(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best bikes

Do you have a bike at the minute?

I'm sure you're aware that buying a bike from Amazon maybe isn't ideal for a few reasons, but if you're confident enough to assemble it and keep it maintained yourself then there are a few "not terrible" options. This is probably one of the better deals:

http://www.amazon.com/Diamondback-Insight-Flat-Road-Bike/dp/B017TEZORS/

Diamondback are a reasonably big name manufacturer, and they do make some good bikes. Disc brakes could come in useful, and the cr-mo fork should be good for comfort.

Or there's this, which is similar but with hi ten forks (generally a bit less comfortable) and V brakes:

http://www.amazon.com/Diamondback-Bicycles-Complete-Performance-Metallic/dp/B0132I8YQS/

Bit of a wildcard, I don't tend to like suggesting single speeds but a full cr-mo frame should be solid and comfortable, and the drop bars can help with comfort on longer rides:

http://www.amazon.com/Nashbar-Single-Speed-Cyclocross-Bike-49/dp/B00F52JWPC/

Whatever you get, I'd probably consider putting some wider tyres on it to start out with. Might need to see it first to check the tyre clearances, but most hybrids are pretty generous and can generally take somewhere around max 38-45c tyres. A wider tyre will have more air in it to support a heavier rider, helping to protect the rest of the bike, make it more comfortable and give it better performance off road.

It shouldn't be hard to find a sub $400 bike to commute that distance on. My preference is for steel-frame bikes because they give a great comfy ride. There are many styles of bike that will serve your purpose.

In fact I did the same distance commute on a low-end mountain bike and had a great time even though it was hardly the ideal bike for commuting. When I bought that bike, my budget was also $400. Looking back, I wish I'd spent more and gotten a better bike because the commute made me fall in love with bikes again and I went out and spent twice that a little later. My commute was on a bike trail and there were few stops and starts. I'm guessing you'll have a lot of stop and start. You might need something geared lower than a road bike for that.

In traffic, I prefer a flatbar because my hand is right there by the brakes if needed and I like the greater stabiility. But I'm sure there are plenty of drop bar riders who have no trouble in the meanest traffic.

What kind of bike did you ride as a kid? You may be more comfortable on a style that you're familiar with, all other things being equal. What accessories/gear/clothing will you need (rack, water bottle cages, repair kit, visibility, etc.)? Do you plan on maintaining the bike or taking it to a shop? do you like to ride as fast as you can or do you prefer a more leisurely pace?

Just to get you started, here are some different bikes that might fit your needs. (I was impressed with the number of good bikes on craigslist in your area):

City Bikes

https://www.retrospecbicycles.com/products/kinney-flat?variant=9374985797

https://cnj.craigslist.org/bik/d/60cm-giant-rincon/6306319698.html

https://www.linusbike.com/products/rambler-7

http://breezerbikes.com/bikes/details/liberty-r-1-3-plus (way over $400)


Single Speed

https://www.brooklynbicycleco.com/collections/commuter-bikes/products/bedford-single (My fav bike to ride in city traffic is my single speed).

https://www.raleighusa.com/rush-hour-4973


Road Bikes

https://newyork.craigslist.org/stn/bik/d/new-like-miyata-classic-road/6306866055.html The narrow tires don't provide the stability offered by other bikes in this list.

https://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/bik/d/specialized-sequoia-touring/6287946883.html

MTB/Flatbar

http://civiacycles.com/bikes/venue

https://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/bik/d/giant-escape-3-bicycle/6302209792.html

https://newyork.craigslist.org/que/bik/d/specialized-sirrus-road-bike/6291789047.html


Folding

https://www.amazon.com/Dahon-Vybe-Folding-Obsidian-Fenders/dp/B00DYX1XOW. These are popular with people who have small apartments or have to carry the bike up a lot of stairs.

------


(the list got out of hand, sorry. you would need to make sure any used bike is in sound working condition and fits you and it doesn't hurt to look at a few reviews on any bike you consider.)

No way. Not anymore.
I got a super mini with 6" wheels

like this actually

super mini backpack bicycle $135 (tiny wheels but full size bike!) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001L4S4WK?ie=UTF8&tag=reddit0e-20

and now almost never pull my car out to go down the street to the grocery store.

I also find I take it out instead of my full size Cannondale simply becuase the super mini is so easy to carry down the stairs and it's fun to ride.

I can zip around the neighborhood and have a blast and get a much exercise as I used to get going 50 miles on my Cannondale without the high speed danger or higher traffic intersection speeds.

Truth is I went long distances on my Cannondale becuase I had to to get the exercise. now I don't have to go as far and can do some tricks and more easily use my super mini as a local commuter too. ( I carry it right into the grocery store so no lock up and no risk of theft.)

Honestly I think the next bike I get will be another folding bike for longer distance rides to replace the cannondale just becuase it is so easy to put in the car. I ride much more with the ease of not having to use a bike rack.
The technology has gotten great.

Non-fold is old.
Fold is now gold.

You've mentioned riding a bike; may I recommend the unicycle?

It's a bit hard getting started, but once you start figuring it out, it feels GREAT.

The big reason that I mention it, though, is that it's something you can do alone that is also a way to meet people - if you want it to be. Someone gives you shit, and you can smile at them and not say anything - you're on a unicycle, what are they going to do about it? Someone thinks you're awesome, but you don't feel like stopping to talk.. so don't! You're on a unicycle!

It's also a pretty good workout, and way more fun than running. And it's cheap to get started - I've bought two on Craigslist, and paid 50-75 each time; even a new one isn't that much, at 120 or so bucks.

It's actually surprisingly hard to hurt yourself (no fall will be worse than stepping onto a stair when you thought you'd be stepping on the floor when descending, unless you tangle your feet up in the pedals, which you get a feel for pretty quick).

TLDR: Ride a unicycle, thank me later.

> How about comparing them to gasoline powered bicycles?

Sure! As near as I can tell, a gasoline bike kit weighs about 20lbs. That's not too much heavier than the add-on parts for a typical e-bike... the motor is usually seven or eight pounds, and another five or six for batteries. Bosch's bits, for example, are 8.8lbs for the motor and 5.3lbs for the batteries. That's 50-60 miles worth, but you there's obviously room left over to increase that battery if you really need to go 100+ miles per ride. Bikes are bikes, so the total weight you end up with will obviously depend on what sort of frame you're mounting either kit to-- but I think it's reasonable to say they're pretty close.

> Most people won't go for bleeding edge and the cost associated with it. How much does the bike you mentioned go for?

I have no idea how much it goes for-- it's a one-off custom. I guarantee it's stupid expensive, but I was comparing it to unpowered Tour de France road bikes which are also tens of thousands of dollars.

> Do you think that is practical?

A $20,000 bike of any sort? Of course not. Do I think e-bikes in general are practical? Sure. A cheap $550 e-bike weighs 47lbs, a good 13lbs less than the normal bike I had in college. That was a practical bike then, so an even lighter e-bike seems practical to me now.

Both electric or gas seem unnecessary to me, but I'm still able to push the pedals on my ride to work... I'm sure someday I'll be interested in the assistance, though.

The specific bike I was looking at was this Vilano.

No way I could afford this anytime soon (which is why I'm looking at budget bikes), but that would be a price range I would feel comfortable with just in case I ended up hating it. That being said, I've ridden a few road bikes for shorter distances before, 5-7 miles, and absolutely loved it. I'm just not sure I'd be ready to jump right in, and I'd prefer to test it out first.

As for the other questions, definitely paved surface. My city has a 16 mile paved loop, and the roads around my house are all paved and frequently ridden by cyclists in the community. The roughest parts are some back roads that are patched up rather than smoothly paved. And distance? I'm not sure, I've never ridden more than 5-7 miles, like I said, but I think a 25 mile ride every now and then could be fun.

I am 52 years old, and I started commuting on August 1, to improve my fitness level. I started with a hybrid that exacerbated my carpal tunnel syndrome, and eventually decided to get a touring bike because I'd like to do some touring. After testing quite a few bikes, I settled on the Surly LHT. I like gadgets, and have actually run out of places to put them. I don't mind the weight, because I am not trying to get anywhere quickly. If anyone has any questions, I'd love to answer them!

EDIT: Here's the list of accessories I've added to the bike above its stock configuration:

• Velo Orange Fenders
  
• Velo Orange Wheel Stabilizer
  
• Ortlieb Back Roller Classic Panniers
  
• Ortlieb Ultimate 6 Pro M E Handlebar Bag
  
• Ortlieb Front Roller Classic Panniers (not pictured)
  
• Tubus Logo Evo rear rack
  
• Tubus Tara Big Apple front low-rider rack
  
• King Cage water bottle cages
  
• Shimano DH-3D72 Dynamo Hub
  
• Brooks Cambium Saddle
  
• Click-Stand
  
• Garmin Edge 1000 Bike Computer (with cadence, speed and heart-rate sensors)
  
• K-Edge Computer Mount
  
• B&M Lumotec IQ2 Luxos U Headlight
  
• B&M Toplight Line Brake Plus
  
• Topeak Mini Morph Bike Pump
  
• Spurcycle Bell
  
• BDop Cycling Dashboard Genie (accessory bar)
  
• Kuat Bottle Lock (cheap lock for quick lockups -- don't trust it)
  
• Lizard Skin 3.2mm bar tape
  
• Kleen Kanteen water bottles
  
• Blink-Steady taillight
  
• D+D Oberlauda Ultra Light Bike Mirror
  
• GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition (not pictured)
  
  
  

It's nothing special upgrade wise.

Like others have said and I'm adding another voice to reinforce it

• the wheels are relatively cheap, perfectly useable about on par with what I run on my winter bike for 1000km a month. They are the starting point of what I'd consider to be "wheels" instead of "wheel shaped objects".
  
  
• chainset looks like an aluminium perfectly useable one, either apex or non series apex level. Not something special to be highlighted as an upgrade.
  
  
• looks to be fitted with heavily used old 105. 105 is great, this has seen better days.
  
  If he paid RRP for them he's forked out a fortune for pretty big standard kit. Not putting a downer on it but nothing here is worth paying a premium for.
  
  530 is silly money for that bike. You can get a similar new one for that (not an expert in us pricing, talk to me about bikes in the UK and I can help lol)
  
  TLDR don't buy that bike.
  
  A quick Google brought up this
  
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PUGUFIQ
  
  As well as a useful article on entry level bike prices in the us here
  http://www.davescheapbikes.com/cheap-road-bikes/road-bikes-for-beginners/
  
  Edit - the more I look at it that vilano forza looks bang on for a first road bike. Swap out the brake pads and tyres (for some decent 25c rubber) and its really a textbook starter road bike.
  
  If you get into it upgrade the wheels a bit later. It's got a triple (perfect for new riders who don't quite realise what an utter bastard hills can be and who can't push a bigger gear up them) and a carbon fork which is almost unheard of at that price point.

So at 6'3" its rather frustrating to keep seeing deals on bikes and then note that they are 55-58cm. I am trying to keep to advice that I have seen all over this subreddit that you should make sure it fits and that you don't buy the $300 bikes like the Giordano or GMC Denali. Why does the 5-8cm really matter? This past week I saw a post (I wish I could find it right now, I was the really nicely composed shot with unperceivable fill flash and ax for a kickstand) where his seat was jacked to the max, he said it does give him a aggressive riding position but that mostly he found it more comfortable. What are your words of wisedom O' Grand /r/bicycling?

UPDATE:
Upon reviewing some more options that are a bit more affordable to me, I've come across two bikes that strike my interest

This one: http://www.amazon.com/Aluminum-Commuter-Shimano-Speed-Bicycle/dp/B008CE9KKM/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1408395226&sr=8-4&keywords=commuter+bike

And this one: http://www.amazon.com/Vilano-Aluminum-Speed-Shimano-Medium/dp/B00595BNPM/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1408395226&sr=8-9&keywords=commuter+bike

(sorry for the long links) What do you guys think of these? They look pretty good, but I don't know much about bikes, so again reviews and insight on how good they are is appreciated.

That's a really nice bike for an amazing price. Factoring the cost of aftermarket fenders and racks, it's practically free.

However you should be aware that those are 700c tires. 700c is larger than 26", so the spokes are longer. When both are standard 14 gauge spokes, the shorter 26" tire is the stronger of the two. Also, 26" will open up [inexpensive 12g wheel options] (
http://jbbicyclewheels.com/wheelsets?product_id=178&limit=100) when it comes time to replace your tires.

Either way you might research fixing spokes, since it's my understanding that it's the largest wear item for heftier riders.

[Here's a 26" tire bike] (https://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-Sanctuary-7-Speed-Cruiser-Bicycle/dp/B00AWNHVQ6/) that's similar to the one in your link.

Hey Friend- ordered a Vilano by accident off of Amazon.com not two weeks ago. If you're curious and want to try it- you can get this for 200 bucks free shipping: Vilano Track Bike

However, it was way more work than I wanted. The brakes were scary- the wheels weren't quite aligned, and the lockring was free spinning out of the box. All in all, for the money, it was a bike, I did ride it, it got me places.

After about a week of dealing with its issues- I got sick of it. The wheels had been ever so slightly out of alignment when I ordered it- so Amazon, God bless it, returned it free of charge. Hell, they even paid for UPS to pick it up at my house. Did I mention I live in Hawaii?

If you're like me and just getting into it- I don't recommend it. I DID learn a ton about how a fixed gear functions from working on it. In the end I settled on a Kona Paddywagon from an LBS. Expensive? Unfortunately yes, but, as I learned the hard way, that extra cash results in a dramatically different ride.

Good luck on your decision.

The best bike to have is the one you ride. I have one of these which I bought at a discounted stock store for $300 CAN.(about $250USD)
Super heavy frame, wrong size for me and not enough range on the front two cogs. Also the brakes were so badly adjusted, the rear one didn't work at all. I bought a used Planet-X frame which a teenager outgrew and swapped out the front chainrings and shitty tyres. I now have a fucking awesome bike. Yes, the wheels are heavy. Yes, the 105 groupset would be nicer etc etc. But it's now a great bike.

Without the frame upgrade it would be not as nice, but still fine. The tyres supplied on the bike though were truly horrid. Poor ride, no grip and so far out of balance you noticed it over 15km/h.

A lot of people rag on Walmart bikes, because a lot of them have components so poorly made they don't work properly, even when new, never mind when they're worn. This varies quite a bit between bikes sold by Walmart. If you know what is acceptable, you can get a usable new bike for very cheap. The problem is most people buying at Walmart don't know anything about bikes, so they end up with something that doesn't work well or last. Walmart is happy to grind the price down to a point where it ceases to be a bicycle, but becomes a BSO, or Bike Shaped Object. This is not good for peoples end experience.

An awful lot of stuff on bikes is about fashion and weenie waving. You don't need a Bentley to go to the shops, most of us would be happy with a Corolla. The guy who already owns a Bentley however, can't understand why anyone would settle for a shitbox like a Corolla.

Most enthusiasts want people to love riding as much as they do, so they don't want them buying something they themselves would hate.

Forget the people looking down their noses, go ride.

I have a road bike that I'm looking to get rid of since my apt complex has a shuttle to campus. Its this one on Amazon, but the Medium frame in the yellow and black color scheme. I also have a lock for it. It was a great bike but I just don't use it anymore. Send me a PM if you're interested, I can let it go for much less than $250.

The GMC Denali is $200 and has tons of really good reviews on Amazon:

https://smile.amazon.com/GMC-Denali-Black-Green-Small/dp/B00FNVBSAM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467147331&sr=8-1&keywords=gmc+denali

Walmart carries it, too, but does not seem to offer a choice of sizes.

I have no first-hand experience with it, but I was amazed by all the positive reviews.

If you don’t mind ordering online, I bought this bike from Amazon for $179 on Prime Day (usually $199) and it’s been fantastic for commuting and exercise. I prefer not having gears to bother shifting through and the bike is pretty fast. Weights nothing and is easy for me to carry up stairs every day. Maintenance is low with no gears as well.

Link:

Retrospec Harper Single-Speed Fixed Gear Urban Commuter Bike https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MBR5SC3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_SdGsDbGBYWBRN

And to help with size reference if you’re looking to order, I’m 6’2, 210lbs and the 57cm/L model was perfect for me.

https://i.imgur.com/v1zFXAF.jpg

https://www.amazon.com/Diamondback-Bicycles-Insight-Complete-Performance/dp/B00NCUFD02?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00ODZ9ASQ&linkCode=as2&linkId=LICN44FCT7TXELUT&redirect=true&ref_=as_li_tl&tag=maxfitnessplus-20

Looks pretty solid, has great reviews.

I would look through things like Craigslist/OfferUp in your area. If you can't find anything good there then you might have to buy a Mongoose with that budget.

Just know that the Mongoose you listed is unsuitable for freestyle. It is for riding around the neighborhood. Anything with 1 piece cranks is not a fully featured freestyle bike.

A Mongoose Legion series would be better. L40, L60, and L80 would be good options. They go for 175-225 on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Mongoose-Legion-Freestyle-20-Inch-Wheels/dp/B01LW1D4Q6/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=mongoose%2Blegion&qid=1559327460&s=gateway&sr=8-4&th=1

Prices do seem reasonable at the shop assuming you get proper service and it's not like a big box store.

>I'm pretty sure I want a road bike (or hybrid?).

If you aren't sure on this (drop bars or flat bars) you are best off finding out which you prefer before you buy a bike, and while everyone has their preferences, there's no substitute for test riding bikes.

My advice would be to go to the shop and see if you can get a couple of demo rides to try flat bar vs drop bar - if they're a good shop they should have at least one each of flat bar and drop bar demo bike in your size that you pay a small amount to take a longer test ride on (that should be refunded if you buy a bike). A good shop should let you take a much shorter test ride on a particular bike you're considering buying too.

There aren't any bad bikes as long as you're spending enough to avoid them, and $800 is enough to avoid bad road bikes or hybrids unless you went looking at fake carbon bikes on Aliexpress or monstrosities like this (which you'd only ever see online).

For a hybrid $800 is probably overkill really unless you want disc brakes (make sure they're hydraulic if you do), otherwise the sweet spot is probably about $600. Recommend avoiding hybrids with suspension forks.

Road bikes are more expensive but $800 can still get you a decent entry level one like a Synapse or a Trek 1 series.

In other words you can't really go wrong unless you get the wrong type of bike, and the best way to avoid that is by test riding bikes.

The pedals right? That's how it works?


Seriously though I'm not a huge bike rider. I just want something to ride on the paved trail and get some exercise. The mountain bike I have is a loaner women's bike that my mother in law let's me ride when we take my son out. I liked the cruiser because it was smooth. The frame seemed to fit me well too, I'm 6'1.

Edit: this is what I found that I liked: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AWNHVQ6/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_IyUqtb12TF01M

The mongoose L100 is this bike, i don't even think walmart sells it, but yes it would be a much better bike then the framed.

This is legit. The best bike for the price. https://www.amazon.com/Mongoose-Legion-Wheel-Freestyle-Black/dp/B01LW44X4K use every part they give you till it wears out then and only then upgrade it. My friend has this. First the go where the grips. Then the times and the chain everything else is lasting. When you buy new tires. Buy 100psi and run high 80s. And if you don't run brakes I'll buy your lever and brake arms /cable.

they have a mounting hole? I'm not sure if we're talking about the same bike: http://www.amazon.com/TRACK-FIXED-FIXIE-SINGLE-SPEED/dp/B004WA8YQ6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1407971168&sr=8-2&keywords=vilano+single+speed

the one that looks like a road bike is what I have (drop handle bars). If it's still the same bike that is awesome news!!

I'm not sure what you consider "wine country" pricing, but generally decent quality bikes start around $4-500. It sounds like you may be using this bike for daily commuting in which case I would highly recommend you look at ~$500 bikes if you want something that will be reliable with minimal maintenance.

Here are some decent bikes that you can order online:
http://www.jensonusa.com/Commuter-Urban-Bikes/GT-Bikes-Tachyon-20-Bike-2014
http://www.amazon.com/Diamondback-Bicycles-Insight-Complete-Performance/dp/B00NCUFD02/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1426468093&sr=1-1&keywords=diamondback+insight+2
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/cafe_latte_x.htm

Note that none of these have a suspension. Unless you are riding actual mountain bike trails a suspension is completely unnecessary and on these bikes the suspensions will have you bouncing all over the place.

Those are good but these are more fun.

I'm getting a bike for a 10 year old kid to ride to school on. Doesn't need to be fancy, just durable. Would prefer for it to be from Amazon or a major retailer like Performance Bike. Up to $300 is fine.

Currently looking at something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Mongoose-Legion-Wheel-Freestyle-Bike/dp/B01LW1D4Q6/

I'd like to get a really nice, well-built bike that'll last me. But money is a factor, so I settled on this Vilano bike. It's gonna take me a bit of saving, but I'm hoping I can get it before summer's over.

I'm looking to buy my first road bike for casual riding. I found these two cheapos on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Giordano-Libero-White-Mens-Bike-700c/dp/B004Q3N0GI

http://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-Mens-Prelude-Bicycle-BBWhite/dp/B004QM22HC

Which would you recommended? Or would you recommend something else? I'm looking to spend under $500 and am 5'9 and 150 lbs.

> juiced crosscurrent air

That looks pretty damn good. Just needs fork replaced to make it tolerable for city potholes and all-terrain driving.

This Cyclamatic is $550 with front fork, I wish there was something in between those two prices.

[White Samba's - 49.97] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CEOXTS/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=LN1LSNK70YIF&coliid=ILB6SW1FQTT39&psc=1)
on amazon, unless anyone else knows of any cheaper deals elsewhere.

This sweet bike!, also amazon.

We're fairly new so the club as a whole needs some guidance haha
I was looking at a vilano, would something like this work?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CLV61EA/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1473898162&sr=1-9&refinements=p_4%3AVilano&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&th=1&psc=1

There are a bunch of good ones on Amazon these days.
They are no longer expensive.

schwinn $227
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Y2PRTI?ie=UTF8&tag=reddit0e-20

Kent $100+
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001IDTKD6?ie=UTF8&tag=reddit0e-20

dohan tech $250
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UL5MQU?ie=UTF8&tag=reddit0e-20

super mini backpack bicycle $135 (tiny wheels but full size bike!)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001L4S4WK?ie=UTF8&tag=reddit0e-20


bunches more

http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26x%3D20%26ref%255F%3Dnb%255Fss%26y%3D16%26field-keywords%3Dfolding%2520bicycle%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Daps&tag=reddit0e-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957

> Obviously I'll be starting out with something cheap/slow.



This one gets great gas mileage:

http://www.amazon.com/Aluminum-Commuter-Shimano-Speed-Bicycle/dp/B008CE9KVG/ref=sr_1_2?s=cycling&ie=UTF8&qid=1413563120&sr=1-2&keywords=road+bike

Shit. Someone actually bought one of those visp bikes?

I found this "review" of the bike:
http://www.foldingbikeguy.com/visp-a01-road-bike-review/

The reviews on amazon are good for a laugh:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RQNRTUS?tag=viglink27304-20

Honestly, I wasn't expecting to find any bike that I would be willing to recommend. But I did find one. And one only. If you don't want to buy this bike, do not buy any other $400 bike from Amazon in order to do this trip. If you do buy this bike, do not buy any size other than the xl.

As this bike is going to come somewhat disassembled, keep in mind that you, or someone is going to have to finish assembling the bike.

http://www.amazon.com/Diamondback-Insight-Flat-Road-Bike/dp/B017TEZORS/ref=sr_1_1?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1462684459&sr=1-1&keywords=bicycle&refinements=p_36%3A-40000

I am recommending this with all due caution. Between it being a low end bike, and coming partially assembled, and the fact that it is a flat bar bike, which are not generally considered ideal for distance riding, it is difficult to enthusiastically recommend getting this bike. Some people have difficulty riding 10 miles on them without hand fatigue. There was a guy who posted recently who rode across the country on a flat bar bike. But you don't know if you will be able to do 60 mile days on a flat bar bike.

My suggestion would be to rent, or to buy a more expensive bike, and sell it afterwards, getting most or all your money back rather than buy a bike without getting a chance to even test ride it.

For road / trail, I think the best deal going is this takara cyclocross bike. It has 4130 chromoly frame and fork. Shimano Claris Sti shifters and derailleurs. Cable discs. For $200 shipped in xl, it's hard to beat.
Would replace the tires and seat right away.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DI1KSSW/ref=mp_s_a_1_10?qid=1420314772&sr=1-10&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70#

You know, I want to hate it so much, but the hilarious Amazon reviews make its existence 100% worth it.

http://www.amazon.com/VISP-A01-Fashion-Bicycle-Mechanical-Brakes/dp/B00RQNRTUS

VISP is getting much better with their Amazon bikes.

I ride regularly and race regularly. Normally to the tune of ~100 miles a week, with more on the weekends.

I say this because I believe you are really going to have a hard time starting on a fat bike. I mean, if it is just a normal mountain bike and I am reading what you wrote wrong, then you should be fine.

But if it is a fat bike with wheels between 3.7 and 5.2 inches, you are going to have a hard time. Fat bikes typically have no suspension, and the rolling resistance can be crazy high. This means that you aren't going to be coasting very much, if at all.

On a mountain bike you should be in better shape, they typically at least have a front suspension and although not ideal for road riding, they work just fine.

I am a bit concerned that the bike you received from your father may be a bit "too much" of a bike for you as you mentioned, which could really lead to you disliking biking.

How tall are you? What size wheel does the mountain bike have (Typical sizes are 26", 27.5" or 29")?. If it is a 29" bike you may dislike it simply because it feels too long and doesn't feel nimble to you. At 6'3" I have no problem with a 29" bike. Many people in the 5'6" - 5'10" height range prefer a 27.5" wheel.

If you want a good starting point and will be mostly riding on the road, Amazon offers some pretty stellar bikes for a good price.

This bike at under $250 should be a great starting point, is intended for road riding and likely won't lead to anxiety if it does end up being stolen.

That way you can commute/road ride on one bike and do trail rides on the nice bike your father gifted you.

This guy gets it! If you read the review section of this bad boy, you can see that weight does not apply to these beautiful aero beasts. Someone reliably reports stealing 188 KOMS on one as well as getting a speeding ticket from the local police. Try doing that on a ḈḗṛṽḝḮṏ!

Ah, that's true of some fixies, but not all. I think that's a $200 Amazon Special. Since it can be converted between a fixed gear single speed and a freewheel single speed, it has brakes. I can't tell how it is operating currently, however.

I would recommend the LX model instead of the CX. The seat on the CX is a brick in comparison.

would you recommend this:
https://www.amazon.com/Vilano-FORZA-Aluminum-Carbon-Shimano/dp/B00PUGUFIQ

There are a lot of folding bikes under $800. You can even get electric ones for $800 and possibly less https://ridegenesis.com/collections/electric-bicycles/products/commuter-electric-bicycle-white?gclid=CjwKCAjwuvjNBRBPEiwApYq0zhHID1U_tRwm9SpqQUPCKSKAu3ViV0J5cfy4Rv_v4tF5pB79UXdPVxoCW_UQAvD_BwE

Most of Dahon's line up is under $800 as well
https://www.amazon.com/Dahon-Vybe-Folding-Obsidian-Fenders/dp/B00DYX1XOW/

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=lp_2588037011_nr_scat_3405101_ln?srs=2588037011&rh=n%3A3405101&ie=UTF8&qid=1505636199&scn=3405101&h=c5286098a6ef1d1202c9379646b71b1f55c0d813

Dont know if you saw my other post, but check this out:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002AQHM3U/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1496766101&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=electric+bicycle&dpPl=1&dpID=51Js6jhTNXL&ref=plSrch

Other options include home made motorized bicycles (people do this with lawnmower engines, they reach speeds of ~40 mph and can be purchased on CL for around 200), or, since you're here, a motorcycle! I cant tell whether you're trying to actually do technical riding with these bikes or if its just for commuting though.

Might want to check out r/ebikes thoufh

What do you think of this? https://smile.amazon.com/Mongoose-Legion-Wheel-Freestyle-Black/dp/B01LW44X4K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480518780&sr=8-1&keywords=mongoose+legion+l100

Maybe they were going for the Machete look? It's got rave reviews.

The best part

Its a fixed-gear Machete

This is the VTSP "High Fashion Red" model in case anyone wants to add it to a wishlist... www.amazon.com/dp/B00RQNRTUS/

Non-mobile: Machete

^That's ^why ^I'm ^here, ^I ^don't ^judge ^you. ^PM ^/u/xl0 ^if ^I'm ^causing ^any ^trouble. ^WUT?

Do you need to spend $700+ on beginner bikes? Absolutely not!

[Cannondale Quick 5 2013 - $529.95] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MG2L2HA/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2AE9TCT6D5MFR&coliid=I1EQE2JEFYNBJQ&psc=1)

[Vilano Shadow Road Bike - $349.00] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CLV5ZVK/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2AE9TCT6D5MFR&coliid=II09S1TQ6UN25&psc=1)

[Schwinn Volare 1300 700C - $300.81] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AWNI0CU/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2AE9TCT6D5MFR&coliid=I1AT3Y1WCLZ3C8)

[Vilano Aluminum Road Bike - $279.06] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00595BNPM/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2AE9TCT6D5MFR&coliid=I2S39AD2RY1DHD&psc=1)

[Vilano Aluminum Road Bike/ Commuter - $199.00] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D5WI3JA/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2AE9TCT6D5MFR&coliid=ISHBU8PWBW0LO&psc=1)

Simply put, the department store bikes (Target, Wal-Mart, etc.) are mostly assembled by people who have no training, which can lead to very bad accidents down the road. Ride on!

Avoid a good deal of the Amazon bikes as well if they're not from well known companies.

I saw some poor kid at a college once who bought a Cyrusher road bike after reading all of the hype reviews. Crappy, heavy frame, garbage components (including these totally wonky stem shifters), gaudy. The bikes sell for entry level road bike prices, but you get what is essentially Walmart tier bikes.

Avoid any bike named after a car manufacturer (GMC Denali is the one most commonly seen). Same thing for bikes named after beer or drink manufacturers.

On a related note, some guy kept trying to sell a Snapple-branded MTB for what felt like years. Lousy rear suspension, no name front fork, plus he ripped the wheel cover on the back wheel. That's not really a "brand" so much as just a hopeless idiot trying to make a buck on garbage.

Murray hasn't been manufactured in at least ten years, and their stuff was always low quality.