h.clakins

Hi, I am a high school student looking for my first good bike. I have been using a walmart Schwinn for the past few years and I want something new. I mostly bike around the city of Phoenix and mainly stay on the streets. But, I do cut through some parks, go over bridges, and go off curbs, so I need a hybrid bike that can handle some minor offroading. I've been looking at quite a few different bikes and I need some advice on what would be best. Thanks!

Want
-$400-600 (preferrably)
-lightweight
-will last me a good ten years or so
-able to handle going off curbs or through grass
-fast (it's subjective, I know, but it would be nice)
-fun and easy to ride (will encourage me to ride more)

Don't Want
-a mountain bike
-suspension
-a fixie (I do travel on some inclines)
-a drop bar bike
-steel frame
-twist shifters

What I've been looking at
-Specialized Sirrus Disc (tried it in a store and shifts felt smooth)
-Raleigh Cadent 1
-Trek FX 1 (tried it in store, but didn't like the shifter)
-Raleigh Redux 1 (might be good for going around the city, might be more offroading focused than I need though)
-Marin Fairfax 1 (I have seen good reviews, seems like a good price)
-Marin Presidio 1 (out of my price range, but I like the 3 speed internal gearbox)
-open to any other recommendations

FiftySix

I'm a sucker for single chain ring bikes. I've had my eye on the Redux line for a few years, but never made the purchase as I'd always go cheaper buying something used. Still, both of my current bikes have a single chain ring. But back to the Redux, it has 8 speeds with a range of about 33 to 100 gear inches. Plenty of range for some climbing and high speed on the other end.

IMO, nearly all rigid frame bikes can do some off-roading. Personally, I like bikes with tire widths above 40mm for bouncing onto or off of hard pavement like curbs, bad sidewalks, railroad track, potholes etc. Those wider tires do well "off road" as well. Tread pattern doesn't seem to matter too much, unless you like riding in slick mud or wet grass. Another thing I like about wide tires is you can run high pressures for faster pavement use, or really drop the pressure for the hard hitting stuff.

That single chain ring 3-speed Presidio looks really nice, but I have reservations recommending a 3-speed on a bike like that unless you come from a 1-speed and just want a couple of extra "helper" gears. If it was a close ratio 3-speed*, I'd be all over it. But the Nexus 3 is geared like a traditional 3-speed where 1st gear is far from 2nd, and 2nd is far from 3rd.

*I don't know who makes those.

TakingMyTime

I would not rule out C/L. I mentioned it in other posts but it seems that the "fitness" bike configuration is one that a lot of people buy in order to get them into biking but the bikes are seldom used and the owners decide to sell them 2-5 years later. For example, you were looking at a Trek FX1. You can find used models of that bike in the the higher up models for $200-$250 around here that are in great condition. That leaves you with a $200 margin to get new tires, cabling etc in case it is needed and then you end up with a much better bike.

freeranger

Why exclude a steel framed bike? If you are thinking it's heavy, my old chromoly steel mtn.bike isn't any heavier than many hybrids I've looked at-and it has a susp.fork on it that isn't light! Here's links to a couple of hybrids (new) that are in your price range--Brooklyn's is a steel frame: Fuji Bikes | Absolute & https://www.brooklynbicycleco.com/products/roebling These are more from diff.mfrs., just wanted to throw a couple out there. Another option is a used mtn.bike (with or without front susp.fork) and put dual purpose tires on it, something like this: https://www.jensonusa.com/Continenta...ghter-Iii-Tire , and it opens up options of where to ride and how much abuse the bike can handle.

h.clakins

Do you think that 35mm tires would be too small for what I need?

FiftySix

Are you going to ease your bike off curbs or go full speed off curbs?

I think the 35mm wide tires will do either, but my bike that came with 35mm wide tires I tend to ease off curbs because I usually keep those tires at 60 psi. Which makes pounding the bike off curbs feel abusive to the bike.

Keep in mind I'm taking a 35 pound bike due to rack, fenders, etc. plus 185 pounds of fully clothed FiftySix on top of it. If I were my old high school senior year weight of 135 lbs I'd pound it off curbs until something failed.

subgrade

^ Fully clothed me @ 190 lbs + 30 lbs bike (with front suspension), on 38mm tires @ 50 psi - flying off the curbs (usually 12-15cm high) at speed is no problem. I just try make sure I land on both tires simultaneously, but thatt's more because it makes easier to absorb the impact with my body that way. Not that I do it all the time but happens roughly once every other commute.

I have went down short flights of stairs at slow to moderate speed, no problem there too.

prj71

This is an attribute of the rider not the bike. Bikes don't move themselves.

Try and locate one of these used if you can't afford new...

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/bi...hroad-slr-2020

FiftySix

Hard to say. Perhaps the OP currently has something with low gears and bad bearings? The Walmart Schwinn the OP mentioned could be a single speed cruiser or BMX style bike for all I know. Should be pretty easy to get a new faster bike if that is the case.

h.clakins

Any particular higher-end bikes you would recommend that I could find on craigslist for a better price?

h.clakins

I'd mostly be easing off curbs, nothing that would purposely damage the bike. Do you think I'd notice much of a difference with a wider tires on something like the redux? Would that be worth the extra price?

subgrade

If you're unsure about what tire width you would prefer, get a bike that can fit fatter tires - you can always go narrower if you wish.

hokiefyd 

The used bike market is very inconsistent, and bike styles that may be popular in your area may not be popular in mine, etc.

It sounds like you're looking for, or think you're looking for, an aluminum flat-bar hybrid, like a Giant Escape, Trek FX, Specialized Sirrus, etc. The Phoenix Craigslist is littered with mountain bikes and cruiser bikes, and there doesn't appear that you have a lot of choice in road bikes or even many hybrids of any description.

This X-rod may suit you, though the seller is basically asking for MSRP new on a used bike, and his is apparently an 8-speed version. You can buy new 10-speed versions online here. Here is a 2013 Specialized Sirrus Comp, though the asking price is a little high I think. Here's a Trek 7.5 FX that seems priced right.

The bike style you're looking for seems relatively uncommon in your area on the used market, but definitely available new in the price range you're considering. Giant typically offers pretty good value in this segment, and a Giant Escape would probably be a good bike for you. I've never owned one, but just bought a used 2015 Escape 3 for 30 bucks off my local Facebook Marketplace. It was stored outside, so it needs a new chain and cables, but it looks to be a fun project. It has pretty decent tire clearance (at least 45mm tires front and rear), so that's good (for me). Locally, I've found better deals on FB Marketplace than on Craigslist. I don't have a FB account, but I use my wife's...the only trouble is she knows when I'm scouting a new purchase. :-)

h.clakins

Thanks. I appreciate the recommendations. I'll keep an eye out for whatever pops up. I'm willing to watch the market for a little while.

FiftySix

Sorry I missed this. I wish I had a Redux so I could give you good feedback.

All I can give you is feedback from the three bikes I've had over the last year and their tire widths.

One was a 7-speed cruiser that I set up to ride quickly. It had 54mm wide semi-slicks on it. They rode fast at 50 psi and could take a pounding, but so could the steel cantilever cruiser frame. I'm a slow rider, but I could get that bike up to a radar indicated 22 mph with those tires on that inefficient bike.

I currently have a bike with 700x42 tires and another bike with 700x38 tires. The 42s have a touring bike tread pattern and the 38s have a commuter tread pattern. I take both sets of those tires on grass, dirt, gravel, mud, and of course pavement. The 42s are noticeably better at soaking up bumps and do a bit better "off road". The 38s measure closer to 35s as mounted on the rims and seem to coast better on pavement, which should indicate better efficiency on pavement than the 42s. However, the bikes themselves probably influence what I'm attributing to the tires as well.

This morning I was riding the 8-speed bike with those 38s and passed another radar speed limit sign. I went by at an indicated 18 mph in 6th gear. I've been up to 22 mph on that same bike in higher gears, but remember I'm not a fast road rider. I can't really compare the single speed bike I have with the 42s, as it is only geared like 6th gear on the 8-speed bike and I've yet to take it by a radar sign.

FiftySix

BTW, Haro makes/made a direct competitor to the Raleigh Redux. It is the Haro Beasley.

https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear...easley-review/

https://www.citygrounds.com/products...29501988372591

CyclingBK

I had mentioned this to another member...

I’m a total newb but when I wanted to get a bike a friend sent me this link and I saw the review. After seeing the bike at the NYC REI store, I went for it. About 5 months in, I’m very happy with it. It’s $549.

“There’s a reason that the REI Co-op CTY 1.1 bike has been featured in our list of the best hybrids two years in a row: it’s a fantastic deal. You’ll be hard-pressed to get this much bike for $500 anywhere else.

It has disc brakes, rack and fender mounts, 24 gears, and big 700x40c tires that come stock. That means this bike is ready for commuting, weekend path riding with the family, running errands, and even some light gravel riding.

In short, the CTY 1.1 is everything you want in a hybrid city bike: affordable, flexible, and ready for any weather. One of our picks for the best hybrid bikes under $600.”

https://mtnweekly.com/reviews/best-h...bikes-for-men/

DorkDisk

Old MTBer here, and I sold a few Reduxes. If you're seriously considering a Redux, you should really look into used mountain bikes, and many of the best ones are steel.

TakingMyTime

Try a search for "Trek fx". I'm not sure about where you live but here in So Cal I can find virtually unused bike for 1/2 the price of new.