culgukga

Hi all,

I am currently riding a Specialized Hardrock that I bought used, and in very poor shape. I joined a local community run workshop and fixed the bike up myself so that it's well maintained and in rideable condition. I've been using it 3 years now to ride to work every day the weather permits (I'm in Toronto, I added fenders). The commute is about 5-6km per day. I also use it on weekends to go places, or sometimes just to have a nice ride (up to 15-20kms, after that I get aches because the bike isn't super comfortable.)

I'd like something nicer now. The bike has been very reliable since I fixed it up, but shifting isn't smooth at all, it's heavier than I'd like, and I think it's a little small for my size.

I visited a bike store and was shown the Brooklyn Roebling. It sure does feel a lot nicer than my current bike, and a lot lighter as well. The store was selling it for 700 CAD. While I've never paid that much for a bicycle, I'd like my next bicycle to be of decent quality and maintainable by myself. But I'm hesitant to commit to this bike because I have never heard of that brand before, and having a new shiny bike means that thieves will be more tempted while I'll weep when it gets its first scratches.

My budget is under 800 CAD. I could buy used, but it's very hard to tell the condition of a used bike. Sometimes parts are seized or worn out and you can't tell before taking the bike apart.

What do you think? Is the Brooklyn Roebling a decent choice? Should I buy used instead? Are there better alternatives new for the money?

mcours2006

I'm not familiar with those bikes, but from the specs it's comparable to a Trek FX7.2, which is a well-known and popular bike. Toronto, you say?

trek bike for sale.... | road | City of Toronto | Kijiji

Trek 7.5FX with Disc Brakes | cruiser, commuter & hybrid | Markham / York Region | Kijiji

Trek FX 7.2 | other | City of Toronto | Kijiji

Hybrid bicycles for sale | cruiser, commuter & hybrid | Markham / York Region | Kijiji

2015 Trek FX 7.2 Hybrid Bike | other | Markham / York Region | Kijiji

One of them even comes with pannier and rack.

blackieoneshot 

Since you're comfortable doing your own maintenance and you live in a large city with a very active CL you should consider used. The Trek 7.5FX w/ fenders and rack that mcours2006 listed above seems like a decent find. Slightly better components and the included accessories make it a better value than the Roebling imo.

culgukga

Thanks for your answers. The Trek 7.5 looks nice but has disc brakes. I've never had a bike with disc brakes, how much more complicated/expensive/demanding are they to maintain?

mcours2006

Disc brakes usually cost more. They are relatively easy to maintain and great in wet weather. It's an asset, not a liability.

Darth Lefty 

They're fine for everyone except road bike racers. Those guys believe disk brakes are going to slice their **** right off.

The bike in the OP has an uncanny resemblance to a 1990s Trek 720. It's perfectly inoffensive but perhaps not any better quality than your Hardrock, just newer.

mcours2006

Giant Roam 2 is another good option that suits your needs.

Giant Roam 2 Disc - Gears Bike Shop - Mississauga, Toronto, & Oakville, Ontario

You might check the Giant Store on Queen and Bathurst, though it looks like they only have the Roam 0, which is the top model that's over $1K.

mcours2006

Giant Seek is also good option:

Giant Seek 1 (New) RSVP-$1029 (BEST OFFER) | road | Mississauga / Peel Region | Kijiji

They are more rare than either the Roam and the Trek FX series.

crazyravr

If you do decide on a bike and it will be a Giant, please get in touch with me and I will put in contact with my bike shop where you will get the bike at a HUGE discount, if you dont mind a quick trip to Oakville. Best way would be to email me crazyravrAThotmail.com

FargoRider

Sounds like you've become comfortable with bike maintenance, so you're already ahead of many commuters. I purchased a new Giant Rapid 1 for my first "serious" commuter bike, but sold it about four years later. I've purchased several bikes since but all are used (CL and garage sales), and have saved hundreds of dollars on each one.

You'll know quickly if the used bike is well maintained or not by looking at it, and riding it. Pretty easy to see if the wheels spin true, brakes work well, and it's hitting all the gears (front and back).

Darth Lefty 

I think I've yet to know a bike commuter who was uncomfortable with maintenance

mcours2006

If you have to ride to work everyday you have to know how to fix/maintain your bike. Taking it to the LBS might mean leaving it there for a day or two.

culgukga

So I went to the dealership to try some giant bikes.

It wasn't what I expected, at all. I didn't like the feeling of the bikes at all. They felt cheaper than my current bike which is weird because I'm sure they're an upgrade.

They felt "cheap" and shaky, the gears are much slower to shift. They all had this clicker type of shifter where you have to wait what feel like a second between when you click and when the gears actually change. I didn't like that at all, my cheapo SRAM gripshift feels so much faster... That really surprised me.

Am I hallucinating? Are the acera and ultegra that much different from my SRAM comp gripshift? Why did these giant bikes feel so "rattly" compared to mine?

mcours2006

What bike did you try out?

Darth Lefty 

If you like grip shifters there are better ones, SRAM sells them at all levels. Some people even like to have a grip shifter for the front and trigger for the rear. But you won't find a mismatch like that from the factory.

culgukga

I tried the AnyRoad and the Escape.

culgukga

I don't think I mind the triggers that much, it's just that the gripshift feels a lot more responsive IMHO. You click and the action on the derailleur is instant whereas with the triggers it seems like you click, then nothing happens for a little bit, and finally the derailleur moves.

mcours2006

Not sure what you mean by 'cheap', but the rattly feel might be the internal cabling routing. They have a tendency to do that when they vibrate against the frame. My Norco is the only bike I have with internal cable routing and it does rattle and shake on rough roads. It's not a big deal. You might be able to dampen the rattle with some rubber rings. Yeah, I know, you shouldn't have to, but that's the price you pay for a cleaner look.

As for the shifting being slower, it may be that the trigger-type shifters have longer throws, whereas your twist shifter has shorter ones. I have twist shifters on my MTB and compared to my sons' twist shifters they do feel marginally quicker.

Darth Lefty 

At the rear the shifting should be quick if the cable is free and the adjustment is right. If it's slower up and faster down for instance that indicates the adjustment is a little off to the down side.

At the front, I've never been really happy with anything.

mcours2006

You're a perfect candidate for a 1x.

fietsbob

Canadiens come to Oregon To Buy Bikes , where we don't charge sales tax.

Darth Lefty 

I'll have to remember that if my wife ever lets me get a Co-Mo or a Friday

Wileyone 

This "Canadian" would have to Drive about 2200 Miles one way to get Oregon.