baldiesrt

Comparing parts to parts:
https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...2_502354_-1___

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/gravity/g29ss.htm

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/bullseye.htm

thanks

FrenchFit 

I will not buy another alum 29er; I'd go steel, Ti or more likely CF & at a significantly higher price point. So, my preference of the 3 would be the Dawes, especially for commuting where the weight penalty is somewhat irrelevant. You can upgrade the components, the frame is the frame.

Bike Gremlin

Why no alu for commuting? It doesn't rust in the winter. You can scratch all the paint to make it look ugly, unatractive to thieves, and still get away with no rusting.

baldiesrt

good question..exactly what im wondering. Being light is pretty important if i am carrying it up the stairs at the train stations

Disregard the dawes...they dont have my size anyway. I guess its just down to the top 2. Any coments?

Andy_K 

None of the three seem to have eyelets for fenders or a rack. The Gravity has braze-ons for a rack near the seat tube, but I don't see a way to attach it at the bottom. There are ways around this, of course, but it's better to buy a bike that meets your needs to begin with. The Dawes and the Nashbar both have cable stops for gear cable, which is odd but might come in handy down the road.

baldiesrt

i dont really need fenders or racks.

Andy_K 

Yes, you do.

Andy_K 

Anyway, they're all geared too low for commuting. The Dawes has marginally better brakes. The Nashbar has a better crankset and bottom bracket (though the bashring might need to go if you get a reasonably sized chainring). None of them have the tires you'd want for commuting. The rims on the Gravity are probably a little better than the other two, though its wheels also have fewer spokes, which is a step back (but probably OK if you weight under 175). Generally, what I'd say is that I don't think any of these would be great for commuting, but if this is what you want there isn't a lot separating them so you may as well pick based on color or price.

Commodus

they're all ****e.

goalieMN

I have been using the Nashbar SS 29er for actual trail riding. It is well worth what I paid for it (370 bucks shipped this Spring). It would make a great commuter with a smaller gear in back.

Shavit

OP, the first time road grime gets all over your pants (and maybe a stripe up the back) after a good rain, you'll want fenders.

generally speaking you might want to consider your limitations as a mechanic before buying a bike from Bikes Direct. They openly state (kind of, if you look hard enough) that the wheels commonly need truing during the set up and plenty of other problems can arise from pre-assembled parts being put on to a frame for the first time. The hassle or cost to get somebody who knows what they're doing might eat into those (marginal already) savings.

a bit more specifically, the 'gravity' model posted here has hydraulic brakes. that means you likely won't be able (not necessarily because of lack of knowledge) to keep them maintained yourself (plus, it's a pain in the ___). discs are great (they're on two of my bikes) but mechanical is the way to go if you want to keep the repair/upkeep cost down and it's all the stopping power you're going to need.

the nashbar bike ... i personally wouldn't want anything to do with that gearing while riding on roads/flats or have my one and only commuter be a single-speed (is that the case for you?). at least check out sheldon before buying: https://sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html

baldiesrt

Thanks for the replies/suggestions. I rarely ride in the rain. If I do, I use my foldable bike with fenders. This bike will be for rides twice a week or so to the market or run errands. I had a SS before which I just sold. I know how it's like. I will def. change the back cog to a lower tooth probably a 13 or 14. At most I'll prob ride this 5 miles a day. NYC isn't that big . I'm somewhat decent with bikes as I built my last 3 but never touched hydraulic however looking at the specs of the gravity, they aren't hydraulic. They are tektro novela.

FrenchFit 

About Alum; not a hater, I have a alum Tricross and vintage Trek alum MTBs...like them all fine. But I have owned a steel 29er and one that was alum, almost a dead match in geometry, and much preferred Cr-Mo. Perhaps it's the way that tall frame transmits the road chatter, or some scientific explanation I really don't care to know more about, but the comfort and handling of the two bikes were different enough to turn me away from any 29er frame made from aluminum. Personally, I'm saving my pennies for the jump to CF, like so https://www.ninerbikes.com/air9carbon . Yes, it will be a big bag of pennies.

Shavit

my mistake. i was looking at this. The one I was supposed looking at is certainly better for road travel with the rigid fork ... and would probably be fine, if not also the best option from the three you gave assuming you replaced (at least) the rear cog and tires.

That being said, I'm a little confused. Are you looking for a commuter or just a bike to ride to the grocery store and on a few errands? With knowledge on how to build/repair bikes why not just buy an old mountain or touring bike that has a place to attach a rack (or two) to it?

Anyway, good luck with the choice.

scroca

You may need a couple of bags for that one.