Street Bicycles

What type of bicycle should I buy as a beginner?

I'm 27 years old, 5'4 in height, in good physical shape, female living in Arizona. I want to get a bike to go around town, bike park trails that have gravel, and use for some additional outdoor exercise. I haven't been on a bike for a long while and want something that is comfortable and simple to use. I don't really know much about cycling and want to take it on as a new hobby. I can't decide on what to get because I'm told so many things. I am looking to spend about $250 USD on a bike because I just want to get some trial out of it and see if it is something I can see myself doing long term. Does anyone who is experienced have any suggestions?

Your best bet is to go to a bike shop and see what they have, there are many brands that are good and I hate to just point to just one or two. For this price, you can get a very basic 21 speed mountain bike that will do what you need and give you an idea of how you like the sport, but if you fall in love with the sport and want to hit some harder trails, no bike at this price will hold up.

One tip - don't fall for items that should cost more - if it looks better then it should, it's probably garbage. A bike at this price should be a hard-tail with V brakes (solid frame, brakes that use the tires rim as a rotor) - full suspension bikes and disk brakes might come on some bikes for this price, but they're just toys that look good and don't perform. The front forks will be soft, but you are small enough that you should do ok with them.

Hybrids are not much of an option if you want to hit trails - they really are road bikes, but they will suffice to get you onto smoothed gravel paths, just take it easy because traction won't be much. This is certainly your better alternative as far as comfort is concerned, it just limits your uses more than a mountain bike.

Arizona Bike Trails Ride

Bicycle Touring, Arizona, USA $24.99 Chuck Haney Bicycle Touring, Arizona, USA - Photographic Print

Bicycle Trails of Illinois $4 This book is in Good Used condition

Star Trails over the Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona $34.99 Bobby Model Star Trails over the Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona - Photographic Print

Long Exposure of Star Trails in Night Sky, Arizona Utah Border, USA $19.99 Angelo Cavalli Long Exposure of Star Trails in Night Sky, Arizona Utah Border, USA - Photographic Print

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Native American Reservation. Two Hopi Boys with a Bicycle. Hopi Reservation, Arizona, 1973 $59.99 Native American Reservation. Two Hopi Boys with a Bicycle. Hopi Reservation, Arizona, 1973 - Framed Art Print

Bicycle $47.99 Robert To Bicycle - Art Print

Velo Elastomer Bicycle Seat $30.95 The Velo Elastomer Bicycle Seat is packed with features for a smooth and comfortable ride. Elastomer spring shocks absorb some of the impact of bumpy trails. Velo's special D2 construction provides a soft, yet firm ride for just the right amount of support. The Elastomer Seat features a textured surface and comes complete with a seat clamp for easy seatpost attachment.

The Bicycle $25.99 William Mangum The Bicycle - Art Print

2010 Bell Variant Mountain Bike Bicycle Helmet $79.99 2010 Bell Variant Mountain Bike Bicycle Helmet. Whether it's a day at the trails, a few hours at the park or shuttling down that near vertical descent, this skate-inspired and trail-tuned Mountain Bike Bicycle Helmet is ready to play anywhere you take it!

Guide to Arizona Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails $18.71 This book is in New - Excellent condition

BP045 Arizona State Background Blanks Flat Bicycle License Plates Blanks for Customizing $20.74 Arizona state background blanks flat bicycle license plates. Blanks for customizing. Highest quality blanks (not plastic): These are beautiful. 032 thickness aluminum and lie perfectly flat. Can be used for airbrushing engraving decaling monogrammingand just about any type of personalization/customizing you want to add. Each individually shrinkwrapped. Size: 3 x 6 standard size bicycle license plates.