what bike to choose

Question
I am riding a mountain bike every other day to work up to 22 miles..because that is what my friend and her family ride on sundays.  She tells me I will want to buy a better bike later or I won't be able to keep up with them on the mountain bike (they have expensive fancy bikes she paid $600 for hers and her brothers bought $2000 racing bikes which I think is ridiculous for doing it for fun. The brother hasn't lost any weight and is fat because the bike does all the work for him)

Anyway, I can't really afford a bike more than $200  and I was wondering what type of bike you would recommend that I buy to "keep up with them" on our rides?  I am kinda new at this so thanks

Answer
Jennifer,

It is never about the bike it is about the motor. Bikes do not do the work, they can make things easier but the person still has to do all the work. A lighter bike will make things easier, like hills, but hills and headwinds still slow even the strongest rider on the lightest bike down.

I can go off on how bike riding alone will not help with weight loss but we can save that for another day.

Now for you... first, your friend is right, a mountain type bike is slower on the road because of the fat tires. Road bike tire pressure is upwards of 100 pounds per square inch (psi) whereas a mountain bike is around 50 psi - a lot more rolling resistance. So what type of bike for you? One that fits. Make sure the bike that you get will allow you to have the proper leg extension and keeps you in a comfortable position between seat and handlebar. You don't want to be too stretched out nor to cramped up.

The type of bike depends on the type of riding that you want to do. Road bikes, with the curved handlebars, are great for spending long periods of time n the road. However, they are not the best for city riding, riding on bike trails that are crushed stone, or heading off road at anytime. And I already pointed out the drawbacks of mountain bikes, which have their plus points too. The bike that is kind of in the middle is the "hybrid." A hybrid will have taller tires like a road bike, although they are a bit fatter, but has mountain bike style handle bars and a more up-right seating style. You can use a hybrid to ride with your fiends (and keep up) and it is a great bike for commuting or city riding. And it rules on the crushed stone bike trails.

Right now is a great time of year to find a bike. Bike shops are already thinking about next years bikes and back-to-school sales are happening. I would head to you local bike shop and take a look at hybrids. You may have to spend a bit more than the $200, possible closer to $300 but the shop will be able to make sure you fit the bike, and it is properly adjusted and ready to ride when you take it out the door. The big box stores really can't offer the same thing. It really is worth it to spend a bit more now and have a bike that you can rely on. And being a new rider developing a relationship with a bike shop is a good thing because they can help you progress, teach you how to take care of your bike, and even fix it in case of a breakdown.

Remember, it is the engine, not the bike. So the more you ride the stronger you will become. The stronger you are the easier it will be to keep up to your friends and even leave them in the dust! And pretty soon you will start looking for a $3000 bike for yourself because you are riding so much and you can easily justify the expense!

Good luck!
Have fun!

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