3/12    Looking for 2 things:
        1) a bicycle for casual use on mostly flat land. Prefer a hybrid
           so that I can go to the beach and ride around my neighborhood.
           Prefer light weight and above all, CHEAP ($300 or less). I like
           the weight of those fancy composite racing bikes but not the
           price $$$, and the wheels are so thin that they don't look like
           they'll ride well in the sand. I like the ruggedness of mountain
           bikes with nice suspensions but not the weight, and they cost a
           lot too. Costco bikes are shitty, and so are Target bikes. Where
           should I go, and what brand should I be looking for?
           \_ Are you looking for a new bike? You can probably get a decent
              used mtb/hybrid on cl for ~ $300. I bought a 3yr old  Gary
              Fisher Montare (sp?) for a little under $300 on cl.
           \_ Check out a cyclocross bike, they are basicly road bikes meant
              to be taken off road.  No suspension usually though.  You could
              get a used surley crosscheck for about that price.  A new one
              would be $600+.  -scottyg
        2) a tandom bicycle, cheap, light weight. Which ones are good?
             \_ tandem
                \_ tandum
                   \_ No.
                      \_ Know.
                   \- Tan Dun
        \_ The only bikes which will ride well in the sand are bikes which
           are made to ride in the sand; single speeds with balloon tires.
           A cheap hybrid would not be able to get through the sand, and
           the gearing would get fouled almost immediately.
           You can use a beach cruiser for other kinds of riding, although
           it's not ideal.
           You won't find anything light for $300 or less.
           If you really want to ride it on the beach, call up your local
           bike stores and ask for single-speed beach cruiser bikes (or
           with an internally geared hub).  Most beach cruisers
           are under $300, but none are light.
           There are no cheap, light weight tandems.  Weight isn't really
           that much of a concern on a tandem anyway; durability and
           stiffness are much more important.  Any tandem that is under
           $1000 is not suitable for anything more than futzing around town;
           a ~$1000 tandem (like the Burley Zydeco) will be acceptable
           but heavy and whippy.  You have to get above $1500 before tandems
           start getting really decent.  Some people swear by the Cannondale.
            -tom
        \_ If you want a cheap tandem, get it used.  There's a tandem and
           recumbent shop near Sacramento that tends to have used tandems:
                http://www.tandems-recumbents.com
           If you buy something from them, I'd recommend having a good bike
           mechanic look it over (I bought a new bike from them once that had
           some assembly problems).