Which Bike for my needs ?

[arnuld]

Which Bike for my needs ? (RESOLVED)

I read this sticky post about which bike for me and I have laid down my my purpose for buying a bike:

1. In half of the biking, I will be going on well built roads which contain 50% of fly-overs where I have to use lots of force to ride up those fly-overs built at 45-degree-upward angle from road.
2. Even though the roads are well-built but coming across circular or rectangular or irregular shaped broken-parts is a common-occurrence. Even ion a motor bike they hurt pretty bad.
3. Other half of the biking will go to old country roads or totally unbuilt roads full of dirt and small or medium size stones (You know how messy they get during rains).
4. I will be biking for distances like 20 or 40 KM a day, with 10-15 KM of biking at a stretch. I only bike 2-3 times a week.

Unlike, most of the archives I have read, where you guys have lots of access to very special kind of bikes and lots of variety , I don't have those privileges but I can get most of the firefox-bikes. I need a bike for an adult as I am 30 years old. I live in Hyderabad.

EDIT: These bikes are also available where I live: Atlas, Hero and Safari

 

[MacB]

from the selection of Firefox bikes then one of the All-Terrain models would be best suited to your needs. Unless you were seriously off roading then full suspension will just waste a lot of your efforts and add weight to the bike. The road bike option is too delicate for the type of riding you describe.

But even the terrain models seem to all have front suspension and be more in the shceme of BSO's (bike shaped objects) rather than a sturdy bike built to last. Personally I'd be looking elsewhere, maybe getting a frame and forks only then sourcing parts locally. At least that way you know that replacement parts will be easy to come by.

 

[PpPete]

Hello and welcome to the forum.
I see Firefox will distribute TREK bikes - a US-owned brand, although no doubt all the bikes are built in Taiwan?
If you can access those, maybe something like their Allant model?
I would definitely avoid suspension unless you can afford something really good quality.

 

[g00se]

With the state of the roads you describe, front suspension might be useful. However, it will compromise speed and make going up the inclines a lot more difficult.

So if you do go for front suspension, go for the lightest bike you can find - and ideally with fork lockout that can be activated from the handlebars. If you can get trek bikes from firefox, then they'll be worth looking at.

 

[arnuld]

I see Firefox will distribute TREK bikes - a US-owned brand, although no doubt all the bikes are built in Taiwan?

I am not sure about TREK but all MNC stuff is always built in either China, Taiwan or North/South Korea. There is nothing imported that comes from US/European/UK land to here.

If you can access those, maybe something like their Allant model?
I would definitely avoid suspension unless you can afford something really good quality.

I don't think Allant will be available (or anything like it). I have checked the local distributors of firefox and I don't even see half of the models mentioned on the website. May be I have to order specially with advance money. What you mean by last line of yours: definitely avoid suspension unless you can afford something really good quality

While I don't earn much but If something is better for the purposes I mentioned then I can wait for 4-6 months and save the money and go for an expansive bike rather then buying one right now, after all once I will buy I will use it for years. I like MTBs a lot but I would prefer one that fits my purpose than my taste. So feel free to mention any bike. I forgot to mention some more brands who manufacturer cycles in India. I have updated the OP , please have a look and tell me if anyone of you finds something better.

 

[MacB]

Arnuld, suspension on a MTB was designed to handle very rough tracks, jumps and generally tough conditions, it is extremely expensive. What you get on cheaper MTB's are poor copies that wouldn't be able to cope with full MTB use. But it adds a lot of weight to a bike and it also wastes a lot of your energy. The suspension absorbs force from your pedalling as well as from the road.

 

[arnuld]

Arnuld, suspension on a MTB was designed to handle very rough tracks, jumps and generally tough conditions, it is extremely expensive.

Yeah, they are hell expansive. I see some cost around 17,000 to 20,000 INR, I visited some cycle stores physically. You can get a scooter for 23,000 in India. Good quality city bikes made by Indian manufacturers cost only around 2-3000 at max.

What you get on cheaper MTB's are poor copies that wouldn't be able to cope with full MTB use. But it adds a lot of weight to a bike and it also wastes a lot of your energy. The suspension absorbs force from your pedalling as well as from the road.

I get your point (g00se made the same point), when I will ride on a flyover (which are a lot in numbers here) my force that I will use to drive will be absorbed by front suspension, hence wasting nearly all of my energy making me tired and dull after a ride. Can you check other brands I just added after editing my OP and tell me if you see something useful ?

 

[MacB]

well, I'll have a go:-

Atlas - something in the Roadster range looks like it would do the trick. Possibly some of the Fancy bikes range but they do look a bit over-engineered.

Hero - the Classics range looks similar to the Atlas Roadsters, their MTB range looks more suitable as they don't have suspension, but the site won't let me see detailed specs

Safari - again they have the Roadster style and MTB's that have hardtails(ie no suspension at rear)

You need to think about your needs, if you're not trying to race or climb severe hills then a roadster could be it. For 2-3 days a week totalling 120km I'd say a 3 speed hub gear, on a solid steel bike, would be good. Less to go wrong, choose the chainring and rear cog to give you gear 3 as your cruising gear. If I was doing it I'd want:-

steel frame and forks
rim brakes - I'd want v type not cantilever or pivot as I don't use road bars
wheels built with strong rims and 32 or 36 spokes
sturmey archer 3 speed hub with a chain cog combination around 33/16 which would give you gears around 40/54/72 inches.
if you want more gears I'd still have just one chainring and maybe a 7/8 speed cassette at the back, but there's more to go wrong

 

[PpPete]

Good quality city bikes made by Indian manufacturers cost only around 2-3000 at max.

3000 INR is about 65 US Dollars if my calculations right?

This is very low, even compared with the sort of price I saw recently in P.R.C.

I'd agree with MacB's thoughts, but it wasn't obvious if any of those had gears?

 

[arnuld]

3000 INR is about 65 US Dollars if my calculations right?

This is very low, even compared with the sort of price I saw recently in P.R.C.

I'd agree with MacB's thoughts, but it wasn't obvious if any of those had gears?

That is not very low, 3000/- INR (INdian Rupees) is the most expansive cycle what a lower middle class Indian will buy.

2nd, Most of the atlas or hero cycles don't have gears but I can find one with distributors as gear would be needed for riding fly-overs . I have understood MacB's thoughts, I just need a bike with no suspension.

 

[arnuld]

well, I'll have a go:-

Atlas - something in the Roadster range looks like it would do the trick. Possibly some of the Fancy bikes range but they do look a bit over-engineered.

... SNIP..

I like those fancy bikes though. I have mailed the Hero people about the specs thing. See if they correct it. BTW, you can check the full specs here:

http://www.herocycles.com/boyz.php

sturmey archer 3 speed hub with a chain cog combination around 33/16 which would give you gears around 40/54/72 inches.

I did not get this point, I am not a techie but gears have diferent sizes ? Even if they have I don't think distributors will replace them, you have to buy a branded bike as it is, no modifications allowed (as told to me by the distributors)

 

[Banjo]

Despite your detailed description of the roads its difficult to judge how good/bad they are.I would try to speak to other local cyclists ,see what they ride and what advice they give you.

If you can get a Trek Hybrid I think it will do what you require,I have one, it will handle roads tracks and paths, no good in mud or seriously rough mountain tracks.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

<snip>

I did not get this point, I am not a techie but gears have diferent sizes ? Even if they have I don't think distributors will replace them, you have to buy a branded bike as it is, no modifications allowed (as told to me by the distributors)

Gear inches are a way of comparing different gear ratios on a bike. Basically, the bigger the number the faster you go. BUT the harder it is to pedal. Sheldon Brown said it best. Actually, there's lots of useful information on that website.

 

[arnuld]

What about the wheel: 20, 24 or 26 inches.. or that will not make a difference for me ?

and what about the primary concern , the exercise part. I can go by bus from one place to another as their are lots of buses available in Hyderabad but I can't exercise with that kind of traveling. Putting more energy into the bike will make my body fit or I am just having this fantasy here :-

 

[arnuld]

Gear inches are a way of comparing different gear ratios on a bike. Basically, the bigger the number the faster you go. BUT the harder it is to pedal. Sheldon Brown said it best. Actually, there's lots of useful information on that website.

Well I read 2 articles of him, one on singlespeed bikes and another on Gear-Theory. The guy is brilliant and I have to say his articles are changing my mindset to buy a fixed gear bike. I don't understand the difference between single speed and fixed gear though. in India, there are only 2 kinds of cycles: with gear or without gear, both come with suspension . Without gear bikes (single speed) have technically no sub-categories. So I don't get what are fixed gear bikes actually. From wikipedia I see the fixed gear bike which looks like a Racing-Cycle, so are these racing cycles are knows as fixed-gears ?

Racing cycles have very thin tires and are a PITA on Indian roads.