That makes sense, thanks. I looked into the Liv bikes as well but figured I could get a used bike at a lower or equal price point with slightly better specs.
The bike I found has a 19" frame. I’m 5’3.5" 
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That sounds about right. 19", 48-50cm, or a XS/S. So many ways to put it.
For the type of trainer in the picture, you need a special tire on the back wheel. Now some bike are set up with no inner tubes and sealant (great against puncture but a pain to change because of the sticky mess)
I ride MTB so road bike size are a mystery for me. At 5’8" I ride a medium in most brand but change my handle bar for a bit more raise to make the bike a bit shorter.
Women specific bike the to be shorter and girly in color. I had one a did not like it, as it was short but if I did use a higher raise handle bar, to go with a short arms, the bike got too short. So if you have long legs and your ape index is neutral or on the plus side it can work. Because I have short arms, I like a higher bar but raising the bar make the bike shorter.
I ride a blue and orange Trek Fuel EX and my NS bike dirt jumper is red and blue.
Like anything, if you can get the bike to a shop for them to have a good look at it. Especially is the bike as been sitting for some time.
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Okay, that’s what I thought. Thanks!
Fair point. That’s my one reservation about buying from Craigslist rather than a shop.
I think I would prefer a road bike over a hybrid because I would use this mostly for commuting and maybe on longer rides on paved trails. I guess I’ll ponder things a bit more. I don’t want to spend too much money because, well, I’m frugal, and I’d also have to buy a good lock and helmet.
Thanks both for your input!
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Basic stuff, no rust, no cracks, break work and you can change speed.
I just sold an older bike that was sitting around for 50$. The frame was in good shape but everything else needed to be changed or up date. That can add up.
Helmet is a must, trust me. Even a cheap but certified helmet can do. So for under 50$ you can get a general/road helmet. Fit is important too.
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Looks like @unicornsandrainbows and @donnerschweer have said way more than I ever could, so I’ll just validate the fact that:
Good luck—I hope this works out for you!
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Ah, it’s been a rough week. I trained through it and will update my log later, but this sinus infection knocked me out. I stayed home from Tuesday until Thursday. I worked in person for a few hours yesterday and felt so bad afterwards that I decided to take a COVID test, which came back negative. I’m somehow feeling 90% back to normal today, thankfully.
But today was awesome! I bought a bike! This week I waffled back and forth between buying a new bike or getting a used one, and I think I made the right choice.
As many people who read my log know, I don’t have a car. This is challenging and almost unheard of for people in my city. It’s not impossible, but I can’t say that I haven’t made any sacrifices by choosing a car-free lifestyle. This town is very spread out. I’ve lived here for 4.5 years and have walked or ridden public transit everywhere, and the latter is not good to say the least. I’ve written off cycling as dangerous, but after further reflection, this actually isn’t the worst place for it. Sure, it’s pretty dangerous by European standards, but it’s pretty okay as long as you avoid some major roads.
I lived in a much bigger metropolitan area with slightly better cycling infrastructure in college yet for some reason still didn’t own a bike. So, all in all I haven’t consistently ridden a bike since childhood.
And I’ve never even touched a road bike before. Until today! I didn’t expect to walk away with this model in particular, as it’s only 44 cm, but it seems to fit pretty well. I thought I would have a hard time getting used to the drop bars, but they already feel natural. The shop was great. I’m really glad that I gave them my money. Basically, they’re a non-profit that offers free programs to support the youth here. They also refurbish old bikes and sell them. So, despite its age, this bike has been brought back to life with new tires and the like.
I excitedly rode my bike to another cool local bike store to buy a helmet and lock. Everyone was super nice, and they even installed my lock for me for free! Honestly, I’m still a little nervous about locking it up on campus all day, so I might purchase another one. I dunno.
Overall I rode only 10 miles today, but there were definitely some hills. Who knows, maybe cycling will slightly help strengthen my weak quads. Anyway, I’m super excited to ride more. I want to work up to longer rides so that I can go on fun day trips. And it will definitely increase my quality of life. I spend a lot more time commuting than my coworkers do, but starting this week that changes!
Oh yeah, and the bike was only $350. Seems like a good deal to me. Considering that I hope to finish my PhD within the next year or so, it didn’t seem worth it to buy a new bike when I will probably move and am not sure if transporting a bike will be feasible for me. And I imagine I will be even more wowed if I upgrade later. I will definitely be moving to a more biker-friendly area after this (and maybe even to Europe, who knows), so it will be good for me to become a better cyclist. 
This post sounds so emotional. But I think I’ve realized over the past couple of weeks how much I’ve Had Enough of feeling so inconvenienced by poor urban planning.
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That is awesome!
I’ve always ridden bikes in some form since I was a toddler, and still and always will consider them a great basic form of transportation.
I’m really happy for you!
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I LOVE this!! You will not be sorry. Now you gotta give that pretty bike a name, because every good bike has a name! My mountain bike’s name is Sydney (I call her Syd) and my road bike is Riley.
I am so happy that you’re joining the “Bikes are Cool Club!!”
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It’s everything I can do not to post a pic of my own bike, I’m so happy about it all!
I’ve never named mine, but she knows who she is to me, lol.
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Thrilled for you!
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2/18
Pull-ups 8,7,6,5,5
BPA
Ran 11 miles in 1:39:37. Last couple were were with the dog before his owner picked him up. I think he’s glad that he no longer lives with a drill sergeant.
2/19
Pull-ups 8,7,6,6,5
Goblet squat 20kgx20,15
Standing ab wheel 3x5, then 25 kneeling reps
SA KB press 14kgx2x2-3-5
Lateral raises
2/20
9-mile run in 1:21:30. Sinus infection started 
Given my stress and lack of sleep in the last couple of weeks, it’s no wonder that I got sick. I so rarely get respiratory infections, but when they happen, I can easily pinpoint the cause. Fun fact: I got sinus infections so much as a kid that my parents made me get my tonsils removed.
2/21
Pull-ups 8,7,6,6,5 (accidentally repeated the previous rep scheme)
SA KB press 12kgx3x2-3-10
Front squat 100x2x2-3-5
Push-ups 2x10
BPA 2x20
Seven-mile run in 1:01:43
2/22
Pull-ups 8,7,7,6,5
Seven-mile run in 1:02:29
Dips 17,13,12,11
BB curl 45x19,17
2/23
Felt terrible. Turns out that it wasn’t COVID, but it probably wasn’t a great idea to work in person.
2/24
Pull-ups 9,8,7,6,5
SA KB press 14kgx3x2-3-5 (this is already feeling easier!)
BPA 2x20
KB swings 20kgx90,50,25
Rode the bike 10 miles after buying it
2/25
Pull-ups 9,8,7,6,6
Push-ups 12,11,11,12
BPA
Seven-mile run in 1:05:12. Included five hill sprints
10-mile bike ride in 53:49
Took the bike on its first “official” ride at the most popular bike path near me. It’s a loop a little under six miles. I usually run it, and oh my god, I’m terrible at cycling. I’m so bad at hills. It was almost embarrassing! There’s also a big hill on the way there, which will be a part of my commute, and it’s much tougher for me compared to running.
Going downhill is a little scary for me albeit fun. Got up to 34 kph on a long downhill section. Fun weekend! The weather is perfect today.
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You’re unclipping the quick release front wheel - and locking it with the back wheel and frame to a bikestand? (great ride!)
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So many amazing things in this post! Congrats on the bike! Giants are a great choice. The shop you got it from sounds fantastic, I am glad you went to a shop. I completely agree with starting with a used bike for your first one, it takes a few rounds to find out what you like. That said, it looks like that bike is in amazing shape. Sounds like it is already paying itself off in gobs of intrinsic value.
You’ll find like lifting, your biking ability will progress crazy fast as a beginner. Enjoy!
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Okay, I guess this is the year of being terrible at logging. Never thought I’d be this way, but it is what it is.
Some updates:
I’ve still been training, doing a little bit almost every day. Riding my bike lots and cutting back on running (some times better than others). I’m getting more comfortable on the bike. I’ve commuted on it almost every day to work, and it’s a huge upgrade to my quality of life. It doesn’t do much for my cardiovascular system, but it is fun and somewhat of a replacement for running. I’ve comfortably taken it on a few 50 km+ rides already.
I continue my iron supplementation but haven’t retested my levels. Also trying to increase my vitamin D a bit, plus eating red meat almost every day too, so a bit more frequently than before. I seem to have a string of some really good days when I feel like I’m “normal” again, or maybe what I think is normal. Still, I have had seemingly one day each week of feeling really bad again. I think that stress and poor sleep aggravate my symptoms. It’s hard to sleep well when I feel bad, but not sleeping well makes things worse. I felt like I was going to have a panic attack at work a couple of days ago and had to leave early. Ultimately I think I am getting better though. I’ve had a few days in a row of not noticing symptoms in my daily life. Plus my hair actually feels a bit thicker already, and my part is not so wide anymore, so those are good signs! My last period was much lighter too, which I can’t complain about. I’m planning to retest my levels in the next week or two.
Anyway, I realized that my loose approach to training made me not feel like logging. I think I need 5/3/1 back in my life. So, today I started a two-day program. I will be able to get through one cycle before I go on vacation, so why not? Starting very light because, well, I am a bit weaker, and I am “recovering.” Also decided to stop running the Fighter pull-up program. It’s just not sustainable for me even with additional rest days. Currently typing this with a knot in my upper back.
3/14
Pull-ups 10,9,8
Deadlift 125x5,150x5,170x5,150x2x8
Press 40x5,45x5,50x5,40x2x15
BB curl 40x2x20
BPA 2x20
Did this after biking a hilly 33 km this afternoon. Over 280 m of elevation, which is a lot for my weak quads.
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3/15
Longest and hardest bike ride of my life today! Rode 57 km, though that includes the three miles to work, and I took a break to eat after about another seven. Hard because of the elevation – 408 m, thanks to riding the hilly loop by my work three times in one day. Nice stress reliever after a long day at work that started pretty early. I’m toast.
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From the picture, I think that you’re riding on flat so maybe think of getting some clipless. You will get a better work out as you will be able to push and pull the pedals.
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I’ve thought about trying clipless but told myself that I would not buy anything else for my bike until after I come back from vacation. It’s already been an investment for me, and I haven’t paid for much of my trip yet 
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3/16
Pull-ups +10x4x5
Push-ups 12,10,11,11
Front squat 70x5, 85x5, 95x5, 85x2x5 paused
Push press 50x5, 55x5, 65x5, 55x11,9
Some standing ab wheel
BPA 2x25
11-mile run in around 100 mins.
My legs are dead. Don’t remember the last time my quads had this much DOMS. Good thing I started this cycle very light because I struggled through the front squats 
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Front squats are officially my enemy, so now I have to do them until they feel great.
It might be a while.
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