Good road bike

If you're wanting an easier ride, a couple areas to ponder

1. Tires- should be fairly skinny and have little to no tread. Mountain bike tires on pavement don't ride well
2. Gearing- a good bike shop can change your bike up whether you want speed or ease of pedaling. If you're going to ride in very hilly areas, you may want what's known as a 'granny gear' or a triple - your crankset (the thing with the teeth that's attached to your pedals) then will have three rings of teeth instead of two, and will give you more options for downshifting when you're going up hill.
3. Bike weight- a lighter bike is easier to get uphill than a heavier one.

Bianchi is a reputable bike company with a long history. Piaggio is an older model.

Ask your bike shop about components (ie anything you have to attach to the bike frame). There is a quality and durability difference among brakes, chains, cranksets, etc. I'd want at least Shimano Tiagra level of quality (or equivalent from another company. Your bike shop can tell you what is roughly equal to what) and would prefer Shimano 105 or better. My own bike uses a mix of 105 and Ultegra parts.

Also talk to your bike shop about good bike fit. Different companies have different distances from the seat to the handlebars for the same size frame. A good bike fitter can find the right size frame for you and tweak seat position to get you really comfortable in the saddle.

Thanks beachmouse. Appreciate it! Even though this bike said it fit anyone from 5'4" to 6'4", I am 5'4", I had a hard time with this bike. And it is a heavy bike. I guess we let the price be a factor and the fact that it was a break down fold up bicycle that was easy to tote around, even in a car trunk. Wrong thing to do. Of course, my hubby didn't have any trouble as I did. He is a good deal taller. I will check out the Schwinn bicycle shop here again. I was looking at them this past Saturday! They really had some nice bikes. And when I stood with feet on the ground straddling the bike I just sold, there was no clearance between me and the bike! Not good! And to both of us, a comfortable seat is a must! Cannot stand a sore tailbone. We bought gel seats and took the original seats off. The gel seats are pretty comfortable.

This is my bicycle. I think Raleighs are superior to Shwinns any day.

http://www.raleighusa.com/items.asp?deptid=7&itemid=272

This bike replaces my other Raleigh that I rode for ten years and literally wore out. It had hundreds upon hundreds of miles on it, and I expect this one to as well.

Bikes are worth spending good money on.

This is my bicycle. I think Raleighs are superior to Shwinns any day.

http://www.raleighusa.com/items.asp?deptid=7&itemid=272

This bike replaces my other Raleigh that I rode for ten years and literally wore out. It had hundreds upon hundreds of miles on it, and I expect this one to as well.

Bikes are worth spending good money on.

I know that now! Is yours a road bike or mountain bike??? I think I am going to stay away from any more mountain bikes! There are indeed two Raleigh bike dealers here, one is Bikes Plus around the Wolfchase area, around 20 minutes from me, and the other is Bike World in Collierville. Might have to go check out Bikes Plus! But maybe I am just too old to be riding a bike! Last time I rode one other than this bike I just sold was back when I was 26. I was in pretty good shape then, and alot younger.

I'm getting ready to buy a Bianchi 928. Test road it and was blown away at how much easier it was to climb major hills with.

We have alot of hills around our neighborhood RiverOtter and boy was I having problems getting up those hills. Sounds like I need to check these Bianchis a little more. We are watching two older ones on Ebay.

We have alot of hills around our neighborhood River Otter and boy was I having problems getting up those hills. Sounds like I need to check these Bianchis a little more. We are watching two older ones on Ebay.

As Beachmouse said, it is all about the gearing, as for the ease of getting up the hills.

Mountain bikes typically will have lower gears than road bikes, so be careful about making the switch.

I'm getting ready to buy a Bianchi 928. Test road it and was blown away at how much easier it was to climb major hills with.

The Bianchi 928??? Are you serious????

The Bianchi 928??? Are you serious????

my car didn't cost as much as that bike

my car didn't cost as much as that bike

They don't call it the Ferrari of bicycles for nuthin'. If RO buys that bike I want to bow down and kiss it.

my car didn't cost as much as that bike

Why do you think he sold the Infinity?

Why do you think he sold the Infinity?

And the boat, and the house!!!!! :funn:

The Bianchi 928??? Are you serious????

Obviously they are too expensive for our budget so I will have to go with like a way cheaper bike!

The Bianchi 928??? Are you serious????

Yup

my car didn't cost as much as that bike

Not true :nono1:

They don't call it the Ferrari of bicycles for nuthin'. If RO buys that bike I want to bow down and kiss it.

:scratch: <---River<---pondering what "it" is--->Otter

Why do you think he sold the Infinity?

Very funny

And the boat, and the house!!!!! :funn:

I'm laughing on the inside

Obviously they are too expensive for our budget so I will have to go with like a way cheaper bike!

They don't cost that much

RO I'm impressed...................replying to multiple quotes:clap_1: :clap_1:
theres nothing like a good ride;-) .....uh.....I mean bike

Bravo, RO!! Your multi quote reply is astounding!! :clap_1:

Bravo, RO!! Your multi quote reply is astounding!! :clap_1:

Yeah, he's like a kid with a new toy.

Yeah, he's like a kid with a new toy.

I feel like the proud master...to the little grassotter.......:funn: he has surpassed my expectations!!!!! you are on your own now, little otter

RO I'm impressed...................replying to multiple quotes:clap_1: :clap_1:
theres nothing like a good ride;-) .....uh.....I mean bike

:funn: I have a bike called Little Big Horn ?

I feel like the proud master...to the little grassotter.......:funn: he has surpassed my expectations!!!!! you are on your own now, little otter

:funn: I have a bike called Little Big Horn ?

:scratch: Care to expound on this

:scratch: Care to expound on this

Maybe it is her husband's Indian Guide's name??

Maybe it is her husband's Indian Guide's name??

If RO buys that bike I want to bow down and kiss it.

I knew there was a reason I better check in :nono1:

I knew there was reason I better check in :nono1:

What