Bicycles ...what are the best kind..?

Question

What are the best kind of bikes brandwise?

Im in my 40,s

have not ridden a bike in ages

Im looking for a bike with big tires (mountain bike?)

and a comfy seat would be nice too...

and lightweight would be good i think

also i dont think i want alot of speeds...maybe a one speed if that even exists anymore?(open to suggestions here)

Thanks !

are there certain brands or features to look for when im out bike shopping?

Answer 1

Sounds like you may be looking for a comfort bike.  Yes you can get a one speed but you may want some gears.  You can get bikes with internal gear hubs with anywhere from 3 to 14 speeds.  These are easy to shift and require little maintenance.  They stand up to abuse and neglect very well.  You may even consider a cruiser.  I am a bike enthusiast with thousands of dollars in bicycles but none of them brings out the kid in me like my cruiser.  I have an Electra Straight 8.  Its a 3 speed with coaster brakes and resembles a 'bobber' style motorcycle.  I would highly recommend any of the bikes by Electra, especially if you haven't ridden in a while.  They cover the spectrum from cruisers to commuter style bikes that can be used to cover long distances.  Their geometry is well suited to the 'born again' bicyclist.  They are longer and lower which allows you to comfortably place your feet on the ground while seated and still get good leg extension while pedaling.  Good leg extension is important if you want to avoid knee injury.  They all have comfy seats and you sit very upright reducing any wrist and shoulder pain.  If you haven't ridden in ages you are going to have pain at first so start off easy and your body will eventually adapt to the new activity.

Answer 2

Searching for a bike can be a fun experience in and of itself.  It can be similar to purchasing a car (without pushy salesmen).  The main thing you need to ask is "How am I going to ride my bike?"  

If you're main purpose is single track trail riding than you would want a Mt. Bike with fat tires, multiple gears, and some form of suspension (front suspension, or full).  Some of the best Mt Bikes are made by Trek, and Cannondale.  Trek Bikes have a wide range of cost based on components and style of riding (entry level - professional).  Cannondale is similar, but doesn't swing into the entry market as much.

If you're planning on doing city streets and rail trails you would be able to get away with a road bike, a Mt Bike will work in this environement but the tires are geared more for gripping sand/clay/rock.  For road bikes generally you don't need as many gears unless you're in a hilly envornment, ten speeds is often enough.  For entry level look at Schwinns as they have a good variety, but don't forget smaller manufacturers such as Trek, Cannondale, Lemond.  

Don't buy a bike for its seat though, you can purchase a replacement seat that suits your comfort level (such as a gel seat).  Also if you're looking at doing road biking and Mt Biking you may want to get two bikes.  As an example I own both a Trek 6000 for Mt Biking and a Lemond Alpe D'Huez for road.  

Also when you go out looking for you're bike try to go to a Mom and Pop shop as opposed to a large retailer.  Not only can they help you in deciding the best bike suited for you, but they are an excellent source of riding information (local trails, clubs, riding teams).  And should you need to take your bike in for service you'll know exactly where to go as well as who will be working on it.

Answer 3

When you go bike shopping tell the sales person the type of riding you plan on doing and what you expect. There is such a wide verity of bikes available that that an answer here might not help much. Head down to your local bike shop and spend some time checking out what they have, and yes single speed bikes are still around and very popular.

Answer 4

The best type of bike depends on the type of riding YOU personally do.  

One speed?  Sure they make cruisers that come in just 1 speed, along with certain of what they call "comfort" bikes, but why oh why would you only want 1 gear?  I mean, they're fine if you have absolutely NO hills or inclines whatsoever, but otherwise, you'll probably have a problem, and might even have to get off and walk your bike uphill.  These type of bikes are good for cruising along the beach or lakefront where there really aren't any inclines, after all, water's usually pretty level.  

Big tires?  Yeah, ok, they're somewhat more stable, softer and less bone jarring and usually better for traveling on bumpy dirt trails--but they will also harder to pedal and will slow you down.  Which is fine if you only plan on riding 1-2 miles at a time, but if you'll be riding more than 5 miles?  Those wide tires get quite exhausting!  

You also mentioned that lightweight would be good?  Well, cruiser and comfort bikes and wide tires usually run on the heavy side!  

Comfy seat?  Again, quite lovely for riding short distances, but once you start riding over 10-20 miles?  Well, those heavily padded seats compress your muscles in the wrong way and actually cause pain, not relieve it.  My husband and I go long distance touring and I've tried every type of saddle made, and the only one that works is a little hard plastic $15 cheapie.  (Which I switched back to after I ended up with horrific blisters from my $115 padded saddle!)  

You may want to look into buying a hybrid, which still has slightly wider tires and relaxed geometry, but won't slow you down on the road and is lightweight enough, with the gearing to get you up those hills.  

But again, it really depends on the type of terrain you plan on riding, what type of riding you plan on doing, and how far you plan on going.  So I recommend you go to a reputable local bike shop to discuss your needs and preferences with a knowledgable salesperson who can better direct and assist you, and make sure you're properly fitted for the proper size.  Test ride as many bikes as possible and you'll KNOW when you've found the bike that's perfect for you.  

As far as brands go, Treks and Specialized bikes are always good bets.