Looking for some thoughts about new bicycle purchase.

:hi:

Newbie to this forum here...

I want to start replacing some of my car trips with bike rides. I'm a bit out of shape, but I have ridden at least a few times a year over the last few years, and I have no doubt I can handle it, and it will do my health a world of good if I can stick with it.

I want to buy a new bike, mainly because I am dissatisfied with the old, rusty, heavy, cheap and poorly chosen 20-or-so-years-old one in my basement. (It still works and will be passed on to someone who needs it and will appreciate it despite the rust.) I'm thinking a nice shiny new one might help give me incentive to keep my commitment to cut down on car miles.

So, not having bought a bike in a LONG time...and wanting, if at all possible, to buy something as "eco-friendly" as possible in materials, manufacture, and maintenance as possible, I thought I'd post here and in other forums (like environment and ethical consumerism) and see if anyone has any suggestions?

Are there any favorite brands or features among aficionados? I am looking for a general purpose road bike that can handle occasional minor rough stuff (like a maintained dirt trail with a pebble here and there). I want something light and easy to handle, and I'm not sure why I would need a zillion gears, although we do have some light hills in my neighborhood (think low Piedmont). If there is anything that makes one bike more eco-friendly than another, that would be important. Fair labor practices in manufacture could factor in, too.

Thanks for any ideas or pointers you can offer!

http://www.hostelshoppe.com/recumbent_catalog.php

they were the only place in the area that had a selection of recumbent bikes. They have a great on-line catalog so you can get a look at what's out there.

They carry regular bikes as well but with the three wheel recumbent I could ride up my hill the first time out. I hadn't ridden a bike in years because of a bad back. My kids still flew past me but I finally made it.

I wouldn't worry so much about eco-friendly, they're all pretty much made the same.

Cannondale makes the Stiffest and lightest frames (Trek is another good company but stay with their Made in USA Models which reach almost to Cannondale Standards). There are others ask your local bike dealer (Through remember he or she wants to sell the bikes they have in stock).

Now as a new bike rider for all practical purposes, I would go with the Cheapest Cannondale or Trek (Or other) bike you can get. You can upgrade components later, the single most important thing is to buy the best FRAME you can get. The stiffer the frame the easier it is to peddle and thus the greater enjoyment you will have in biking. AS you increase your biking you will see the better components and replace the cheap ones on your bike. You are NOT at the level to use the best so go with the best frame you can get.

Second, as to components I have Shimano XTR on my bike (I over-purchased). My sister has Shimano XTs on her bike (We both upgraded from lower level components). The XTR is generally twice the price of the XT, but is only marginally better (i.e. XTR NOT twice as good XT).

SRAM is an upcoming American component maker, it 9.0 series is almost as good as the Shimano XT. There are other component makers, but these are the two most common. Cannondale makes components in addition to Bike Frames, but Cannondale Compo nets are NOT as good as Shimano or SRAM.

Link to SRAM:
http://sram.com/en/

Cannondale:
http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/index.html

Trek:
http://www2.trekbikes.com/index_us.php

Link to Shimano:
http://bike.shimano.com/

One last Comment, get a bike you like. If you want a Mountain Bike go buy one even if you never take the bike off the highway. Part of enjoying biking is being comfortable in your mind as while as in reality. Thus if you see yourself as going off road, buy that Mountain bike no matter what anyone else says another bike would be better.

Second, here are thread where this topic has been discussed before:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=324x1209
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=324x1217#1220

I went to a bike shop tonight, but unfortunately they didn't have anything I liked that fit. I have a better idea what to look for now though, thanks to you folks and those who responded in the environment forum.

Thanks!!