What do you guys think about this bike?
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/eclipse3.htm

Dawes Eclipse 3.0

I was looking for a hybrid bike that was in my price range and has decent components. It has a Shimano Acera front derailleur and a Shimano Alivio rear derailleur. Not too familiar about the quality of the SR Suntour aluminum arm cranks, 28/28/48T crankset. Not sure if it's good to have the suspension saddle and post, but doesn't having suspension makes the bike heavier? Thought I'd read that or heard it from somewhere.

Was thinking about getting the 19" men for me and the 15" purple for the wife next spring.

Plus is bikedirect.com a good place to get bikes from?

I'm sure there were a large amount of bikedirect shills on this forum, so you'll get some rave reviews shortly. Also I think the owner "Mike" (??) is a member of this forum too, so maybe he'll chime in soon with some details.

Nice Choice ChowChow!

- Slim

Thanks.

I first thought of going with this https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...fe_latte_x.htm
The Motobecanne Cafe Latte, but figured what if I went on a little dirt or grassy area. Then it probably won't go well. I wanted a more versatile bike. That I can use mostly on bike paths and if I had to move over to a dirt or grassy area to get out of the way of pedestrians, I would be fine. I mostly do my riding on bike paths and state trails. Straight, up hill and down hill. I don't hardly do any road riding or off road.

That's a hybrid ChowChow, it was made for mostly paved roads and the occasional dirt road. It just wasn't made for jarring downhill jaunts and going over a bunch of roots, rocks, and crevices. We'll let the MTN bikes handle that kinda terrain. However, a solid dirt trail or two, is just fine.

Actually, I prefer the Cafe Latte to the Dawes Eclipse 3.0...

- Slim

PS.

In reality, some hybrids appear to be more like MTN bikes and some appear to be more like road bikes.

I thought that the Cafe Latte was just a road bike with flat bars? The Cafe Latte does look sweeter than the Dawes Eclipse 3.0, but I'm not too familiar about the components on the Cafe Latte. Besides the Shimano Sora rear derailleur.

[QUOTE=ChowChow;13394333]

That's exactly what many hybrids are, ChowChow!

They're road bikes with flat handlebars and usually wider tires, as well. Some look more like MTN bikes because they'll have a suspended fork (front suspension), and they'll look more like a hardtail MTN bike.

The components are fairly decent on the Cafe Latte. I guess just about what you'd expect to accompany Sora.

It's a great looking bike!

- Slim

Bikes Direct advertise the bike as a road bike though. They are clearly trying to distant it from a hybrid.
From their site: "Cafe bikes are road bikes with flat bars and adjustable stem so you can ride with more comfort and control than a regular road bike and far greater speed than a hybrid or comfort bike."

Slim as you know, the problem is (as discussed many many times), no-one can to settle on a clear description of a hybrid.
Lately, a large number of flat-bar road bikes have appeared on the hybrid forum, with absolutely no MTB parts on them. Basically, stick a wider than 23mm tyre on it, and people now say it's a hybrid.

EDIT, take this as a grain of salt, I've been drinking red wine tonight.

Hi there GiantCFR1!

Well I guess that's all we need now, is yet another category:

Road/Cafe/Hybrid/Comfort/MTB/Cruiser/Utility/Commuter/Triathlon/Cyclocross/
Hardtail/Double Suspension/Tandem/Mixtie/Fixie/Recumbent/City/BMX/Touring

You know__, I don't think we really need another category, do we?

- Slim

PS.

Me too! Port with a splash of brandy on the rocks!

You left out Touring.

I'm no shill for BD but do own one of their bikes I bought second hand, It’s a Windsor Tourist and not a hybrid even though I don’t know what a hybrid is exactly. As to the quality of a BD bike in terms of value. IMO they are built from good components including frames. Some of the components are listed with brand names in the specs some are you will get this or that component with no say in the matter and some are just generic. from what I can see even the generic stuff is of average to better than average quality. Components are only half the bike buying experience though. The bikes come requiring some assembly and adjustments, along with fitting. If you are familiar with working on bikes you would have no problem doing these things yourself. Some of the BD bikes had better quality of machine building the wheels. Mine was one that had some spoke issues and really should have been re-tensioned before it was ever rode by the original owner.

I have had no issues taking mine to a LBS and having such things gone over but have read where some bike shops are less than enthused about working on them because it wasn’t something they made a sale on. They are much better than a department store bike.

I think at the price point BD is selling the Dawes Eclipse for many LBS might have something very close in quality and price and with buying 2 bikes they might get really close. Walk in with a printout and say what do you have like this if they can't come close you could ask what they would charge to assemble, adjust and fit you for on the BD bike. I like to build a relationship with the LBS and I buy all my tires, tubes and tools etc thru them.

I don’t think I would want a 28,28,48t crank set though, J

Wow. So a flat bar bike that isn't a mountain bike (because 700c & lack of suspension) and isn't a road bike (because of drops and brifters) is now not a hybrid. Me thinks that my bike (track frame, flat bars, road crank, and MTB drivetrain) and I shall move ourselves elsewhere. Perhaps Clydesdale's will judge only on size.

Pictures please!!!
PS. Clydesdale people are prejudice against skinny people. lol

edit. I'm just playing here. If you read wikipedia on hybrids, we here in BF / Hybrid have it correct. Come one, come all, you're all welcome.

OVERALL. that thing's a beast. will be heavy, sluggish and slow. i rode one of those things when i was trying to get into biking a year or so ago and it turned me off. good thing i came back to it and tried again with a better bike. i think that kind of bike is a cruiser in disguise, fine for the beach-front bike path if you don't have anything to do...if you actually want to have fun, wind in your hair and a feeling of liberation, then i don't think that's the bike for you. that silly suspension on the front will be heavy, and suck power from your pedal strokes, you don't need that unless you're taking on rough trails (which you would never do with this bike).

COMPONENTS. also, shimano makes a lot of components, just because the part is part of a series doesn't mean its any good. "good" components can mean a lot of things, depends on who you are and what you want. derailleurs aren't all that important, i've been convinced recently that the shifters and especially the crank are the parts that you want to be sure are good. try to find something with sora level or above...some hybrids have deore or tiara parts, that would be better. hope this helps.

SUGGESTION. I think you should go rent some bikes, try out some "comfort" bikes like the one you're looking at, but then try some more like this one:https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...fe_latte_x.htm i think you'll understand what i'm talking about then. NOTE-don't be scared off by an uncomfortable seat, we can help you with that

Will the Cafe Latte tires would be able to handle a little bit of dirt and grass?
I won't be riding it on a dirt path or grassy area, but just in case I need to move over to pass pedestrians or other peoples on bikes.

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of heavy suspension bikes. I want a bike that is fast and can handle hard bike paths and some twigs etc on the paths. I was thinking of getting one from a LBS for around the same price range, but then I will have to pay a little more for a bike with the same grade components.

I was thinking about getting these bike instead from a LBS.
https://www.eriksbikeshop.com/2010-Qu...3C3566/Product
https://www.eriksbikeshop.com/2010-Vi...3C5324/Product
https://www.eriksbikeshop.com/2011-Si...3C7747/Product

What do you guys think about these bikes in comparison to them two and each other?

All three of those are great bikes, and priced very reasonably. If it is at the same shop that you can hit locally, go in and try them all.

We could pick apart components if you want, but at the price point you are at, there is very little difference, IMO, in components. Big differences are in 7 speed vs 8 or 9 (don't get a 7 speed) and in Shimano vs SRAM shifters. The Shimano vs SRAM thing isn't a quality or durability thing, it is what you prefer for feel. In my opinion.

I hurl my 23mm non-hybrid tires into grass all the time. Any bike can do that. Personally, lots of people go way overboard plunging into the grass to be safe, and it is far more dangerous than just staying on the roadway. Claim your space and you'll be fine. Shoulders are where tire grabbing monsters live. Just saying.

And all of them are "hybridy" enough that you can continue to use this forum.

Go with the Sirrus! That's a great bike! the Quick is also very good...but i'm a little bitter at Cannondale so i can't give them 5 stars

don't worry about a little dirt or rocks, none of the hybrids you're looking at have the itty-bitty road racing wheels that might call for concern.

It appears that BD likes to call (what we would call) comfort bikes by the name of "hybrid bikes." We on BF like to call comfort bikes, performance bikes, flat-bar road bikes, etc by the name of "hybrid bikes." That's ok. The Café Latte is still a hybrid, whether BD calls it one or not.

For price around my budget. For online would be the Motobecane Cafe Latte. For LBS would be the Specialized 2010 Vienna 2 Cross Bike or the Trek Wingra 11". Both the Vienna and Wingra has about the same in components.

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...fe_latte_x.htm
https://www.eriksbikeshop.com/2010-Vi...3C5324/Product
https://penncycle.com/product/11trek-...on-72264-1.htm

After a thorough 45 second review of your links, I would get the Wingra for the following reason:

It has the most useful gearing. The 11-28 with the 48-38-28 crank gives you a nice high end and a nice low end, without the huge jumps in the cassette of an 8 speed 11-32. The BD bike has a road triple crank, and if you knew you could get the 12-26 it lists, that would be great and my number one choice, but the 11-32 other option would be crappy. And it says you have no choice. You would very very rarely use an 11-52, most likely not use the next step up on the back if it is a 12, and would have big steps in the cassette with 8 speeds over that range.

That is my best advice. All other things are largely a wash.

I'll say this much about ordering from BD: Don't bother checking them out unless you have money in hand. They're kinda like the used car market- if you see something that you like, you'd better go ahead and get it right then. Never know when/if they'll restock that model, and it's a gamble if the paint scheme will be the same- not to mention the components could move up or down a level on the next iteration of a model.

one big point that i think you're missing...the components on these bikes are bottom tier, but you're not going to do any better for the price...instead of thinking about components, you should be thinking about how the bikes feel...since you can't actually ride some of them, then all you've got is looks and reputation. the trek and specialized have good reps. you should really try any new bike, ESPECIALLY if you're new to it.