...you have inspired me!

five years ago i was hit by a car on my bicycle within the first two hours of a 3 day ride from ct to nyc. i landed on my head and was spared a life of making pot holders by my helemt.

the summer after that i couldn't ride at all because i was freaked out riding in traffic and subsequent summers brought futile attempts to get going again.

i've been on my trainer for a bit and really feel ready to get back into a riding regimen. it's one of my favorite "sports" and does wonders for my psyche.

questions:
--can you reccomend a (very) simple bike pump to attach to my bike.
and
--i'm looking into purchasing a new road bike. mine is 20 years old and only has 12 gears. i live in a valley and you can't go past 2 miles without hitting major hills. i never ride off road. it's all pavement or paved trails. i'm looking to spend in the $800 to $1200 range. any suggestions?

Trek 1000 series is in that bracket, and ain't bad.

Here's the cheapest (I think) women-specific bike they make, always denoted w/ WSD...

http://www2.trekbikes.com/en/Bikes/Road ... /index.php

I have a trek wsd and really really like it. Not that I've been on it for a year (dissertation hassle, nothing to do with the bike), but when I was racing it was so much more confortable than my previous bike I nearly wet myself for joy.

List is 1100 on the one linked above... if you're really pinching the pennies they have one at $630.
http://www2.trekbikes.com/Bikes/Road/Pe ... /index.php

Low end bikes have gotten way way better since your old ride was built. This weighs more than the 1500, but probably less than your old steelmobile.

If you're over 5 foot six or seven, wsd might not be so important, which means you have more choices.

And, here's a frame pump to go with it.

http://www.rei.com/outlet/product/47852819.htm?

Laura, I'm picking up my brand spanking new Lemond Reno wsd tonight... I really liked it the best out of all I tried (included Trek 1200, Specialized Allez, Lemond Reno non-women specific, Felt F80).

Good for you, btw!

i'm 5'8".
that pump looks perfect. i love the simplicity.

thanks for the recs, guys. i've got some place to start now.

what about italian bikes--any good?

WSD for taller women, as I understand it, depends on your proportions. Most women have shorter torsos than men, so men's bikes tend to really stretch you out more than is ideal for long rides. Each company has its own tendancies re: build, so you should try as many as you can. I, for instance, wouldn't ride a Le Mond if you paid me, and can't be fitted to the Giants with much success, but I know women who swear by both of those.

At the low end, Specialised, Giant and to a lesser extent Trek are generally thought of as the best values among folks I talk to. Italian bikes can be very good but they tend to cost a bit more. Try a Bianchi, see how you get on. Don't be afraid to do more than ride around the block on a test ride--I took my wsd 2200 on a two hour group ride before I bought it.

Agreed... test ride, test ride, test ride! I'm 5'7" and the Lemond Reno wsd works fine for me. All the others had me stretched out too far like Shelley says.

And no, I have no experience with Italian bikes.

interesting. i'm pretty long waisted. good info.
guess i've got some test riding to do although i just found out i need a new cd player (see other thread...rrrrrrrrrr)

Fit to Ride
Fit to Ride is a full service bike shop designed for the cycling enthusiast, offering everything from kid's bikes, to professional mechanical and fitting services. When you come to Fit to Ride, you'll meet employees that actually ride their bikes as much as you do. They know how bikes are supposed to work, and what it takes to enjoy the sport. Fit to Ride invites all NCC members to come by and check us out. At "The Rotary", 38 Center Square, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Call 413-525-8131.

These folks sponsor one of your local cycling clubs. I bet they have a good range of bikes and expertise.

wow shelley. you're a miracle.

Yeah, I get the impression I really miss cycling. Sniff.

Good news is that I'm putting my car in the shop for a week or so next week, so I'm hoping to use the bike a little and get back into the swing of things.

So, um bike people...

are either of these a good deal?

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/bik/65310489.html

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/bik/65096660.html

I'd want to buy the basket/lights/etc. that the second one comes with, but I'm not sure if it's quite worth it... Thanks!

What are you looking to do with it?

the Specialized sounds like a decent price, but not very much info on components (i.e. are you getting low-end equipment on that bike, regardless of whether it's been used 4 times or not?). I'd want to check it out and ride it first.

The Trek sounds kinda iffy to me. It's hard to tell whether the person is trying to recoup his costs, and if those costs are realistic or not. Who knows... the guy could work for a bike shop and get parts for super cheap and is just trying to make a quick buck.

I'm just going to use it as a weekend cruiser, maybe a back-and-forth to work bike, possibly riding to shows, etc. ....1 hill, 8 miles or so each way to work... The thing is, I plan on riding it a bit, but I'm not sure how much I actually will ride it...

I'm not looking for an offroad bike, but I do need/want a heavier/sturdy frame, and something semi-reliable. I'm not all that up on spending a ton of $ for one, though, so I've been ebay/craigslist hunting for 2 weeks or so now...

Deliver newspapers.

*jealous cuz my bikes always get stolen*

Bizzidie BUMP....
How this thread fell so quickly I'll never know (rhetorical)...

"Tires lined with aluminum so will not puncture"???

What kind of bs is THAT? Aluminum foil? Wtf?

Do you have a Performance shop near you? They have some great deals on '04 bikes (not many left at this point). Plus, they can fit you to the bike and I think they have lifetime adjustments (I could be wrong on this).

fp

I do have a couple bike shops semi-close...
Only thing is, I'm not looking to spend 500+ on a bike right now, when I'm not 100% sure of how much I'm going to use it. I'm thinking under/around $300, including everything I want (sans helmet, as I got a bitchin' looking one off of EBay today). Even if it's a "leftover" 2004 model, It'll probably be out of my price range...

my brother found me a pretty good mountain bike at a pawn shop for $125, you may want to try there

Then don't get a bike with a suspension. It's just weight you have to lug up that hill and something that can need maintenance. You should be able to get something secondhand that will do you fine until and unless you decide you're going to ride a lot for cheap. Print ads are full of these. Like, under 200.

Here you go. Are you tall?

http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/bik/62584252.html

http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/bik/60331664.html
Heavier; how steep is that hill? Closer to you to go look at, though.