First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
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First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby inanout » Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:45 pm
My budget is around $400-$500, and I've more or less settle on either a Commuter, road or hybrid. But I don't know what kind of specs I should be looking at and whether I need to look at certain frames due to my weight (115kg/183cm), or what kind of brands are reliable at this kind of price range. It'll mostly be for getting around town and maybe a monthly trip or two.
I have a 99bikes store fairly close to my house, and a couple of them look pretty good, but I can't seem to find any reviews for these kind of cheaper bikes
http://www.99bikes.com.au/bike17-apollo ... lue-chrome
http://www.99bikes.com.au/radius-vista- ... ack-silver
http://www.99bikes.com.au/apollo-exceed ... slate-blue
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby fergy1987 » Wed Jan 10, 2018 3:03 pm
If you are just going to ride around town and like the idea of sitting more upright for a casual ride the flat bar road bikes are a good place to start. Just be warned that if you really catch the bug you will end up wanting a road bike and will want to upgrade. Then again its really about trying out the bikes and see which feels comfortable for you
My bike history has gone from Mountain bike to Flat Bar Road Bike and now looking for a proper road bike because the flat bar gets a bit too casual for me as I am trying to do longer rides etc. But everyone is different.
Maybe look at trying to pick up something like a Giant Cross City - they go alright.
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby rodneycc » Wed Jan 10, 2018 4:42 pm
2013 Lynskey Helix;2013 XACD Ti Di2
2013 Giant TCR Adv SL1;2014 Giant Defy Adv SL
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby Thoglette » Wed Jan 10, 2018 5:00 pm
I'm with others: get a used bike first. Bikes are quite role specific and that's before you start looking at personal preferences.inanout wrote:Hi! looking for some advice for my first bike. Have never ridden one before but want to start.
What sort of riding are you planning on doing? Where are you riding to? Is the area hilly or flat?
Of the three bikes listed I'd only recommend the Vista for a first bike. Why? fat tyres and flat bars ticks two of my four "must have" boxes. The lack of mudguards and lack of rack are both negatives for a general purpose bike. E.g. the Reid Vintage Roadster is better and cheaper general purpose bike. But it's heavier and more cheaply built. You wouldn't chose it if you want to do "sports" bunch riding on the weekend (you'll quickly decide you need drop bars). Never mind single track mountain biking!
To some degree you've just got to bite the bullet and go ride. You'll soon work out what sort of bike (or bikes) best suits your needs.
"People are worthy of respect, ideas are not." Peter Ellerton, UQ
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby inanout » Wed Jan 10, 2018 6:45 pm
Yeah, used market sounds like a good place to start. But are there any models in particular I should go for or brands I should stick to? For now, I'm just planning to ride around town, so it'll be mostly flat and sometimes hilly.Thoglette wrote: I'm with others: get a used bike first. Bikes are quite role specific and that's before you start looking at personal preferences.
What sort of riding are you planning on doing? Where are you riding to? Is the area hilly or flat?
Which features should I be looking out for though besides fat tyres/flat handles? I look through the spec sheet for these bikes and I have no idea what I'm looking at. Is it better for the frame/fork to be steel or alloy or carbon?
And for the Reid bike for example, the tyres are Kenda Kwest 700 x 35c Black, I think 700 means the diamater and 35 refers to the width, but does that mean the tyres are exceptionally big? Because aren't they usually 21/23/25?
Thank all of you for the advice so far though, I really appreciate it!!
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby Thoglette » Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:33 pm
Brand is less important than it seems: just avoid the bike-shaped-objects flogged by K-mart and Target. Especially ones with "hi tech" features (like shocks and discs).inanout wrote:Yeah, used market sounds like a good place to start. But are there any models in particular I should go for or brands I should stick to?
In short: plain is good. A used "city bike" from a bike brand (Giant, specialised etc) /bike chain (TBE, Reid etc) will do nicely. The original price will be a guide to what to expect. You probably want some gears. You definitely DO NOT want a "fixie".inanout wrote:For now, I'm just planning to ride around town, so it'll be mostly flat and sometimes hilly.
Which features should I be looking out for though besides fat tyres/flat handles? I look through the spec sheet for these bikes and I have no idea what I'm looking at.
The main thing is that the brakes work; the wheels are round; the tyres hold air and the chain/gear system is functional. Reflectors and a bell are mandatory. Lights are almost a necessity but can be added for a few dollars.
It helps if the bike fits, at least mostly. Beware of bike stores trying to sell you last year's model in a much too-small or too-large size!
There's a question that's launched a thousand threads and then some!inanout wrote:Is it better for the frame/fork to be steel or alloy or carbon?
It doesn't matter that much. But you're first bike is likely to be a aluminium or carbon steel one, just for cost reasons.
The tyre is notionally 700mm, but it's actually about 692mm (35 + 622 + 35) as the rim is 622 mm. Sheldon Brown talks tyre sizing here.inanout wrote:And for the Reid bike for example, the tyres are Kenda Kwest 700 x 35c Black, I think 700 means the diamater and 35 refers to the width, but does that mean the tyres are exceptionally big? Because aren't they usually 21/23/25?
Big is relative: we've been through a few decades of really skinny tyres but the pendulum is swinging back to saner values. (I'm old enough to consider 32mm "normal").
"People are worthy of respect, ideas are not." Peter Ellerton, UQ
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby inanout » Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:22 pm
Sooo... do these look okay?Thoglette wrote: In short: plain is good. A used "city bike" from a bike brand (Giant, specialised etc) /bike chain (TBE, Reid etc) will do nicely. The original price will be a guide to what to expect. You probably want some gears. You definitely DO NOT want a "fixie".
The main thing is that the brakes work; the wheels are round; the tyres hold air and the chain/gear system is functional. Reflectors and a bell are mandatory. Lights are almost a necessity but can be added for a few dollars.
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/melbour ... 1170965674
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/melbour ... 1171424493
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/melbour ... 1170426402
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby 10speedsemiracer » Wed Jan 10, 2018 11:37 pm
I'm with the others, in that a used bike is the way to go, preferably something from the better known brands. Of the 3 gumtree bikes you've listed, (I'll try to be polite in case the sellers are perusing), the first one can be ignored, the Giant has suspension forks which you don't need, and the Shogun Trailbreaker is old but surprisingly the best of the lot depending on how much work it needs.inanout wrote:Sooo... do these look okay?Thoglette wrote: In short: plain is good. A used "city bike" from a bike brand (Giant, specialised etc) /bike chain (TBE, Reid etc) will do nicely. The original price will be a guide to what to expect. You probably want some gears. You definitely DO NOT want a "fixie".
The main thing is that the brakes work; the wheels are round; the tyres hold air and the chain/gear system is functional. Reflectors and a bell are mandatory. Lights are almost a necessity but can be added for a few dollars.
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/melbour ... 1170965674
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/melbour ... 1171424493
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/melbour ... 1170426402
Maybe aim for something newer. Keep an eye out for things like Kona Dew (Dew Deluxe) or Fuji Absolute. Very decent bikes at your price range.
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby inanout » Thu Jan 11, 2018 2:17 am
Thank you for the advice! Would have gotten absolutely nowhere just by myself. I'll keep your suggestions in mind10speedsemiracer wrote: Maybe aim for something newer. Keep an eye out for things like Kona Dew (Dew Deluxe) or Fuji Absolute. Very decent bikes at your price range.
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby Kronos » Thu Jan 11, 2018 3:23 am
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby rodneycc » Thu Jan 11, 2018 4:07 pm
183cm tall is usually about a ML or L frame 56cm-58cm as a rough guide I'd say.
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2013 Giant TCR Adv SL1;2014 Giant Defy Adv SL
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby 10speedsemiracer » Thu Jan 11, 2018 6:02 pm
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/southba ... 1171518029
If you've decided on a flat bar road bike, avoid the stuff with suspension forks or triple chainrings or the el cheapo generic stuff (Reid/Samson/Iamfree etc, there's a reason they're cheap).
Instead find an appropriate used flat bar like a Giant CRX One, Fuji Absolute, Apollo Allegro (bit older), Norco, Kona Dew, which should cost around $200-ish and then spend a little bit getting it serviced and maybe new tyres/tubes for peace of mind, and enjoy.
They usually have quicker rolling tyres than Mountain-bikes, more appropriate gearing, are significantly lighter. Actually the more I think about it, the more I think the Giant I've linked would be ideal.
Good luck.
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby DavidS » Thu Jan 11, 2018 10:57 pm
Also second hand can be great as many bikes get bought, not ridden much, and then sold. You may end up with a bike with very few KMs on it.
Unless you're mountain biking avoid suspension forks, more to break and more weight you just don't need.
DS
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby Mububban » Tue Jan 16, 2018 11:22 pm
What on earth does that mean?Kronos wrote:Don't use 99bikes either, they're not a real bike store.
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby Kronos » Wed Jan 17, 2018 4:46 am
Its a corporate shell company for Flight Centre.... What you are buying if you go with 99bikes is a Franchise for Flight Centre. Its a simple and very greedy way for big business to make money off bikes and most of their staff who don't come from bike backgrounds would not have a clue about anything.Mububban wrote:What on earth does that mean?Kronos wrote:Don't use 99bikes either, they're not a real bike store.
Don't buy fro 99bikes they're the enemy.
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby baabaa » Wed Jan 17, 2018 7:43 am
So enemy is the best of what you really think.Kronos wrote:Its a corporate shell company for Flight Centre.... What you are buying if you go with 99bikes is a Franchise for Flight Centre. Its a simple and very greedy way for big business to make money off bikes and most of their staff who don't come from bike backgrounds would not have a clue about anything.Mububban wrote:What on earth does that mean?Kronos wrote:Don't use 99bikes either, they're not a real bike store.
Don't buy fro 99bikes they're the enemy.
Mate, quick tip for free, seems that you just come here to BNA just to bellyache and try and crow about how much you know. Drop it, you really offer little to help others here on this forum but you certainly do come across as a fool in doing so.
GO for a ride, learn real stuff, read and try to understand what others here may post and then you maybe able to help when you start to know what you are talking about not what you think you know.(Disclosure, I have no connection to 99bikes).
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby Kronos » Wed Jan 17, 2018 2:00 pm
Eh? Where did that one come from, you haven't been around me for 5seconds and you've decided what I do and don't know... Who's the arrogant twat here. I don't know you, and I don't pretend that I would like to get to know you. Pro tip: Next time you want to admonish someone think twice about it.... What did your mother tell you about saying things if you don't have anything better to say at all.baabaa wrote:So enemy is the best of what you really think.Kronos wrote:Its a corporate shell company for Flight Centre.... What you are buying if you go with 99bikes is a Franchise for Flight Centre. Its a simple and very greedy way for big business to make money off bikes and most of their staff who don't come from bike backgrounds would not have a clue about anything.Mububban wrote:
What on earth does that mean?
Don't buy fro 99bikes they're the enemy.
Mate, quick tip for free, seems that you just come here to BNA just to bellyache and try and crow about how much you know. Drop it, you really offer little to help others here on this forum but you certainly do come across as a fool in doing so.
GO for a ride, learn real stuff, read and try to understand what others here may post and then you maybe able to help when you start to know what you are talking about not what you think you know.(Disclosure, I have no connection to 99bikes).
Anyhow... considering I have a sum total of 1 post per day I highly doubt I'm annoying anyone here.
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby 10speedsemiracer » Wed Jan 17, 2018 3:27 pm
Even in just this thread, you've suggested to OP (who is new to cycling) that he buy a TCR or CAAD (too aggressive for a new rider) and that a flat bar road bike is an old man's bike thereby injecting your opinion into the thread as opposed to anything helpful.
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby Kronos » Wed Jan 17, 2018 3:54 pm
Save your personal values judgement for yourself. Saying a bike is too aggressive is even more problematic and limiting.10speedsemiracer wrote:Ummm, not quite. I've noticed some weird posts in inappropriate places as well.
Even in just this thread, you've suggested to OP (who is new to cycling) that he buy a TCR or CAAD (too aggressive for a new rider) and that a flat bar road bike is an old man's bike thereby injecting your opinion into the thread as opposed to anything helpful.
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby 10speedsemiracer » Wed Jan 17, 2018 3:56 pm
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby Kronos » Wed Jan 17, 2018 4:01 pm
As to the comment the person in question did say they were comparing the three. On a personal level I wouldn't bother with the other two unless its made exceedingly obvious that the person wants a bike just to get around on while having no further interest in bikes what so ever.10speedsemiracer wrote:Thanks for that, needed a chortle.
Other than that sure work into 99bikes and pick something off the rack in your size and never be any wiser about the matter, or anything to do with bikes. Don't listen to the fact that you won't get much of a bike at all for $500 or to consult with what bikes of high quality are better value second hand as compared to anything you could get at 99bikes.
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby 10speedsemiracer » Wed Jan 17, 2018 4:22 pm
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby Kronos » Wed Jan 17, 2018 8:15 pm
There are really only (or should be) five types of bikes
Track: incluses fixies, etc..
Road: includes touring, tri, etc..
Mountain bike: hard or soft tail.
CX
BMX
No in between bikes unless you have no interest in cycling as a sport or hobby what so ever, no recumbents either unless you have a special need for one... In my case and only my case so N=1 here. I bought an old touring road bike because at the age of 33 I had no interest in furthering myself as an athlete but I still enjoy going fast on bikes and its cheap. I have had the habit of growing up learning things from people with far more knowledge than what I have. But thats OK these days you can buy an old frameset off anyone and learn how to put it together on Youtube.
The invariable problem with an in between bike is that you'll come back invariably in either 6months or 2years and say you either want a full mountain bike, a CX bike or a road bike, then you'll have to sell your in between bike at a loss and buy something else instead. No side grading... always upgrading.
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby 10speedsemiracer » Wed Jan 17, 2018 9:05 pm
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Re: First Bike (Commuter, Road, or Hybrid?)
Postby 10speedsemiracer » Wed Jan 17, 2018 9:08 pm
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