I need a bike suggestion..

Does this look like a good deal
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3624610301&category=27948 fuel 90 2003 new
for 1043.00

"Joseph Jozwik" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Hello, My brother is getting in to XC biking and he is looking for a starter bike no more then
> $600.00 to $1000.00 range. I was going to suggest a hard tail Trek. But I really do not know. What
> about buying a bike on ebay?
>
> Thank You Joe

"Joseph Jozwik" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Hello, My brother is getting in to XC biking and he is looking for a starter bike no more then
> $600.00 to $1000.00 range. I was going to suggest a hard tail Trek. But I really do not know. What
> about buying a bike on ebay?

There's a pretty big difference between $600 bikes and $1000 bikes.

Novel Idea: go to a bike shop.

Bill "why buy without a try?" S.

On Wed, 3 Sep 2003 11:13:24 -0400, Joseph Jozwik wrote:
> What about buying a bike on ebay?

How's he going to know if the bike fits OK? And if it doesn't, what then?

--
-BB- To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

Hi, I was looking for a suggestion for a bike. Then we were going to go try one out. Do you have any
suggestions. Thank For Your Help Joe "BB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Wed, 3 Sep 2003 11:13:24 -0400, Joseph Jozwik wrote:
> > What about buying a bike on ebay?
>
> How's he going to know if the bike fits OK? And if it doesn't, what then?
>
> --
> -BB- To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

Hi, I was looking for a suggestion for a bike. Then we were going to go try one out. Do you have any
suggestions. Thank For Your Help Joe

"Sorni" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:n%[email protected]...
> "Joseph Jozwik" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> > Hello, My brother is getting in to XC biking and he is looking for a starter
bike
> > no more then $600.00 to $1000.00 range. I was going to suggest a hard
tail
> > Trek. But I really do not know. What about buying a bike on ebay?
>
> There's a pretty big difference between $600 bikes and $1000 bikes.
>
> Novel Idea: go to a bike shop.
>
> Bill "why buy without a try?" S.

"Joseph Jozwik" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Hi, I was looking for a suggestion for a bike. Then we were going to go try
one
> out. Do you have any suggestions. Thank For Your Help Joe

Go to a shop if you have one available and ask them what they have in your price range and then your
brother should ride all the ones that look like they might be a good fit. Then repeat this process a
few times at different shops and with different bikes.

There's lots of bikes that fit your criteria. Someone suggested Trek, I think they make OK bikes but
some others here are sure they are the worst bikes ever made. I like Specialized as far as
mainstream brands. Others to consider are Gary Fisher, Santa Cruz, Tomac, Rocky Mountain, Klein
(really made by Trek), Cannondale, and many others. These aren't recommendations, but just a (top of
my head) list of who might make bikes that might fit your criteria. Others may chime in that these
brands are no good. That may or may not be true. I can only say I've had good luck with a Trek, a
Cannondale, and several Specialized bikes.

Fit is very important as is a good shop to help you make the right choice and do maintenance. For a
first bike I wouldn't go eBay because you can't test ride and it doesn't come with service.

Matt

That wasn't that helpful Alex. But thanks for the response. Joe

"Alex Holmes" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> Asking for recommendations and then ignoring all of the recommendations is asinine. Stop wasting
> our time.
>
> Thanks, Alex
>
> On Wed, 03 Sep 2003 11:33:20 -0400, Joseph Jozwik wrote:
>
> > Does this look like a good deal
> >
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3624610301&category=27948
> > fuel 90 2003 new for 1043.00
> >
> >
> > "Joseph Jozwik" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> >> Hello, My brother is getting in to XC biking and he is looking for a starter
bike
> >> no more then $600.00 to $1000.00 range. I was going to suggest a hard
tail
> >> Trek. But I really do not know. What about buying a bike on ebay?
> >>
> >> Thank You Joe
> >>
> >

"Joseph Jozwik" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Hi, I was looking for a suggestion for a bike. Then we were going to go try
one
> out. Do you have any suggestions.

Yes. Find local dealers for these bike brands:

Giant, Kona, Specialized, Gary Fisher, Jamis, Trek

All of these brands offer excellent value-for-dollar in mid-range bikes.

Ride as many bikes from these (and other) brands as you can. Ride bikes below and above your price
range. Shop hard, until you find the one that "speaks to you." Some bikes just feel right. That's
the one to buy. You can get a lot of bike these days for $500-900 ish. If it were me, I'd look at
these bikes:

Giant Rainier (sweet disc-equipped bike) Kona CinderCone (a perennial favorite, now with discs) Gary
Fisher Marlin (great bike for the money) Specialized Rockhopper Comp (another great value) Trek 4900
(not my fave; but a solid bike)

The Kona bikes have a lot to offer. Very hard to beat. The Giant frames are amazing for the money.
Very beefy and light.

Again, this is my list. I'm *not* into hucking, urban assault, bomb drops, "going big," etc. I'm a
smooth XC rider. If you abuse equipment, look at the Specialized Hard Rock. Great value in a
bombproof bike.

> > > What about buying a bike on ebay?

Is your brother an experienced bike mechanic? Can he strip and rebuild a bike? Does he know how and
when to replace worn parts, rebuild hubs and true wheels? If not, avoid Ebay bikes. Trust my
experience here. It's a mixed bag, and not for the beginner. You don't always get what you think
you're getting, even if you know how to ask the right questions.

> > How's he going to know if the bike fits OK? And if it doesn't, what
then?

Go to a bike shop. Don't pinch pennies. Buy a good bike from a reputable dealer. You'll be
glad you did.

Right now is a good time to shop. There are a lot of bikes to look at. Have fun and happy hunting.

-Barry

Joseph Jozwik wrote:
>
> Hello, My brother is getting in to XC biking and he is looking for a starter bike no more then
> $600.00 to $1000.00 range. I was going to suggest a hard tail Trek. But I really do not know. What
> about buying a bike on ebay?
>
> Thank You Joe

The problem with this sort of question is that you will either get generic advice "all Treks are
shite", or "all Speshes are great" This won't help you much because IMO when someone gives this kind
of advice they generally (look I'm doing it now!) don't know what they're talking about. On the
other hands you will get specific advice eg "You must get an Orange Sub5 because I've got one and I
like it a lot". The problem with this is the people giving the advice are not you, they don't ride
the same trails, they're not the same shape as you, and they don't have the same riding style as
you. have a look at the 'Santa Cruz Superlight Vs Orange Sub5' thread on this group. Perfectly
reasonable question on the face of it but the guy got two responses one each from a rider with each
bike both saying the same thing. In that specific instance coincidentally both riders (yes I was
one) both even bought their bikes from the same shop. We just each preferred different things.

The only sensible advice is to set your maximum budget and go and ride as many bikes that you
can. That might just mean one shop if that's all you can easily get to, but it might mean two or
three. One other thing to remember is that more expensive does not mean best! It may well mean
more specialised welding, custom tubes and higher spec kit, but it it doesn't 'feel' right it
isn't right.

Phil

Joseph Jozwik wrote:
> Hello, My brother is getting in to XC biking and he is looking for a starter bike no more then
> $600.00 to $1000.00 range. I was going to suggest a hard tail Trek. But I really do not know. What
> about buying a bike on ebay?
>
> Thank You Joe
>
>

Buy a new bike through mail order or at a LBS. Don't pay more for a used bike on on Ebay. Ebay is
for suckers ...

On Wed, 3 Sep 2003 12:17:18 -0400, Joseph Jozwik wrote:
> Hi, I was looking for a suggestion for a bike. Then we were going to go try one out. Do you have
> any suggestions.

Matt pretty much summed it up. Look around at every bike you can. There might be some of last year's
models for sale. I've had a Trek for 6 years now and its doing fine. I suppose if your brother's a
big heavy dude you need to be a little careful to get something that'll hold up, though.

--
-BB- To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

On Wed, 03 Sep 2003 16:46:13 GMT, Alex Holmes wrote:
> Asking for recommendations and then ignoring all of the recommendations is asinine. Stop wasting
> our time.

Ease up, he was just asking; he'd posted this before any of the recommendations anyway.

--
-BB- To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

Joe, I bought a Jamis Dakar Sport. It comes with disk brakes and ok parts (as far as I can
determine) for under $1000. I'm not the most agressive biker so my needs aren't that severe, but I
like the bike and I'd probably buy another one if I wrecked this one.

Steve.

Joseph Jozwik wrote:
> Hello, My brother is getting in to XC biking and he is looking for a starter bike no more then
> $600.00 to $1000.00 range. I was going to suggest a hard tail Trek. But I really do not know. What
> about buying a bike on ebay?
>
> Thank You Joe

"B. Bargain" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<Zpq5b.343005$YN5.233751@sccrnsc01>...
> "Joseph Jozwik" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> > Hi, I was looking for a suggestion for a bike. Then we were going to go try
> one
> > out. Do you have any suggestions.
>
> Yes. Find local dealers for these bike brands:
>
> Giant, Kona, Specialized, Gary Fisher, Jamis, Trek

Of course you know that you sound like a lame bicycle magazine.

<snip more uneducated tripe and brand name hype>

> Don't pinch pennies.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...That coming from you, Barry Bargain. The irony is overwhelming.

JD

"MrSlantEye" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Joseph Jozwik wrote:
> > Hello, My brother is getting in to XC biking and he is looking for a starter
bike
> > no more then $600.00 to $1000.00 range. I was going to suggest a hard
tail
> > Trek. But I really do not know. What about buying a bike on ebay?
> >
> > Thank You Joe
> >
> >
>
> Buy a new bike through mail order or at a LBS. Don't pay more for a used bike on on Ebay. Ebay is
> for suckers ...
>

And all this time I was sure eBay was for making easy money off suckers. I guess you live
and learn...

Matt (not how I use it, but I've seen things...)

On Wed, 3 Sep 2003 11:13:24 -0400, "Joseph Jozwik" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Hello, My brother ...blah, blah, blah

Bianchi DISS

Peace, Bill

The mind serves properly as a window glass rather than as a reflector, that is, the mind should give
an immediate view instead of an interpretation of the world.
:-]

Joseph Jozwik wrote:
> Hello, My brother is getting in to XC biking and he is looking for a starter bike no more then
> $600.00 to $1000.00 range. I was going to suggest a hard tail Trek. But I really do not know. What
> about buying a bike on ebay?

Seeing as you have no idea what you are looking for, it is time to educate yourself. Have a look at
all the major manufacturers and work out which bikes, from which companies, are in your price range.
Narrow the field down and work out how to get test rides near you of these models.

Buy a magazine and have a flick through and find some special deals from various shops. Now is a
good time to buy as they are discounting '03 models, so you could well pick up a bargain. Again
though, try before you buy.

Once you've found a couple you like, come back here and ask about them. You'll get a much better
response if you want people to compare two or three bikes, rather than a blanket 'what's best?'

Ebay is fine if you know exactly what you are looking for, and you know an object's relative worth.
For a first time buy though, I would avoid it.

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