https://www.bicyclesonline.com.au/2021-marin-rock-spring-1-l…
Thoughts on this?
Any other recommendations?
Looking to make a purchase by tommorow.
$600 Budget for a First Bike
[Deactivated] on 15/02/2021 - 19:04
Comments
Mainly to commute to the gym which is 4km away from me and excersize.
And possibly abit of offroading too now and then
I'd advise in any case to buy a bike from a physical store rather than online (when COVID allows ahaha).
If there are any problems with the bike, then it's much easier to show up in the store and ask for a replacement.
At this price point, I believe that some bike parts can be a bit hit and miss (e.g. Cheap bike wheels can be not totally true, which is an easy thing to check when you're buying in person).If you're in VIC, some good places are Reid cycles and 99bikes.
Hybrid/commuter/cyclocross bikes are much faster on paved bike paths (than mountain bikes) and are still comfortable to ride on gravel. If you intend on using your bike on a proper downhill cycling track, though (e.g. Lysterfield Park Trail), then you NEED a mountain bike.I think this is better value for a mountain bike than what you found: https://www.99bikes.com.au/gt-agressor-expert-27-mountain-bi… (buy gold membership, so your price is $566.1 + $35 (gold membership) - $20 (gold membership welcome voucher) = $581.1 total)
Some hybrid bikes you could buy are
https://www.99bikes.com.au/merida-crossway-20-d-44cm-silk-ti… ($564 total (with gold membership and welcome voucher))
http://www.samsoncycles.com.au/city-cross-hybrid?product_id=… ($669)
https://www.reidcycles.com.au/collections/hybrid-commuter-bi… ($699, although you could probably barter this down to $650)Great suggestions thankyou!
Honestly i dont think ill be doing much offroading at all but im just going to stick with a mountain bike to be on the safe side ha@ninjaE .. you seems to be helpful.. I am after an enty level MTB ? How would you compare Merida Big Nine 20 vs Trek Marlin 5 ? (both costs sround $750)
Also is 2x 8 better than 3x8 ?@Specter003: 3x can be better than 2x. you will probably spend a lot of time in the middle front ring on a 3x setup which also then lead to using the middle of the rear gears - it’s better for chainline/wear. Also makes it quicker to adjust to terrain just shift the rear gears.
In 2x you might find you are using one end of the rear gears and need to change the front more often when terrain changes.
As for the bikes you have mentioned either will be a good model. The cost the same and will have roughly the same equipment. There might be an advantage on one, but the other will have an advantage in a different area. Pick the one most comfortable for YOU to ride, or if you can’t pick the most comfortable, pick tour favourite colour. YOU need to like it to ride it more.
What Ninja said. What are you using it for? That’s a mountain bike, so will be slow on the road, but comfortable.
If it’s for commuting it’s not the right style unless the commute is less than 5km.
If it’s for mountain biking be prepared to find its limits very quickly, it’s only a budget model.
If it’s for pootling around with the kids and the occasional fire trail ride it’ll do the job fine, as will pretty much anything else in the same price bracket.
Don’t forget to allow a few bucks in your budget for a helmet. (Also known as a fine preventer)
Commented above ^
Really just an all rounder
If it’s for mountain biking be prepared to find its limits very quickly, it’s only a budget model.
Right on. Just thinking of a $600 mountain bike on a trail is ludicrous. Would probably not survive more than an hour before the suspension or brakes start failing.
Unless you're just strolling through at 5km/h.
Not quite what I meant. It’ll most likely survive and work ok without ‘failing’. The limitations of geometry, suspension travel and damping won’t be up to rigorous riding and won’t be a good experience like a more expensive bike. $1500 seems to be the sweet spot for proper off road riding on a hardtail mountain bike.
Please just make sure there is a lock function on the front suspension.
Without the lock on the forks absorb a lot of the force of riding, it is horrible.
What I mean is when you push down, your bike will bounce a bit which takes away the power from your legs to the pedal.
Wow i just always assumed those things were for bunny hopping haha didnt know its reduces power loss
Learned something new
Will keep that in mind thanksWhile it’s true that a lockout will help reduce bounce it also depends on the fork and your weight and riding style.
Personally I rarely lockout my forks because I then forget to unlock them for the next section where I want the suspension to do its thing. Doesn’t make a massive difference for me unless I’m stomping the pedals hard while standing.
Ride with a smooth pedal stroke you may not need a lockout.
I agree that a lockout function on the fork suspension is useful for commuting. I used to commute on a mountain bike and it was tough because of the weight of the bike but also because of the lost power from the suspension dampening (I ride a road bike for my commutes now - the difference is night and day, it's so much faster and lighter!).
Forgetting to unlock the lockout just doesn't happen, unless you commute with different sections of road and mountain trail on your route! Even if you do forget, you'll realise straight away when you feel the bumps on the trail… it only takes a couple seconds to unlock.
Suspension is cool and all, but typically won't be much use unless you are going all out on a mountain trail with lots of drops and stones/uneven surfaces.
Gravel bikes are perfect for your use case but are out of your price range. They are great on roads and bike paths for commuting, but also on rail trails and off-roading with loose gravel.
Its amazing how often this gets asked lately
With 2nd hand car prices up and cost of running another car. Push bikes would seems like a lower cost alternative.
Just hope the extra (new) cyclists rides safely.
I'd spend a bit more and go for this..
https://www.cyclerynorthside.com.au/2020-sirrus-10.html
Specialized is worth the extra dollars in quality.
Yes.. if you buy their top end bikes
Not necessarily, the build quality of their low end bikes is very good, my son’s mountain bike is 4yrs old and like new. You don’t need to go for the top end gear unless you are a serious cyclist but if you want quality the low end bikes are worth the premium over the cheaper rubbish
What'll you be using the bike for (commuting/exercise/mountain biking)?