes and bike equipment) and test ride a few. Most bike stores are happy to have you do that...that way you can see a different range of types of bikes and what feels best to you. It's no good to get a bike and then have it sit in the garage (or wherever you keep your bikes).

Great Advice.. I am so glad this thread was started! I too love bikes and I think like you said ... whichever one will be used most.. and some moving is better than laying on the couch watching HGTV right:p .. lol... thanks for this great post! I am sure it will be helpful for alot of people!!:thumbup::thumbup:

Well... HGTV .. .switch it to TLC but GET UP to change it, thats exercise right???

Im asking around at work to for any used bikes. I really would like a vintage looking one and yes, Sam would be with on our rides. We may ride out to $ GEneral or Sonic which is about a mile or so away.

Still looking for any and all suggestions if anyone has any:D

You should try hitting some garage sales. It seems like a lot of people buy a bike and then don't ride it...or ..other things happen. My mom has one sitting in her garage (a nice Schwinn 10 or 12 speed) that's hardly been used...it was my brother's and he had a stroke when he was 37.....14 yrs ago:(....that's how long it's been sitting there "waiting" for him....not going to happen, so I know there's got to be kids who outgrow their bikes or leave home and the parents just want to get rid of them. You should be able to find one for a good price that way.
Do you ever look at Perez Hilton's website? He's got (what I think is) a goofy looking kinda vintage "cruiser bike" ...I think it's actually new, but it looks like an old bike....don't know who makes them, but I've seen a few around now and then....maybe do a search for cruiser bikes:confused:. Good luck!!! And have fun:)

Wow! How fun. Hopefully you will find one that you like and that fits you well.

My husband is really really into bikes...he has about 7 of them...all kinds. Don't ask me what the difference is...must be like my 10 pairs of black shoes...lol. I hated (HATED) riding my bike with him until he finally bought me an Electra. Now I LOVE going! The seat is comfortable, it rides really well, it fits me perfectly, and it looks good...really vintagey. And it has an ADORABLE wicker basket on the front...love it!

If you plan to ride a lot this summer, I would honestly suggest that you get one that you really love and that fits you really well. I never understood the value of that until I found one that was the right fit.

Carrie

great thread. Learning about bikes. I have been thinking about getting one just to ride around the neighborhood for exercise. This may just help me in figuring out what to get. Good luck with your search.

I am going to be getting an adult tricycle for my birthday!! I will be the crazy woman with the 3 little dogs in the basket in the back!! Here's a photo of it, the photo is in blue but mine will be cotton candy pink!

Oh! I love this! Pink will be really cute! :)

OMG Nanci I love this bike and even with one Yorkie I could use the back for groceries, etc. :D Your babies will look so cute in this.;)

I have a Giant and it's ok, but I don't like the seat, it makes me feel like I'm falling downwards.

I tested a Trek and did not like that either.

so I bought a bike yesterday hubby and I did... my butt is hurting.. I am taking it back and getting the other one I was debating on.. we went around the block once to test it out, you can't really do that in the store... anyhoo... it hurt my butt....and it is soooooo noisy.....

:eek: That is a great deal for a new bike!! Have fun!!:D

You can tilt the seat back to some degree. There's a bracket that holds the seat onto the bike...loosen that, tilt it to where you think you want it and hold it there while you tighten it back....check it to see how it feels (sometimes you have to ride it for a bit before you can tell)and readjust it if you need to. Sometimes the seat is just set too far forward so it feels like you're sliding downward too...you can move that too if you need to.