Originally Posted by
ft_critical
I think that this is typical of a lot of people - they don't really know what they want, so they buy something general. By the time they work out what they really need, it is too late.
I can say that that statement applies to me, at least somewhat. Almost a year ago, I was just getting back into biking and got myself a Bad Boy after a few test rides. I got some new lights for it within another week, but I didn't find out about dynamo hubs until a few months later (after seeing how popular they were in Germany, and why, I think they make a lot of sense for urban commuting -- so now I'm trying to find good prices for dynamo setups). It didn't come with any fenders, but I soon got a clip-on rear fender because I found that I sometimes wanted to ride when it was wet. I don't mind the 27 speeds that its drivetrain has, but I also wonder if I could do just fine with an internal geared hub, too.
Stock, it's a heck of a bike, and it's even marketed as an "urban" bike -- but I'm left wondering if I would have gotten something different if I knew then what I know now. My LBS recently got a couple of these Bianchi Valles -- they look like what I'd get now:
http://bianchiusa.com/08_valle.html
Originally Posted by ft_critical
To be honest, I would like one of each genre (MTB, Commuter, racer, training racer) - that would be perfect for any ride I choose to do.
I'm one bike short of that stable.
