One of the most important purchases you’ll make as a cyclist is your bike. Whether you’re looking for an entry-level bike, or a professional level one, REI has it all and more!
Bikes are arguably the most important purchase that cyclists will ever make. Whether they are looking for an entry-level bicycle to get started on their cycling journey, or something a bit more high end to go pro with, REI has them all and then some.
| Our Favorites | The Product | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Mountain Bike | Co-op Cycles DRT 1.1 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Kid’s Bike | Co-Op REV 24 Plus Kids’ Bike | 4 / 5 |
| High End Bike | Cannondale Habit Carbon 2 Bike | 5 / 5 |
- 1. Co-op Cycles DRT 1.1 Bike – Best Entry Level Mountain Bike
- 2. Cannondale Trail 8 Bike
- 3. Co-op Cycles REV 24 Plus Kids’ Bike – Best Kids Bike
- 4. Co-op Cycles ADV 2.2 Bike
- 5. Electra Cruiser 1 Bike
- 6. Salsa Cutthroat Carbon GRX 810 Bike
- 7. Cannondale Habit Carbon 2 Bike – Best High End Bike
- 8. Co-op Cycles ADV 2.1 Bike
- Things to keep an eye on when buying a bike
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
1. Co-op Cycles DRT 1.1 Bike – Best Entry Level Mountain Bike
The Co-op Cycles DRT 1.1 Bike is great for going on rural adventures! Made from a high quality aluminum frame, with 27.5 inch wheels and hydraulic disc brakes for stopping power regardless of the terrain, this bike can take on whatever your day throws at it or get you there in no time by using its 21 speed shifters to make quick adjustments while you ride.
The Shimano Toldey rear derailleur is easy to adjust without taking your hands off of the handlebars and Tektro brake levers help keep you secure when riding at higher speeds. If rain happens to make an appearance, rest assured that it won’t affect the performance of this electric blue bike thanks to 100mm travel forks.
I have found, that overall, this is actually one of the best bangs for the buck when it comes to someone that is just starting out on their mountain biking journey, not just from REI, but from really any company. That is why it is easily at the top of my list of favorite bikes at REI.
Pros
- Multiple sizes available
- Great value for an entry level, yet high quality mountain bike
- High quality components for the price
- Hydraulic brakes
Cons
- Some people may not like having the front derailleur
2. Cannondale Trail 8 Bike
Cannondale makes some amazing bikes, and this entry level trail bike is no exception. The bike features 27.5″ wheels on the smaller bikes, and 29″ on the larger bikes and plenty of sizes for frames (depending on stock status). This hardtail has front suspension capable of 75mm of travel. The bike is propelled forward with Shimano branded components including an Altus front derailleur, a Tourney rear derailleur, and an 11 – 34 tooth cog on the back.
It has a very simplistic, restrained styling with a gloss black finish and silver lettering on the frame. The WTB Ranger Comp tires and WTB rims are held on by quick release hubs.
The riser bars, and comfortable seat make this a comfortable bicycle that is awesome for trail riding!
Pros
- Great budget trail riding bike
- Made by Cannondale
- 14 gears
- Many sizes available with wheel sets that grow with the bike size
- Good price
Cons
- Lower travel on front suspension
3. Co-op Cycles REV 24 Plus Kids’ Bike – Best Kids Bike
The Co-op Cycles REV 24 Plus Kids’ Bike is perfect for any children under 120 pounds who are eager to be independent. This bike has a 6061 aluminum frame and an alloy riser bar. It comes with 7 gears and Shimano Tourney Revo Twist shifters that make it easier to control while riding due to the SRAM grip shift design.
The Logan mechanical disc brakes come with high friction pads so there’s less chance of skidding during fast stops but more stopping power in wet weather conditions or descents with both hands on the brake levers. Remember “to look before you lock” by using locking mechanisms such as U-locks and cable locks when necessary!
If you want your kid to really enjoy cycling, you want to get them something they will enjoy for years, and that is where this bike comes in.
Pros
- A rare high quality kids bike
- Thicker tires to take bumps easily
- High quality components
- Looks like an adult bike
Cons
- High price for something they will grow out of
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4. Co-op Cycles ADV 2.2 Bike
The Co-op Cycles ADV 2.2 Bike is made for an adventure on the beaches and is ready to explore. This bike has all of the materials needed to make it through any distance you want with a 20 gear limit on road cycling – pedaling for hours will be enjoyable. It also has Shimano parts which are known in bicycles as top content with their quality.
With Shimano Tiagra ST-4700 Shifters, Assist level may be selected while riding, providing you assistance when going uphill or decreasing stress on sensitive hands and wrists working vigorously downhill; providing easy access to gears from your palms situate upon the handlebars without having fatigue or remembering numbers obstructed by fingerless gloves during rigorous training rides!
Pros
- Great midlevel adventure (gravel) bike
- High quality components
- Looks really cool
- Shimano components
- 20 gears for a lot of range
Cons
- If you are looking for something that can truly go off-road, this isn’t it
5. Electra Cruiser 1 Bike
Okay, sure, it is not going to be fast and win any races, and it also isn’t going to be doing much off-roading, however if you are looking for a bike to cruise on the streets or on the beach boardwalk, this is an awesome bike to do that with. It’s reasonable pricing, and basic design mean it should last a long time, making it a great value.
You can choose from either Matte Bark (brown) or Matte Black, both of which look awesome. The single speed drivetrain and 26″ wheels make this an easy to use and work on bicycle for those that just want something that works well.
Pros
- Low price point (relatively speaking)
- Extremely simple design
- Easy to work on
- Good quality
Cons
- Does not have multiple sizes
- No suspension
6. Salsa Cutthroat Carbon GRX 810 Bike
The Salsa Cutthroat Carbon GRX 810 is the perfect bike for riders looking to go fast and have fun. Its agile handling, reliable disc brakes and bombproof Shimano components make it the most versatile cyclocross race bike on the planet.
The ideal performance machine requires a great frame material. This bike is constructed of lightweight and aerodynamically rigid Cutthroat Carbon with an XX1 Eagle DTSwift kit built in right out of the box at no additional cost so you will be ready to take your competition by storm!
With 22 gear(s) this mountain-capable ride boasts incredible versatility with 3×10 gearing up front for power climbs, medium-range double cranksets gearing back for more democratic climbing.
Pros
- Carbon frame
- High end Shimano components
- Fast bike
- 29″ wheel size
- Versatile design
Cons
- Expensive
7. Cannondale Habit Carbon 2 Bike – Best High End Bike
The Cannondale Habit Carbon 2 Bike – 2021 is a robust bike designed for off-road use. The frame material is aluminum and carbon while the wheel size is 29 inches.
This rugged machine features 130 mm of travel, BallisTec Carbon front triangle, SmartForm C1 Alloy swing arm, Proportional Response Tuned suspension system, Ai offset drivetrain with 12 gears to choose from for maximum performance in all conditions. For anyone looking for a product with superior engineering that can withstand anything this cycling enthusiast will throw at it.
Pros
- High end mountain bike
- Dual suspension
- Carbon design
- 1 x 12 gearset
Cons
- Very expensive
8. Co-op Cycles ADV 2.1 Bike
The Co-op Cycles ADV 2.1 Bike is a sleek, lightweight aluminum bike that has 16 gears to keep you surging up hills and smoothly cruising down the other side of them. It features Promax DSK-718R cable actuated dual piston brakes for a remarkable stopping power assured by the mechanical disc brake system.
The frame material is 6061 aluminum which will make it easier to get this mountain slayer in any kind of shape on even just an old fashioned car rim (no inflation or worry required). Just check out how stylish its design with efficient engineering!
If you are on the hunt for a high quality adventure (gravel) bike, then this is one you should definitely keep an eye out on.
Pros
- Good quality components
- Gravel bike design (versatile)
- Kenda wheels
- Aluminum frame
Cons
- Mechanical disc brakes
Things to keep an eye on when buying a bike
Type of bicycle
Before you spend your money, make sure you are actually buying a bike that you want! If you buy a mountain bike and live in the city, you might have a hard time finding a place to use it. If you buy a road bicycle and want to go mountain biking, the two bikes will not be compatible enough to get you through either type of terrain.
So make sure that you are thinking through what kind of bike you want to buy and where it will be best suited.
Quality of bicycle
Bikes can range heavily in quality, depending on the price! However you can get a higher quality bike for the same price as a lower quality bike as well. Specifically in the lower end side of bikes, quality can range heavily, so make sure to do your research.
Amount of gears
Just because a bike has more gears, does not necessarily mean that it is a better bike. So you should ask yourself if you need the gears or not. If you are riding in an area where there isn’t a lot of hills, then more gears is actually going to hurt you, as you won’t need as many gears to get you up hills. However if you have tons of hills, then you may want to get more gears, as you will need them.
Components
Bicycles are only as good as the components that they are built with! You may have a great frame, but if you don’t have other good components, then it just won’t be a good bike. Make sure to dig through the bike you are looking at buying, and see if they cut corners by trying to sneak low end components into a bike that has a high price point.
Budget
Always be sticking to your budget! A bicycle is an easy thing to go way over budget, and you will regret it as soon as you walk out of the store. Be sure to research bikes and try to find a good one within your budget!
Frequently Asked Questions
REI bikes, which are called Co-Op bikes are actually some of my favorite bikes in the industry, as they mix good quality with great price. REI also does sell plenty of other brands like Cannondale that represent some well known bikes, and are also high quality.
Just like most all bikes, REI ships out their bikes partially assembled. You basically will be throwing on the last few components like the wheels to finish it up!
This ranges heavily, some bikes will ship within a couple days, while others can have a really long lead time. You will just want to pay attention to their stock status to see what to expect.
Conclusion
I hope that this article helped you to understand the best bikes at REI, and what to expect when you go shopping. There aren’t many other places online that offer such a great inventory of bicycles to buy.
