Buying a bike to comute in Melbourne.

[bookertfrase]

I was looking to purchase a new bike to comute to work. Its about 30kms per day 3 to 4 times per week. I am about 191 cms tall. My budget is about $1k. My last bike was a schwin and it didnt cut the mustard.

[grimbo]

Cell Bikes are good value and decently made in my experience.

Cell Lapa 2 dropbar: http://www.this link is broken/Cell-Lapa-2-0 - $999 with 105 groupset
Cell Ultimo 2 flatbar: http://www.this link is broken/Cell-Ultimo-2-0 - $899 with hydro brakes

[rangersac]

There's a few things to consider before the bike. Given you've owned a Schwinn I'd imagine you have the necessary gear for the ride, otherwise are you factoring that into the price? Are you all weather or a fair weather only cyclist? As 30km is a decent commute so you will want something pretty solid, and given you are 191cm I'd imagine you tip the scales at a decent heft. At that distance I'd be wanting a rack and panniers as well as a backpack will get tiring. Some suggestions:

Jamis Renegade Exile
Kona Rove

[bookertfrase]

Thanks for the advice. Its 15kms each way and i will ride in poor conditions. My previous bike wasnt up to the task. I usually have a backpack but i think i need a rack and pannies as well now.

[Top_Bhoy]

It was on special and couldn't resist temptation so I bought the black version of this last night.

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FRPXLONROD ... d-frameset

Postage was almost the cost of the frameset...$440 all up.

The plan at the moment is to have it as a flat bar commuter with something like Shimano SLX with disc brakes. Still deliberating whether to have single/double or triple chainset and I suspect the overall cost will be around the $1000 - $1200. However, it should turn out to be a more than decent commuter for my purposes. If the UK reviews are anything to go by, it seems a popular choice.