Budget MTB or E-MTB for Riding to/from Work (Day and Night)

The One Demon on 01/08/2022 - 14:40
Last edited 01/08/2022 - 16:46

Hey guys, just wondering if anyone had a recommendation for a MTB or electric MTB to commute to and from work, this'll mostly be at 1:30 ish in the morning and afternoon.

EDIT - About 7km each way, with a little bit of hilly, country area.

One with integrated lights would be good, but if anyone knows of a good light kit (front and rear) that'll last I'd be open to that too.

I'm probably leaning toward a non electric bike because it's for fitness as well as saving fuel.

Budget would be between $500 - $1000 which is also why I'm leaning towards non electric, because I figure that'll be a better bike. Plan to take it to some trails/downhills/whatever is around every now and then too.

Thanks for any suggestions! :)

Edit 2 - Any recommendations for a waterproof backpack that isn't too much too? Just to carry my lunch box, couple water bottles, and a folder with my driver logbook, and work logbook, couple pairs of safety glasses, gloves etc? My current one isn't that big, so doesn't need to be big, but not waterproof lol.

Sports & Outdoors Bicycle Electric Bicycle

Comments

  • Porker on 01/08/2022 - 16:07
    +1

    MTBs are horses for courses. You're not going to get one which is good for all your needs with the two extremes being commute and downhill.

    In my prime riding days, I had 4 MTBs, each with a different purpose.

    Best you go to a store and test ride a few bikes in your price range, as there are so many variations in bike design that can contribute to your personal comfort while riding. If you like one, then try find that one secondhand.

    Going expensive doesn't always mean going better, particularly if that bike is more suited to riding area over another (eg. downhill more than commute)

    As you're doing it for fitness too, depending on how quickly you want to improve that aspect, then a heavier bike will likely get you there quicker ;p

    • The One Demon on 01/08/2022 - 16:13

      Thanks mate, problem with this is that the nearest bike store would be around 4 hours away, and nearest major one (Adelaide) would be around 9 hours away lol.

      • Porker on 01/08/2022 - 16:16

        … oh…. how do you intend on getting a bike? Online order? If so, then you could try bikesonline.com.au

        They also have a free 14 day return for bikes.

        • The One Demon on 01/08/2022 - 16:17

          Yeah online was the plan. Thanks for the link, I'll check it out 🙂

  • dtc on 01/08/2022 - 16:21
    +4

    There are some bike nerds who will comment on the bike. As someone who cycle commutes at night, I recommend:

    • a strong front light that attached to your helmet. This is the light you will use to see. there are heaps of light reviews/recommendations. Having it on your helmet means you can see things much better. A good light will probably run you $100 or slightly more. Dont skimp on this, especially if you are riding in unlit areas. Get the best one you can afford/justify

    • a good flashing light you put on your handlebars facing forward. This is the light that makes other people see you. You can get some fairly good LED ones for cheap on amazon etc (i have the 'Vont USB Rechargable Bike Light Set' for $15 and they are all you need) (to be clear, have this light on 'flash' the whole time)

    • a flashing rear light on your seat pillar, As with the flashing front light

    • ideally another rear flashing light, perhaps on your backpack or on the back of your helmet

    • buy some spoke reflectors (the cheap ebay ones seem the same as the 3M ones)

    • if you use a backpack, you can sew some reflective tape to it (buy a cheap high vis reflective vest and rip the reflective tape off; this is often cheaper than buying the tape)

    aka - you can never be too visible. But ride defensively; I'm lit up like a christmas tree and drivers still fail to see me sometimes. Like at least 1/10 rides I'll have to brake or swerve to avoid cars, and 80% of my ride is on off road bike paths.

    Gloves and wet weather gear as well, if needed. Also MTB shoes are worth a look; you might think they are a bit excessive but they do make a positive difference. Five Tens are the ones I choose.

    • Porker on 01/08/2022 - 16:31

      Bit harsh calling whoever advises which bike to get for OP as a 'nerd'. Otherwise all valid points re night gear.

      :\

      • dtc on 01/08/2022 - 18:07

        Bit harsh calling whoever advises which bike to get for OP as a 'nerd'. Otherwise all valid points re night gear.

        hah, I've made comments on bikes here and told the derailleur is not worth spitting on or the gear set should go on a kiddies bike and isnt fit for adults. So whatever. I ride a Giant Roam 1, but its about 8 models ago and today they are over $1000k new. But a second hand Roam is worth a look. As a non nerd…

    • The One Demon on 01/08/2022 - 16:43

      Thanks mate, I'll have a backpack, and will be wearing pants and full sleeve shirt with reflective tape while riding. I'm a truckie and that's our uniform, so will keep me more visible at least. Thanks for the other tips with the flashing lights etc though, wouldn't have thought of some of the things you mentioned! 😀

  • [Deactivated] on 01/08/2022 - 21:28

    Please have a look at this video about commuting bikes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aESqrP3hfi8&t=2s

  • Euphemistic on 02/08/2022 - 05:56
    +1

    A mountain bike isn’t the right bike for commuting. It’ll be slower and require more effort to ride. Unless you plan to actually ride off road, there are more suitable bikes out there for plain commuting.

    Having said that, for 7km it won’t make a significant difference. I used to have an almost 7km commute. Over the years I used multiple different bikes. dual suspension MTB, hardtail, flat bar roadie, drop bar roadie. The drop bar roadie, despite being old and ‘heavy’ was up to a couple of minutes quicker. The MTB on knobbly tyre was obviously slowest.

    Somethig like the Giant Roam is a good compromise. Comfortable, capable of a bit of dirt and reasonably efficient to ride. I had one with a damaged frame for a short while until I stole the parts off it and built a disc braked, skinny tyred, flat bar roadie - my preferred bike for commuting. A flat bar road bike has good riding position for sitting up in traffic and can be quite fast and agile to ride.

    Whatever you get I’d recommend aiming for hydraulic disc brakes. They are much better than rim brakes in the wet and much better than cable disc brakes. Suspension isn’t necessary and just adds weight, although in your budget weight Shouldnt be a significant factor in deciding which to buy.

    Ultimately the most important thing is fit. Getting the wrong size or geometry wil mean it’s uncomfortable to ride and won’t encourage you to get out there.

    Finally, don’t even consider an e-bike in your budget. It’ll be built too cheap to be reliable.

    • The One Demon on 02/08/2022 - 07:18

      Thanks mate, I don't mind being a bit slower or harder or whatever but would prefer one bike for now that is decent at both MTB duties as well as to and from work. The roads out my way that I'll be riding are very quiet most of the time. (Remote country town, but part of the town is where major highway traffic, trucks etc go to/from Perth, Adelaide and Sydney/Melbourne)

      I found the 2022 Marin Bolinas Ridge for a bit under $600 which looks good to me, how would you compare that to the Giant Roam you recommended?

      • Euphemistic on 02/08/2022 - 08:49

        Marin is a decent brand. It’s an entry level bike, but is definitely a mountain bike vs the roam which is a hybrid. You’ll likely find that most brands will have a similar model to the Marin at a similar price.

        The next model up: https://www.bikesonline.com.au/2022-marin-bolinas-ridge-2-mo… has hydraulic brakes (much less maintenance and more effective than cable) and an 8speed rear cassette which will have the stronger rear axle. 8speed is a good upgrade if you are a bit heavier or ride rougher trails. IMO it’s worth spending this extra for the 2 model, but the gains you’ll get by spending up to the next or next model will be diminished returns unless you intend riding it as a true mountain bike. Again, you’ll likely find that other brands will have a similar model at a similar price.

        End of the day if the price is similar, there won’t be a lot of difference between brands. Some might have a better XXX while others will offset with a better YYY. If you can’t decide between a couple, pick your favourite fit (or colour if you are buying online)

        A mountain bike might be a better option especially if you need to bail out over a kerb or onto gravel shoulders around heavy traffic.

        • The One Demon on 02/08/2022 - 09:05

          Thanks for the help mate, I've just come across the 2022 Marin Rock Spring 1 LTD on that site and it has Hydraulic brakes etc like the ridge 2. I don't really know what I'm look at/for between this one and the Ridge 2 though lol. Do you know what the differences would be? The Spring 1 is $200 cheaper than the Ridge 2

          Edit - link. From what I see it pretty much has the same specs and even looks almost the same as the ridge 2?

          https://www.bikesonline.com.au/2022-marin-rock-spring-1-ltd-…

          • Euphemistic on 02/08/2022 - 10:12
            +1

            @The One Demon: Not a lot in it. Seems to be just the drivetrain. Tourney is bottom of the Shinano range - other than the junk they don’t name and save for Kmart ‘Shinano equipped’ bikes. There isn’t a lot to go wrong with it.

            Springing for Altus/alivio is usually worth it, but 2x9 gearing is possibly not as good as 3x8. I havent used 2x (2 front chainrings) personally but mates have found that for MTB riding it requires more front shifting while 3x can sit in the middle ring for most riding. In 2x the normal usage gears straddle both chainrings. There will also be a bigger gap between chainrings which might mean to switch front rings you need to change 3 rear ears while a 3x system you can usually get away with 2 rear gear to keep cadence (pedal rotation speed) similar for a front shift.

            On the road a 2x might work as you’ll typically be travelling faster and more likely to stay in the big chainring and just shift the rear.

  • thirtysixd on 06/09/2022 - 18:39

    Option B

    Buy a cheapy commuter bike from market place (single speed / road frame with flat pedals for a couple of hundred bucks)
    Mountain bikes are slower and more expensive (might get stolen)

    Nice mountain bikes are around $1500 minimum

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