Best bike for a gift?
04-06-20, 05:03 PM
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Best bike for a gift?
Hey all, I'm looking to buy a bike for my friend, but I'm unsure which suits his needs best. He's currently using his family's old bike.
He bikes 8-40 miles around NYC bike trails a couple times a week. He's 6'1 and 220 lbs. He sometimes has back issues. My budget is around $500. Wouldn't mind going a bit over.
Any advice welcome!
He bikes 8-40 miles around NYC bike trails a couple times a week. He's 6'1 and 220 lbs. He sometimes has back issues. My budget is around $500. Wouldn't mind going a bit over.
Any advice welcome!
04-06-20, 06:12 PM
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Hi, and welcome! It's often difficult to suggest bikes directly to folks who are looking -- it's even tougher going through a third party. ;-)
One of the most important things for this purchase is to get him on some bikes and let him say what is comfortable and what is not. I would not recommend a blind/surprise purchase, as fun as that might seem up front. Going only by what you describe, a comfort hybrid may be the most appropriate type of bike. Examples of this market niche are Trek Verve, Specialized Roll, Cannondale Treadwell, and Giant Sedona. These are only a handful of brands, and your local bike shop may carry and/or recommend additional ones. Do you have a selection of potential bike shops and a knowledge of what brands they sell? That would probably be a good first step -- do some internet map searching and find bike shops local to you and find out/call/ask what brands they sell (if you can't tell from the website). Then you can do some more looking online. And please feel welcome to come back here with a list of potential brands and we can help you anticipate what your friend may be interested in (again, ride-before-buy is the best approach in my opinion).
I would probably stay with more mainline brands, just from the value standpoint. If you're in NYC, I imagine there are many "boutique" bike shops here and there, and these types of shops often offer very high quality, hand-made, custom bikes. Nice bikes for sure, but probably not the best type for this purchase.
I would personally not recommend buying a bike online, because fit and comfort are both so important (especially given the rider has known back comfort concerns).
One of the most important things for this purchase is to get him on some bikes and let him say what is comfortable and what is not. I would not recommend a blind/surprise purchase, as fun as that might seem up front. Going only by what you describe, a comfort hybrid may be the most appropriate type of bike. Examples of this market niche are Trek Verve, Specialized Roll, Cannondale Treadwell, and Giant Sedona. These are only a handful of brands, and your local bike shop may carry and/or recommend additional ones. Do you have a selection of potential bike shops and a knowledge of what brands they sell? That would probably be a good first step -- do some internet map searching and find bike shops local to you and find out/call/ask what brands they sell (if you can't tell from the website). Then you can do some more looking online. And please feel welcome to come back here with a list of potential brands and we can help you anticipate what your friend may be interested in (again, ride-before-buy is the best approach in my opinion).
I would probably stay with more mainline brands, just from the value standpoint. If you're in NYC, I imagine there are many "boutique" bike shops here and there, and these types of shops often offer very high quality, hand-made, custom bikes. Nice bikes for sure, but probably not the best type for this purchase.
I would personally not recommend buying a bike online, because fit and comfort are both so important (especially given the rider has known back comfort concerns).
04-07-20, 09:59 AM
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hi, and welcome! It's often difficult to suggest bikes directly to folks who are looking -- it's even tougher going through a third party. ;-)
one of the most important things for this purchase is to get him on some bikes and let him say what is comfortable and what is not. I would not recommend a blind/surprise purchase, as fun as that might seem up front.
one of the most important things for this purchase is to get him on some bikes and let him say what is comfortable and what is not. I would not recommend a blind/surprise purchase, as fun as that might seem up front.
04-07-20, 10:03 AM
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In a case like this I would try and find the most well equipped shop that is convenient to yourself and him. Perhaps buy a gift certificate from said shop and then allow your friend to go in and deal with the folks, check models and fit within budget.
04-07-20, 08:34 PM
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Best possible suggestion.
