Buying a bike for my son - need advice please

 My 19 year old son is at college at UC Irvine where there are lots of nice bike trails.  He wants to start riding for exercise.  We haven't bought a new bike in like 30 years.  He's interested in riding on the roads, 20-50 miles probably.  Something entry level for a good workout and strong enough if he needs to carry something like his books.  He hasn't done this before.  We were going to send him my husband's bike, but it's a 25 inch frame (he's 6'1") and my son is 5'11" and the bike shop said it would be too big for him.  We looked at some Treks.  Maybe something like:

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/town/recreation/atwood/atwood/#

But have really no idea what to look for in a bike.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  And as long as you are advising, I might be shopping for myself too.  Who knows, you all might get me to do a tri someday yet.

Thanks.
Jan

 Just my opinion:
1.  Dont buy a Trek, just because its a Trek and thats what half the world buys.  There are lots of good quality bikes on the market besides them.  Go ride them, if the shop wont let you ride what they have on the floor, look else where.  A good bike is like good underwear, if its comforatble, you will wear them.  Nobody likes uncomfortable undies!  If the bike does not fit or feel good, they just collect dust.

2.  Find a Local Bike Shop that you like and trust.  Find one that will give you good service after the sale.  Find a LBS that will help you during the sale and shopping phase.  Some shops really like to only deal with the guys that have $4000 bikes and dont want to deal with small potato's.  Just find one you like and trust, and close.  Trust you gut!

Feel free to ask more questions, no question is out of line.

ROY

 Since my son is in Irvine and I'm up here in San Jose, he will probably be looking on his own.  What sort of questions should he be asking?  What's an LBS?  He's rather naive and sometimes too nice about asking because he doesn't want to bother the person, so I'd like to give him a list of things to ask when he goes, and what he should be looking at when he tries out a bike.

Back in 1979, I bought a Trek for myself.  I think they were pretty new back then.  My boyfriend (now my hubby) and I were going to Europe for our junior year of college (I went to Ireland, he went to England), and then we spent 13 weeks the next summer riding our bikes around Europe.  It was a great bike.  But that was a LONG time ago and we haven't ridden in years.  But I have fond memories of my Trek.

Jan

 LBS = Local Bike Shop

 Jan,

I second Roy's suggestion.. get into a bike shop WITH your son.  Most likely he'll want a hybrid (like what you posted).  Have him ride a few different bikes to see which one is the most comfortable.  My bike is a Giant road bike.  My first road bike I bought used and it sort of fit me.  I would get pain in my shoulders after longer rides.  When I bought my new road bike I went to a bike shop and bought a women's specific bike and absolutely LOVE it.

If your son wants to ride 20-50 miles.. I'd almost lean towards a road bike.. but I wouldn't really want to use a road bike for every day commuting on campus either.  either a road bike or a hybrid could have a rear rack installed with a "trunk" type of bag, or he could use saddlebags on either too for books.  It just depends on if he wants the bike for commuting on campus or purely for exercise.

Hope this helps a little..

 Hi Frances,
I would love to shop with my son, but he's 400 miles away and wants the bike yesterday.  So when he goes into the shop, what sort of questions should he ask?  He wants it more for exercise so I guess a road bike is what he wants.  

How are the wedding plans coming?  It must be coming up soon.  I loved your cake design.  

Jan

 Pretty much he should go in knowing what he wants to use the bike for.  He should explain that to them and they will probably ask him more questions.  There are typically shops that carry one or two major brands.. so he may need to visit more than one.  Like some shops will sell Trek & Giant, and then another shop will only sell Trek, or another will sell some other brand entirely.  I've always only owned Giants and have been really happy with them.  The entry level price for any road bike will be around $650-$800, then your mid level will be around $1200-$1800, etc...  The main difference between them is going to be how upgraded the components are.  The bike shop I bought mine from sold Trek & Giant and they stated to me that you get more for your money with a Giant.

Wedding plans are coming along.  It's 3 weeks from tomorrow.  Found a dress for my sister.  She's the maid of honor.. the one that has always been the "skinny" one.. the one that i'm now smaller than.  Weird tho.. we apparently weigh the same but I'm 1-2 sizes smaller.  So the dress of mine that I sent her was too small.  I found a dress in a size 14 at a David's Bridal over in WA that was black and looked great.  So she drove up and we bought it.  It looks great on her, but she was concerned it was a little too snug in the chest... too bad i don't have that problem.. :P

A couple of weeks ago I bit the bullet and ordered a bunch of stuff for decorations and I have my final timeline & todo list done.  Oh, have my dress also.  Really hoping life settles down a bit afterwards.  I haven't had the time, motivation or energy to train for anything.  That bike ride I did on Monday was I think the first time I'd done anything for at least 3 weeks.  Only 12 miles and it was a chore (the last mile was mostly up hill tho.. the first half was fun, fast and moderate effort).

 He went to a LBS and the guys there were really great he said.  They are going to take him out with two different frames to try.  So I told him that he just needs to find the one that feels right to him.  Wish I was with him.  It's so hard when they grow up and live away.  But at least he still calls and asks for advice.  

Wow, three weeks.  Are you still doing butterflies, ...?  What sort of decorations did you order?  And you're making the cake and have all those kids and the end of the school year?!  Girl, you are amazing.  Don't know how you are holding it all together.  You are going to look so terrific in that dress.  I know it must be weird to be smaller than your sister.  I'm smaller than some friends and that's never happened before.  I look like I weight less than I do, but I figure our bones are heavier from carrying all that extra weight around for years.  

Wishing you the best on your wedding.  Wish I could come throw rice at you.  Hehe.

Jan

The others are right, your son need to know two things. 1) Price range, and 2) what exactly he wants it for. They haven't really created a bike that's good for everything so he'll have to decide what is primary use is going to be.

Road bike are wonderful, light and snappy- but they are not always the best for lugging around lots of stuff. Still plenty of people do use them to commute (myself included)

Hybrids- are really good for short rides (under 2hrs) and commuting, but if he gets into riding and wants to go longer or faster...he's going to have to get another bike.

Bottom line, he's got to get to a good LBS and get his butt on some bikes and something with feel "right".

Good Luck, and for you Jan, La Dolce Velo in SJ is an amazing women run bike shop!

:Danni

 Thanks.

Just talked to my son.  He found a LBS and they are taking him out Sat. with two different frames for him to try.  So it looks like he's found a good store that will work with him.  He wants it more for long rides/exercise.  My hubby thinks he might use it around school.  

Jan