Roody

I will be buying a new bike this spring, and I want to go beyond my usual "buy a used mountain bike and put fenders and slicks on it." I want to keep it under $800 unless there is a VERY good reason to spend more.

I'm male, almost 58, (ahem) stocky. I ride about 10-30 miles a day, occasionally much more. Mostly on pavement, but I do like occasional shortcuts on dirt paths. Hardly any hills around here. I'm used to flat handlebars, but I can do drop bars too.

I will consider almost anything, so try to make a good case for your suggestions. Thanks in advance for your help!

cycleobsidian

Sounds like you could use a new Trek Hybrid. That's what I have and I love it.
.

Artkansas 

I'd head over to the cyclo cross forum and see what they are doing.

chewybrian 

Let's assume you have bikes well suited to your common uses and the conditions you encounter. So, your question begs the question: what would you like to do on a bike that you have not done yet? How about the 24 hour national challenge (in Middleville, MI., maybe not too far away..?) If not that, maybe some rando rides in your area? I did the N24HC last year; it's a really special ride. I also did a couple rando series, and these events are also very special. Either way, you can set your own goals and have fun reaching them.

If this moves you, then a rando bike would be a decent choice. It can be more comfortable and more useful for long rides than the converted mountain bike, and you'll enjoy it for many long rides where you don't need a bunch of camping gear and such (it's not just for events and training).

In the rando world, something old or unusual is not a drawback, as it might be with the spandex crowd; it's sort of a badge of honor to have bar end or downtube shifters instead of brifters, for example. So, as long as your accessories serve their purpose, they can be had on the cheap, and you can stay within your budget. Take an old racing or touring bike, add fenders and lights, maybe an extra bottle cage or two, a handlebar bag, and learn how to eat, drink and ride all day. It's not the suffer-fest you might anticipate *if* you learn your lessons in training. Your daily mileage already puts you on the fast track; you need only to add a long ride each weekend for a few months.

Roody

A hybrid is something I have considered. I have no experience with them. What do you like about yours? Anything you don't like?

Roody

Another type I have considered. I test rode once--don't remember what kind--and thought it seemed a little stiff and less nimble than a MTB. I wonder if all cross bikes are like that, or just the one I rode?

I-Like-To-Bike

Is there something wrong or lacking with your present bike?

Artkansas 

Which brings up the question, what kind of a bicycling experience are you looking for? Speed, agility, comfort, distance, convenience? That would help a lot.

Until then, all we can do is suggest kinds of bikes below $1,000.00 and hope something sticks. So let me recommend a tandem, a recumbent, a chopper, a scraper, a bike polo bike, a BMX bike, a tall bike, a foldie and a unicycle.

Or this.

Roody

Yes.

I-Like-To-Bike

What? Or was it never what you really wanted? If so, as Arkansas asked in post #8, what purpose do you want it for?

The reason I ask is once I have a bike that works for me I have never had to replace it unless I had a new requirement or the bike was wrecked. My current 13 year old bike has over 50,000 miles and it only cost about $130 new and I made about $100-$150 of modifications/add-ons. I have no intention of replacing it until it rusts through.

Artkansas 

My main bike currently is a late '80s Specialized Hard Rock. It was a freebie, and I spent about $100 modifying it for utility use. After about 6 years of use, I opted for an overhaul and put $300.00 into the bike (wheels, BB, chain, cluster, brakes, cables, etc)and it has served flawlessly since.

But I also have a Bacchetta Giro 20 for longer, more relaxed trips and long-distance commuting, a Giant Stiletto chopper for use in parades, and two vintage 10 speeds. So it's what experience do you want to have?

wolfchild

Why don't you test ride few different bikes ??.. and see which one fits you, which one you like the most,and which one you think will serve YOUR RIDING
NEEDS the best. Only you can make the decision, other people can't choose a bike for you.

wahoonc

I am partial to the ready to go city bikes, most will handle some light trail work. Mine is a Redline R530 (out of production) however Giant and Trek have a couple of nice ones currently on the market. I would go IGH, fenders and rack at bare minimum.

The Giant is the Via 1 they also have a Via 2 which has more gears. The Trek model was the Belleville but apparently it has been discontinued. Torker has some has several models that I like too. The T-800 is similar to my Redline R530 they also have the Graduate which one of my friends rides.

Breezer makes some nice city bikes too, but they are hard to find in the shops. Torker can be ordered by just about any shop.

Good luck with your hunting and make sure you come back and post pictures!

Aaron

fietsbob

How about one of these: Bullitt https://www.larryvsharry.com/english/
pretty light for all the stuff you can carry on it.
Obviously the Danish guys saw the Steve McQueen film of the same name..

I think Calhoun in MN has them..

Jseis 

A gravel cross urban backstreet mixte commuter with 30mm+ tires, upright bars, 3 x 8, sprung seat, gas pipe, cup holder (no...make that foam beer holder), an obvious step through for your future arthritic rump with "I could give a sh$$ attitude".

Baboo

You might look at the Trek fitness series of bikes 7.2,3,4,5,6 etc. They have mounts for racks, fenders, mid fork eyelets in front and come with 700X32 tires, which you can do some dirt with. The fitness series starts in your price range.

However if I were you I would be looking at a dedicated touring bike. I believe they are the most versatile bikes on the market although most are above your price point.

Just my opinion others may feel differently,

Allen

Mobile 155

For the kind of riding you have mentioned this would be a good choice right out of the Box. https://www.myjamis.com/SSP%20Applica...cat_grp=strt_1 Jamis tends to give a lot of bang for the buck in my opinion. 700x32s will take you on hard packed dirt and light gravel.

I-Like-To-Bike

Not only that but the company doesn't repond to inquiries as to where nearest dealers can be found.

Roody

I understand that nobody can make the decision, but some recommendations on bikes to look at will be appreciated.

Roody

It's kind of embarrassing. I locked the bike to my porch rail with a big ol' kryptonite u-lock. Then I lost the key. Or somebody else lost the key--there is no consensus. I took the porch apart and freed the bike, but I can't get the lock off. Now if I ride that bike, I have a wicked big lock swinging between my legs. That takes some of the fun out of riding, so I'm ready to move on to a new bike.

Actually, I have never owned a new bike since I was 17 years old. I want to try one now.

Roody

I have always done the same as you, but now I want to try a brand new ride.

Roody

I have looked T the treks, they seem real nice. The touring bike is a good idea also. I would consider spending more if there were a good reason.

Smallwheels

Build a Cruzbike with this kit for $395. You supply a used mountain bike with full suspension. https://cruzbike.com/conversion-kit

If you go beyond your budget and buy the Sofrider fully built it would be $1195. I've read that some bike shops will discount these a bit as they do with most bicycles.

These do well off road especially since they have front wheel drive. Fit them with knobbies, slicks, and anything in between.

cycleobsidian

What I don't like about them: They don't feel as steady as a mountain bike but I got used to it.

What I do like about them: Great, smooth ride, ease of climbing hills, faster than a mountain bike, gear shifting is effortless.

I love my Trek FX (I forget if it is a 7.2 or a 7.3.)

Artkansas 

I have heard that an angle grinder should be able to take care of the old U lock, and restore the old bike to service.

But, for the clarion call of N+1, that will take some shopping.

My recumbent has a rear rack for panniers and I can get another rack for the center, so it's quite capable of doing errands. You'd like the heads-up riding position.