Re: How to select a bicycle according to your needs and budget?

Hey though i have heard decent reports about the Montra range of cycles, i have no personal experience to share. LA cycles seen them, but beyond that nothing more i can help with. I would still suggest if possible to get a better bike maybe second hand. Have a look for good deals on the buy-sell group on FB - https://www.facebook.com/groups/CYCLOPBUYSELL/

How to select a bicycle according to your needs and budget?

@ The Monk

Location Mumbai

Not new to cycling but taking it up after a gap of 35/40 years!!!
Have zeroed on Shwinn Searcher 2015. But going through the posts wondering if Trek DS is a better option. Any other brands / models ???? Am open to suggestions.
My goal?? Eventually try the Leh Ladakh run!!!
Ps; Have done Bombay Goa on a fixed gear bicycle!!!! Way back when Mumbai was Bombay !!!

Re: How to select a bicycle according to your needs and budget?

The Schwinn is good value for money. The Trek's always are at a premium, but the quality is great.

If you can share the specs of the two bikes you are getting and the price at what you are buying it, i will be in a better position to help you out. There are other good companies as well like KHS, Merida etc which are VFM or Giant, Cannondale etc. which are premium.

The cycle variety is very large, motorcycles in India get dwarfed in comparison. Though availability is always an issue.

Lastly, ensure that you pick the ideal size for your height, because shopkeepers very often try to palm off the wrong size to clear off stock.

Here are a couple of stores in Bombay that i have heard about. Maybe you can check it out -

Keny Cycles & Sports
gear the bike shop, bandra. mumbai.

No experience with these stores, so if you do visit them please share your experience with us. Thanks

Re: How to select a bicycle according to your needs and budget?

I think Schwinn is fine as a starter and once you get putting more miles then you can think of an upgrade in 2-3 years, don't spend too much on your first bike.

Re: How to select a bicycle according to your needs and budget?

you will eventually upgrade if you want a decent bike to do leh ladakh etc..
save some more and start with a rockrider 5.0 (decathlon BTWIN brand).. its a rigid MTB.. best bike for under 10k.. swap the tires for slicks and you have a decent hybrid at half the cost of a schwinn (of course you wouldnt have the 650 tires .. just the 26").. moreover, you dont need the stupid crappy suspensions at some 20-25k price point..

2 years down the line switch to a road bike (carbon 105 maybe).. around 80k and you are set..

Re: How to select a bicycle according to your needs and budget?

There are basically 2 way approach you can use, buy a cheap bike now - train hard - get a better bike much suited for your final goal. OR buy a very good bike right away. While I don't wanna discourage you, many people go the second way (since it makes sense & saves money) they really fail to keep the commitment going after the initial burst & then the bikes become expensive clothes hangers.

I'm a very serious cyclist myself (you can check my thread) & honestly seen this way too much personally hence saying. I'd suggest a route which most of us serious cyclists have taken, and that is to buy a good bike which is decently used, start riding & then see how things move from there. This way you get a good bike at reasonable price and there's always an option to upgrade later when need arises.

Prabodh of Keny Cycles is my very good friend & a earstwhile cyclist himself. Believe his words with eyes closed! But Keny's specialty is Race equipment but you can find pretty decent bikes with him. Road/MTB & hybrid. Since you're in Malad a good bike shop closer would be "Bike-Shark" near Mahavir Nagar . Arun & Dhiren are good friends too and you can find a nice collection of MTBs & hybrids with them. I recommend either of these shops because I know them personally, I know a few others too but then it'll just confuse you . I'd not recommend any other bike shop in the vicinity esp those in the Goregaon they're just out there to cheat you. If you still need something more basic I recommend the Decathalon store & the Rockrider series.

Re: How to select a bicycle according to your needs and budget?

[MENTION=38603]The Monk[/MENTION], Sparky,mindless_wanderer @ Kaushik Iyer.
Thanks for your inputs. Will definitely check on 'Bike Shark' & Prabodh @ Keny Cycles. Hopefully should come to a decision. Will post it when that happens.
Thanks once again.

Re: How to select a bicycle according to your needs and budget?

As Kaushik mentioned, a used cycle first makes a lot of sense and that is infact what i did as well when i took up cycling.

Re: How to select a bicycle according to your needs and budget?

Need a suggestion...
I am thinking of to buy MTB and bit confused between B-twin Rockrider 520 and Giant Split. RR520 has better components and suspension features compare to Giant but shop guy prefers Giant over the B-twin.

Re: How to select a bicycle according to your needs and budget?

Guys am extremely new to cycling (left cycling back in class 12, like 12 years back) So looking out for a bike that can do good speed in a city like Bangalore (Oh!! The traffic) and also some travels in my home state of Assam (lil off-road a presume). I am 5"8' and weigh right nw @ 75kgs ( I am a lil over weight right now). I can't decide whether I should go in for MTB or Hybrid or road bike. I would want to tour with it oneway (after getting my endurance level checked). Please recommend me one and also the store/e-store from bangalore. My budget is around 30k +-10k.

Regards

Re: How to select a bicycle according to your needs and budget?

If you have idea of touring, I would suggest to go with an MTB than a hybrid, as MTB gives you the freedom to explore off road. Speed is something that you have to comprise on tarmacs, but speed will definitely increase as you ride more. Hybrid will do ,but may not be as comfortable as MTB in many country/off roads.I commute on my MTB everyday.

I don't have much idea about models.

Re: How to select a bicycle according to your needs and budget?

Been touring on a motor bike and yes did follow XBHp a lot. One one of last year's winner Om Vaikul (Wanderer's fame) inspired me to hit the manual pedal again and go cycling. I did try my luck on my old Hero Ranger which was over 14 years old. That thing felt like a huge drag. Hence I posted my query. Thanks for the reply. For starters I plan to do a Bangalore-Goa -return trip on the cycle which I presume would need good speed throughout the day.

Re: How to select a bicycle according to your needs and budget?


Get a hybrid. If you are in Bangalore you have some good stores there. Check out Wheelsports. They stock Merida and KHS bikes i think. Good VFM bikes both. Go to the store have a look at the bikes, take test rides and see what feels more natural to you.

Cheers

Re: How to select a bicycle according to your needs and budget?

Happy to inform that I bought myself a Bergamont Helix 2.0 (2015) from the good folks at Bums on the Saddle, Jayanagar. Nice guys and explained to me the basics of keeping the bike smooth and clean and functioning.

Re: How to select a bicycle according to your needs and budget?

Great, wonderful congratulations. Now ride the wheels of that bike