I need help. I'm after a good bike (the peddling kind, unfortunately) so I got my hands on a catalogue to see what's doing. Now I have to admit I had no idea there were so many kinds, with such a wide price range. From a few hundred dollars, to $5,000. Mongoose, Giant, Composite, what the?
Does anyone here know ANYTHING at all about the bloody things? I'm willing to spend quite a bit for a good one (I'm sick of walking everywhere), but would like to avoid dishing out an extra $500 for some little gadget that I won't even notice. Ta in advance to all kind hearted souls who take the time to help a poor suffering individual with very sore (but well built) legs.
Hello, Dylan.
Here are some links for you:
http://www.totalbike.com/articles/how_to_buy_bicycle.html
http://products.consumerguide.com/cp/family/background/index.cfm/id/11329
http://www.bicycles.net.au/links/shops.html
http://www.bisa.asn.au/faq/bisafaq.html
http://galifrey.triode.net.au/getting_started/bikebuy2.html
Personal recommendation: unless you ride like a wimp, buy a mountain bike, and stay away from hybrids. I fell for the hybrid pitch and am now regretting it every time I have to take the bike in to have the wheels straightened. ðŸ˜
-Ray.
if your gonna get a suspension bike, get it with at least semi-decent suspension (manitu, RST, rock shoxx). cause the cheappy suspension does more harm that good-it bounces up and down when your trying to go up a hill so your wasting energy (it should all be going to make you go up the hill, but instead it's making you go up the hill and up and down).
personally though-i'd go for a racing bike. i live in scotland (hilly, windy country) and have been cycling to my work, whihc is about 10 miles away, for the last few months. racing bikes are soooooooooo much easier when you have a head wind! but, tbh, a mountain bike does the job fine.
Originally posted by geniusi have a specialised, its not great but it is kind of bottom of the range at about $900-1000 austrailan dollars, but i would recomend a higher range one.
if your gonna get a suspension bike, get it with at least semi-decent suspension (manitu, RST, rock shoxx). cause the cheappy suspension does more harm that good-it bounces up and down when your trying to go up a hill so your wasting energy (it should all be going to make you go up the hill, but instead it's making you go up the hill and up and down).
per ...[text shortened]... soooooooooo much easier when you have a head wind! but, tbh, a mountain bike does the job fine.
if you were going for a suspension bike go for a mazzaroci bomber or a rockshox.
I would also recomend good disk brakes rather than v-brakes.
David
Russ: Very good point. I'll be parking it next to a car park at night while I work, so I probably shouldn't get anything too smikko. I'll spend the extra cash on some beefy bike chains instead.
rgoudie: Thank you Ray! I'll wade through those tomorrow 😉. (And I don't usually ride like a wimp, so mountain bike it is. 😀)
DreamlaX: Buy the bike!
royalchicken: I reckon those "logistical issues" would probably double that price, mate 😉. Thanks for the offer, though.
genius: Is there a way I can tell the difference between crappy suspension and the good on sight? Is it worth getting suspension at all if most riding will be done on road?
Originally posted by JackoSo there's a notable difference between disk brakes and the usual garden variety? Braking in general always seems like such a waste of time.
i have a specialised, its not great but it is kind of bottom of the range at about $900-1000 austrailan dollars, but i would recomend a higher range one.
if you were going for a suspension bike go for a mazzaroci bomber or a rockshox.
I would also recomend good disk brakes rather than v-brakes.
David
Living in Holland I would like to think of myself as a professional on the subject of bikes.
Alas, I can just about ride one and even then I tend to fall off quite frequently. Never mind mend tyres or whatever.
BUT
What do you want the bike for? Where do you live?
See, if you live in say Rotterdam, you will want a very simple and cheap bike (gets stolen and broken a lot), no gears (no hills) and two very good locks.
If you live on Bonnyton drive in Eaglesham in Scotland you will want a light bike with lots of gears (it's very hilly).
Now, if you plan to cross country to work, then you should think about a mountain bike. If on the other hand it's cycle paths all the way and you want to do it as fast as possible...buy a racer.
So see what you want it for and what sort of terrain you'll be riding. Or write it down here and I'll be able to advice you.
Originally posted by dyldepending on the type of disk brake there can be a difference. If you get a cheapish disk there is not really a difference between them and normal, but if your getting a $5000 there should be good brakes if it has them.
So there's a notable difference between disk brakes and the usual garden variety? Braking in general always seems like such a waste of time.
For genius question, try to get suspension with an ajusable option. Mine range from 80mm to 100mm so i can change it depending on how smooth i want it. Better bkike have a big range where as some cheaper forks only have a 50mm sus.
David
Originally posted by dyltimebombted is from Oz. Message him. He rides all the time. And sometimes uses a bike :-D
I need help. I'm after a good bike (the peddling kind, unfortunately) so I got my hands on a catalogue to see what's doing. Now I have to admit I had no idea there were so many kinds, with such a wide price range. From a few hundred dollars, to $5,000. Mongoose, Giant, Composite, what the?
Does anyone here know ANYTHING at all about the bloody things? I'm ...[text shortened]... ouls who take the time to help a poor suffering individual with very sore (but well built) legs.