Giant Bowery?
04-08-06 | 11:41 PM
#52
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 789
Likes: 0
https://cgi.ebay.com/Giant-Fixed-Gear...ayphotohosting
https://columbus.craigslist.org/bik/148152518.html
some dude from Columbus is selling one that's stickerless
https://columbus.craigslist.org/bik/148152518.html
some dude from Columbus is selling one that's stickerless
04-09-06 | 10:38 AM
#53
messenger
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Brooklyn
Originally Posted by AfterThisNap
I am now working for a Giant dealer and we sell the hell out of these bikes. They are fugly. Like, really fugly. The other fixed bikes we sell are the langster, pista, and concept, and the Bowery is just eycatchingly ugly compared to all of them.
It's not shown in the giant site, but it comes stock with a flimsy plastic chain-guard like on kiddie bikes. I'm sure it's for liability reasons, but it increases the ugly factor about 10x.
It also just looks shoddy. The quality of the cranks is ultra crappy, even worse than specialized's house brand, and much worse than the truvativs on the pista. You get the same feel from the fork too.
I built my bike from the frame up and managed to use nice-ish (80s dura ace) components for about the same price, and I know the bike is relatively solid.
If I was going to buy a showroom bike, or was dead set on a compact aluminum frame, I would probably pay the exra 150 for the langster, or just go with an Ebay bike... in fact I would definitely go with an Ebay mercier or windsor over the Bowery because the component spec in the major components (wheels, cranks) is better, and they cost 150 bucks less.
I'm actually kind of surprised. Giant is known for being an outstanding value for the price point, getting lots of nice parts packed onto a decent frame for very little moolah. This bike just doesn't seem worth the 500.
my 2cents.
It's not shown in the giant site, but it comes stock with a flimsy plastic chain-guard like on kiddie bikes. I'm sure it's for liability reasons, but it increases the ugly factor about 10x.
It also just looks shoddy. The quality of the cranks is ultra crappy, even worse than specialized's house brand, and much worse than the truvativs on the pista. You get the same feel from the fork too.
I built my bike from the frame up and managed to use nice-ish (80s dura ace) components for about the same price, and I know the bike is relatively solid.
If I was going to buy a showroom bike, or was dead set on a compact aluminum frame, I would probably pay the exra 150 for the langster, or just go with an Ebay bike... in fact I would definitely go with an Ebay mercier or windsor over the Bowery because the component spec in the major components (wheels, cranks) is better, and they cost 150 bucks less.
I'm actually kind of surprised. Giant is known for being an outstanding value for the price point, getting lots of nice parts packed onto a decent frame for very little moolah. This bike just doesn't seem worth the 500.
my 2cents.
Yeah Giant usually make decent bikes, maybe track just isn't their game. And what is with the name Bowery? After the street in NYC? Can anyone think a worse street in NYC to actually ride a bike on? It's all potholes!
04-09-06 | 01:56 PM
#56
I've had one for a few months.
It's funny, because with all the hate it gets on bike forums, I'd expect people to be a lot less enthusiastic about it in person, but it's just the opposite. Whenever I bring it in to the office, people walk in and go 'oooOOOoooh, nice'. When I hop off to chill out during a ride, people walking by practically break their necks looking at it. It's often surrounded by WalMart mountain bikes and beach cruisers at that point, but still... positive. You can chalk that up to ignorance, but there it is.
I had the LBS take off the chain guard. First thing I did when I got home was take off all the stickers... everything - including the Giant logos - are big, easy-to-remove stickers, so it took all of ten minutes and didn't require any chemicals. It makes for a clean, industrial look.
The default seat sucks, but that's true of anything for a guy my size (6'-3", 255). I dropped the rear gears to 18t, put on a shorter stem and added Eggbeaters. After that, it fits me really well and rides the way I expect it to - stiff, tight and responsive. I come from mountain biking, so I know by comparison any road bike will feel that way, so take that for what it's worth.
I'd say there are definitely better deals, but it fit my needs. I wanted a SS/fixie that was under $500 (I paid $450) and was brand new - I don't have the time, desire or tools to build a conversion myself. I'll probably flip it on Craigslist come bonus time, and by then I'll have a better idea of what I want long-term.
It is funny... browsing the SS/FG forums here are what originally gave me the idea to investigate this kind of bike. If I'd never been here, then I wouldn't be having this much fun... or having any kind of buyer's remorse for getting this specific bike in the first place. Ironic, eh?
It's funny, because with all the hate it gets on bike forums, I'd expect people to be a lot less enthusiastic about it in person, but it's just the opposite. Whenever I bring it in to the office, people walk in and go 'oooOOOoooh, nice'. When I hop off to chill out during a ride, people walking by practically break their necks looking at it. It's often surrounded by WalMart mountain bikes and beach cruisers at that point, but still... positive. You can chalk that up to ignorance, but there it is.
I had the LBS take off the chain guard. First thing I did when I got home was take off all the stickers... everything - including the Giant logos - are big, easy-to-remove stickers, so it took all of ten minutes and didn't require any chemicals. It makes for a clean, industrial look.
The default seat sucks, but that's true of anything for a guy my size (6'-3", 255). I dropped the rear gears to 18t, put on a shorter stem and added Eggbeaters. After that, it fits me really well and rides the way I expect it to - stiff, tight and responsive. I come from mountain biking, so I know by comparison any road bike will feel that way, so take that for what it's worth.
I'd say there are definitely better deals, but it fit my needs. I wanted a SS/fixie that was under $500 (I paid $450) and was brand new - I don't have the time, desire or tools to build a conversion myself. I'll probably flip it on Craigslist come bonus time, and by then I'll have a better idea of what I want long-term.
It is funny... browsing the SS/FG forums here are what originally gave me the idea to investigate this kind of bike. If I'd never been here, then I wouldn't be having this much fun... or having any kind of buyer's remorse for getting this specific bike in the first place. Ironic, eh?
04-09-06 | 02:39 PM
#61
hateful little monkey
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,274
Likes: 0
From: oakland, ca
He owns and operates the trackbike equivalent of a delicious candy store : https://www.billronbikes.com/
Currently he's in France, wrenching at the Worlds. I figure he probably knows something about fixed gears.
Currently he's in France, wrenching at the Worlds. I figure he probably knows something about fixed gears.
