Please Recommend a First Bike for 17km per Weekday
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Please Recommend a First Bike for 17km per Weekday
Postby Luke Skystalker » Tue Dec 29, 2015 8:29 pm
I signed up because I want to buy a bike. I know I should respect the process & research for myself but 7 months after joining I realise I just don't have the time to do this (I have an 18 month old son - I know, I know...excuses...excuses). That's 7 months of riding & being healthy that I've lost and I don't want to lose any more. If I didn't have 2 weeks off work for Christmas I wouldn't have time to post this.
I haven't ridden a bike consistently since my early teens. I'm now 41.
I'm 6'3''.
I'm 115kg but should lose 20kg by dieting & riding to/from work.
Google maps says to ride from Canterbury to Marrickville & back is 17km of riding a weekday.
I bought a Dunlop Scimitar for $100 from Big W about 10 years ago & it has never been rideable (I will make a separate post about this.) Even if I was to get it tuned properly at a bike shop I don't think it would be close to satisfactory for my needs?
My wife wants me to buy this tomorrow from Aldi:
https://www.aldi.com.au/en/special-buys ... 700c-bike/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Just saying.
I have no interest in buying something that will disappoint or stall my goal of getting healthy.
Thanks in advance for recommending a bike.
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Re: Please Recommend a First Bike for 17km per Weekday
Postby AUbicycles » Tue Dec 29, 2015 9:52 pm
The best value will be a second-hand bike but the catch is spending time and knowing bikes and the market because there is plenty of junk out there that catches people out.
For you, the best option is a bike shop though depending on where you live, you may wish to go for one of the bike-shops who don't have the 'big brands', rather more affordable own-brands. As an example, Polygon, Cell Bikes or Reid Bikes.
I encourage you to go in-store so that you can get the right size bike rather than guessing and buying online. You probably don't really to up-size - a more expensive bike will be lighter, have higher quality running gear but may not actually make a substantial difference for you on the road - as long as you look after the bike such as regularly cleaning and lubing the chain (and being prepared to service every 6 months to keep it in good nick).
Look for a flat-bar bike with mudguards which will be convenient for all-weather riding. Consider that your budget will extend to a good quality bike lock, helmet and likely some other riding gear to be comfortable (e.g. suitable rain jacket, glasses and gloves). For your budget, also calculate the cost savings over public transport or a car, which may allow you to increase your budget.
Here are some examples from Cell Bikes in the budget segment. One has mudguards which is a plus (others can be retrofitted) but there are varying styles.
Cell SS200 $399
Cell Urban Chill 7 $219
Cell Fitzroy 1.0 $399
A disclosure as the admin of this site, Cell Bikes are an advertiser on BNA but this isn't an advertisement.
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Re: Please Recommend a First Bike for 17km per Weekday
Postby trailgumby » Tue Dec 29, 2015 9:59 pm
At 6'3" you will likely be looking at either a Large or Extra Large frame size. Those Aldi bikes are one-size-fits-nobody. A bike that does not fit will be uncomfortable at best, and a cause of injury more likely.
In fact, calling them a bike is being generous - Bicycle Shaped Object would be more accurate. While $229 is quite a low price, a bike you do not ride or that injures you is not a bargain.
So, the first order of business is to visit a bike shop local to you and work out what size you need. Worry about budget and how many gears etc only afgter that.
Does that make sense?
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Re: Please Recommend a First Bike for 17km per Weekday
Postby RonK » Wed Dec 30, 2015 8:53 am
I would suggest the ultimate low-maintenance bike is one with an internally geared hub and belt drive. This may be the best option for you.
There is a thread discussing the various models available here.
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Re: Please Recommend a First Bike for 17km per Weekday
Postby tez001 » Wed Dec 30, 2015 12:08 pm
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Re: Please Recommend a First Bike for 17km per Weekday
Postby rodneycc » Wed Dec 30, 2015 1:57 pm
Avoid the Aldi. Cell bikes Boxing Day sales are a little disappointing I must admit, they usually have some really good stuff around this time of year, but yeah underwhelming this year round. The Cell SS200 probably the best buy for $399 with the Sora and Claris components if they have your size.
Reid cycles do have better sales on at the moment until Jan 5. Hard to go past the Reid Osprey Flatbar for $449. If you rather try a dropbar which if you do get the cycling bug you will quite probably end up buying a bike with a dropbar rather than a flatbar then the 2015 Reid Osprey Elite is the pick at $549 (which they only have XL size left so right up your alley! Would be my overall pick). The Reid Falco Advanced is another really good buy at $749 but that might be over budget...(but well worth it though for what you get).
Anyway Go and try a few out is my tip. Also get a good fit, with your size its going to be crucial to your enjoyment. Its really important to find a good bike shop you are comfortable with. That is actually more important than the cost of the bike itself!
But you will be right. You can use the Force and all will be well
2013 Lynskey Helix;2013 XACD Ti Di2
2013 Giant TCR Adv SL1;2014 Giant Defy Adv SL
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Re: Please Recommend a First Bike for 17km per Weekday
Postby Leaf T » Wed Dec 30, 2015 5:11 pm
Looks something like this....it's a common sight amongst other cyclists usually noticeable when stopped at the lights and although not always visible it's there.
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Re: Please Recommend a First Bike for 17km per Weekday
Postby outnabike » Thu Dec 31, 2015 11:57 am
Pretty close to the mark Ron. As a kid I had a 3 speed Sturmy Archer, Healing semi racer, till I was 18 and it took me every where. My wifes little bike has an ally frame and internal 8 speed Shimano. What a great bike for her and never missed a beat for the last couple of years.RonK wrote:So, you are time poor, and from reading your other thread, mechanically inept. Cheap bikes often need plenty of tuning and maintenance - the cheap components wear quickly and go out of adjustment. If you cannot do it yourself then you need to spend more for a better quality bike which should require less maintenance.
I would suggest the ultimate low-maintenance bike is one with an internally geared hub and belt drive. This may be the best option for you.
There is a thread discussing the various models available here.
The huffy's we had first up nearly put us off riding permanently. But it was a good learning curve and also a $1000-00 spend against an $120-00 spend.
Those Cells look a lot better than my Huffy ever did.
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Re: Please Recommend a First Bike for 17km per Weekday
Postby Leaf T » Thu Dec 31, 2015 12:19 pm
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Re: Please Recommend a First Bike for 17km per Weekday
Postby ianganderton » Thu Dec 31, 2015 2:53 pm
The way a bike fits/feels is worth a lot. The easiest way to find out about this is to visit as many bike shops as you can in an afternoon and test ride some. The advice you will get from the shop staff is likely to be a bit contradictory and confusing but what you feel is likely to be pretty clear.
Unless you love tinkering with bikes you will need to find a local bike shop to help you anyway
Cell seem to offer great value for money. We recently brought a bike for my fiancé for a daily 16km commute and other urban riding
It's been great so far. I'd highly recommend visiting one of their shops and sitting on some. Buying mail order is fraught with problems.
But the bike you WANT to ride. If you don't actually really want to ride it you won't. There are racks of excuses that prevent people getting into a cycle commuting habit. Not loving your bike is a huge one that people rarely admit to
What ever bike you buy at this point won't last you for ever if you find yourself using it as planned. You will upgrade and lust for other shiny things but this won't matter because you will have gained so much more. You will be using the most sustainable form of transport on the planet, you will be fitter and healthier both in body and mind plus you will have saved loads of money on other forms of transport
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Re: Please Recommend a First Bike for 17km per Weekday
Postby tgdavies » Sun Jan 03, 2016 9:38 am
I've found the Cell good, but do take it in for the free tune up -- I didn't do this, and some loose spokes developed which broke. Cell Stanmore were (IMHO) good about it -- they rebuilt the wheel and did a general check/adjustment for $50, but if I'd had the free service done after a couple of weeks, the problem would probably have been completely avoided. So I'd agree that buying in store is the way to go, and make sure you start commuting immediately after the purchase.
I also found that the original chain wore after 800kms, so keep an eye on that.
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Re: Please Recommend a First Bike for 17km per Weekday
Postby grimbo » Mon Jan 04, 2016 12:47 pm
http://www.this link is broken/Cell-Otway-2-0
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Re: Please Recommend a First Bike for 17km per Weekday
Postby Xplora » Tue Jan 05, 2016 8:25 am
17kms is a long way every day, and you will be a changed man in 3 months. The cell bike is good, but 1000 bucks will seem cheap in 2017.
The most expensive bike is one you do not ride.
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Re: Please Recommend a First Bike for 17km per Weekday
Postby Cheesewheel » Tue Jan 05, 2016 8:45 am
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Re: Please Recommend a First Bike for 17km per Weekday
Postby brumby33 » Tue Jan 05, 2016 9:12 am
Whatever bike you decide on, comfort is the biggest thing for someone starting out, all bikes will be a bit awkward feeling at first but a week or two in the saddle should start feeling a lot better...it's just the pressure of your weight sitting on a narrower platform that gets you.
Secondly, be kind to your legs, don't try and push through on a high gear, doesn't matter if you're spinning the pedals a bit faster than you want coz that's what gears are for, to make it easier to ride and when you're starting to feel pressure on your legs (ie a sight burning sensation) change down and keep spinning.
Depends on which way you go, (I'm thinking the road via Dulwich hill station) is a fairly up hill on the way to work so you'll definitely get that workout (better than a Gym) do yourself a favour buy a good rear rack and some pannier bags so you can take a change of clothes and some shower stuff with you to work and lastly.....give yourself plenty of time, don't leave getting out there till the last minute, especially in the beginning coz you will want to stop a few times to get your breath and carry heaps of water...see if you can get a bike that can fit 2 bidons to carry a bottle each or buy a camelback with at least 2 litre bladder.
My suggestion is to do a trial ride first on a Saturday or Sunday to work to see how long it may take and then leave a good 20- 30 minutes above that so you can freshen up before you take in a day's work...I guarantee you while you might feel tired at first, you'll also feel good with a sense of achievement and you'll be wide awake...better than coffee!! Doing a trial run first won't put you in the bad books with the boss...unless of course you are the boss
Try and enjoy your ride to work, have a good look around, take in the smells (except on garbage collection day ) I love it when riding home when most people are getting the evening meal on the way and the smells of food cooking is diverse to the simple or the very aromic of foreign dishes (no shortage of that in the Marrickville region)
Good luck.....let us all know how you go with it.....I'm really enjoying to commute by bicycle (sometimes motorcycle but rarely car) I'm needing now to go to work the looong way as I'm wanting to ride more before work...I've only recently started and I'm 15 yrs older and a bit heavier than you.
Cheers
Dave
VWR Patagonia 2017
2003 Diamondback Sorrento Sport MTB
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Re: Please Recommend a First Bike for 17km per Weekday
Postby Leaf T » Tue Jan 05, 2016 12:01 pm
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Re: Please Recommend a First Bike for 17km per Weekday
Postby Luke Skystalker » Sat Feb 18, 2017 1:03 pm
Thanks for the useful advice guys. I didn't reply until now because I only just finally made it happen.
I went to Cell bicycles at Stanmore this morning. The salesman was very helpful. He recommended the http://www.this link is broken/Totem-Cross-Disc-Pro (AT) $600. I mentioned that it felt a little bumpy and he had me try the http://www.this link is broken/Totem-Roam-29 (AT) $550. I did prefer the Roam during the 5 minute ride on the sidewalks of Stanmore. The salesman said the Cross Disc Pro might feel better with less air in the tyres. (I think he said they inflate to 50PSI at the shop.) My concern is what will be best in a month after riding 80km a week.
Any thoughts on these bikes?
Thanks again!
PS I've moved to Belfield so my journey will now be 9.9km each way.
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Re: Please Recommend a First Bike for 17km per Weekday
Postby rodneycc » Sat Feb 18, 2017 3:25 pm
I actually think there is a better range at Reid cycles, 99 bikes and the new kid on the block Bicycles Online with the Polygon range.
All you are really looking for a good sturdy Urban or City bike with preferably a solid fork (forget the suspension fork) with some decent components. You would reckon you would find a million of those but finding a decent decked out spec instead of junk can be difficult. Something like the Merida Speeder 100 is a good example or Polygon Helios F3 or F5. Or if you are a little more game try test riding a dropbar in comparison.
And yes you are justified in thinking what will be the best bike for me in a couple of months time. Hard to answer that but you do get use to the bumpyness so my thinking would be more along the lines of what bike fits me best and feels the more "solid", shifting gears, pedaling, frame structure stiffness, that sort of thing. Bumpyness you can sort out with better quality tyres usually.
Anyway good luck with it. Cheers.
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2013 Giant TCR Adv SL1;2014 Giant Defy Adv SL
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Re: Please Recommend a First Bike for 17km per Weekday
Postby Velt » Sun Feb 19, 2017 3:00 pm
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