Commuting Bike

munga

Whatever bike you decide, consider looking at some use bikes as well. I bought a 5 year old bike (Raceline Peleton 8sp roady for $365) with under 1000km on it for maybe 1/3 it's sticker price (when new) from ebay.
I appreciate that geographically, there are less bikes listed in Perth than the eastern cities, and it's also a bit of extra legwork for you to be looking at bikes all over town versus dropping in at your lbs, but if theres $500 or more to be saved...

j.r.hawkins

I'd limit the age when looking at secondhand to no more than 1-2 years old. Reason is the manufacturers are constantly upgrading or more likely just changing the componentry in order to keep the market turning over, and finding compatible parts for your groupo could become an issue.

Besides, what was second-top shelf 5 years ago is just about entry-level now, based on what I've seen in mountain bikes. So even with the 2/3rd savings you made on sticker price, I reckon you paid no better than fair market value, and missed out on the warranty.

oziedave

Buy the Giant Perigee. Top bike. I've brought mine late Dec 2006 and have covered over 6800 kays on it since. I have used it to ride across Australia (Sydney to Perth. 4801 kays in 30 days...) towing a bob yak trailer, daliy commuting to work (40kays/day), weekend blasts and have also completed the Munda biddi trail on it twice.
Very well set up bike for the price. I'm still using the orginal chain. The only thing that has broken is two spokes on the back wheel (which was my own fault for over tightening whilst towing the trailer..)
I use Continetal Ultra gator skin 700 x 23 tyres for the road and 700 x 42 MTB tyres for off road.
Bike handles the off road stuff very well. Great for long unsealed roads.Very fast on and off road. The only thing I have changed is the seat for a Giant comfort gel seat and upgraded the pedals to Shimano M545 SPD.
I looked at a lot of different bikes and it came down to two. The Giant and a Scott Sportster SP2... Brought the Giant for $1098 and never looked back..

thepeddler

Thanks Oziedave,

I just asked a question in the Munda Biddi post that you have answered here.
Great to find someone who rides the Perigee and you have just helped me vindicate my decision to buy it.

Most people seem to have an issue with the suspension fork when commuting on the road/cycleway but you obviously have no problem with it.

cheers

ps. I was also looking at the Scott Sportster P2

oziedave

Had no problems with the front end. The lock out is very hand and I use it a far bit for climbing or sprinting.
Makes the ride to work a lot more comfy. I run my tyres very hard and the front forks take out all the vibes...
You won't look back, except to over take all those road and mountain bikers...
Had a little trouble finding some 700 MTB tyres. There are a few Cyclocross tyres out there but are expensive. ( Continial and Michelin both make them ) Think mine are Ritchey. Cost $40 each.

thomas_cho

Why get a suspension fork when you lock it out? If possible just get a non-suspension fork, will save some weight from the bike. I am not convinced that one needs front suspension when riding on roads, paths. The money saved could be put towards stronger wheelset.

artemidorus

Sounds like the Sora arrangement is a bit like the Campagnolo set-up, which is used by tens/hundreds of thousands of happy cyclists. It's just a matter of what you get used to. How often do you want to get off the big ring when you're still on the drops?

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artemidorus

If you bought a 9spd 105/Ultegra/DuraAce road bike, you would, as yet, have no objective reason to upgrade whatsoever, unless it were worn out. This would take you back to '02 bikes, or earlier for DA.

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artemidorus

Thomas, I would go so far as to say that I am convinced that I don't need front suspension on sealed surface of just about any kind. I could count the number of bikes with suspension that have passed me on the road in the last year on the fingers of one hand, and still have some left. I'm no cycling superhero, but my road bike will comfortably cruise at 35km/h on the flat and my dual sus mtb definitely will not go near that speed in cruising mode, even with the fork locked out.
But whatever you prefer; if you've got back, neck or arm problems, or if you're carrying some excess weight on the torso, you may have an entirely different perspective.

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

thepeddler

Since my first post I have decided I would also like to do some of the trails in the hills around Perth and the Munda Biddi track as well as some touring.

I can't really afford two bikes and so the Giant seems to fit the bill. The "touring bikes" like the Vivente World Tourer and the Trek 520 etc are out of my price range.

I seems to me that if you can ride from Sydney to Perth, do the Munda Biddi twice and use it for a commute to work what more do you need?

If it was all about speed and purely road I would probably go for one of those skinny wheel drop bar things (lol).