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My birthday is coming up and I've decided I want a bike as my gift this year. We have recently gotten several trails (paved) aroudn our area and I'd like to start taking advantage of them.

So far I've narrowed my choices down to a Giant Suede or a Trek Pure. Both are Ladies cruiser models.

Does anyone have any experience with either of these or suggestions of others that are similar?

I love the Trek model.

Check your local bike shop. As long as the bike is comfortable it really doesn't matter who makes it. You may even be able to fine a remanufactured bike at a great price.

I have a Raleigh. I don't ride it much, but it's always just like new when I get it out. That SAYS something for it in SOUTH TEXAS. It
s a comfort bike

I have a Giant Suede comfort bike and love it! My local bike shop let me try it out first. Go with what is most comfortable for you. Good luck!!

Karacal wrote:I have a Giant Suede comfort bike and love it! My local bike shop let me try it out first. Go with what is most comfortable for you. Good luck!!

I rode the Giant suede at the bike shop this afternoon. It is currently running as my favorite. The Trek Pure was nice too, but I liked the Suede a little better. Both bike shops have a great reputation. One is near where I work and the sales person was very helpful and explained everything about how they work...free 30 day tune up. free installation of any accessories I choose with the bike etc. Prices are pretty similar. The Suede is just a little more.

nutmeg wrote:

Karacal wrote:I have a Giant Suede comfort bike and love it! My local bike shop let me try it out first. Go with what is most comfortable for you. Good luck!!

I rode the Giant suede at the bike shop this afternoon. It is currently running as my favorite. The Trek Pure was nice too, but I liked the Suede a little better. Both bike shops have a great reputation. One is near where I work and the sales person was very helpful and explained everything about how they work...free 30 day tune up. free installation of any accessories I choose with the bike etc. Prices are pretty similar. The Suede is just a little more.

It had been a long time since I rode a bike and the suede was the most comfortable for me. I felt like I had more control with it. Sounds like you are doing all the right things. Let us know what you decide.

Speaking as a long-time cyclist myself, I would go with the Trek. The Giant uses a system from Shimano, and I understand that it is "automatic" shifting. However, experience tells me that "automatic" shifting for bicycles has been tried before and is still not a proven concept. It may be OK, it may not. But whatever it is, when/if it needs servicing it's almost always going to require a trip back to the dealer/shop. And if it ever goes bad on you while on the road, you may find yourself stuck in a gear that is too difficult to pedal (or maybe even jammed between gears so you can't ride it at all!)

The Trek, on the other hand, uses the 'tried and true' derailleur and cluster on the rear wheel. Most anyone adept enough to know which end of a wrench is which can adjust these, or replace them should it become necessary. The technology been around for decades, and should you have trouble with them on the road it isn't difficult at all to bypass them so you can still ride it home.

Another point is that the Trek is a good old USA-based company, although I believe that the Pure itself is built overseas in China to Trek specifications, labeled, and then shipped into the US. Giant, on the other hand, is a Chinese company first and foremost; in fact, during the late '70s-early '80s a lot of Schwinns were built in China by Giant (and then labeled as Schwinns). I don't want to wave the flag and start a "Buy American" campaign, but this might be important to some people.

I also see that, according to Giant's website, the 'suggested retail' for the Suede is almost $1000.00. Frankly, that's a lot of $$$$ for what is basically a townie bike. The Trek is half that; and for that matter one could buy a lot of good second-hand, reconditioned bikes that would be just as good for even less.

Lastly, I've been riding a Trek since 1977, when they were building bike frames only and working out of a barn in the little town of Waterloo, WI. I've had no problems with it (I still own it, as a matter of fact, and occasionally take it out for a ride) and have had three or four other Treks (both road bikes as well as 'mountain bikes') in the meantime. I've been highly satisfied with them, and I have no qualms about recommending a Trek bike to anybody.

My two cents worth. Keep us posted, let us know what you end up with, and show pictures!

-"BB"-

The Giant Suede I'm looking at is less than half the $1000. $439.00 The Trek Pure is $419.00

Must be a different model. I'm looking at a pretty simple bike. I live in a place where the biggest hill is the slope at the bottom of the driveway. No need for a ton of gears....

Bicycle Bill wrote:Speaking as a long-time cyclist myself, I would go with the Trek. The Giant uses a system from Shimano, and I understand that it is "automatic" shifting. However, experience tells me that "automatic" shifting for bicycles has been tried before and is still not a proven concept. It may be OK, it may not. But whatever it is, when/if it needs servicing it's almost always going to require a trip back to the dealer/shop. And if it ever goes bad on you while on the road, you may find yourself stuck in a gear that is too difficult to pedal (or maybe even jammed between gears so you can't ride it at all!)

The Trek, on the other hand, uses the 'tried and true' derailleur and cluster on the rear wheel. Most anyone adept enough to know which end of a wrench is which can adjust these, or replace them should it become necessary. The technology been around for decades, and should you have trouble with them on the road it isn't difficult at all to bypass them so you can still ride it home.

Another point is that the Trek is a good old USA-based company, although I believe that the Pure itself is built overseas in China to Trek specifications, labeled, and then shipped into the US. Giant, on the other hand, is a Chinese company first and foremost; in fact, during the late '70s-early '80s a lot of Schwinns were built in China by Giant (and then labeled as Schwinns). I don't want to wave the flag and start a "Buy American" campaign, but this might be important to some people.

I also see that, according to Giant's website, the 'suggested retail' for the Suede is almost $1000.00. Frankly, that's a lot of $$$$ for what is basically a townie bike. The Trek is half that; and for that matter one could buy a lot of good second-hand, reconditioned bikes that would be just as good for even less.

Lastly, I've been riding a Trek since 1977, when they were building bike frames only and working out of a barn in the little town of Waterloo, WI. I've had no problems with it (I still own it, as a matter of fact, and occasionally take it out for a ride) and have had three or four other Treks (both road bikes as well as 'mountain bikes') in the meantime. I've been highly satisfied with them, and I have no qualms about recommending a Trek bike to anybody.

My two cents worth. Keep us posted, let us know what you end up with, and show pictures!

-"BB"-

Like I said before, I am very happy with my Giant and have had no problems whatsoever with it. I made my choice on comfort. I do want to clarify one thing though. My bike did not cost anywhere near $1000.00. Nope, not even close!!! I don't have that kind of money to spend on a bike.

I stand corrected on the price. I Googled "Giant bicycles" + "Suede" and got information on something called the "Suede Coasting DX". After reading the remarks following my post I went back to another area within the Giant website and found several other versions of the Suede.

From the look of things, then, I guess one is pretty much the same as the other. Giant has been around a while; so has Trek. I have my preference and I already explained why.

Whatever you end up with, enjoy the ride!

-"BB"-

Hmmmmm.... Opinions on bicycles......
Opinions should probably stay off bicycles as they have no sense of balance and will just fall off.....

Dutch Harbor PH wrote:Hmmmmm.... Opinions on bicycles......
Opinions should probably stay off bicycles as they have no sense of balance and will just fall off.....

My sense of balance isn't so hot either hence my looking at a flat footed cruiser....and a good helmet.

nutmeg wrote:

Dutch Harbor PH wrote:Hmmmmm.... Opinions on bicycles......
Opinions should probably stay off bicycles as they have no sense of balance and will just fall off.....

My sense of balance isn't so hot either hence my looking at a flat footed cruiser....and a good helmet.

You might also want to PM staredge; seems to me he knows a fair amount about bikes as well.

As for the helmet — Good point. Usually I'm ranting about helmets and their usage. Down in the Cove at Bicycle Bill's Beach Cruisers, we have an ample supply of helmets available for customer's usage. Some of them don't even look like helmets at all!

(my little smiley, below ↓, likes the first one)

Bell has apparently come up with a new fastening system which practically eliminates the possibility of wearing the helmet incorrectly (too far down over the forehead, or too far back on the head)....or at least makes it easier to get the adjustments right the first time. You may want to check them out at your LBS (local bike shop). Whatever helmet you get, make sure it is SNELL or ANSI approved (check for a sticker inside the helmet). And buy it new. Helmets are too important to try to skimp on and buy used.

Also, remember to wear it. Helmets do you no good at all if they're dangling from the handlebars or underneath the seat......

-"BB"-

Get whichever one has a cushy bottom.

Bill, great advice about the helmets!!!!!

I like the one that looks like a baseball cap!!

Bicycle Bill wrote:

nutmeg wrote:

Dutch Harbor PH wrote:Hmmmmm.... Opinions on bicycles......
Opinions should probably stay off bicycles as they have no sense of balance and will just fall off.....

My sense of balance isn't so hot either hence my looking at a flat footed cruiser....and a good helmet.

You might also want to PM staredge; seems to me he knows a fair amount about bikes as well.

As for the helmet — Good point. Usually I'm ranting about helmets and their usage. Down in the Cove at Bicycle Bill's Beach Cruisers, we have an ample supply of helmets available for customer's usage. Some of them don't even look like helmets at all!

(my little smiley, below ↓, likes the first one)

Bell has apparently come up with a new fastening system which practically eliminates the possibility of wearing the helmet incorrectly (too far down over the forehead, or too far back on the head)....or at least makes it easier to get the adjustments right the first time. You may want to check them out at your LBS (local bike shop). Whatever helmet you get, make sure it is SNELL or ANSI approved (check for a sticker inside the helmet). And buy it new. Helmets are too important to try to skimp on and buy used.

Also, remember to wear it. Helmets do you no good at all if they're dangling from the handlebars or underneath the seat......

-"BB"-

...which reminds me of a story that happened a few days ago. My wife was driving my kids somewhere and as she pulled out of the driveway, my son saw a girl, probably 10ish was riding her bike w/o a helmet. My son, who is 5, said "Mommy! She's not wearing a helmet! That's not safe and she's breaking the law!" It would seem my wife and I have trained him and his siblings well.
It bothers me when I see parents riding with their kids and not wearing helmets. As if the ground isn't as hard for you as it is for your kids. And don't get me started on the proper way to wear a helmet. I'll let Bill rant on that.

Thanks for the advice folks! I appreciate all of it. A good helmet is definitely going to be my first "accessory"

Love that baseball cap one. I didn't see anything like that at the bike shop when I was there. They were all pretty much the usual plastic ones.

I have an Electra Townie and love it. Have you looked at those?

nutmeg wrote:Thanks for the advice folks! I appreciate all of it. A good helmet is definitely going to be my first "accessory".

Love that baseball cap one. I didn't see anything like that at the bike shop when I was there. They were all pretty much the usual plastic ones.

You probably won't. Those that I posted pictures of are from a Danish company called "YAKKAY", and run about US$120 each. The shell is pretty much standard and the covers come in a variety of styles and colors, so once you've got your size you can swap out the different covers depending on what sort of look you want that day. They meet CE (European Community, a/k/a Common Market) safety standards, which probably aren't all that different from the CPSC standards here in the States.

If you do a Google search for "Yakkay bike helmets" you'll find some sites (mostly in Europe) that sell them and will ship to the US; although sooner or later someone on this side of the pond will start importing them as well. Considering the rave reviews I found from most of the bloggers and such, it shouldn't be all that long, either. The 'I-don't-want-to-look-like-a-dork' brigade is pretty large over here, too.

About 10 years or so ago, Giro offered something they called a "Fat Hat" helmet, which was the foam liner with a cloth cover like a baseball hat. It was ANSI approved, but it didn't sell as well as they anticipated and so far as I know it is now off the market. I still have one of those for when I'm on the recumbent; the longer visor is better for that style of bike.

-"BB"-