Hello Everyone ,
I am from a South Asian country. I used to ride a crappy $70 bike to school which was 14km away from my village for 8 years.
But, I stopped 12 years ago and never had the chance to ride again.
Now I am 32yrs old, weighing about 80Kg at 176cm height.
I live in Meadowbank and Work in Milsonspoint. I am thinking about commuting to work by a commuter bike. Thats about 17.5km each way.
I borrowed a Road bike from a friend for half an hour and found it scary to ride. The flat handle commuter bikes are somewhat comfortable to me because they resemble what I had back in my country.
I am willing to spend up to $650.
What are your thoughts on this? Any suggestions for a bike?
I am thinking of test riding the following this weekend.
Appreciate your time and thoughts. Thank you very much.
Newbie needs advice [2*17.5km/day commute][city bike<$650]
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Re: Newbie needs advice [2*17.5km/day commute][city bike<$650]
Postby tubby74 » Wed Jul 20, 2016 4:48 pm
that bike is ok for a casual ride but for your commute you'll probably find that too casual, and the gearing will limit your speed on the flats. the urban x2 in the same range seems better suited.
Many disagree but I like by flat bar hybrid for commuting - it just seems easier for the city sections.
Many disagree but I like by flat bar hybrid for commuting - it just seems easier for the city sections.
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Re: Newbie needs advice [2*17.5km/day commute][city bike<$650]
Postby Bavan » Wed Jul 20, 2016 6:11 pm
Thank you Tubby. Reviews look good too. I'm going to consider X2.
I chose the other one because of mud guards. But, an experienced rider's advise carries more weight .
If anyone else have some thoughts, please feel free to confuse me.
I chose the other one because of mud guards. But, an experienced rider's advise carries more weight .
If anyone else have some thoughts, please feel free to confuse me.
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Re: Newbie needs advice [2*17.5km/day commute][city bike<$650]
Postby Thoglette » Wed Jul 20, 2016 6:53 pm
I say "fiddlesticks".Bavan wrote:I chose the other one because of mud guards. But, an experienced rider's advise carries more weight .
If anyone else have some thoughts, please feel free to confuse me.
With a triple & 28T you've got more gears than you can use (you'll eventually run out of top end on the 14T if the front is compact) and you can change the freewheel for much less than the $200 difference AND keep the mudguards.
They both have sensibly sized tyres (you want 32mm+, trust me)
You want mudguards. The longest you can fit. The X2 can't take conventional mudguards on the front. So it's out for me, despite the discs.
The City 1 is relatively heavy at 15kg - Reid is silent on the X2 (maybe the discs are heavier than they'd like?)
Both will need lights (and the Audax clubs are right when they demand two independent lighting systems, thanks to Mr Murphy's impact on batteries and all thing "waterproof")
Frankly, for your first bike, get the cheapest thing you can find that fits your needs. Shortly you'll workout which things float your boat and which don't. Then upgrade-itous and N+1 will kick in.
(disclosure: I commute on a 1 x 7 with centre pulls every day. Commute varies between 11km and 34km depending on the day with a few 10%+ sections. One set of lights has a 3hr run time, the other is duller but runs for 24+ hrs. I still manage to have both lights go flat from time to time )
Stop handing them the stick! - Dave Moulton
"People are worthy of respect, ideas are not." Peter Ellerton, UQ
"People are worthy of respect, ideas are not." Peter Ellerton, UQ
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Re: Newbie needs advice [2*17.5km/day commute][city bike<$650]
Postby Bavan » Sat Jul 23, 2016 7:58 pm
Thank you for your advice Thoglette. I visited the Reid store today.
I really valued the opinions above and used it to discuss my options. I had test rides today. I liked Urban X2 (Large Frame) and its not that heavier than City 1.The disc break is awesome. The only issue is Mudguard. They convinced me that fitting a mud guard is a no biggie. I managed to get a $50 discount, therefore planning to spend it on a Mud guard. Reid doesn't have good mud guards. Therefore I am going to buy somewhere else and get it fitted.
But, i need help in selecting one, because I have no clue if they will fit there. Anyone have ideas?
I am looking at these options.
http://www.this link is broken/au/en/mudguards
http://www.this link is broken.au/lifeline-narro ... guard-set/
I really valued the opinions above and used it to discuss my options. I had test rides today. I liked Urban X2 (Large Frame) and its not that heavier than City 1.The disc break is awesome. The only issue is Mudguard. They convinced me that fitting a mud guard is a no biggie. I managed to get a $50 discount, therefore planning to spend it on a Mud guard. Reid doesn't have good mud guards. Therefore I am going to buy somewhere else and get it fitted.
But, i need help in selecting one, because I have no clue if they will fit there. Anyone have ideas?
I am looking at these options.
http://www.this link is broken/au/en/mudguards
http://www.this link is broken.au/lifeline-narro ... guard-set/
- Thoglette
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- Joined: Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:01 pm
Re: Newbie needs advice [2*17.5km/day commute][city bike<$650]
Postby Thoglette » Sun Jul 24, 2016 1:49 pm
How?Bavan wrote: They convinced me that fitting a mud guard is a no biggie.
There's no eyelets on the front fork. That's "a biggie" which limits you to things like the SKS Raceblades which attach to the fork. (But they are too narrow for your tyres and too short to be really useful)
Stop handing them the stick! - Dave Moulton
"People are worthy of respect, ideas are not." Peter Ellerton, UQ
"People are worthy of respect, ideas are not." Peter Ellerton, UQ
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- Location: Sydney, NSW
Re: Newbie needs advice [2*17.5km/day commute][city bike<$650]
Postby Zippy7 » Sun Jul 24, 2016 9:23 pm
Don't limit yourself to Reid bikes.
Do yourself a favour and look at some others so you get a better idea of what is out there.
Here are some new alternatives.
Cell Bikes have the Ultimo range, but out of stock of 1.0 (shop in Stanmore)
http://www.this link is broken/Cell-Ultimo-1-0
Bikebug also sell some commuter bikes - shops in North Sydney and Rosebery
http://www.bikebug.com/bikes-frames-com ... ml?sort=2a
Bicycles online also have some flatbars and urban/hybrid bikes - they have a shop in Manly.
http://www.bikebug.com/bikes-frames-com ... ml?sort=2a
https://www.bicyclesonline.com.au/bikes ... ent-bikes/
Alternatively, you can shop around for a second hand flatbar roadie in your price range - I sold a 1yr old Merida Speeder T3 that had mudguards, pannier rack, clip pedals and a few accessories for $500 on gumtree.
Other bikes to consider can be those with the shimano alfine or nexus in gear hubs (no deraileurs to worry about), but then its more effort when you have a flat... (was seen in Giant Seek 0/1, Focus Planet, a couple of Polygon bikes)
If you're riding Meadowbank to Milsons Point, the shorter route will mean you stay on the north side of the harbour. That means hills, so gearing is important - try to ensure you get at least a 30t cassette at the rear (32 is better)
A triple front chainring might cause you more shifting issues than a double. I certain cursed aloud whenever the chain dropped and got jammed under the granny (smallest chainring).
Agree with sentiment that you should get the cheapest bike that will do the job. I'm on commuter number 4 and only now am happy with the setup.
Test riding the new bikes at the shops is a must - you have to be comfortable with how it handles, and make sure it has the mounting points for mudguards (and racks if you require them)
As for mudguards, I've had a few different ones in my time, but we can save that for another thread
Do yourself a favour and look at some others so you get a better idea of what is out there.
Here are some new alternatives.
Cell Bikes have the Ultimo range, but out of stock of 1.0 (shop in Stanmore)
http://www.this link is broken/Cell-Ultimo-1-0
Bikebug also sell some commuter bikes - shops in North Sydney and Rosebery
http://www.bikebug.com/bikes-frames-com ... ml?sort=2a
Bicycles online also have some flatbars and urban/hybrid bikes - they have a shop in Manly.
http://www.bikebug.com/bikes-frames-com ... ml?sort=2a
https://www.bicyclesonline.com.au/bikes ... ent-bikes/
Alternatively, you can shop around for a second hand flatbar roadie in your price range - I sold a 1yr old Merida Speeder T3 that had mudguards, pannier rack, clip pedals and a few accessories for $500 on gumtree.
Other bikes to consider can be those with the shimano alfine or nexus in gear hubs (no deraileurs to worry about), but then its more effort when you have a flat... (was seen in Giant Seek 0/1, Focus Planet, a couple of Polygon bikes)
If you're riding Meadowbank to Milsons Point, the shorter route will mean you stay on the north side of the harbour. That means hills, so gearing is important - try to ensure you get at least a 30t cassette at the rear (32 is better)
A triple front chainring might cause you more shifting issues than a double. I certain cursed aloud whenever the chain dropped and got jammed under the granny (smallest chainring).
Agree with sentiment that you should get the cheapest bike that will do the job. I'm on commuter number 4 and only now am happy with the setup.
Test riding the new bikes at the shops is a must - you have to be comfortable with how it handles, and make sure it has the mounting points for mudguards (and racks if you require them)
As for mudguards, I've had a few different ones in my time, but we can save that for another thread
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