Car & Bike Bicycle suggestions

[scottwilly]

Hi,
Looking to buy a bicycle for training.
Requirements:
Light,Strong and fast and good looks.
Budget :
Not sure yet( cause I don't have much idea about the costs and features).
10k -20k maybe.
Not looking for high-end ones.
I'm okey with average featured bike for 10k.

 

[surajspai]

What type are you looking to get?Will you be just road racing,or you want to exercise,or you want to go offroad or do a bit of light offroad and still be able to take part in light racing?or you just want to commute?
Light and Strong and Fast and good-looking.
You can choose just ONE of those.at those budget levels,its not possible.it would have been,maybe in 2010 or 2011.Prices have gone up like anything.
as for bikes,

10k-get the Rockrider 5.0 .Its a hybrid,with semi-slicks.Only decent option at 10k.nothing else.no hercules/hero/local brands.If you manage to get hold of someone who has a Decathlon membership,maybe a few thousands cheaper.

next up,20K-25K-Schwinn Sporterra.again,hybrid bike

these are just the standard recommendations because they are available pretty much everywhere.If you give your location,maybe you could recieve more help,especially if you are Mumbai/Bangalore/Hyderabad.
Also,add another 2k for a decent helmet and 3k more for accessories.these are a must.

Be sure,that if you are going to spend,you will ride and ride hard,not just to join up to socialize with a group of snobs who ride pimped out Bianchis' and TREKs.
I made the mistake of spending too much on a road bike and then decided to get a MTB because i preferred it more.

 

[scottwilly]

I want it for exercise purpose and want to go off-road. I won't be taking part in any racing.
So I guess hybrid will be the better option for me.

 

[sagar.sdm]

OP, I would suggest you buy a MTB.

MTBs have thicker tires, better suspension, and are marginally heavier and stronger - than hybrids. Given your prime usage will be for workouts, and you intend to do some off-road rides - MTB will definitely be a better option.

Thicker (knobby) tires (2.0") - more grip (better for off-road, and on Indian roads), marginally more traction (better for workouts - more pedaling effort required)

Front suspension - better for off-road, over footpath rides (if *you* intend to ride on footpaths during traffic jams, although I would not promote you to). Also, suspension consumes some of your pedaling effort marginally reducing the % tranfer of your pedaling effort to the drivetrain - this results in tougher rides compared to on no suspension.

If at all you start using it for commutes, long distances in particular, you can always buy a new set of semi-slick (1.0"/1.2"/1.5") tires for ~ Rs 1,000 a pair, and use them instead of knobby tires. That would turn your MTB to a hybrid, and make the rides considerably easier.
Additionally, some MTBs have lock-out mechanism on front suspension which enables one to lock the suspension and make it rigid - which also would make the rides easier.

That said, it is hard to find a decent basic MTB below Rs 20,000, thanks to the increase in import duty on cycles. Check Trek 3500, KHS Alite 150 - these should cost close to Rs 20,000. I am not updated with the current models in the market, so will do my bit of research and get back.

Given your limited budget it is better if you hunt for a good-well maintained-used-MTB, after all MTBs from brands such as Trek, Merida, KHS, Cannondale, Bergamont are made to last ages (if maintained well).

Check these online portal for used bikes classifieds - link1 & link2. It might help.

PS: I own a Merida Matts 20 MD, bought in Oct 2009, ~15,000 km run, still doing great.

Good luck, and happy cycling!

 

[surajspai]

~~~edit~~~
Beaten to it by above post.

instead of classifieds,first register at bikeszone.a lot of similar threads,with the exact same budget.and you got experts quoting the pros and cons of things like the drive train,suspesion,brand etc.this would help you understand what you are doing and maybe even compel you to increase your budget.
Do get a helmet though.

@sagar.sdm 15000km on a matts is impressive.i have the TFS100.I recently did a brevet on it and couldnt walk for a few days.

 

[sagar.sdm]

Check these online portal for used bikes classifieds - link1 & link2. It might help.

Link2 from my above post takes you to Bikeszone for-sale thread. I would also recommed OP to explore Bikeszone forum to get more information. If OP has time, I would highly recommend going through this buying guide from one of the Bikeszone veterans. It's a LOT of useful information there.

By the way, if your budget is too tight and limited to Rs 10,000 - as @surajspai has suggested earlier, Rockrider 5.0 is THE bike you should opt for. Go through threads realted to Rockrider 5.0 on Bikeszone forum, that would help. There are a lot of happy RR 5.0 owners out there.

Cheers.

 

[tiwari]

you can also check cyclop group on FB for second hand bikes.
For starters under budget Rockrider 5.0 is more than enough.
Cheers !!

 

[imkaush]

both bikezone forum and cyclop FB group are awesome places for bike info/buying/selling...

I have recently bought RR 5.0 from Decathlon Mumbai(Thane) for 9.5k + 1.5k accessories...
I must say, it's an awesome bike....great VFM...

 

[scottwilly]

I think I need to invest some time visiting the bikezone forum and then decide. Thanks guys for the info.

 

[Being.smart]

Check my gallery, i had bough Upland M-5015 via Suncross dealer approx 1 yr ago, nice MTB , you will surely love it :X :X

at that time i had bought it for 28k something, don't know current price since there is a hike in import duty

 

[rdst_1]

Damn. I still remember buying bicycles for 1k and thinking that was expensive.

Are there still normal brands available for someone who is only looking to get one for exercising in the morning. I hate jogging and used to love cycling so wanted to get back but just for morning runs. Say 15-20kms daily in the morning.

 

[imkaush]

Damn. I still remember buying bicycles for 1k and thinking that was expensive.

Are there still normal brands available for someone who is only looking to get one for exercising in the morning. I hate jogging and used to love cycling so wanted to get back but just for morning runs. Say 15-20kms daily in the morning.

AFAIK, normal/local brands nowadays have basic bikes priced 4k onwards

 

[stalker]

except you wont get 'normal' bicycles.
4k will probably buy you a 25kilo monster with springs & deer horns.

@OP head over to www.bikeszone.com
Much better place for your queries. (Do read the stickies before posting there)

 

[stalker]

Thicker (knobby) tires (2.0") - more grip (better for off-road, and on Indian roads), marginally more traction (better for workouts - more pedaling effort required)

BS reasoning. The lightest of carbon fibre road bikes will do just fine on Indian roads. You don't need a mountain bike for riding on Indian roads.
More pedaling effort does not equate to a better work out.

 

[kippu]

one more for rockrider 5 , if not then a hercules act 110 (12-14) , then a sporterra

 

[surajspai]

no act 110's.TI says that the QC issues were sorted out but the occasional falling apart is heard once in a while.
i have a act 110S and have spent considerable time and money swapping out parts

 

[sagar.sdm]

BS reasoning. The lightest of carbon fibre road bikes will do just fine on Indian roads. You don't need a mountain bike for riding on Indian roads.
More pedaling effort does not equate to a better work out.

Sire, first of all, my post was based on comparisons between mountain bikes to hybrids, and which would be better for OP given that he is a beginner to cycling and has a limited budget; and which of the two kinds would be a one-in-all solution for him. Road bikes were never considered in the context, ever. Moreover, OP intends to ride off-road, and not take part in any races.

About the Indian roads, my bad for choosing to be brief. I did not refer to only the good roads in India here, but generally to the ones that are pothole prone, with uneven tarmac, or with lot of gravel at most parts. I ride in Bangalore, and I for sure have encountered much more roads of the nature I refer to here - bad Indian roads, if you will - than the roads that are quite the opposite; even in the heart of the city. Let alone the roads in the rural areas. MTBs with knobby tires (less air pressure, more volume) offer more comfort and grip - than the skinnier tires that the hybrids come with - especially on bad Indian roads.

If OP chooses to ride only on some selected good roads, then it is a different case, I agree. Serious cyclists here, who train regularly on their road bikes, usually do their training rides on selected roads - either highways, or freshly laid out roads in the outskirts - for a reason.

Now, about the second part - I disagree. Given similar conditions - same rider, road, terrain & time; but two different bikes viz., MTB or hybrid - riding which bike would provide more workout? Clue - MTB, for they are heavier; have knobby tires which results in higher traction/rolling resistance, hence demands more effort from the rider. Why do some cyclists prefer to ride heavier bikes for their training, but choose to ride lighter carbon bikes for races? Why are routes with significant climbing (uphills, with altitude gain) considered better for workouts, than just plain flat routes? Because, the former demands the rider to exert more effort than the latter, the former results in more calories burned than the latter. I could just go on - but speaking only for the context here.

Again, please note that road bikes or road-racing or training for road-racing is not at all considered here. Only mountain bikes vs. hybrids, with limited budget - Rs 10 to 20k, for better workouts.

And, may I request you to not make quick, harsh ('BS') comments? There are more finer ways you can put it across. It is easy to make such comments, but is not OK. I am always open for a healthy discussion/debate, and I encourage it - irrespective of my points being logical or not. Everyone is here to learn & help and so am I.

 

[surajspai]

true,but,for a learner,it may not be a good experience.I know a LOT of people,who in the good ol' days purchased trek 4300's with phat 2.0's as all-in-ones.but,due to the effort,have given up cycling.heck,even among the light and fast bike owners,not too many have the ability to crank it in the outer chainring,because of the effort.more effort would hit the knees badly,and,if one does it right off the bat,with minimal form or exercise,the results can be bad.
comfort,grip can be easily attained with experience and riding technique IMO.you DO get to see a lot of commuters in bangalore on khs-300s or hybrids with skinny tires.

 

[stalker]

Sire, first of all, my post was based on comparisons between mountain bikes to hybrids, and which would be better for OP given that he is a beginner to cycling and has a limited budget; and which of the two kinds would be a one-in-all solution for him.
..snip..
If OP chooses to ride only on some selected good roads, then it is a different case, I agree.

I am not calling you out for suggesting the OP buy a MTB/hybrid.

I mentioned Road bikes to emphasize that the other end of the spectrum exists too. IMHO if road bikes can comfortably be ridden on 'Indian roads' there is no reason why a hybrid would not suffice. An MTB is NOT a requirement to deal with Indian roads comfortably. Any kind of road conditions can be ridden on with thin tires and no suspension. 'Indian roads' do not 'require' suspension/phat tires'. If you have trouble riding on broken up roads without 'suspension/phat tires' you need to work on your riding technique. The perceived 'comfort' of riding knobby tires is easily overcome by the additional stress of pushing a heavier more cumbersome bike (I'll address this below too).

Serious cyclists also happen to commute to work on these very same 'Indian roads' on all kinds of bikes (road/hybrid/mtbs) without issue. Unless one rides trails/offroad, an MTB is not a necessity. (Not the case for the OP, but again, I'm calling you out on the justification used, not the actual suggestion itself).

Now, about the second part - I disagree. Given similar conditions - same rider, road, terrain & time; but two different bikes viz., MTB or hybrid - riding which bike would provide more workout?
..snip..
And, may I request you to not make quick, harsh ('BS') comments? There are more finer ways you can put it across. It is easy to make such comments, but is not OK. I am always open for a healthy discussion/debate, and I encourage it - irrespective of my points being logical or not. Everyone is here to learn & help and so am I.

A good workout is not just about the effort exerted or the number of calories burnt. Given the same conditions/rider/time a roadbike/hybrid can provide the same or even a better workout. A hybrid/roadbike will always give you the option to adjust intensity to get a 'better workout'. Again, all I'm calling out here is your reasoning of 'a heavier bike providing a better work out'. This is simply not true. Advice like this can easily lead a n00b down a path of disillusionment.

And, may I request you to not make quick, harsh ('BS') comments? There are more finer ways you can put it across. It is easy to make such comments, but is not OK. I am always open for a healthy discussion/debate, and I encourage it - irrespective of my points being logical or not. Everyone is here to learn & help and so am I.

My bad. Could have been clearer.

@OP/anyone else interested in picking up cycling. A good page that summarizes a pile of information that is available on BikesZone/other sources is http://www.freerider.in/drupal/General/Cycling-Gyan

 

[sagar.sdm]

I am not calling you out for suggesting the OP buy a MTB/hybrid.

I mentioned Road bikes to emphasize that the other end of the spectrum exists too. IMHO if road bikes can comfortably be ridden on 'Indian roads' there is no reason why a hybrid would not suffice. An MTB is NOT a requirement to deal with Indian roads comfortably. Any kind of road conditions can be ridden on with thin tires and no suspension. 'Indian roads' do not 'require' suspension/phat tires'. If you have trouble riding on broken up roads without 'suspension/phat tires' you need to work on your riding technique. The perceived 'comfort' of riding knobby tires is easily overcome by the additional stress of pushing a heavier more cumbersome bike (I'll address this below too).

Serious cyclists also happen to commute to work on these very same 'Indian roads' on all kinds of bikes (road/hybrid/mtbs) without issue. Unless one rides trails/offroad, an MTB is not a necessity. (Not the case for the OP, but again, I'm calling you out on the justification used, not the actual suggestion itself).

I agree to all your points. But.

I never meant that an MTB is a requirement/necessity to ride on Indian roads, but that it is *better* than a hybrid. Additionally, an MTB can *almost* be made a hybrid by using semi-slick tires and by making the suspension rigid by using lock-out option.

However, after all this, an MTB might still be slightly heavier than a hybrid - but it must be lived with. Entry level MTB and hybrid cycles' weight might vary by a kg or two at the most, i.e., if the hybrid does not have a front suspension. If any difference in riding effort is felt - it will not be just due to the weight, but also due to the kind of tires on the bike & the suspension.

Considering OP intends to ride off-road, I thought that an MTB would be a win-win/ one-in-all solution for him. I haven't started with the riding geometry of MTB vs. hybrid yet. Frame geometry matters a lot too for the kinds of ride one does. For off-road, MTB geometry is definitely a plus.

A good workout is not just about the effort exerted or the number of calories burnt. Given the same conditions/rider/time a roadbike/hybrid can provide the same or even a better workout. A hybrid/roadbike will always give you the option to adjust intensity to get a 'better workout'. Again, all I'm calling out here is your reasoning of 'a heavier bike providing a better work out'. This is simply not true. Advice like this can easily lead a n00b down a path of disillusionment.

Agree.

I went wrong when I said that more pedaling effort is required to ride an MTB than a hybrid. It is true if speed is considered constant. At a given speed hybrid would require less effort than an MTB, vice-versa. But considering speed a constant here is impractical, and does not make sense.

However, it cannot be denied that an MTB can also be used for any intensity workout/training. Any intensity ride - easy/hard/extremely hard or different HR zones - can all be attained on any kind of bike, but at varying speeds. If only speed thrills one, or is a requirement, then he should opt for a lighter bike - hybrid/road - but at an additional cost.

It all depends on a lot of factors, really. Understanding how to get a good cycling workout or following it isn't easy. I'm a learner too in that sense, and have a long way to go.

@OP/anyone else interested in picking up cycling. A good page that summarizes a pile of information that is available on BikesZone/other sources is http://www.freerider.in/drupal/General/Cycling-Gyan

+1. It is a good summary of all the right information from various sources. Thanks for sharing this. Most of my learning so far has come from whatever I have read on BikesZone too.

Cheers.