Mr. Wuf

katsup

A hybrid bike is a good option for what you describe. You can also expand your search to older rigid mountain bikes if you are not afraid of a used bike. After having a few hybrids, I ended up preferring these.

Looking at your two options, I am not a fan of suspension on hybrid bikes so the Sierra would be out. The super sport is decent, but every manufacture has a bike like this (Trek FX, Specialized Sirrus, Diamonback insight, Giant escape). I'd suggest visiting a few shops and testing riding a few bikes. One may stand out to you over the others.

Direct Links
Schwinn Super Sport
Schwinn Sierra 1

It is highly suggested to stay away from Walmart (department) store bikes as they could constantly need adjusting or not fit right. I have been there and it sat in my garage for 5 years before I tried again.

rollagain

Schwinn's suggested price on the Super Sport is $450, so $300 seems good, and getting it from a bike shop means it will be correctly assembled and adjusted and they can get you the right frame size. Also, it would leave you a little bit of cash for accessories, and you will need them.

Will it grow with you? Not too likely, I think; all the components on that bike will be entry-level. Still, it should keep you in motion until you can save up for a better one, and by then you'll have figured out what you want next. Learn to do your own maintenance; that will help.

I agree with katsup: don't bother with suspensions, and do visit other bike shops if you can. Don't be in a rush; you're young yet.

rgconner

Well there's yer problem...

Chicken an' biscuits require a 30 mile ride, minimum!

wipekitty

You sound like a great candidate for a hybrid! In your price range, you probably want to stay away from suspension forks - you won't need suspension, anyway, for the kind of rides you want to do.

I would definitely check around various local bike shops to see what options they might have as well. If you can go up to $400, you can get a very nice entry-level hybrid from one of the big brands (Trek, Giant, etc.) that might end up having some better parts and being a bit lighter (and easier to ride). Most shops offer free tune-ups, too. The other benefit of a "fancy" brand is that the bike will hold its value a bit more, so you may be able to get more money back if you decide to upgrade down the line

DIMcyclist

Best recommendation I can give you is do your research ahead of time, and take the salesman's spin with a (fair) grain of salt since their job is to sell you things, whether you need them or not. Avoid the fancy stuff.

The second thing I'd recommend is making sure your bike fits: know your size. The time spent at a fitting studio is absolutely worth it and a good place to start; a really good LBS (Local Bike Shop) will usually have a good line on fitting; it can make all the difference in the world with how you get along with your bike, in your comfort on the bike; right now, your cyclist-self is unexplored; you don't know what's really best for you yet.

Beyond that, I'd suggest buying used rather than new, until you figure out who you are on a bike & what kind of riding you enjoy best. (Craigslist is your friend as far as that goes.) On the one hand, it's a lot cheaper, and on the other, you're almost guaranteed to learn more about bikes, and cycling in general. That said, be prepared to shell out a few bucks- not so much on the bike as on fitting & good maintenance until you learn how to do that for yourself (it's a fun learning curve, and maintaining your family's bikes is good dad-thing to do).

It's best to scale up over time: if you start out with a $100 used Schwinn Varsity & later decide you prefer a faster bike, the Schwinn is no great loss; you can more-or-less get your money back selling it on Craigslist. Start out with a $3K Orbea, and you're stuck with a steep bit of depreciation (or a pricey garage-queen) if you later decide you prefer long-distance touring and want a Surly.

That's my two cents, anyway.

-

Lazyass

Go to the place your brother worked at.

On sale for $350

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p...nshkmntb15xfbb

Mr. Wuf

fietsbob

Locally, @ a Bike Shop.. service after the sale is valuable ..

jefnvk

Under $400, the difference is going to be minimal. All are going to have a 7 speed Tourney setup.

I'd pick the one you like the best and run with it. Personally, I'd shy towards a Trek or Specialized or Giant over a Schwinn, Trek and Giant lists a couple models around or below $400 while the Specialized is a hair over. Trek FX1 is $360. Warranty service and support is far more widespread for those brands. As others have stated, at that price go rigid fork, and I'd prefer V brakes over discs at that price point. But, realistically, there isn't going to be much difference between all the offerings.

Lazyass

Yeah, it's an all around better bike with better components. It has an Acera group, the other two have bottom of the barrel Tourney. I'm willing to bet it's at least a couple of pounds lighter. Many pounds lighter than that Sierra 1 for sure.

Mr. Wuf

I saw this on my local Craigslist. Is this something to pursue?

I can't post the URL as a link since I don't have 10 posts yet... eastnc.craigslist.org/bik/6606626995.html

Charliekeet

Mr. Wuf

I was thinking of offering $250 cash since it had been 17 days and seeing if he bit. Would that be a better deal, or should I still go for the local bike shop's offering?

jefnvk

Assuming that is as good as it looks, I'd readily buy that over the Schwinn.

If you're going to try the offering less route, I'd do it in person if it is close enough you don't mind leaving without it. Mention you are looking new at the same price, if it has been a few weeks and they really want to get rid of it, a customer with cash in hand is much harder to let walk away over $30-40 than someone one on email who may not even show.

Lazyass

It looks like a decent deal. Show the seller this and see if he'll come down:

https://www.bicyclebluebook.com/Sear...90&model=74018

Kedosto

Familiarize yourself with bikes from the big brands (Trek, Specialized, Giant, etc) in the $500-700 price range. Do your homework; know the drivetrain components, brakes, tires etc. Wait patiently for a Garage Queen (little to no use) to post up on Craigslist. The world is full of high quality, unused entry level bikes gathering dust in the back of a garage. When a cherry hits C'list, check it out closely. Do the components match? Is it factory fresh? If so, jump on it with a cash offer. They will be priced in your $$ range. You'll end up with a quality bike at a steep discount. Have your brother in law give it a quick once over, but lean over his shoulder to learn a thing or two. You'll be good to go.

DON'T spend big money on kids' bikes. They out grow 'em before the bike has a chance to wear out. Unless they're boys. Boys can tear up a cheap bike.


-Kedosto

TiHabanero

The shop I work in sells select models from Schwinn and the Supersport is a good model to get started with. What I have seen coming out of the boxes has been good. No real flaws in manufacture. Entry level components. The bike is not a racer, not a high mileage rider, and not a bike built for non pavement use. If cared for it will hold up well. We have several customers on limited budgets that use them for commuting duty year round. Not an easy task in Michigan. Maintenance will be your friend, as it always is.

At $300 it is a very good value. Is the color red?

Iride01 

If you are just wanting to cruise around the neighbor hoods or go to nearby stores I'd think a beach cruiser or something on that order would be the most comfortable. The hybrid might give you the option to do some more serious cycling. I think the cruisers and old style roadsters are the most comfortable for just lazy day riding and tooling around for a half hour or so with no purpose.

As for something to grow with you? Well, probably not if by growing you mean as you get more serious about riding. If you later decide to ride you bike for fitness in the aerobics realm of exercise then you will probably find the lower end bikes won't serve you well once your body gets used to exercising at that level. But til that happens, It's not worth worrying about picking the perfect bike because that's a moving target.

What ever you get, make sure it has the gearing appropriate to the areas you want to ride it in and make sure it is an appropriate size for you.

Mr. Wuf

TiHabanero

Good. Red is good. It is a few model years old, but that means nothing as Schwinn no longer has real model years. They produce a batch and when it sells out be it in 6 months or 6 years, they produce another batch for the product cycle to begin again. Many companies do this as it is more economical and keeps them from having blow out sales on "old" models. When one thinks about this, it really does make sense.