For the last few months I’ve been dabbling with the idea of getting a bike, I think I might have even mentioned that I bought a crapass used bike at the thrift store (that didn’t work out unfortunately, the frame was bent, the back wheel was too bent to true up and well to fix both of those would cost more than a brand new crapass bike at Wal*Mart.) And my wonderful family gave me some dough for my birthday to put towards a bike so the dream of actually getting a decent bike can actually come true. (I have been struggling with my mom’s too big, single speed coaster bike from hell for the last month or so, trying to ride, but damn that thing is big and heavy and damn those coaster brakes make me want to scream and where the hell are some GEARS, I’m not exactly a spring chicken anymore.)

Anyway, as a result I have been a bit OCD in the bike research department for awhile now, trying to find the best but cheap bike that exists. I’ve narrowed it down to about four that I like, are available locally and are not too crappy for the price:

• GT Nomad 2.0
• GT Laguna
• Trek FX 7.1
• Trek Skye (or Skye S)

The GT Nomad Sport is like this only it’s the 2010 model. It’s currently on sale for $299 through Sunday at a local shop. I just gotta see if they have my size in stock, but if not, I could possibly order it from the same store’s online site (it’s one of those bike store chains) but then I’d have to pay shipping and assemble it. It’s also available from another source online too, but with free shipping and slightly cheaper. It’s a “comfort” bike which means not as uncomfortable as a mountain bike, but not as cool as a road bike. In other words, perfect for me and my anticipated use of the bike (bike paths, some streets, maybe commuting to work if I actually get a job someday.) It is my first choice if I can find it because it looks decent (a month ago, I saw the 2011 version at the shop,) and has the best component set of all the ones I’ve found in this price range (Alivio, which is better than Acera, which is better than Atlus, which is better than Tourney.) As long as it fits me and rides OK and I can find it, this one will probably win. There are also lower-end crappier versions of this bike which aren’t so hot, but still look OK (just the components are not as good.)

The GT Laguna is also the 2010 model on sale at a local shop for $299, if they have it in stock (same store, but the website is sold out of my size.) Comes in a pretty pink color, or green. It’s a mountain bike though, and the 2011 model is white, which is OK too if they don’t have the 2010 (and it’s not that much more expensive.) The specs on this one are crappier than the Nomad though, and it’s a mountain bike and I sorta hate mountain bikes because they tend to be heavy and clunky with fat 26″ tires. Mostly I just like the pink 2010 color.

The Trek FX 7.1 is a compromise for the one I really want, the Trek FX 7.3 (or higher haha) but it’s out of my price range even at its base level, unless it goes on sale. It’s currently $409 at the local shop, but I do know they have sales now and then so I might just wait. I’m also not crazy about the color, I like the GT colors better, but this is a very nice looking bike otherwise. And the shop is the closest one, which means easy to ride to tuneups (and they offer free tuneups for the life of the bike, I’ve heard.) It comes in a “stagger” frame, but it is not a “women’s specific” frame like the higher end FX comes in. But it has a really low standover on the smallest size and fits me just right (haven’t ridden it yet, but I sat on it in the shop and it seemed to fit nicely.)

Trek Skye is the last resort. Not crazy about this bike (especially the dopey “Mermaid Blue” color scheme.) It has pretty low-end components and it has a really big clunky looking frame. Haven’t ridden it though, but it doesn’t look too promising. The only bright spot is the local shop had the “S” version of this bike on sale for $299 recently, which isn’t too bad a price since the retail of that level is $469. I probably wouldn’t buy the standard Skye, but might consider the “S” if I could get it for the $299 price and couldn’t find any of the others I’m considering.

Now for the bikes I lust after but are either out of my price range or too far away to be practical to buy:

Raleigh Alysa FT1 is one I haven’t seen in person but I LOVE the way this bike looks, the light blue color, the little matching seat and handlebar accents. Yes I’m a dork. Retail is a bit too high ($569) AND it’s not sold locally, would be at least a 20 mile drive to buy and so “free tune ups” wouldn’t really be worth driving that far. And I’m not even sure if REI, the store that sells it locally, even offers tune ups.

The Marin Kentfield Stepthru is a little out of my price range ($429) and the shop that supposedly carries it locally doesn’t have it in stock, and I wouldn’t want to order a bike to just look at it. Love the color, don’t like the style as much as the Raleigh though.

The Kona Dew FS is only $800 (LOL) and the closest shop that sells it is in Santa Monica. Oh and it doesn’t seem to come in a shrimp size. But it’s one nice lookin’ bike and well it’s called a DEW for cryin’ out loud, that alone makes it awesome. And it has Deore components too. Kickass.

Another Kona I really like but is out of my range is the Lisa RD, which is a road bike but it’s nice. And it has full 105 components. Sweet. And it’s pretty, too. Pretty damn expensive LOL. ($1699.)

A bit cheaper on the “dream road bike” is this one I saw when shopping for hybrids at “big chain bike store” … they wanted MORE than retail for it though WTF? Not that I could afford the $1300 they were asking anyway. But sheesh. But I got to see it up close and drool a little. The components aren’t that great for the price but it sure is perty! Notice how it also has that color-coordinated thing goin’ on.

Anyway, I’m gonna go check out and test ride some stuff in the next week or so, and see how the chips land so to speak. With luck, I’ll have a new bikey to ride around all summer. Or I’ll be waiting another month or two until the 2012 models come out and the lust-fest starts all over again. Oh, speaking of lust, I really want to see this bike even though it’s too pricey for me right now. But it looks PERFECT, a hybrid that’s “dirt worthy” and it’s named after a cat. Or a famous mountain biker. But the components are a bit weak for the price. Meh.