Pedal Pushers

At the rate gas prices are rising, it may be time to consider alternative modes of transportation.

With regular unleaded fuel at about $1.60 per gallon, it costs about $15 to fill even a small gas tank. Consider that the same money spent for 10 tanks of gas, to get around town for a short time, could be spent on a decent bicycle to get around town for years to come.

Even if the bike never truly replaces the family vehicle, the spring and summer weather undoubtedly will make for enjoyable cycle outings. So now is as good a time as any to check out some two-wheelers.

If you haven’t owned a bike since you were a child, you will be in for a surprise. Bicycle manufacturing technology has become so advanced that even the lower-end models can be fairly sophisticated compared with decades past. Even the cheapest of adult bikes, for instance, come with 18-speed capability.

We visited several Ventura County bicycle retailers to see what was out there and to get tips on how to select a bike. Each of the store owners and managers with whom we spoke stressed the importance of determining, before you shop, whether you will be using your bicycle for casual or performance riding. And no matter what the use, comfort is critical.

“Where are you going to ride--with your kids on the street, some off-road riding, mostly road work?” asked Rod Goodman, co-owner of the Cycle Scene shop in Ventura. “The average customers are entry-level riders, people looking for that comfort bike, just riding around town, riding with the family.”

There are basically two types of bicycles from which to choose--mountain bikes and road (or racing) bikes. There are a number of leading brands to look for, including Cannondale, Schwinn, Trek, Diamondback and GT.

Road bikes are designed for distance and speed and are primarily for fitness cyclists, Goodman said. The average adult rider, who uses bicycles for casual riding, goes more for mountain bikes, he said, even though they have no intention of traversing any mountains.

“Mountain bikes have wide tires that give them more of a substantial feeling on the ground,” Goodman said. “They have higher-rise handlebars and stem, so [riders] don’t have to lean as far forward.”

Although bicycles can cost upward of $7,000 for top-of-the-line models that come with lots of gears for lots of speed shifts, Goodman said most riders needn’t put out the money for the extras.

“Technology has changed so much that you are able to get more gears--but do you really need all those speeds?” he said. “It’s helpful, but you’re going to see the prices go up. They go up when the bike gets lighter and smaller, too. You can spend a lot on a titanium frame or less on an aluminum frame and still get a quality bike.”

Goodman said bikes in the $200 to $500 range are the most popular at his store. Among the best sellers, he said, is the GT Aggressor, a 21-speed aluminum bike that retails for $399.95.

At the Newbury Park Bicycle Shop, sales manager Shane Kelly said the intended use of a bike and the cost of a bike are closely linked.

“If you want to spend under $500, that’s going to be a recreational bike,” he said. “Above $500 is a more aggressive bike. It shifts cleaner, is made with lighter-weight material. And past $1,000, you have American-made frames, higher-quality parts. It’s for the more serious riders.”

One of the more popular models at the Newbury Park store, Kelly said, is the Diamondback Outlook DX, a 21-speed steel-frame bike that retails for $229.

Kelly said the store where you shop is an important part of the bicycle-buying process.

“You want to go to a reputable shop that has familiar brands and has free lifetime service and tune-ups,” he said. “Are the employees sizing customers to the bike? Are they giving them multiple choices? You want to make sure they don’t just stick you on one bike and one size.”

Ron Jacobson, owner of Westlake Cyclery in Thousand Oaks, said that mountain bikes represent 70% of his sales. The top seller, he said, is probably the Trek 800 Sport, a steel-frame, 21-speed bicycle that retails for $229.99.

“The only ones buying road bikes are very serious and want to go a long distance,” he said. “They’ve never been comfortable for the average person.”

When fitting a cycle to a biker, Jacobson tries to make sure the bicycle meets the most demanding situations the rider is apt to encounter.

“You don’t want to oversell, but you don’t want to undersell either,” he said. “You find the bike that will meet the most severe needs.”

It’s not just the bike shops, however, that stock adult-size bicycles. Chain stores such as Toys R Us may have a good selection.

The Toys R Us in Ventura had bikes for men ranging from about $80 to $360 assembled, and for women priced from $80 to $150 assembled. (It is $10 less for unassembled bikes.)

Among the selection was a men’s 21-speed Pacific Cycle for $119.99 assembled and a women’s 21-speed Magna for $109.99 assembled.