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How to Buy a Bike – Part 1

How to Buy a Bike – Part 1

Lisa Eirene

About Lisa Eirene Lisa lost 110 pounds through calorie counting and exercise. She swims, bikes, runs, hikes and is enjoying life in Portland, Oregon. Her weight loss story has been featured in First Magazine, Yahoo Health, Woman's Day and Glamour.com.

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12 Comments

  1. Sheri

    I’m one of those sad Cruiser owners. I thought it was a good idea (let’s be honest – I was going for looks more than anything else), and now I’m considering selling it! I did use it to commute to work every once in a while, but it’s a pain to ride up hills – you can’t stand on the pedals like you could if you were on a normal bike… I’m eager to hear your opinions on the other types of bikes, so I’ll know what to buy next time!!!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Sheri I almost bought a cruiser too!! Then Michael stopped me and said NO! Don’t be crazy and he’s so right. Buying a road bike was the best decision. Unfortunately I focused on cost when I bought my road bike instead of quality. So my road bike is pretty heavy.

  2. Christi

    I don’t have a bike currently. I have always liked the way the cruisers look, especially in pink :). I would really love to try cycling, but I worry that i am far too heavy/big to be able to enjoy it. I don’t like the stationary bikes at the gym because they hurt…maybe you’ll have some suggestion for that as well? Keep ’em coming Michael…you are too too funny! And informative!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Actually I think cycling would be a good thing for you. I think if I had tried running when I was 250 pounds I would have hurt myself. But after losing weight I could do it. I think cycling is the opposite–it’s not high impact so it shouldn’t hurt you.

  3. Lori

    I have a hybrid and I wouldn’t buy anything else. We do mostly paved roads, but have some paths with gravel, so a hybrid is the best pick for me.

    Years and years ago, I had a mountain bike because I lived in Colorado. Well, I never took it into the mountains and it was such a drag riding the streets with it.

    My new bike is a Fuji 😀

    1. Lisa Eirene

      As a kid I had a mountain bike. But I guess that’s what kids usually have…

  4. Alan (Pounds Off Playoff)

    Nice job on this, Michael. I learned a lot. Looking forward to your next posts!

  5. Carbzilla

    Great post Michael! We’ve had our bikes for years and I’d buy a hybrid if I could do it over again. We are almost always on paved paths. (Though I think the paths at Sunriver were dirt)

    If someone wanted to switch models, what do you think is the best way to do that – sell on Craigslist and buy a new one. Do bike shops let you turn them in like a used car?

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Now that would be sweet…Eventually I will upgrade my road bike to a nicer (possibly carbon) bike. But I’d want to get a decent amount for mine.

    2. Michael

      Great question. Both can be options but it may be difficult to find a store that sells used bikes in your area.

      If you want to sell your bike to a reseller, your best option might be to find a store that deals solely in repairs. In Portland, Sellwood Cycle Repair would be the best option for you. I don’t know if such an option exists in Seattle but it probably does.

      REI’s used gear sale might be another option for you. We were just there this weekend and they anticipated having another gear sale around March/April.

      Craigslist is always an option but you never know how serious the potential buyer will be.

      You can make your mountain bike easier to ride on pavement by swapping out the tires for street tires. If it’s a newer bike, you may be able to lock the suspension as well which greatly improves your riding experience on pavement.

  6. Tips for Commuting by Bike » 110 Pounds and Counting

    […] post is assuming you already have a bike that fits you. If you remember from Michael’s Guest Post series about cycling, your best bet for a bike is a road bike or hybrid. Remember: lighter is […]

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