Not wanting to hijack the existing thread on bicycling, I wanted to ask a question because I know that there are quite a few knowledgeable riders here.
My wife and I are tired of trying to keep old Wal-mart bicycles in operating condition and, with most of our kids out of the house, we finally have a few dollars so we no longer have to buy the cheapest thing out there.
Here are our desires:
We currently don't ride much or not at all. I try to run three days a week, but have been fighting foot injuries that sometimes make that difficult. I do, however, try to get a bike ride in very occasionally and can ride five or ten miles with no great difficulty other than my current bike doesn't shift into the upper range and I'm stuck with the lower gears.
We often walk in the evening by ourselves or more often, with our dogs. We can easily walk two to three miles and have occasionally walked five or more.
My wife doesn't ride because one of our kids borrowed it and it's no longer ride-able.
We'd like to ride more than we do and perhaps trade biking for some of our walking (hey, the dogs are still going to want to walk).
We would most likely ride on semi-improved surfaces, either neighborhood streets or on park trails (usually packed dirt trails or crushed limestone) or on one of the local towpath trails (converted canal towpaths) or rails-to-trails that are either crushed limestone or asphalt.
I have been told that what we need is not a mountain bike, since we don't do true off road trails, but more of a hybrid bike that would be good for both paved streets and improved trails.
Yesterday we finally went to the good bike store and talked (mostly listened) to them.
What they were/are recommending is the Trek Verve which has three models 1,2, or 3 which all have the same frame but which have increasing quality tires, drivetrain, brakes, etc. (and increasing cost).
Having usually spent under $200 for a bike, and often less than $100, this is an entirely new world to me.
So, here are my questions:
What do you know about the Trek Verve? Is it a good bike? Is it a good match for what we do?
Is there another brand/model that you would recommend?
Is that a decent/fair price for an entry level bike for people like us?
Thanks for your help and advice.
My wife and I are tired of trying to keep old Wal-mart bicycles in operating condition and, with most of our kids out of the house, we finally have a few dollars so we no longer have to buy the cheapest thing out there.
Here are our desires:
We currently don't ride much or not at all. I try to run three days a week, but have been fighting foot injuries that sometimes make that difficult. I do, however, try to get a bike ride in very occasionally and can ride five or ten miles with no great difficulty other than my current bike doesn't shift into the upper range and I'm stuck with the lower gears.
We often walk in the evening by ourselves or more often, with our dogs. We can easily walk two to three miles and have occasionally walked five or more.
My wife doesn't ride because one of our kids borrowed it and it's no longer ride-able.
We'd like to ride more than we do and perhaps trade biking for some of our walking (hey, the dogs are still going to want to walk).
We would most likely ride on semi-improved surfaces, either neighborhood streets or on park trails (usually packed dirt trails or crushed limestone) or on one of the local towpath trails (converted canal towpaths) or rails-to-trails that are either crushed limestone or asphalt.
I have been told that what we need is not a mountain bike, since we don't do true off road trails, but more of a hybrid bike that would be good for both paved streets and improved trails.
Yesterday we finally went to the good bike store and talked (mostly listened) to them.
What they were/are recommending is the Trek Verve which has three models 1,2, or 3 which all have the same frame but which have increasing quality tires, drivetrain, brakes, etc. (and increasing cost).
Having usually spent under $200 for a bike, and often less than $100, this is an entirely new world to me.
So, here are my questions:
What do you know about the Trek Verve? Is it a good bike? Is it a good match for what we do?
Is there another brand/model that you would recommend?
Is that a decent/fair price for an entry level bike for people like us?
Thanks for your help and advice.