mannjn418

Marin Fairfax SC4 vs Bianchi Camaleonte 2 vs Giant Escape 1 vs Cannondale Quick 4 vs Specialized Sirrus Sport

I know it seems like a long list of bikes. However, I am doing the homework now, that I should have done before blowing 650 on a bike I am not very happy with. About a month and a half ago I went to my LBS and told them I had only owned one bike as a child. I am now a commuter traveling 20 minutes by car and looking to part bike part bus to work. I needed something fast, efficient, comfortable, lightweight and something I wouldnt have to worry about flats everyday. The roads are atrocious here. So I looked at a few different bikes as the owner pointed them out based on my criteria that I gave him for commuting. His first choice and one he seemed most pleased about was a 29er. It looked like it had dumptruck tires on it. He offered for me to take it for a ride so I did. While comfortable and would be a lot of fun going downhill or over rough terrain I told him that on level ground or any slight incline it wouldnt work out for me. So then he pointed me to a Marin Larkspur Hybrid. I took that one out for a spin and I loved how fast the 700 tires were. But I had never ridden a bike like that and felt every bump every crack in the road so he said he had another Marin and I ended up taking a look at that one, it was a comfort bike. I took that one out and found it very comfortable (as its name implies) yet found the resistance a little more than my liking. So I sat there hemming and hawing for about an hour between the Larkspur and the Comfort bike....I didnt even consider or know you could have shops orde r bikes from the manufacturers. So I thought I was limited to what he had in stock. So after much deliberation and asking my wife, she stated go with the comfort so I went with the comfort bike.

Now here I am a month and a half later after having paid 650 for the bike, completely dissatisfied with it, I was planning on bringing it in to the shop yesterday to see what kind of credit I could get back towards a different bike only to my appaul when leaving work to find nasty little dent/scrape in the frame it looks like someone intentionally hit the bike with a blunt pointed object. It was raining out yesterday and there were no other bikes parked at the building so someone must have intentionally hit it with something. (STUPID BUMS! they hang out down there panhandling) So now I'm sure that will greatly depreciate what he may have given me for the bike.

I am still set on getting a new bike however as this frame on this one also is too large and my hip joints hurt trying to swing my legs over it and I almost fall over at every stop especially if I have a heavy load on my back, the frame is 22" I am 6'0 . So I will be looking to get into one the next size down. The bikes I have listed are all comparable with slight differences. What I am wondering is if anyone has any experience in the differences of these specific bikes. I am not interested in any others aside from these ones listed as I have spent many many hours now narrowing it down to these few. I keep going back and forth each time I think that I have made up my mind.

How big of a difference is a carbon fork? can I still use a front fender with a carbon fork? (rain riding stinks without a fender, looks like I pee'd myself) anyone have experience on the bianchi's? can those toe things come off of the fairfax sc4? are the rims on the fairfax any nicer than any of the others or is that aero profile just a hype and selling point? more than a few people swear by cannondales but I have no experience with them. My first thought was to bring it back to the shop where I got it and see what he would give me towards the fairfax sc4.....I really like how the specialized sirrus sounds and how fast and versatile it seems...the giant 1 is also very appealing....someone told me to look into bianchis and said they make really quality bikes....thats the other thing im unsure of with the marin it just seems like its cheap for someone reason, it has front suspension, seat suspension everything a normal comfort bike would but after only a month and im not hard on it, the thing creaks and squeeks like a rickety old house, (I only weigh 185lbs) I hate how when i turn the handlebars the metal creaks also (the actual riser bar metal itself makes the noise when pushing left or right into a corner)....any help or advice or any experience on any of these bikes would be of great help Im looking to have them order next week....thanks!

dynaryder

Please post links to the bikes.

I'm 6' and ride 20-22" bikes;the size varies because not all manufacturers size their bikes the same. You should have at least 1-2" of standover clearance,and it's perfectly normal to not be able to flat-foot your bike at a stop from the saddle. Your seatpost should be high enough that there is a slight bend in your knee when the pedal is at it's lowest point in it's arc,otherwise you're not getting the full power of your stroke and you could develop knee issues. The proper technique is to hop off the saddle when you come to a stop. It could be that your issue is just raising your leg to clear the toptube,in which case I'd suggest a bike with a sloping(diagonal) toptube or even a step-through frame.

Carbon forks usually ride better than steel forks,and ride much better than aluminum ones. Most hybrids with CF forks also have fender mounts,so adding fenders shouldn't be an issue.

DEW21

Giant Escape City all ready has fenders and kickstand, just saying!

mannjn418

https://www.bianchiusa.com/bikes/stra.../camaleonte-2/

https://www.marinbikes.com/us/bikes/d...4-fairfax-sc4/

https://gorhambike.com/product/13gian...1-175267-1.htm

https://www.cannondale.com/2013/bikes...ick-sl/quick-4

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bik...russport#specs

and then someone also mentioned this bike today but im trying to keep it under the 700 dollar range
https://www.cannondale.com/2013/bikes...-boy/bad-boy-9

I keep going back and forth, one minute I lean to the quick 4 then another the sirrus sport, then another the giant lol which of those bikes stock comes with the nicest package all inclusive for components, speed, efficiency, comfort, just all around quality? I like all of them in different ways....the marin seems nice too but Im very skeptical of the quality of marins after riding on this one for a month...

mannjn418

Ive also heard that the bianchis are very well put together and a quality ride any truth to that? and is there any advantage to their setup or style over the others? whats the major differences between this group of bikes and if it had to be narrowed down to two...which would 2 would you guys pick?

mannjn418

I did test ride a couple bikes at 20 and 21" and they seemed significantly more comfortable than the 22 I am on....I will utilize the advice of getting off the saddle at stops and yes the problem with it bothering my hip seems to be getting on the bike unless I lean the bike down its so tall...I do have long legs too and have the seat high and positioned proper

Burton

Tires, seats, pedals and handlebars are some of the easiest things to swap out on a bike and so should be some of the last things to be concerned about when buying one. You might also want to consider modifying what you already have - the results could well be better than anything you're currently looking at as a replacement package.

mannjn418

If I were to keep this one, the frame is still a little taller than my liking, but say if i were to keep it, Id want to switch out the fork to none suspension to reduce weight and increase efficiency, different handlbars, different pedals, it would need new wheels/tires (unless 700 28 or 32 will fit on the same rims that the 26 are currently on?) and I would probably take off the seat suspension too Im not too big into the bouncy feel...would it be better to do all this?

mannjn418

also should I be looking for something with hydraulic brakes or no? do they make a huge difference in weight vs performance of the brake? I ride in the rain may possibly be in light snowfall

dynaryder

For rain and snow riding,discs work better than rim brakes,and do not abrade the rims. Hydros are nice in that they don't require the adjustments that cable discs do,and have better feel.

Of the bikes you listed,I'd prefer the Marin for the carbon fork and hydros.

mannjn418

I appreciate everyones input. After much deliberation I decided it would be most wise for me financially to just keep the bike I bought. I was inspecting it further in detail it has Shimano Alivio shifts, Rear Derailleur, Altus front, Suntour crank, suntour adjustable suspension with lockout, alex ca-20 rims. So what I decide to do is I ordered some Serfas Drifter 26 x 1.5 with reflective sidewall tires, planet bike cascadia full fenders in silver (bike is also silver) a planet bike rear rack and a mirrycle bellini bell :-O I know adding the rack and fenders doesnt really help decrease the weight but im hoping that atleast with the narrower tires it will roll along better with less resistance (thats my goal) I do like how comfortable it is. I also like the alex rims as they are very solid rims. When I get my parts in I may post some before and after pics