Unless you plan on buying a cheap bike at Walmart or your local sporting goods store, shopping for a new bike can be a tedious process. If you’re looking for a high-end road or mountain bike for serious recreational use, there are a few things to consider before you buy: price, quality, components, weight, and warranty. There are tons of resources online, including manufacturers’ websites, where this information can be found. Another good way to understand this information is to visit your local bike shop and talk to an expert.
When it comes down to it, you first need to create a budget and price range. When it comes to bikes, you usually get what you pay for. However, there are certain instances where you’ll pay a bit more for certain brands, like Trek or Specialized. For example, let’s say your budget is $2,000 and you’re looking for a new road bike. You’ve been shopping for weeks looking at every bike imaginable until you turn blue in the face. Finally, you find a Trek you really like and note the quality level of the components (aka groupset) it comes with. You remember a bike from a smaller company you were looking at last week equipped with top-of-the-line components where the Trek in front of you is a mid-tier. What surprises you is that they have the same price. This is common when it comes to bike companies. After all, Trek is a well-established company, and people know the name, so they’re willing to pay more. You can get better quality and a better warranty with the brand, but you may not get the high-end components on a bike in your price range. But in the end, does it really not matter? What I used to tell my clients is that whatever feels best and is within your budget is what you should get.
As I mentioned before, you get what you pay for. If you’re looking to buy a good bike that rides amazing, be prepared to shell out some money. A decent bike can cost anywhere from $900 to $1300, depending on whether it’s a mountain or road bike, full-suspension or hardtail, or made of aluminum or carbon. The lighter the bike, the more expensive it will be. This is due to the materials the frame is made from and the technology used to design the frame. Also, the quality of the components and wheels the bike comes with influences the overall price.
Bikes in the $1,500 to $2,500 range are probably the most common among regular riders. The bikes in this range are great for those who are going to be doing a lot of riding and are looking for durability, comfort and efficiency in a bike that will be used several times a week. These bikes typically have an aluminum frame with mid-tier components and should last a long time if properly maintained. Components can be easily upgraded when parts wear out or break and are a joy to drive.
Plus, bikes that cost $2500 or more will generally feel amazing…just like driving a luxury car compared to a cheap compact car. They will probably be race-ready machines with top-of-the-line components and made of carbon. They will be very light and more efficient on climbs, descents and walking fast on flat ground. The frames will feel stiff and there will be very little power loss when pedaling, especially uphill. Bikes in this range will likely come with a higher-end wheelset and drivetrain to give a nice, smooth feel. This is even more prevalent on bikes costing more than $4,500.
The most important thing when buying a good bike is to do your homework. Whether it’s your first time buying a $1000+ bike or you’re looking for your top-of-the-line fifth bike, always be sure to test ride the bike and several others in your price range. Talk to bike shop experts, read reviews online, and visit various company websites to see how they design and build their bikes. Also, compare the different warranties offered by bike manufacturers. Some offer an additional guarantee that you pay a little more for, so be sure to look into that too. Taking the time to do your homework and research will ensure that you are confident in your purchase. Bikes can cost a lot of money and your new bike should be something you feel great about and are happy with, not what a salesperson thinks will make you happy.
After you buy the bike, make sure it fits you. Most bike shops have expert bike fitters who will be more than happy to make sure your new bike fits and is comfortable. If you buy the bike from a shop that does adjustments, they will usually be more than happy to spend 30-60 minutes making adjustments to ensure the proper fit. After all, if the bike isn’t comfortable, how motivated do you think you’ll be to ride it?