Type of bike to purchase ?
-
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 1:50 pm
Type of bike to purchase ?
Postby Turquoise2012 » Fri Nov 09, 2012 11:38 am
I'm considering buying a bike, mainly to go with my children around local area ( paths ) and maybe some road rides on my own ( if I can overcome the car vs bike fear). It has crossed my mind that doing the odd trail ride eventually may be fun.
My question is which type would you recommend road/ hybrid/ or mountain bike? Are road bikes strictly for bitumen and concrete ?
I have been reading the advice for beginners but I was not clear on the limitations of each ( about 25 years since I had a bike it was a 10 speed racer and coped with riding over kerb etc.
How many gears do people recommend ? Any to avoid re brands ?
Finally do you need to get" measured" up first
Cheers
-
- Posts: 256
- Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2011 4:45 pm
- Location: Canberra, ACT
Re: Type of bike to purchase ?
Postby nickdos » Fri Nov 09, 2012 5:18 pm
You also mentioned a hybrid bike and these are probably better suited to the type of riding you mentioned. They have bigger wheels and smoother tread which makes them slightly more efficient on the road.
Lastly, there are flat bar road bikes which are at the "road" end of the spectrum of hybrids. They go much better on the road but are quite harsh compared to the previous mentioned bikes and take a while to get used to.
I have one of each of these types of bikes in my garage and I still ride them all - hybrid for towing my daughter with the tag-along, flat bar for commuting, MTB for off-road and road bike for fitness (used the most). It really comes down to what feels comfortable to you. So go and test ride a few different types to see which you like better.
-
- Posts: 551
- Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2008 10:38 am
- Location: East Victoria Park,Perth
Re: Type of bike to purchase ?
Postby toofat » Fri Nov 09, 2012 7:43 pm
so on paper a hybrid bike is what you need and ideal if you only ever want to go out with the kids or do more sedate riding
or if you wanted a bike that could do most things well, get a cylocross bike
put thin tyres on it and do group rides with road bikes
put wider tyres and do offroad
put panniers on and do light touring shopping or commuting
they may be a bit more expensive than a hybrid but a bike at half the price that sits unloved in the shed for most of its life is not a bargin
having started on a hybrid and then moved to light weight race bikes, a cylocross is next on the list, if you could only have one bike this is the most versatile option.
-
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2012 3:16 pm
- Location: Remark S.A.
Re: Type of bike to purchase ?
Postby Morrie » Fri Nov 09, 2012 8:05 pm
- bychosis
- Posts: 7272
- Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:10 pm
- Location: Lake Macquarie
Re: Type of bike to purchase ?
Postby bychosis » Fri Nov 09, 2012 8:26 pm
hybrid will cope with anything OK
an MTB will do off road great, paths fine, road not so good.
a roadie will not do off road, isnt really suited for cruising with th ekids but is built for speed on the road.
-
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 1:50 pm
Re: Type of bike to purchase ?
Postby Turquoise2012 » Sat Nov 10, 2012 6:59 am
Cheers
- il padrone
- Posts: 22931
- Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:57 pm
- Location: Heading for home.
Re: Type of bike to purchase ?
Postby il padrone » Sat Nov 10, 2012 9:28 am
I think you've narrowed down the options there. A bike mostly used for riding paths with the kids.... you need a hybrid for this slower riding on often gravel, bumpy, paths. You can still ride it very well on the road, just that you won't keep up with a roadie bunch too well. If road riding does become your thing, then look at getting a cheap road bike.Turquoise2012 wrote:I'm considering buying a bike, mainly to go with my children around local area ( paths ) and maybe some road rides on my own ( if I can overcome the car vs bike fear). It has crossed my mind that doing the odd trail ride eventually may be fun.
My question is which type would you recommend road/ hybrid/ or mountain bike?
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."
-
- Posts: 1494
- Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2010 8:10 pm
- Contact:
Re: Type of bike to purchase ?
Postby high_tea » Sat Nov 10, 2012 10:26 am
The other thing I'd urge you to consider is gearing. I tow kids a bit and I use some pretty low gears at times. It depends on the rider and the terrain, of course, but if you plan on towing kids up hills of any consequence, I'd suggest staying away from the flat-bar road bike. MTBs will have low-enough gearing to begin with. Hybrids vary a bit, but it's usually to arrange any necessary changes at purchase time.
Of course, if you only plan on riding in flat places, this isn't a concern. If you do have hills, though, better to get the gearing sorted at purchase time - cheaper and easier that way!
-
- Posts: 12224
- Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:40 pm
- Location: Brisbane
Re: Type of bike to purchase ?
Postby jasonc » Sat Nov 10, 2012 11:14 am
most flat bars have either mtb gearing or compact road bike gearinghigh_tea wrote:My recommendation: hybrid. The point of flat-bar road bikes is going fast. The bike is not going to be the limiting factor when riding with kids, so no point there. MTBs are intended for offroad riding and you don't express any interest in that. Hybrids are intended to be all-rounders. I've toured, commuted, towed kids and raced cyclocross on mine, so they're pretty versatile bikes - a good place to start.
The other thing I'd urge you to consider is gearing. I tow kids a bit and I use some pretty low gears at times. It depends on the rider and the terrain, of course, but if you plan on towing kids up hills of any consequence, I'd suggest staying away from the flat-bar road bike. MTBs will have low-enough gearing to begin with. Hybrids vary a bit, but it's usually to arrange any necessary changes at purchase time.
-
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 1:50 pm
Re: Type of bike to purchase ?
Postby Turquoise2012 » Thu Nov 15, 2012 11:14 pm
Avanti explorer (2012) model I think
Scott sportster 40 (2011 I think)
Avanti Montari 29.1(2013)
Bauer Suburban
Or Jamis Ventura Sport
Any that stand out or fall short compared to the rest ?
Cheers
- rangersac
- Posts: 1438
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 11:01 am
- Location: Southern Tasmania
Re: Type of bike to purchase ?
Postby rangersac » Fri Nov 16, 2012 10:55 am
These all have front suspension. From your description of what you'll be using the bike for, it's an unneccesary weight to be carrying around. I'd only consider suspension on a MTB for tackling rough trails.Turquoise2012 wrote:Avanti explorer (2012) model I think
Scott sportster 40 (2011 I think)
Avanti Montari 29.1(2013)
This is an entry level road bike. It wouldn't be particularly suitable for taking off the tarmac. The gearing would also be high for towing kiddies.Turquoise2012 wrote:Jamis Ventura Sport
Turquoise2012 wrote:Bauer Suburban
This is your best bet out of the group you've chosen. The gearing will be low enough for towing, the disc brakes will give you a bit of extra stopping power when you have a trailer on the back, and the 32C tires are wide enough to be reasonably comfortable on gravel roads and shared paths (as long as you don't attempt any radical manoeuvres!).
I haven't ridden any of these bikes, however for a comparison I use a flat bar roadie with broadly similar specs to the Bauer (similar gearing ratios and tire width, slightly higher end components and wheels, and rim brakes instead of discs). It does me fine for commuting on the tarmac and gravel tracks, and for towing the kids.
-
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 1:50 pm
Re: Type of bike to purchase ?
Postby Turquoise2012 » Fri Nov 16, 2012 12:03 pm
I was not thinking of the additional weight
Cheers
- MattyK
- Posts: 3257
- Joined: Fri Oct 01, 2010 1:07 pm
- Location: Melbourne
Re: Type of bike to purchase ?
Postby MattyK » Fri Nov 16, 2012 2:19 pm
When you are riding alone and faster, the increased weight on your pedals takes the load off your hands.
-
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 1:50 pm
Re: Type of bike to purchase ?
Postby Turquoise2012 » Sat Nov 17, 2012 6:04 pm
I was a little nervous taking the bike home on the new bike rack but we made it.
Now to research what I need re tools bike stands locks etc. (bought the helmet).
For my own curiosity I'll,try and work out what software to monitor my distances and HR etc ( have Garmin and Suunto )
Cheers Turquoise2012
- ozdavo
- Posts: 997
- Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 12:03 pm
- Location: Gold Coast (nth)
Re: Type of bike to purchase ?
Postby ozdavo » Sat Nov 17, 2012 6:22 pm
Do you have a smart phone? If so there are many apps that you can use. Strava is a popular one among cyclists due to its social network/competitive side.Turquoise2012 wrote: For my own curiosity I'll,try and work out what software to monitor my distances and HR etc ( have Garmin and Suunto )
Cheers Turquoise2012
It's free and great to track your progress.
Sent from my iThingy using Tapatalk
-
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 1:50 pm
Re: Type of bike to purchase ?
Postby Turquoise2012 » Sat Nov 17, 2012 7:34 pm
- MattyK
- Posts: 3257
- Joined: Fri Oct 01, 2010 1:07 pm
- Location: Melbourne
Return to “Buying a bike / parts”
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: Amazon [Bot]
- All times are UTC+10:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.