Hey guys,

I'm trying to decide between these bikes:

Windsor $500 - Save Up to 60% Off Shimano Disc Brake Flat Bar Wide Tire Hybrid Bikes | Fixie | Windsor Bikes - The Hour | Save up to 60% off Hybrid and Shimano bicycles
OR
Marin Fairfax $500 - Marin Fairfax SC4 2013
OR
Motobecane $700 - Save up to 60% off new Hybrid Bikes Motobecane Cafe Sprint
OR
Cannondale Badboy $700 - Cannondale Bad Boy 9 Bike - 2014 at REI.com
something else??

I'm looking for an aluminum frame, carbon fork, disc brakes and some gears for hills all in a hybrid flatbar bike (leaning towards road) budget of $500 or there-abouts. I'll be commuting 6miles round trip mostly on roads, cutting through a few grassy areas and climbing a few hills.

Does one stand out as the obvious winner? Or do you have a better suggestion? I'm leaning towards the fairfax right now, but any help would be greatly appreciated!

Though, I'm somewhat partial to the Bad Boy 9, the Marin Fairfax does have a lot going for it!

Of course, I'd limit my choices to only those I could test ride, before finally pulling the trigger.

Most times, it's hard to beat REI...

You might also want to consider the Fuji Absolute 1.3 and 1.4 at Performance. They're "Fitness" bikes...

Find Bikes, Cycling Clothing, Bike Parts & Bike Shoes Or Your Local Bike Store at Performance.

* No assembly required with Performance + you get to test ride, first!

You should do some test rides first. .

that may be hard to get for that money .. which is most important the spec list or the money on the table?

BikesDirect requires the competent mechanic to be You..

thanks a lot guys! riding it in person is pretty nice, just not sure where I can find a marin fairfax around denver, but i'll call around.

I'm definitely more concerned about it being a great ride and good components than the price, although i'd obviously like the best deal possible.

I'd probably take a BD bike into a local shop to get put together and tuned.

Thanks again!

REI carries Marin bike. They should be able to order it for you.

I have a thing for Marin, but wish they had more color options.

So I'm waiting for REI to build a Marin Fairfax SC4 for me to try out. In the mean time I've narrowed it down to 4 "better" options I believe:

$500 Marin Fairfax SC4 - Marin Fairfax SC4 2013

$550 Jamis Coda Sport - JAMIS BICYCLES
$750 Specialized Sirrus Elite - Specialized Bicycle Components
$700 Cannondale Quick 4 - QUICK 4 - QUICK - Recreation - Recreation & Urban - Bikes - 2013

Which seems the best? Are all these brands about the same for hybrids? Does one have inferior components like brakes or derailleurs?

It sounds like disc brakes are not necessary for me as its pretty dry in Denver. I'm mostly concerned with the quality of the ride between aluminum frame and people say the Jamis steel frame makes for a better ride. I do like to ride fast and pretty aggressive, climbing hills as fast as possible, so I'm still leaning more towards aluminum with a carbon fork for a little less weight and more power, but does anyone have a recommendation?

You should be comparing these bikes with the Coda Comp, not the Coda Sport. That's on a lower level than all the other bikes. Only compare similar models.

I'm sorry, but none of those bikes can come close to the Fairfax in terms of cost and value...

A carbon fiber fork with Alvio/Altus mix for only $500. That's just too crazy cool!

Preferences:

1) Marin Fairfax

2) Jamis Coda Comp

3) Cannondale Quick 4

4) Sirrus Elite

Oh! good point I see that now. Thanks for the ranking!! No LBS seems to stock the comp, only the sport.... so I''ll just test ride the sport and pretend it has a carbon fork that seems like the biggest difference between the two codas

The fairfax does seem like the best buy! I just keep going back and forth between Jamis v Marin, steel v aluminum, carbon fork v normal......
I WILL ride both tomorrow and make a final decision!

The other thing (probably irrelevant) is I could ride the coda sport out of the door but the fairfax I'll test ride at REI and then order online and take it into a LBS for assembly. Not sure if i'll get the same level of service bringing in a box of parts as opposed to buying a new bike from my LBS but I'm thinking that should not be a consideration in my purchase, right?

Since online bikes arrive 90% assembled already, I would suggest that you seriously observe the video below and attempt to assemble the bike yourself, as best as you can. Next, take it to the LBS in order for them to "adjust the derailleurs". Of course, they will go over everything, before they return it to you. However, you'll just be paying for a "derailleur adjustment". As long as you can manage to do most of the assembly, the shop shouldn't mind making minor adjustments. That said, you should make a few extra purchases while there. Such things as a patch kit, an extra tube, a lock, a helmet, a water bottle, cycling gloves, etc... Would all make for partial compensation for their service.

www.bikesdirect.com/instructionhelp.htm

Make certain that the brakes work perfectly, before taking it to the LBS. Also, make certain that the pedals have been installed properly...

It's so nice when relatives buy bicycles for their loved ones...

If you have a bicycle co-op nearby, then just go there for everything...

Thanks yea I'll check that video.

steel v aluminum frame for a commuter hybrid? anyone feel strongly one way or the other?

Well the picture in my mind of commuting in Denver,
Quite a few hills, just thinking.

better check out the gears these bikes got.

Id pick the Marin, although im partial too Marin's anyways...

Don't get the Coda Sport!

Either get the Coda Comp, or the Marin Fairfax. If you've got the bucks, then get the Coda Elite.

If not, then you just can't beat that Fairfax deal!

Steel rides better and will last a lifetime...

You'll only buy one steel Coda Commuter in your life. If you're young, you might very well go thru three or more aluminum framed commuters...

I'm leaning towards this commuter from Breezer for the reliability of the IGH Breezer Bikes - Beltway - Bike Overview

how long is the commute? no bike shops nearby?

Pick Your favorite bike shop first, Then Buy a bike from them .. brands are less important since they have Asia making all of them.

Like one component over another , the shop can change it for you for a reasonable price..

they are replaceable.

I have a new avatar for you:


First,the frame isn't the only thing that determines how a bike rides. The fork also makes a huge difference(both material and design),as well as the wheels and tires. Ride a C'dale CAAD;the rear seatstays are designed to be compliant,and combined with a carbon fork they ride just fine,even with skinny road bike tires.

As for durability,every bike I've used for polo has had an alloy frame,and I've had no issues. My Safari was used for polo for about 8 months,the rest of it's life it's been my main commuter,bad weather bike,and my grocery getter. Zero issues with the frame. And with the cromo fork and 2" tires,it rides nice and smooth.

BTW,I've known two folks who broke their steel forks from regular street riding,as well as a friend whose steel frame cracked at the headtube. And it wasn't that long ago that Salsa had a recall on some of their steel forks.

It's not really a steel vs. aluminum thing... it's the way the tubes are made, put together, the bike geometry, etc.

My first commuter was a Kona Dew Deluxe. It served me well until I started riding 50+ miles more frequently and then it became quite uncomfortable. Personally, I'd rather have the steel Jamis Coda but I've gotten to a point where all of my bikes are now steel save that Kona I mentioned which is now just a back up for friends and sometimes a winter bike. That said, Marin makes good bikes. I owned one for a couple of months before dumping it because I wanted a different style. My best friend had one for years until it was stolen.

Well thank you!

What a very nice gesture, my friend!

BTW- I've belonged to two road clubs and one touring club. When I was born, there was no such thing as an aluminum bicycle. Since then, they've come a long way. However, aluminum is still aluminum. As such, it suffers from fatigue issues. I own a 1974 Schwinn Continental and a 2011 Raleigh Record Ace. Both are chromoly steel road bikes. They both ride like magic carpets! I've ridden club members' aluminum framed road bikes. I must say, I'm not impressed!

My experience has been just the opposite of yours. Most aluminum bikes that actually get regularly ridden, never make it past 12 years or so...

Anybody Trek Allant? I always admired the Jamis Coda's family, Steel frame. Maybe you compare the store over the bikes it sells.
I'd consider the use, horses for courses. Like Question A)) City Style. All road, fight traffic everywhere, few locking public spots..etc. Or Question B)) More a "Relaxed" city riding style. Where you got bike lanes, separate bike paths. But still fighting traffic. Here , things are going that way around Boston, Cambridge Brookline. I had a short commute down a brook path 30+ years ago. A year later was a suburb to an urban, not tourist dense urban area. That trip had a 200 FT elevation change, over 10, or 11 miles. But with cellular phones,, and todays electronics, i'd rather ride over being on a bus. Chris