Is a new hobby worth the entry level cost?

[PRICEPLUS]

Bike fit is important and riding a bike that is too small for you will not be the best thing.

It is funny you should mention cycling because I got into the sport and it is great! I have a couple of sites you might want to check out for cycling info.

bikejournal.com

Bike Forums

Those are two great sites to start with and ask questions?

Getting the proper fit on your bicycle is extremely important for your riding comfort!

Check out the Specialized Site for the Globe, Globe City, and the Sirrus. They are priced below 600 on many models.

Specialized Bicycle Components : Home


Check out Bianchi and their Cross Terrain Bikes and their San Jose Cyclocross.

Bianchi USA 2006: Bicycles

Check ot Trek Sport Urban, Fitness, as well as Hybrid bikes. There are plenty of chices below 600.

trekbikes.com

Find a reputable bike shop and buy a "good" bike by a reputable company. You'll be glad you did. Just how much is your health worth to you? How often will you ride a bike that is not comfortable or suitable for the kind of riding you want to do?

Enjoy and shop around. Sometimes last years models may be on sale and you can save even more. Good luck and good health! I hope everything works out for the best!

[Fern]

we all have to spend our money on SOME indulgence, right? What fun is saving if we don't get to occasionally spend our money on something that makes up feel good?

If you think of your bike investment as an opportunity to expand your horizons, to try something different in your life and refresh your usual routine, i think you would agree it's well worth it.

The only caution i would make is be sure you're going to stick with it before plunking down the big bucks on a top line bike.

Picking up new hobbies and interest over the years is a great thing; we should always be learning new stuff.

[nanamom]

You said you had been saving this from your allowance so if you want th enew bike, GET IT!! Yes I am frugal and yes I buy used (for myself) but if I saved my allowance for something (mine would be a camera not a bike but I understand the idea) then by all means indulge yourself. I understand the need to have one sized for you. I know people who maintained and ran races for years so I know what you mean. A well fitting bike can make all the difference in long distance and it sounds like that is what you want to do.

[PrincessPerky]

my rule of thumb is to buy used the first time, then after you use it (ride it) you will know what you like more than just reading, reading that 6 ft tall people should use X attatchement is all well and good, but I am me and they are they, sometimes the book/mag/website is right, sometimes they are wrong, being wrong for free is fine, being wrong for 600$ is not very fun.

On the other hand it is your money, spend it on what you want!

[disneysteve]

my rule of thumb is to buy used the first time, then after you use it (ride it) you will know what you like more than just reading

This is a great point that nobody else mentioned. Go the cheap route until you decide exactly what you want and need. You may think you know, but you probably don't. Once you start participating in the sport or activity regularly, you have a much better idea of what things matter the most to you. Why pay for bells and whistles you'll never use. And why forgo bells and whistles that you really would have made use of.

[project15]

Well as you know, I received my mother in law's bike and have found that it is just too small for me too comfortably ride on regularly. Since riding it, I have re-adjusted my priorities in a bike and realize that comfort is a priority of mine. Instead of getting a pure road bike, I'm leaning more toward a "fitness bike" which is basically a road bike, but with a little more comfort features. I'm definitely glad I found something to ride for now and help me re-adjust my priorities before buying an expensive bike I didn't like.

[disneysteve]

Since riding it, I have re-adjusted my priorities

I'm definitely glad I found something to ride for now and help me re-adjust my priorities before buying an expensive bike I didn't like.

Bingo! Exactly what we were saying. The reason for not buying the expensive equipment upfront has a lot more to do with just the cost of the item. You don't want to buy the expensive stuff until you are sure what you really want.

A personal example - My wife and I love to cook. We started married life with some hand-me-down pots and pans. They were functional but after a while, we realized their limitations. We got better cookware and gradually saw the limitations with those. We got a better piece here and there until we had firmed up what we both liked and needed in quality cookware. About 1-1/2 years ago, we bought what we think will be our last cookware purchase - a set of Calphalon tri-ply stainless pots and pans. It was costly but we absolutely love it and have yet to see any faults or limitations with it after pretty extensive usage.

Had we gone out 10 years ago and spent hundreds of dollars on expensive cookware, odds are we wouldn't have been happy with our purchase because we didn't yet know exactly what we wanted or needed to be happy.