Manas_Bhatnagar

Hello Guys,

I am pretty new to the world of cycling. I have been running for the past couple of years and now with some nagging injuries, I thought I would mix up my running with cycling. So as you would know by now, I want to have a bike more for fitness purpose. Also since I am foraying into the biking world, I want to start at a basic level, with a basic bike, and upgrade later if needed.

I have researched a lot over the past couple of weeks and have zeroed in on a few hybrid bikes for this. Also, my budget for getting the bike is strictly $500 or less (I would anyways be putting a 100$ more for accessories like helmet, lights, bike repair kit, pump, etc.). The bikes that I have selected (and also took test ride) are below:

1. Trek FX 7.2 (2016 model): This seemed to be a great bike. Rides nice and fast, shifts smoothly and has flat resistant tires (at least that's what the sales guy marketed to me). Flat protection is a major point for me as I don't want to deal with it frequently. The LBS also offered me LIFE TIME FREE Tune ups!!! The only things I didn't like were the external cables and the color of the bike (they had it only in black ). This one is coming for $489 (Hmm... expensive).

2. Specialized Sirrus (2015 model): This is the last year's model and also the last piece left at another LBS. They are ready to offer it to me for $400 . This bike was good too, almost comparable to Trek FX 7.2 in every regard, however I believe since it is sort of demo model and lot of people have taken test rides, it's not properly tuned. I was getting a clinky sound when I shifted to higer gears. Though the bike mechanic told me that this is common when driving at higher gears and he would get it tuned properly when I make the purchase. The bike also had minor scratches , but then it is coming at a discount as well. The tires are having 'Flak Jacket' protection, means lesser flats. This LBS is also giving free tune ups for life and I like the bike color as well (Volt Green ).

3. Giant Escape 3 (2016 model): This is again a fantastic bike I found to ride at an awesome price ($360). However it came with its own shortcomings. The shifters are Shimono Tourney, which is most basic level (based on my internet research. Plz correct if wrong). I found them not so smooth in shifting compared to the other 2 bikes. Then the tires are also not having any flat protection. The LBS guy suggested that I put a flat protector liner or fill up my tube with 'slime'. The saddle was also like a rock. However it has some upsides too, though minor. The cabling is internal, which makes it look cleaner. Also I like the metallic grey color (also the blue one of the 2015 model).

Apart from these bikes, I also rode the Trek FX 7.4, which I liked the most. It has nice road bike like tires, better components and a carbon fork, so the ride was definitely smoother. The LBS guy there told me that it also has better flat protection that FX 7.2, though I have my doubts. However this bike was costly ($699). I am also getting some local deals, like getting the FX 7.5 (2014 model) for $649 or the FX 7.3 (2015 model) for $599. I am not confident to push my budget for these bikes, and are these really worth for the money?

As I know, there is usually no '30-day return' policy like Amazon for most LBS. Hence need your inputs to make my decision, and a quick one. Any inputs on the above bikes would be really appreciated!

Wanderer

Buy the one you fall in love with.... You will want to ride it. Don't worry about model year. There won't be any difference when it's 5-6 years old, and it will have picked up more scratches.

Don't worry about components or tires, they get replaced eventually.

Any component with the name Shimano on it, will work acceptably.

Buy as much bike as you can afford. You get what you pay for. You can get some awesome deals at model year changeover. Giant seems to give you the most bang for a buck - but buy the one you like the best!

MHO

FBinNY 

The bicycles are comparable, so don't sweat the bikes per se. Buy the one that fits and feels best, and you'd feel happiest owning (technical aspects aside). Also assign high weight to the shop. Is one more supportive, do you feel the bike was better fitted to you and adjusted to run properly?

When it's all said and done, the support form the shop, the skill of their mechanics, and the gut feel about the bike will be more important than minor spec differences.

MRT2

All very true. And if your favorite bike is an extra $50 or $100, I would urge you to find a way to make it work. I get that we all have to stick to a budget, but it is equally true that we all spend money on lots of things. One thing I have never regretted spending a few bucks more for is a bicycle, and I have occasionally regretted not getting what I really wanted because I got a "better deal" on something else.

NormanF

The bike will do you what you want.

Just pick the bike you want to ride and have fun!

FBinNY 

That's the key. There's no sense obsessing because it only delays making what should be a simple decision. The reality is that it barely matters because 1st bikes usually go one of three ways.

1- owner rides it a few times, gets bored, finds he doesn't like riding, or finds something new and stops riding, and the bike ends up collecting dust in a garage, or being dusted off 2-3 times per year.

2- owner falls in love with cycling, gets the bug and "outgrows" his first bike and trades up for something more serious. This is an endless process which some describe as N+1 where N is the number of bikes currently owned. In this happy circumstance, the first bike may not be used that much anymore, but can be passed on to a friend or relative, or kept as a niche bike, ie. for commuting or doing errands or for bad weather riding.

3- owner uses and enjoys his bike for years, riding it often, but not having the need or desire to upgrade to anything else. This is the rarest of outcomes, and sadly, the first is the most common.

So, as you can see, it's not all that likely that you'll be riding this forever, and even if you do, it will see modifications and replacement of parts as they wear, so it's almost sure that what you buy today won't be what you'll be riding forever. So, buy the bike that's screaming "buy me" the loudest, as long as the fit is good (fit is trumps in the bike game), and get out and ride it.

Manas_Bhatnagar

Thank you all for the quick response. Appreciate that!

I think I'll now probably go and have a final test ride and pick up the one that seems to fit the best. However, as some mentioned, that I should also be looking at the bike store rather than nitpicking on the specs, is the Life Time Free Tune Ups seriously worth it or just a gimmick. I inquired at the bike store that was offering Giant that they'll do a tune up within the first 90 days and then one more before the completion of 1 year. After that, no more free tune ups (and the cost for a single tune up is $90!!!).

Let me know what you think, are the tune ups that necessary. And if so then a shop offering free tune ups for life wins hands down. Or am I missing something here?

Fear Before

Do they have a Giant Escape 2 to try out? That would fit in your budget and sounds like it would fix all the short comings you stated about the Escape 3.

Manas_Bhatnagar

Well, not really. I did ride the Giant Escape 2 as well and it was smooth too. However the tires are still the same as Giant Escape 3, with no flat protection. The fork in Escape 2 is of aluminum (compared to that of steel in Escape 3). Heard that steel forks are smoother to ride than aluminum ones, but didn't really notice the difference between the two. The only other difference is between the components (which are relatively better in Escape 2). But no major difference between the rides, so not sure to spend the extra 100$ for Escape 2.

The confusion I am having now is whether to go with Giant or not, since they are offering free tune ups only during the first year. After that, its all paid. Trek FX 7.2 and Specialized Sirrus are comparable to Giant Escape, but they are coming with free life time tune ups. Not sure what difference does it make.

FBinNY 

Tuneups are a very nebulous concept, and the term can apply to anything from a quick adjustment of brake and gear cables, to something getting close to an overhaul. Unless something is very wrong, nobody is going to give you free $90 tuneups for life, so consider it a gimmick, and expect a diligent tune up at 30 days, and something of a quickie at a year, during which they'll make an effort to upsell you. Same with the lifetime guys, 1st one is serious, the rest will be seen as opportunities to say "that's not included", and upsell you.

OTOH - many if not most shops will do very basic tweaks for free on request from loyal customers who are back spending money on any regular basis. In short, the overall attitude and selling philosophy of the shop is more important than any specifically worded policy about tuneups.

ikaika777

Giant.

Manas_Bhatnagar

Thank you sir! That clears some of my doubts over free tune ups. And ya, and for the minor adjustments I can always bargain .

I am inclining more and more towards the Giant Escape 2/3 after the discussion on this thread. Since my house is on the 2nd floor, I need to carry my bike whenever I want to ride. The external cabling was bothering me, since the cables will always be pinched when carrying the bike, which may loosen the cable over a period of time (again based on my internet research). Internal cabling is a BIG plus for me. I'll be leaving in some time to get the test ride for the last time.

One question. I know that flats are unavoidable but the very thought to me changing the tube on the road side is scaring me. If I go with Giant Escape 2/3, should I upgrade to thicker tubes or put some internal flat protector liner or maybe just fill up slime into the tube?

FBinNY 

While some products can (claim to) reduce the odds of getting a flat, the only way to reliably prevent them is not to ride the bike.

Just as you wouldn't drive a car far without a spare tire, jack and lug wrench, you shouldn't ride far without being able to repair a flat on the road. For an attractive woman, this mean having a spare tube, tire levers and a nice smile. For the rest of us, a pump and the necessary knowledge are also required. Rather than worry about this, take the opportunity to learn now. Most better shops and some community colleges or libraries offer some basic repair classes covering flat repair, and some basic gear and brake adjustments, so ask if any are available and take them.

Or find tutorials on the internet and practice changing a tire and properly installing both wheels. Then make sure you have the tube, tools and pump. (or a cell phone and the number of someone you can hit up for a favor).

Fear Before

My mistake, I was looking at the specs of the 2016 Escape 2 which has the flat protection.

funbikerchick

I have the Specialized Sirrus Sport Disc and love it. It is a bit out of your price range, but honestly the "plain" Sirrus is also an excellent bike. Bought one recently for my step-daughter. Honestly as others have said, it probably makes no difference which you choose of the ones you have listed. Go with which one feels best. I tried five of six bikes, this one just fit. I knew as soon as I got on the bike that it was the one for me.

MRT2

You sure about that? I think the Giant tires come with some flat protection. Anyway, don't get hung up on differences in tires. You can always change out tires at POS if you really want something better. But I wouldn't bother. You will likely change out tires soon enough anyway. I hear negative comments about Giant branded tires, but I don't see any issue with Giant quality. My only experience with Giant tires is a mountain bike tire I bought for my son last year. It replaced a Specialized brand tire and has been much better on trails than the tire it replaced(and no flats in two seasons of pretty hard riding and a few races.) I looked closely on the sidewall of the tire when I installed it and it looks to be a re badged Kenda.

You really need to get over your fear of flats as even tires with flat protection get flats. My wife got a flat on her very first ride of her new bike a couple of years ago, and that was after we switched out the stock tires for some tires with flat protection. Guess what? A small bit of wire embedded itself in the tire causing a slow leak.

So learn to fix flats. I used to fear flats as well, but now pretty much know how to fix a flat. It really does contribute to peace of mind on longer rides.

As far as tuneups, I agree with FBinNY. A shop offering "lifetime tuneups" might be a great thing, or might not. They will find a way to get their money. Learn some basic maintenance yourself, like how to adjust a shifter or derailleur, or how to clean and re lube a chain and, along with fixing a flat, you are good for 95% of your maintenence needs. And when the time comes after many years and thousands of miles, that your bike needs a complete overhaul, be prepared to pay to have the work done right, or learn how to do it yourself.

a1penguin

Flat protection is mostly about what tires are on the bike. And you can get these plastic strip liners (tuffs?) that go on the inside of the tires. These provide extra puncture protection of the inner tube.

These are all nice bikes that you have selected. As others have said, selecting a bike shop is important too. The lifetime warranty is like car shops that offer free oil changes: they will inspect you vehicle and when they find other problems, you'll just tell them to take are of it. Offering one or two years of free tune up seems like a great way to get your bike adjusted after the cables have stretched a bit. I've seen bike shops that have several levels of tune up depending on what you want. The higher priced tuneups include wheel truing, lower priced ones do not. $90 seems a bit on the high side for a tune up.

Manas_Bhatnagar

Thanks to your overwhelming response guys. I finally got my new bike last week, the Specialized Sirrus!!!


I was in dilemma between Specialized Sirrus and Giant Escape 2, but the customer service and warmth I felt was the deal clincher for Specialized LBS. And I got a totally new bike, not the display model as I put in my first post, for the same price that they offered initially. They totally sold me on their customer service

The first ride I did was a 13 miler at an avg speed of just over 13 MPH. And the bike felt so good. Although I am already planning to get some modifications to it, mainly changing the grips to the Ergon ones with bar-ends (GP3) and getting a Garmin speed/cadence sensor to keep a track of my workouts. Can you guys suggest if you think there are some better cadence sensors or grips that I should consider. Do let me know.

Happy cycling!

a1penguin

Ooooh, I love that color! So visible! You made really good choices with LBS and bike.

Wanderer

You will love that Sirrus. They are great bikes!

If you are considering different grips and bar ends, also give consideration to the Specialized brand. I like Specialized ergonomic grips better (I also have Ergon,) as they tighten on the inside end, making the outside more comfortable to your hand. They are also slightly softer, therefore more forgiving, while still offering plenty of support. They just feel better in my hand. They also come in lots of colors and sizes. I also like the Specialized P2 Barendz, as they are quite comfortable for me, and very unobtrusive. Nice feel as well!

Something does not look right with that seat bag, but not a good enuf view, to see what's wrong. Maybe upside down???

Manas_Bhatnagar

Well, I think I followed the instructions that came with the bag. Attaching a few more pics of the saddle bag for clarity. Let me know if you see a flaw



I was in fact contemplating of getting the Specialized grips with bar ends, considering that I am still eligible for a 10% discount on those from the LBS + free installation . My bike came with the stock grips that are not even screwed/locked to the handlebar and hence I feel they are pushed down a bit from the palm pressure on long rides. I think the one you are talking about is the Targa grip with bar ends like the one below:


The P2 bar ends also look good but I would have to change my grips to locked ones before I put them, since they'll again slip down with the palm pressure. Looking at that, I was thinking that i'll consider the Targa ones over just going with P2 bar ends with the stock grips. What say?

Only gripe: Targa ones come in blue and white, so none matches with the color of my bike

altondavis2

Congratulations, its a great choice. I have a Sirrus too, and was secretly hoping that you would chose it.
I thought it was the best choice unless you could spring for the Trek FX 7.4, which cost quite a bit more.
Happy Cycling 2U2.

a1penguin

Your next purchase needs to be a better taillight if you are going to ride after dark. Check out the Electronics, Lighting and Gadgets forum. Ditto front lights.

I have that same seat bag. It has more than 10k miles on it.

Wanderer

These were the grips I was referring to, along with the P2 Barendz. I like them a lot! The bag looks right, I just never saw one droop that much. Maybe I just push mine further back toward the rear of the seat.

Specialized Bicycle Components



I really like that bike!