Best bang-for-buck flat bar bike

xxamr_corpxx

If your're looking for pure cost-effectiveness, buy a second hand road bike (the older Avanti ones are very nice) from the 1990s, get some downtube shifter gear cable stops from PBK, and get some shifters from an older MTB. It's a commuter, it doesn't need to be flash and aluminium.

I did it with a Diamondback but the stem was too short - you may need a newer longer stem, but try it with your existing one before you buy a new one.

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2004 Trek 1000
2005 Giant Elwood
ACE Folding Bicycle

gadler

Guys, firstly thank you all for imparting all this knowledge to someone who is fairly new at all this. Im finding this forum extremely useful.

A question which has baffled me - what makes a road bike that much faster than a flat bar? Or for that matter any bike faster than another?

Obvioulsy weight is a significant factor...but what are all the other MAIN factors? Drivetrain? Wheels? etc?

Thanks
G.

artemidorus

A flat bar bike with a steep seat tube angle, 23mm tyres, 700c wheels and bars as low as racing drops would be just as fast as a drop bar bike - it just wouldn't allow you a more comfortable position such as you get from tops or hoods on a drop bar. Flat bar bikes tend to have shallower angles, longer head tube and higher bars, so you just can't get the same low position with opened hips as you can on an aggressive drop bar bike.

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"All that we see and seem is but a dream, within a dream..."

gadler

Thanks...

23mm's being the diameter?

700c being the width measurment of the rims??

JeremyP

23mm is the width
700c is the diameter i.e ISO 622mm

Proteus2000

I am currently borrowing a ex girl friends hybrid bike.
Looking for a new bicycle. Specs .in order of importance
Price : $900-1300
Gears : 24+ (Shimano Deore or better)
Type : Light Hybrid or Road. i.e 700cc Wheels
Weight : Lighter the better. (9 - 13kg)
Forks : Lockable Suspension or Raked[Curved] (NOT Straight Forks too hard on hands)
Wheels : Marvic or equivalent
Brakes : are disc brakes better than Rim Brakes??

Some Brand/Models I have been looking at
Giant -- Perigee ~$1200 (No disc Brakes)
Giant -- Talon ~$1245 (with Disc Brakes)


Have about 3 weeks to look around Test and evaluate

Does anybody Newsagent or Person have a copy of Bicycle Australia's 2006 Buyers guide. Is this worth getting a copy of. Have been looking for one.
But Mooney Ponds newsagent sold last copy a couple of weeks ago


Thanks for any help in advance

Cheers James P.

gclark8

James, add the Giant crx0 to the look list.

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Cheers,
George.

JeremyP

James, are you riding this on the road? If so I'd go for a rigid fork, especially with your budget. Bikes in your mentioned price range are normally equiped with carbon forks - and are quite comfy.

A CRX is a faster bicycle than a Talon or Perigee. Seeing you will be visiting a Giant dealer, also try out a 08 OCR1. You'll find the extra hand positions useful. If you are riding on gravel/grass you can swap over with cyclocross tyres.

I know the temptation to purchase something with a suspension fork and disc brakes as a first commuter bike. lt's a trap we all go through and most end up with multiple bikes .

Proteus2000

Thanks JeremyP
I did go to my Giant dealer I had walked past a Giant CRX - Zero on a number of occasions. RRP AU$2296 . Never asked about it because it was out of my price range. Liked the look of it cool . Probably the right size .. SM:"Nice bike.. weren't you the quy asking about it?" Me:"No it is Nice, but its too expensive" ..."Its over 2 grand and definitly out of my price range."...SM:"Whats your price range again?..Me:"$1000 to $1300. But would you consider $1500?"...SM:"No my boss would sack me tomorrow"...Boss overhears..BOSS:"It is an ex demo was taken out for a couple of hours by a magazine a couple of months ago and everyone that has seen it has been the wrong size for them"...
WELL I now have a $1500 hole in my pocket.
And a fantastic bike. I have done 100k on it and it is great smooth and quick to boot. I hope it does not rain tomorrow ... so I can ride to work again on it.

Thanks for all the feed back
Cheers all

JeremyP

Congrats on the purchase. That is one sweet ride, one of the best , and you got it for a great price.

Safe Riding