Pedal Bikes from 99bikes Any Good?

idonteven on 25/11/2022 - 09:03
Last edited 25/11/2022 - 09:06

I'm trying to get into biking, just cycling around my local bike trails and the park to improve my fitness.

I don't feel comfortable buying secondhand from marketplace because frankly I don't know what to look for and what's junk etc.

I've got a local 99bikes near me and they have the Pedal brand of bikes. They look like no frills and the cheapest one is within my budget.

Are they good enough for a complete beginner like me or should I be looking elsewhere.

Any guidance is appreciated! I'm located in Sydney.

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Comments

  • Danstar on 25/11/2022 - 09:05

    Ivanhoe cycles currently have 20% off store wide if you got one of those stores near you

    • idonteven on 25/11/2022 - 09:06
      +1

      Just updated my location, I'm in Sydney.

    • HeWhoKnows on 26/11/2022 - 09:10

      Its a no brainer buying a used bike
      Many are free so its no risk whatsover
      Check for corrosion first is the obvious move
      Then take it for a ride and make sure gears and brakes work properly
      C ya on the bike trail

  • iamherenow on 25/11/2022 - 09:16
    -1

    Check out diamondback at bigw. They are quality bike brand at good prices for what they are.

    Weight is a very good indicator of bike quality - lower weight = better bike.

    • Euphemistic on 25/11/2022 - 09:20
      +5

      No. No. No. Big W has pillaged the name and stuck it on the cheapest nastiest gear they could. Diamond Back from BigW is trading on a name from decades ago and has ruined the name in Aus.

      • iamherenow on 25/11/2022 - 09:30

        Bigw hasn't pillaged anything! Diamondback is a brand that bigw sells. Last time I looked, they were still quality at low price in comparison to most of the junk you get at similar prices.

        • franco cozzo on 25/11/2022 - 09:44

          diamondback bikes sold at bigw arent the same quality as diamondback us….leagues apart in specs & pricing

          • iamherenow on 25/11/2022 - 09:46

            @franco cozzo: yes i realised a $300 bike doesn't compete with a $5000 bike!

            • franco cozzo on 25/11/2022 - 09:51

              @iamherenow: the point being bigw spec diamondback is cheap & nasty…the us brand is not

              • iamherenow on 25/11/2022 - 09:52

                @franco cozzo: had a look online at bigw. yes they look bad if that's all they have these days.

        • Euphemistic on 26/11/2022 - 09:53

          While technically true that they purchased the rights to the diamond back name legitimately, diamond back in the 90s in Aus was a quality bike brand. They didn’t sell junk then and were well regarded especially in the mountain bike world. Fast forward to now and diamond back are cheap Chinese junk that BigW has slapped a brand with a good reputation on. So, I’m effect they’ve sullied a defunct brand to try to sell junk.

          You cannot get a quality diamond back in Australia today, unless you inlet one from USA

        • 2esc on 26/11/2022 - 15:55

          Cant compare the orginal diamondback bikes with current.

    • blitz on 25/11/2022 - 10:57

      Oh boy, don't buy a bike at Big W. They are the worst. Diamond Back used to be the bee's knees, but now it's just a name as @Euphemistic says. The bikes are terrible.

  • Mapomatic on 25/11/2022 - 09:17

    It will be fine. At that price point, I would buy a bike without suspension, as they tend to be heavy and poor quality. Best cheapest upgrades would be a pair bike pants to save your butt and maybe some lighter tyres and tubes once the originals wear out.

  • Euphemistic on 25/11/2022 - 09:21

    Any particular model you are looking at? The are a ‘house brand’ built down to a price. Might be OK depending on which particular model you want, but where are likely better choices.

    What is your budget?

    • idonteven on 25/11/2022 - 10:20

      My budget is $200-300. Obviously not much but I'm a complete beginner and just want to improve fitness.

      • Euphemistic on 25/11/2022 - 11:43
        +1

        Go second hand bike shop brand. Giant, Trek, Merida etc. pick up somethig for $200 and get it serviced.

  • Seraphin7 on 25/11/2022 - 09:57
    +2

    As a "beginner bike" they are fine. If this is what you are looking for, it's far better to buy something like this at the lower end price points and then graduate to a higher spec when (if) you get to that point.

    The simple reality is that many bikes bought get used for little more than leisure riding where "entry level" specs are entirely adequate.

    • idonteven on 25/11/2022 - 10:21
      +1

      Thank you, this is very helpful.

  • idonteven on 25/11/2022 - 10:24

    I'm looking at these

    https://www.99bikes.com.au/pedal-jet-2-black

    https://www.99bikes.com.au/pedal-raptor-black-green

    Thank you for all the help so far. This is very helpful information.

    • Euphemistic on 25/11/2022 - 11:49

      Both basic, entry level bikes. Will be serviceable, but not ‘quality’. The jet has better gears, but smaller tyres so suited more to paths than trails. The raptor has one less gear (not a big issue) but fatter tyres which may be a little more comfortable to ride, especially if you ride over grass or gravel trails.

      Both are a small step above Kmart bikes.

      Finding a giant roam or similar for $200 would be a better option if you can.

    • blitz on 25/11/2022 - 12:16

      I think you'll soon identify the limits of these bikes, but to start with they're alright. But mark my words, a good bike is excellent to ride. When you're at 99 bikes, try riding some of the more expensive bikes to get a feel for them.

    • dtxau on 25/11/2022 - 14:43

      I have a Jet2. This will suit you well for what you need. Nothing fancy about it, just does the job. If its a nice day, I take it out for a cruise around the neighbourhood on the quiet street roads. Footpath riding is fine, and using the dedicated bike paths is fine too. Go for it.

      • idonteven on 25/11/2022 - 14:45

        great! thanks

        • dtxau on 25/11/2022 - 14:53

          There's a few on Marketplace at the moment for less than $200. I guess you can go have a look and test it out and check the basics like:
          - brakes work
          - gears and shifters work
          - chain looks clean
          - rust
          - etc

          You can possibly get it for around $150 and then take it to 99bikes for a service: https://www.99bikes.com.au/workshop which works out cheaper.

          Or not get is serviced as you are not having any issues with the bike.

          • Euphemistic on 25/11/2022 - 15:46

            @dtxau: It would not be too difficult to get and even better bike for $150-200. There could be a reason these bikes are selling second hand. People buy them with good intentions and either don’t ride or quickly find they’d like to upgrade.

            • dtxau on 25/11/2022 - 15:50

              @Euphemistic: LOL, I went from the Pedal ($250) to a heavier bike with springs ($400) to a $2k roadie with 105 groupset and drop bars. All from Marketplace.

      • shockme79 on 02/02/2023 - 09:29

        Did you need to replace the seat that comes with the Jet2?

  • JRozells on 25/11/2022 - 10:38

    Funnily enough I was talking to a friend who works at 99 Bikes about this last night! His assessment of Pedal bikes are that they are far better than Kmart/Big W bikes but they are still cheap bikes. He says Pedal bikes are the ones that they have the most problem with, though keep in mind they are also the cheapest bikes they sell so that's somewhat understandable. He said that most of the problems with Pedal bikes are found while they are assembling the bike, in other words the bikes that are out for sale tend to be fine. Ultimately with bikes you tend to get what you pay for with bikes; Pedal bikes are no exception. They are decent bikes for the price, if you want a better bike you will have to pay more or go secondhand.

    My recommendation would be to learn a a little bit about bikes and go find a good one secondhand. There are a lot of good secondhand bikes that have hardly been used selling for much cheaper than their retail price. Alternatively, find a friend who knows a bit about bikes and ask them to help you find a good secondhand bike!

    • idonteven on 25/11/2022 - 10:40

      Do the bikes comes preassembled or do I assemble it myself? Sorry, complete newb.

      • JRozells on 25/11/2022 - 10:44

        The ones at 99 Bikes will come assembled, they assemble them in store. Idk about non-bike retail stores such as Target/Big W. You might have to assemble them yourself or pay extra for it to be assembled.

        • AndyC1 on 25/11/2022 - 12:50

          Target/Big W come in boxes, so you have to assemble them or pay extra.

          • Euphemistic on 25/11/2022 - 12:59

            @AndyC1: Assembly isn’t difficult. Getting them to ride reasonably well can be a tad more difficult.

            • AndyC1 on 25/11/2022 - 13:25

              @Euphemistic: For bike newbies or people who have never fixed or adjusted their bikes then getting the brakes and gears just right can be a PITA and may take them hours and hours to get right over a few weeks.

              • Euphemistic on 25/11/2022 - 15:44

                @AndyC1: Exactly my point. The cheaper the components the harder they are to get right too.

    • JRozells on 25/11/2022 - 10:43

      A couple more reasons why it's worth considering a secondhand bike over a brand new one:
      1. You are far more likely to enjoy riding a better secondhand bike than a cheap brand new bike.
      2. If you don't enjoy cycling and decide to give it up, you are likely to lose less money selling a bike you bought secondhand as opposed to a bike you bought new. If you take care of a secondhand bike you can often actually sell it for the same price you bought it at. A new bike will depreciate faster than a secondhand one.

      • idonteven on 25/11/2022 - 10:50

        I completely agree, I would also go used for things I have knowledge in or can research about.

        However I'm time-poor, know nothing about bikes and just want to get a bike to start riding.

        • JRozells on 25/11/2022 - 10:59
          +1

          Fair enough, any friends who can help you find a secondhand bike?

          Between the two you have linked, the flat road bar bike will be a slightly faster bike because it's got thinner tyres. It's the one I'd go for between the two of them. Otherwise the two bikes are pretty similar.

          • spurf on 26/11/2022 - 07:45

            @JRozells: Agree with the flat bar suggestion for your use scenario. The one you linked has a limited gear range due to a single gear on the front sproket though, and would recommend one with a front derailleur. Would reconsider Gumtree / Matketplace. You can either get the type of bike you have linked for <$100 or a much better bike for the amount of money you are considering new. You will need to learn how to do some basic maintenance if you are going to own a bike and getting a second hand one will speed up your learning curve 😉

            • Euphemistic on 26/11/2022 - 09:57

              @spurf:

              You will need to learn how to do some basic maintenance if you are going to own a bike

              And if you’re not inclined to do your own maintenance on a bike, buying a quality brand will mean you’re less likely to get a shock when you take it to a bike shop for repairs. They often don’t want to work on these cheap brands because the cheap equipment on them is more difficult to service and replacing parts is over capitalising.

            • SteveB00 on 26/11/2022 - 10:16

              @spurf: A single chainring doesn't necessarily limit the gear range. Many high-end MTBs and gravel bikes have a single chainring.

              • Euphemistic on 26/11/2022 - 11:23

                @SteveB00: A single ring MTB will have a cassette range of up to 11-52 on the back and upwards of 11 gears. A 6 speed cluster will likely have a gear range of 14-30 or so. Plus, less cogs means bigger gaps between gears which isn’t great either.

                • SteveB00 on 26/11/2022 - 11:37

                  @Euphemistic: I agree. I hadn't noticed it was only 6-speed. I guess it's fine for computing on relatively flat terrain.The Pedal Ranger with triple chainrings looks more suitable for a range of cycling activities.

  • Hoju on 26/11/2022 - 08:19

    I was looking at these as I’m also in Sydney and I thought they’d be a good option for my daughter as a flat bar road bike.

    In the end I actually looked at second hand options out of Sydney as you get way more bang for your buck, seems the buyers market is not so active (southern highlands).

    I had the choice of a cannondale quick for 195 or specialised vita comp carbon for 400

    Got the latter and it’s an incredible bike for that price, almost new and retailed at >$2000

    It will last an eternity compared to the pedal bikes

    Have a look and see what you can find second hand

  • SteveB00 on 26/11/2022 - 10:36

    I'd suggest that Hoju's experience isn't the norm (in terms of "almost new"). People usually upgrade their bikes when they're getting close to needing a new chain (always) cassette (probably) and chainrings (possibly). They may also need brake pads, bar tape etc. Factor in the cost of these components and, as you can't yet do it yourself, the labour for someone to fit them. At this point, you'll have a second-hand bike in close to (but not quite) the condition of a new bike. The second-hand bike will have higher-end components,

    A relationship with your local bike shop is useful, especially for a novice and, for the sort of bike you're buying, 99 Bikes is the right bike shop. If it was me, I'd buy a new bike from them. Any problems, they'll fix them.

    If you find you enjoy riding, then when you're ready to upgrade, maybe then look at second-hand bikes (with the caveats above). You may by then be able to do some of your own maintenance.

  • 1st-Amendment on 07/03/2023 - 16:40

    Any bike is just a collection of components, so want you really want to look at is all the parts.
    Cheaper bikes tend to have crap components to meet a price point so I'd be aiming for a secondhand bike so you can get the next tier up for the similar money.
    The bike might not be shiny and have the new colour scheme you like but it will feel and perform better each time you pedal on it. You want the gears to turn and the brakes to work, and you want them to keep working and be easily serviceable. I had an old $50 Trek bike that felt better to ride than a new $300 Pedal bike. In my experience as a casual rider I'd be looking at bikes that start around $800-$1000 new and see if you can find the same model secondhand for cheaper.

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