The Ultimate Beginners Guide to Buying a Bicycle

Please note: the intent of this blog post is to educate you on bicycle shopping, including common types of bicycles, things to consider when buying, and general tips on bike selection. I will NOT be recommending specific brands/makes/models in this post as there are many many many wonderful bikes, frame builders and brands out there and I don’t want to show favoritism. I’m happy to make individual recommendations one on one- get in touch.

Most mornings when I open my inbox, I have 3-5 messages with a note like the following:

Dear Marley,

I grew up riding a bike but stopped and would love to start riding again. I have an old hybrid in my garage that I haven’t been on in 20 years, but I think I need something newer, as I’ve gained weight/had kids/moved to a hillier place (insert life circumstance here.)

What kind of bike would be good for me? How do I shop for a bicycle? Where do I even start? There are so many choices, it’s all so overwhelming!

I’ve also heard horror stories about bike shops and am afraid I’ll have a bad experience there. Do you have any tips for having a better bike shop experience? Or the best bike shops to go to?

Well, dear reader, I’m here to help you. After guiding many people through a successful and happy bicycle buying experience, I realized it’s long past time to share my knowledge with the world. My goal in life is to get more butts on bikes and if this helps with that, excellent.

Obviously if you’re reading this blog, you’re probably the type of person who researches things before you just walk right into a bike shop. Excellent choice! But, before you fall down that internet rabbit hole, STOP and answer these questions.

And if you’re not the type of person who researches things and your friend who rides bikes sent you this blog to read, welcome. I’m also one of you - I typically don’t research anything before making impulsive decisions, which has led to a wealth of knowledge that I don’t necessarily need, but am happy to share. Anyway - you also need to answer these questions to help you find the right bike for you.

****This is crucial and will help ensure you get on a bike that meets your needs and keeps you happy for many miles of pedaling bliss.******

1. What kind of riding do I want to do?

   You might be saying “Huh??” at this point, but read on. Think about where and how you see yourself riding your bike. Here are a few examples:

-Commuting to work or School

-Getting into fitness riding i.e. triathlon, road racing, etc.

-Mountain Biking/Gravel Riding or Racing

-Bike Camping or Touring

-Running errands on your bike, such as going to the grocery store or taking your

kids to school

-General leisurely rides on paths and low-traffic roads

In general, there are three broad types of bikes: road bikes, mountain bikes, and hybrid/comfort bikes. There are of course sub-categories within each of these, including gravel bikes, cyclocross, randoneurring, all-road, enduro, downhill, etc…. There are also folding bicycles, cargo bicycles, tandems, recumbent bicycles, tricycles, and hand cycles! On top of that, all of these can be acoustic or electric (acoustic is my favorite way of saying non-electric bicycle - it sounds way cooler than anything else.)

Road Bikes

Road bikes are designed for riding on roads. Pretty simple. But beyond that, they tend to have more of a focus on speed, racing, touring or commuting purposes. Road bikes often have drop handlebars with a more aggressive body positioning, are made of lighter materials and sport thin tires.

I’ll probably get skewered by the broader bike internet for saying this, but bikes in the broad “road bike” category are excellent choices for commuting on, light touring/bike camping, fitness riding, and potentially running errands, depending on your preferences. Basically recreational riding.

For reference, in this category, of my own bikes, I would consider my Surly Straggler, Breezer Inversion, and even though it’s an electric cargo bicycle, my Larry vs Harry Bullitt to all be “road bikes.”

Mountain Bikes

If road bikes are meant for the road, mountain bikes are meant for the mountain, right? Well, essentially yes. Mountain bikes are intended for Off Road.

Think knobbier tires (but not necessarily huge), suspension, and the ability to get rad.

Hybrid/Comfort Bikes

Good for the city, multi-use trails, have wider tires than road bikes with a heads-up rider position. Good general use, multiple size rider bicycles.

2. What do I plan to carry on my bike?

Bikes are excellent for carrying way too much stuff - groceries, kids, camping gear, garage sale finds…basically anything, as long as your bike is equipped for it.

If you want to carry anything, you’ll want to ensure you get a bicycle that either comes equipped with a rack, or has the ability to attach a rack. Many hybrids will come with a rack installed.

3. What is your budget?

Sticker shock at a bike shop is never fun. You can expect a new, quality bicycle to start around $500 for the most basic, entry level model with nearly zero frills, and go up from there.

Be sure to allocate money in your budget for accessories that are necessary for a successful and safe ride - a helmet, lock, and lights.

Factors that impact the cost of a bicycle include frame material, brake type, and brand name.

Buying used can be an excellent way to save money and get a quality bike. Bicycle Co-ops and non-profits often sell second hand bicycles to fund their educational programs - groups like Bike Works and The Bikery in Seattle often have excellent bikes at a fraction of their actual cost. If you do find a private seller, make sure you meet the potential seller in a public place, bring a pump and multi-tool to ensure you can test ride the bike, and do take a test ride.

Also, taking some basic precautions will help ensure you’re not buying a stolen bicycle.

• If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Bicycles are a very commonly stolen item and are often sold at way below fair value.

• Check bikeindex.org for the bicycle in question.

At the Bike Shop

Cool. So hopefully now you’ve done some thinking about the kind of riding you want to do, have a budget in mind, and maybe even a type of bike. NOW you can start to think about heading to the bike shop. Fair warning - not all bike shops are created equally, but in general shops have come a long way in terms of inclusion and friendliness.

Below are my top tips for a more pleasant experience at the bike shop.

• Find a shop that fits your vibe.

  • If you’re looking for a road bike and want to get into triathlons, go to a store with a big selection of road bikes. If you’re looking for a family bike, look for a family bike shop. Just like any business, bike shops are owned by people, and people have personalities and specialities. Checking out a bike shop’s social media presence or website will be a good indicator of their general “vibe” and values.

• Plan your visit! Be prepared to test ride - shoes, clothing, mentally ready! Have you eaten a snack? Are you thirsty? I’ve test ridden bikes hungry and it never goes well. The shop should help you find a safe route to test ride on but you’ll likely need to bring your license (or ID) and a credit card to leave as a deposit to test ride.

• Ask Questions & Take your Time. A bike is a big purchase - make sure all of your questions get answered. Whether that’s about maintenance, weight limits, or color options, make sure all your questions get answered. Also, be your best advocate and ask for adjustments to make sure the bike fits you. After you buy the bike you can definitely make adjustments to make it fit better, but getting the right size is crucial!

Also, please remember to be kind to the folks working at the shops - they’re essential workers who have endured incredible stress over the past 18 months through COVID as more people than ever sought out bicycles. The entire supply chain is a mess and this includes bicycles - be kind, be patient, and tip your mechanics!

Modifications & After Market Upgrades

Congratulations! You found a bike and love it! Remember there are lots of things you can change on the bike to further personalize it and make it fit you perfectly:

• Handlebars & Grips

• Saddle (My Favorite Saddle is this one…as I know you’re curious)

• Peddles

• Tires & Wheels

Phew! That’s a lot of information - thanks for sticking around til the end. Please let me know any questions and happy bike buying!

A Very Very Long Overdue Tympanoplasty Update

Five years ago, I had a pretty major surgery on my left ear to repair a hole that never healed. Technically called a tympanoplasty, they took cadaver tissue and grafted it onto my eardrum, with the eventual goal of restoring function to my eardrum (and maybe my hearing in that ear.)

I documented my recovery from that surgery in this blog post and promptly forgot about it, but after looking at my Google Analytics for this site, realized that post is still my top performing post. The internet is a strange place that never ceases to amaze me.

So…five years later, where do things stand?

Well, by all the official measures, the surgery was a success. In the year after the surgery, I had a series of in-office follow ups with Dr. Sanchez and hearing tests with the audiology department to confirm healing and check for progress on the hearing, as it can take a while after the surgery for the full impacts to be realized.

After about a year, I was cleared to resume all normal activity, including swimming without an ear plug. I had honestly been dreaming about this day for years. Unfortunately, my joy was short lived as I was met with searing pain in my left ear as soon as my head entered the water on my first dive into a pool. Well, crap.

Since then, I’ve found that I can actually swim without earplugs as long as I don’t get water directly channeled into my ear canal - so no diving, jumping in, or rough housing unless I have an ear plug in. I think I can live with these compromises.

The other really big development is that I got a hearing aid for my left ear! About a year ago, so four years after the surgery, I found myself fed up with constantly asking people to repeat themselves, missing things in tv shows, and feeling like I just wasn’t hearing things out of my left ear anymore.

Hearing loss was the original reason we did the tympanoplasty, but because of the persistent hole in my eardrum, I was not a candidate for a hearing aid at the time. The surgery corrected the hole so I was finally a candidate for a hearing aid!!

I’ve had my hearing aid for a little over a year now, which has been interesting timing. To be completely honest, I don’t wear it nearly as much as I should. I was really good about wearing it when I first got it, but then COVID hit and I didn’t see anybody, so I didn’t have a reason to. Now that I’m venturing back into society, I’m finding myself needing to wear it but I forget to.

So yeah, life is basically back to normal for me. I’m really grateful I had the surgery and would recommend it to anyone who is considering it.

Grieving as a Public Figure

My dad, Melvin Blonsky, died last week on June 15, 2021. While not a complete surprise, the timing super sucked, as we had a trip planned to Florida to see him this week. I had accepted that this trip would probably be the last time I’d see him alive, but the universe had other plans, and he left us before we got to see him in person.

This last week has felt like a crash course in grief, vulnerability and resilience. Yes, my dad is dead, but at the same time, my life goes on, and I think he would’ve wanted it that way.

But that doesn’t mean I’m not grieving.

Since All Bodies on Bikes came out in March, over 219,000 people have watched me struggle up a mountain, talk candidly about my body, and swim joyfully in the Pacific Ocean. Experiencing the world talk about me and my body actually has a surprising relevancy to grieving my dad - I’m finding that its ok to cry in public, its ok to be vulnerable, and it’s ok to not be ok right now. I’m also learning that it’s ok to compartmentalize, to still experience joy, and to continue living my life unapologetically.

Just because my Dad is dead doesn’t mean that I have to stop living. He wouldn’t want it that way and I think it’d actually make it him pretty upset.

So, I guess what I want to say is thank you. Thank you for sticking with me on this journey, riding bikes with me when I ask, being a shoulder to cry on when I need it, bringing me food when I can’t feed myself.

Grief is not linear and I’ve found myself crying at the most random times. In the grocery store when a Traveling Wilburies song comes on (one of my Dad’s favorite bands). At the bookstore looking for a soul soothing read. Biking up Pike Street and remembering the time my Dad took us to Gameworks after The Big Lebowski (I was 11, so when you ask if I want to watch that and say no, that’s why.)

But I’m also really proud of him. He had 21 years clean and sober. He struggled with depression most of his life and there were many years when I feared he would take his own life. That’s a fear no child should ever have.

So Dad, Uncle Mel, Zeyde, good job. You made it through COVID, you were loved by many people. You lived a long, fun life that inspired many of us. I love you. See you on the other side.

Announcing my Amazon Influencer & Affiliate Marketing Partnerships!

Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links, meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

What does this mean? Did you sell out Marley?

Well, yes. But a girl’s gotta eat and life is expensive, especially in Seattle with two senior rescue dogs! So bear with me for a second and hear me out…

Do you shop online? Do you ever buy things that I recommend and wish you had a way to say thanks? Well, now you do without doing anything extra on your end!

I’ve joined a couple of different affiliate programs to partner with companies and sites that I personally use, trust, and recommend. This allows me to recommend products from these sites and each time you click on one of my specific links and make a purchase, I get a small commission.

This additional income allows me to continue to grow my small business of consulting with bike brands and making the bike world more inclusive. While I’m not going to get rich from these, it might pay for the domain hosting or my next run of business cards :)

Please feel free to get in touch if there are additional companies you’d like to see me partner with or feature!

Where do I shop?

Great question! My Affiliate Links page will be continually updated with each new partner I work with. Here are some quick links you can also use:

Marley’s Amazon Storefront

Universal Standard

REI

Pearl Izumi

Rad Power Bikes

BikeFlights.com

CompetitiveCyclist.com

Nemo Equipment

Aventuron

Don’t See your Favorite Product or Merchant?

Is there a product you truly believe in and don’t see it in the store and would love to see me support? Let me know in the comments below! I’ll add it!

Or, is there a merchant you’d like to see me partner with? Click here for the Merchant application for Avantlink (the program I’m using!)

Other Relevant Info

By clicking on my links and making a purchase, I’ll receive a small commission. Thanks for supporting my efforts in this space!