Flat bar road bike - 1st time roadie

Happyhunting
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Flat bar road bike - 1st time roadie

Postby Happyhunting » Mon Oct 08, 2018 1:28 pm

Hi Ladies

I am new to riding and would need some advice/ help
:D

A little about me:

Location: Melbourne
Age: late twenties
Height: 170cm
Weight: 55-60kg

I am looking to buy a flat bar road bike that I can commute to and from work say 35km a day.
I would like something with the following:

- lightweight
- low maintenance
- How much does it cost to maintain a bike on a yearly basis If I do say 200Km a week?
- under $500 (I don't mind buying second hand)
- How many years would I get out of a decent bike?
- What is the best time to buy? Should I wait for the boxing day sales?


Please suggest where I can buy from
- online?
- LBS?
- Brand and type of bike?

Also would love to join a riding club on a Saturday or Sunday morning.

Thank you ladies :D

Hope to see you guys out on the road.

Happyhunting
Posts: 54
Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2018 10:40 pm

Re: Flat bar road bike - 1st time roadie

Postby Happyhunting » Mon Oct 08, 2018 1:37 pm

after a little googling found the following list:

Please comment.

Merida Speeder 100 Disc
Giant Cross City 1 Disc
Trek Zektor 2
Specialized Sirrus Sport
Bianchi C Sport 2.5
Kona Dew Plus
Polygon Bend FX4
Cannondale Quick 5 Disc
Focus Arriba Altus

:D

Happyhunting
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Joined: Sun Oct 07, 2018 10:40 pm

Re: Flat bar road bike - 1st time roadie

Postby Happyhunting » Mon Oct 08, 2018 7:15 pm

Hi guys

after plenty of research on google I have decided to go with the
Merida Speeder 100 Flat Bar Road Bike (2018)

its on sale at 99Bikes for $749 Is this a good price?

how do you guys feel about this bike?

AdelaidePeter
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Re: Flat bar road bike - 1st time roadie

Postby AdelaidePeter » Tue Oct 09, 2018 11:01 am

Happyhunting wrote:Hi guys

after plenty of research on google I have decided to go with the
Merida Speeder 100 Flat Bar Road Bike (2018)

its on sale at 99Bikes for $749 Is this a good price?

how do you guys feel about this bike?
I bought a Merida early this year and I'm happy with it. I bought a hybrid, the Merida Crossway 10V http://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic.php?t=97401 . It's a cheaper bike than what you're looking at but it sounds like my commute is shorter and flatter, so I think your money is well spent (e.g. the Speeder 100 is lighter). Remember total cost goes up because you may want mudguards and panniers or a carrier; and you need lights if you don't already have them.

I definitely recommend giving it a little ride to see that you like the "feel" of it, before buying. My LBS let me ride it around the car park.

Philistine
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Re: Flat bar road bike - 1st time roadie

Postby Philistine » Wed Oct 10, 2018 11:25 am

Happyhunting wrote:Hi guys

I have decided to go with the
Merida Speeder 100 Flat Bar Road Bike (2018)

its on sale at 99Bikes for $749 Is this a good price?
Do you have to buy new? I can understand why some people, especially women, would be uncomfortable dealing on E-Bay or Gumtree, but these sites are where you will find the value. I have bought four bikes over the past five years: one from a friend (which I suppose doesn't count), two on E-Bay and one on Gumtree. The bikes were all mint condition and a fraction of the new price. Provided you have to go round somebody's house to view the bike (no car park deals), you should be OK. With E-Bay you have the additional safeguard of the feedback system to help to protect you.

ConnalKit
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Re: Flat bar road bike - 1st time roadie

Postby ConnalKit » Wed Oct 31, 2018 12:15 pm

I ride a Merida roadie and love it. Touring and group rides. Disc brakes are great too.
Make sure the bike is a good fit for you. Saddle at correct height etc.
A well fitting bike makes for happy riding.

Calvin27
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Re: Flat bar road bike - 1st time roadie

Postby Calvin27 » Wed Oct 31, 2018 4:39 pm

Philistine wrote:Do you have to buy new? I can understand why some people, especially women, would be uncomfortable dealing on E-Bay or Gumtree, but these sites are where you will find the value. I have bought four bikes over the past five years: one from a friend (which I suppose doesn't count), two on E-Bay and one on Gumtree. The bikes were all mint condition and a fraction of the new price. Provided you have to go round somebody's house to view the bike (no car park deals), you should be OK. With E-Bay you have the additional safeguard of the feedback system to help to protect you.
I rekon for newbies and at that price range, buying new is not such a bad deal. Sure there are bargains on gumtree etc. But first time going into a store and buying the right size bike and then maybe one or two free services plus warranty is worth a lot more to the beginner as opposed to the seasoned veteran most of us n the forum are.
Heavy road bike
Cushy dirt bike
Very cushy dirt bike
Bike crushed by car (RIP)
No brakes bike
Ebike

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Mububban
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Re: Flat bar road bike - 1st time roadie

Postby Mububban » Thu Nov 29, 2018 11:10 pm

Happyhunting wrote:Hi guys

after plenty of research on google I have decided to go with the
Merida Speeder 100 Flat Bar Road Bike (2018)

its on sale at 99Bikes for $749 Is this a good price?

how do you guys feel about this bike?
Did you ever end up buying a bike? Did you go with the Merida Speeder?
When you are driving your car, you are not stuck IN traffic - you ARE the traffic!!!

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bychosis
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Re: Flat bar road bike - 1st time roadie

Postby bychosis » Fri Nov 30, 2018 6:45 am

Since there aren’t many answers above...

- lightweight
It’s alk relative, but generally the more the bike costs the less it weighs. Outside Kmart bikes the difference in weight will probably only be 1-2kgs between a budget and premium model.
- low maintenance
Bikes are generally low maintenance as they see simple devices. You can keep them going with as little as lubricating the chain occasionally. Replacing tyres once worn is about the only other required routine maintenance. Repairing punctures is the other common fault, but you can go for months without needing to or cop several in a week depending on tyres, where you ride etc.
- How much does it cost to maintain a bike on a yearly basis If I do say 200Km a week?
Not much. Replace tyres, you should get several thousand kms depending on the tyre and can be replaced, maybe $100 for a pair at retail prices. Replace chain, cluster, chainrings when worn, again several thousand kms, $100-300 depending on level. Most other things are accident damage related.
- under $500 (I don't mind buying second hand?
Fly bars are often an ‘in between’ bike and can be very good value second hand.
- How many years would I get out of a decent bike?
A decent bike will last for years, except for wear items as above.
- What is the best time to buy? Should I wait for the boxing day sales?
I don’t really follow this, but Tour de France time and September (new models are out) seem to be the main discounting times for bikes. You might get a better deal in winter when sales tend to be slower.
bychosis (bahy-koh-sis): A mental disorder of delusions indicating impaired contact with a reality of no bicycles.

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Mububban
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Re: Flat bar road bike - 1st time roadie

Postby Mububban » Fri Nov 30, 2018 6:31 pm

bychosis wrote:Since there aren’t many answers above...
The reason I asked is that this original thread morphed into multiple different threads in other areas, but I'm not sure if we ever got told what she ended up getting :D
When you are driving your car, you are not stuck IN traffic - you ARE the traffic!!!

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bychosis
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Re: Flat bar road bike - 1st time roadie

Postby bychosis » Fri Nov 30, 2018 10:25 pm

Mububban wrote:
bychosis wrote:Since there aren’t many answers above...
The reason I asked is that this original thread morphed into multiple different threads in other areas, but I'm not sure if we ever got told what she ended up getting :D
I seem to recall as such.
bychosis (bahy-koh-sis): A mental disorder of delusions indicating impaired contact with a reality of no bicycles.

fergy1987
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Re: Flat bar road bike - 1st time roadie

Postby fergy1987 » Wed Dec 05, 2018 12:44 pm

I too would like the know if there was a bike purchase - I just went through all the other threads and now I don't think I've had this much curiosity since trying to work out who did it on "Making a Murderer" - oh the suspense!!

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P!N20
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Re: Flat bar road bike - 1st time roadie

Postby P!N20 » Tue Dec 18, 2018 2:21 pm

fergy1987 wrote:I too would like the know if there was a bike purchase - I just went through all the other threads and now I don't think I've had this much curiosity since trying to work out who did it on "Making a Murderer" - oh the suspense!!
Happyhunting said she was going to buy the Hasa: http://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/viewt ... 2#p1466462
Happyhunting wrote:
Ivanerrol wrote:Cycling Deal in Dandenong South have these on special. $599.00

https://www.cyclingdeal.com.au/buy/2017 ... ad-bi/R217

Full Shimano 10 speed 4700 groupset, Mavic rims. Continental tyres

You couldn't buy the individual components for that price.

I am going to buy this bike.
what size frame would I need. I am 170cm tall.

thanks guys for your help.

:)

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Mububban
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Re: Flat bar road bike - 1st time roadie

Postby Mububban » Tue Dec 25, 2018 12:18 am

Nice bike for $600! Hope she gets lots of happy miles out of it
When you are driving your car, you are not stuck IN traffic - you ARE the traffic!!!

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apatheticaf
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Re: Flat bar road bike - 1st time roadie

Postby apatheticaf » Tue Jan 22, 2019 5:28 pm

I too was looking for a flatbar road bike a while back (prefer the aesthetics compared to a hybrid and the comfort compared to drop bars). Had a bit more of a flexible budget than the OP, and these were the options I considered:

* Tokyobike CS https://omafiets.com.au/collections/tok ... assicsport $1020
* Brown Jersey Speakeasy https://www.brownjersey.com.au/shop/pro ... how/id/265 $1085
* Lekker Amsterdam https://www.lekkerbikes.com.au/product/ ... m-to-190cm $850
* Bobbin Noodle http://www.townbikepitstop.com.au/produ ... in-noodle/ $600
* and Reid Roller $500

Ended up going with the Tokyobike, 6 months in and no regrets :)

RobertL
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Re: Flat bar road bike - 1st time roadie

Postby RobertL » Wed Jan 23, 2019 11:47 am

apatheticaf wrote:I too was looking for a flatbar road bike a while back (prefer the aesthetics compared to a hybrid and the comfort compared to drop bars). Had a bit more of a flexible budget than the OP, and these were the options I considered:

* Tokyobike CS https://omafiets.com.au/collections/tok ... assicsport $1020
* Brown Jersey Speakeasy https://www.brownjersey.com.au/shop/pro ... how/id/265 $1085
* Lekker Amsterdam https://www.lekkerbikes.com.au/product/ ... m-to-190cm $850
* Bobbin Noodle http://www.townbikepitstop.com.au/produ ... in-noodle/ $600
* and Reid Roller $500

Ended up going with the Tokyobike, 6 months in and no regrets :)
Cool bike! Well done.

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Mububban
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Re: Flat bar road bike - 1st time roadie

Postby Mububban » Tue Mar 19, 2019 11:51 am

$1000 for Claris and rim brakes seems a bit steep though? The main thing is that you love it and ride it, but what am I missing to explain the price?
When you are driving your car, you are not stuck IN traffic - you ARE the traffic!!!

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