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

Go with munich.

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

@ The Monk, only on a flat road or downhill would I touch 30-40 on the Viper. But the roads here are very narrow, and I have to make a sudden jump off the road to escape from the buses coming up behind. However I feel if I can do higher speeds (50-60) on a hybrid, I don't have to worry much about buses overtaking me, as the speed difference would be less.

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


cost me about 850 bucks, rims alone cost me 750, 100 for mechanic charges

i am thinking to exchange my 29er with 27.5 one, given that i get any buyer who's interested in exchanging location Pune: if anyone interested kindly let me know via pm,

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

When was the last time you rode a cycle?

On descents you will go at whatever speed you go.

On climbs you will be 5-20 kmph depending on gradient and fitness.

On flats if you can do 30 kmph on an MTB, then sir you have legs of steel 50-60 kmph, well God help you!

The best athletes on the best machinery in a peloton average about 45 kmph. We don't! What's the Average Speed of Tour de France Riders in MPH? - SLO Cyclist | An Online Road Bicycling Magazine

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

@ The Monk, I was 19 when I rode the Viper on the Chennai - Tindivanam highway. I remember seeing 20 mph on the speedo for a second after a long exhaustive pumping on the pedals. I casually mentioned this to the Firefox mechanic and he told me if I could do 30-40 on MTB, I could go 70 kmph on a road bike. Thinking it was a sales pitch for the Merida he had on sale, I didn't believe him.


I can't calculate average speed, because I like to stop for snacks often.

Right now, I have a Hercules Dirt rider which has 2.125 front and 3.0 rear tyre. Pain to pedal, I could achieve only 21 kmph due to it being a single speed.

Is there any app for Android where I can verify my speeds using GPS?

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

20 mph is 31 kmph. Top speed. Your average would still be much less.

Catch that mechanic and give him a whack on his head

Even if you stop for snacks, your average speed will not change. Your average speed is calculated only when you ride, not the stopping time.

Use Strava and get addicted!!!

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

Completely agree. On our roads, its difficult to get an average of even 20kmph.

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

@ The Monk - whoa, I never said average speed. I sprint for a few kms, stop on the roadside, buy a snack, eat it while riding slowly with one hand.

Sprints is the only way I've found to do HIIT on a cycle.

[MENTION=79113]atulmnh[/MENTION] - what is the top speed you have done on the Downtown on a flat? I'm asking because I'm getting a good deal on a used Downtown on olx, and I need to compare it with the Firefox Rapide in terms of speed alone. The components are better in the Rapide no doubt, the wheelset is heavier too. Just considering the speed aspect I need your help.

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

I have not checked it but cycle is very light weight so should be good. Btw i am a marathon kind of person

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

Hi, I would like reviews on bianchi c sport cross hybrid bike??

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

Hello Folks

I have recently moved to a new city and intend to commute to work on a bicycle..8KMS one way..few flyovers..Indian roads..crazy traffic pattern

Cut to the chase..
I am looking for suggestions for a hybrid commuter bike (rigid fork) budget 35k INR

Did quite bit of research and the information available online is overwhelming..

Nice to have:
Shimano Alivio / Acera Derailleurs

Also tips on the must have accessories i need to buy would be really helpful

Thanks !!

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

Hi All,

I am looking to buy a mid segment road bike. I plan to ride a lot especially on weekends. I currently on a very basic Cosmic Voyager 21 gear bike which is 6 years old.

I will explain my riding requirements. I had no passion for riding till recently. To be honest, I started riding because it was an easy and cheap way to reducing my body weight. I was 113kgs 2 weeks ago. I am now 105kgs just because of cycling and strict diet. I ride 11kms one way to office. So total of 22kms daily riding. Things started to change by the 5th day. I started enjoying and the initial 1 hour dreadful ride now became a 35min joy ride. I read a lot about cycling, slowly realised my current bike is woefully inadequate for tarmac riding. I rode to beach in my city, a 17km one way ride and it wasn't easy especially on elevations.

Thought of getting a good road bike as I planned to cycle a lot on weekends, didn't like hybrids just because they don't excel on ome particular segment but does everything adequately. I wanted a road bike, a proper one.

Did some initial researching, came to obvious conclusion that Firefox Tarmak 700c is an excellent option. Alloy frame, carbon forms, Kenda 700c 25 tyres and Shimano Sora groupset. At 44k Sora was excellent value. Was off to buy when i read a good frame actually matters more than groupsets. Many online forums suggested SCR2. But claris groupset was a let down mentally for me as competitor was Tarmak Sora equipped bike. Then found xbhp and threads were many advised going for a good bike in 70-80k and be sorted for 5years atleast.

I have raised my budget to 80k
Need a proper road bike with basics sorted. I am planning to ride 50kms and going upwards of 100 on weekends slowly.
Daily commute will have to done too. 22kms a day
Should be well build
I plan on upgrading wheels and tyres after an year and also changing groupsets in 2-3 years. So I will definitely be keeping this bike with me for atleast 5-6 years.

I am currently looking at options from Giant which has SCR 1. Java has Fuoco 3 and I am also checking Giant Contend 1, Ridley Damocles 3, Cannondale Synapse etc. Kindly advice and help me out.

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

Btwin Riverside 900 should check all the boxes for you.

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

8kgs in 2 weeks is amazing bro and I am sure you are only getting better by the day.
I am not in India currently and hence can't really suggest a bike model, but what I can say is cycling is more about the rider than the ride itself. That said any decent bike if properly maintained will easily last a decade. And since you have decided for a road model I just saw the Firefox Tarmak and it looks decent. Let not the model/make worry you so much. You can definetly go for the Tarmak and after continuous cycling of 3+yrs when you reach a certain level of fitness where you feel that you can ride all day long and feel that your performance is only being hampered due to the bike then you may upgrade. Right now most important is to just get some decent bike and continue.

I have seen some cases where during the initial infactuation/excitement people end up buying higher models but in a couple of months time the enthu dozes off and the bike lies unused. Just to avoid this I suggest get a any decent bike rightaway and give yourself 2-3yrs and then you may select based on the components. Right now - just Go Go Go and enjoy the breeze and the health.

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

Thanks Buddy. I finally got Giant SCR 2 for 53k. Got 10k worth of freebies as well. So essentially got the bike for 43k. I bought from Choosemybicycle.com. Great guys to deal with. Went for SCR 2 because it had super stiff Aluminium frame. I will be upgrading everything else.

Will change stem, handlebar, seat post, saddle to carbon fiber parts. Will change groupset from current Shimano Claris to Shimano Ultegra. Wheels will be upgraded to Mavic 40mm aero wheels. Tyres willl be Continental GP5000s. I am expecting a weight loss from current 11.5kgs to 8.5kgs.

That should make the SCR around 8.5kgs, very close to performance of superbikes which cost 2.5-3L. I should then ride for atleast a decade. These upgrades will be rolled out slowly over an year's time.

Upgrade should cost around 1L as everything will be brought in EU and brought my friends and family.

Over time like after 5 years i should have the funds to buy a proper aero frame made of carbon fiber and swap these high end parts to that frame. So will never be a bad investment. :-)