ECHO7

Okay, so the newbie is probably posting this in the wrong spot, but hey...I am new. I need some advice so thought I would come to the best board I have found for all things bike.

So I have a Scott P4 thought I bought because I thought I would be doing some trail riding but turns out I never do, just straight commute, about 22 miles round trip 3 times a week. So I need to upgrade but I am locked in to a cost bracket. This is what I have found and I am curious to know your opinions:

Giant FCR 2

https://bikenhike.com/itemdetails.cfm...gId=39&id=1294

Scott SUB

https://bikenhike.com/itemdetails.cfm...gId=39&id=1163

and the Novara Big Buzz (okay not a LBS but it is employee owned...side topic: Will I be mocked in the biking community?)

https://www.rei.com/product/760870?vcat=REI_SEARCH

Thanks for the help ladies and gentleman.

531phile 

All those bikes have flat or riser type bars. I don't know how opposed you are to road handlebars, but I'd rather go with a used touring type bicycle say Trek 520 with road handlebars that would offer more bang for your buck and greater funcationality (i.e. option for longer rides)

Out of all those bikes, I'd go with the Scott Sub. It is spec'd better.

If your commute is flat, check out the single speed/fixed gear Redline 925 which normally sells or $425. Has fenders and everything. It was made for commuters in mind. Also check out the Jamis Coda which sells about the same price.

Looks like you want a fast bike, but still want the upright position of a mountain bike.

let us know what you think

531phile 

I retract my opinion on the scott. I'd still go with the Scott which appear to be lighter than the Novara, but the Novara is spec'd better for urban jungle city riding with those powerful disc brakes.

Also check out the Kona Smoke. which will save you some coin. about $400 It has grip shifters (could be a plus or minus for you)

aley

Out of the bikes you listed, I personally would go for the Scott. It's the least expensive (which leaves room in your budget for rack, lights, fenders, and lock), and judging from the photos (which is always a bad idea but I do it anyway ) it's got the lowest bars of the bunch, which will put you more out of the wind.

To be honest, though, I'd look seriously at a bike with drop bars for a 22-mile round trip commute. Drops give you a lot more hand positions, and typically let you get more out of the wind. I do an occasional long ride on my flat-bar bike (Cannondale Caffeine F3, essentially the same as a Bad Boy Ultra), and every time I do I wind up really missing all the hand positions of the drops on my Jamis Aurora.

For a drop-bar road bike, you might look at something like the Novara Divano, for instance - it's the same price as the Big Buzz, but has drops. The specs seem pretty decent for the money, although there are plenty of other options that will give you different geometry and component selections.

chrischross

I've had the Divano for almost a month now, and I'm liking it. The downside for you is that the 20% off coupon expired in March. Snagging the Divano for $640 left enough budget left over for just about all the accessories I needed.

I'm slowly transitioning to commuting on it, by heading off to the park n' ride and then relying on bus transit to take me into work. So far, so good. I've done some 30 mile rides on the weekend and the drops do make things comfortable. From what I've heard with REI is that if you're not completely happy with the bike, take it back.

I was originally looking at the Big Buzz myself, but the lack of a carbon fork seemed like a harsh ride. Granted, the disc braking on the Big Buzz for commuting is pretty sweet. I see you provided some links to Bike N' Hike, and I've been buying a lot of accessories over at their east side Portland store. Pretty friendly staff, and I'm sure they have a closeout our two that would work.

If you're in Portland, you might want to check Sellwood Cyclery, as they usually have a pretty good used selection.

ECHO7

Thanks everyone for the help.

Chriscross: Glad to hear another PDX'er in here. Shoot me an email sometime at geoff503@yahoo.com

bsyptak

The specs are fairly similar on the bikes IMO. The brakes and fork are standout though. The disc brakes are nice on the Novara, but I think an aluminum frame with an aluminum fork is going to ride like an I-beam. The Giant is the only one with a carbon fork. Yes, fat tires will help on the alu forked bikes, but not all that much. And huge tires is a poor solution; it'll slow you down. All things equal, the carbon forked bike will be less buzzy on the hands.

The drop on the Scott is also too much too. Or maybe that's just that the saddle is up higher than the other bikes. Hard to tell.

ECHO7

Thanks Bsyptalk. You ever check out the Novara Divano? Curious to know your thoughts on that.

bsyptak

I took a look at it on the REI website. I think it's a pretty nice bike. Price is pretty good too, especially if you're an REI member. There are a few nice things about the bike in my opinion:

1. Buying at REI allows you to take it back if you don't like it. Please don't abuse this generous offer though.
2. It's got long reach brakes, which allows you to put fenders on it should you choose. Pretty rare on a drop bar road bike. You can also probably put 28+mm tires on it too, possibly even cross tires which gives the bike a more rugged look like a cyclocross bike.
3. It's got drop bars 1. It will be faster than any of the other 3 bikes you listed above. Plus it's got integrated shifter brakes which are fairly expensive.
4. It's got drop bars 2. Should you choose, you could easily turn the bike into a flat bar bike by swapping out the drop bars for flat, and buying some inexpensive flat bar shifters and brakes. It's a lot easier (read: cheaper) to go from drop to flat than from flat to drop.

Cyclocross bikes are another avenue you might look into. The Fuji Cross and Redline bikes are reasonable. Other bikes to look at like the Divano are the KHS Flite 220. Definitely a step down in components, but not a bad bike for the price. Also, if there is a Performance Bike Shop near you, some of the Schwinn bikes are nice and quite reasonable. By the way, this weekend bikes are an additional 10% off the marked price and if you join their Team Performance club for $20, you get an additional 10% off in store credit (think accessories!).

ECHO7

Bsyptalk...Thanks as always, great information. And now a curveball.

I said I was looking at the FCR 3 but it is actualy the FCR 2: https://bikenhike.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=1294

What are the thoughts on that? It is down to the Divano and FCR 2. Starting to lean towards toward the Divano I think.....

ECHO7

Anybody else want to chime in on this?

bsyptak

FCR2 is a bit nicer than the 3 so I'd say the components are comparable to the Divano. Honestly, you should ride them both for at least 15-30 minutes and buy the one that speaks to you.

slvoid

That scott just looks badass, get it!