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I'm a 70 year old newbie who hasn't ridden a bike since I was in my 20s. God knows I could use the exercise from cycling, so I'm planning on buying a bike. I'd like to avoid spending more than about $1000 and plan to only do casual riding in my immediate area which mainly consists of flat ground - no hills, trails, off road stuff. I'm also trying to decide between a traditional chain-drive model or a bike using the Gates belt drive system. I've done some reading, but the pros and cons always seem to balance out. Please offer some thoughts and recommendations since I'm definitely unsure what I'll be getting into. TYIA.
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Hi Peter, get a regular one with a chain, they are a lot easier to fix at the local store, the belt drive systems my mechanic said you have to dismantle the frame to change the belt. No thank you!
If you're getting back into it after a fifty year lay off I'd recommend trying a bike with flat handle bars first rather than these with a harsh racing position. My back gets unhappy with the low position and blood flow gets cut off to my middle section which takes some of the pleasure out of riding.
Hi there Pete. First off - thanks for signing up and for posting your query. Great to have you here.
And amazing to hear you're getting back into the saddle! Don't worry if you haven't ridden for so long. The they say it's like riding a... Well. You know...😁 I'm assuming you're in the US (as you used "$" in your post).
If being totally honest, I've never heard of a 'Gates belt drive system' before so I can't comment. All I know is that all the pros on the tours use good ol' chains, so if it's good enough for them then it's good enough for me. Bikes under $1000 is a tricky one. I'm not sure if you are actually US-based but if you are then the US second hand market might offer up some fantastic deals? The UK market has been tough the last couple of years as everyone took up cycling during COVID, so demand went through the roof and supply took a massive hit. I think it's less-so now so there might be a deal to be had if you know what to look for to ensure you don't by a dud (cracked frame, broken /damaged gears and derailleurs etc.) For less then =< $1 my advice would be to ensure the group-set is the best quality you can afford. As a minimum I'd look or Shimano 105 gears and breaks (or other brand of similar quality). Gears and breaks are the things that tend to see you in the workshop more than any other part of the bike in that price bracket, so look for quality in these areas. From a brand perspective I'd look at Giant, Specialized, Cube, Felt, BMC - ones like these. If you're in the UK then Ribble are getting a great name for themselves for excellent quality at a great price. Canyon, too. (German based but delivery to UK)
If buying new you may struggle to find a carbon frame with decent gears and breaks but if you're on flat roads then a decent aluminium frame should see you right for the level of riding I think you'll be looking to do whilst getting back into the swing of things. You can always invest in a better bike later down the line if you're still into it this time next year!
Hope this helps. I'm sure others in the community will have some great tips and advice to share too.
Best of luck with it, mate. Please keep us posted on how you get on.
Ride safe.
Cheers.