Bikeless cycling novice seeks advice

Recreation Cycling
1

I’m fairly new at this cycling in Taiwan thing, although I’ve been here for a long time. I have a commuter bicycle (entry-level Giant), and am not sure how it should “fit” me; I got it secondhand from a friend. It feels too long from the seat to the handlebars, and I like to pedal in a more upright position, but I have to stretch more than I’d like to reach the handlebars. I’ve had people tell me that upright is the wrong way to ride, and that most of my weight should be on the handlebars rather than the saddle, but it feels uncomfortable. The seat height is where I want it, and the handlebars are a touch higher, but it feels like a long stretch to reach.

There are so many conflicting opinions out there, and I have no idea to whom i should listen. Also, most of the websites geared toward ignorami such as myself are based in countries where the cycling reality seems really different from here in Hsinchu City. (Bike trails exist only on the outskirts, and purely for recreational use, with no practical function whatsoever). I think I’ve deduced that I want a hybrid bike, but I need to know the point at which comfort outweighs practicality. My version of cycling season is fast approaching, and I’d love to commute to work by bike once or twice a week. My commute would be about 12km each way with very minor hills. I’m overweight, but not the size of a semi truck or anything like that. Some people have suggested comfort bikes, but others say they’re useless. I also love the idea of a small bike shop, but around here, Giant seems to have a monopoly, and when I went into the shop, they tried to sell me a 27-gear mountain bike. Now, I’m no expert, but I don’t think I need that to commute to work every day, and wouldn’t the knobby tires slow me down? I’m partial to the dorkier-looking bikes, myself, with the girly frames and fenders and lights and a really heavy-duty basket on the front and rack on the back, but again, I have no idea where practicality meets aesthetic. Maybe what I have is fine, and I’m just riding it the wrong way. I’m sure I’m being unrealistic in wanting what I want for under NT$15K, but hey, a girl can try, right?

Some people gave me some good advice here awhile back, and told me that the bike that I was looking at (I think it was in 2008 or something) was too heavy. The one I have now is quite a bit lighter. How big a consideration is weight in a daily commute situation? Is it something that will irritate the bejeezus out of me over time or something a person usually gets used to? Do you think that riding upright is stupid, or impractical? Should I just bite the bullet and buy a new Giant (with a warranty and the knowledge that there will always be a Giant shop nearby to help)? How important is getting fitted? Should I just try to ride my bike that I have now until I get a better feel for it, and then decide? The only thing that I know for sure is that I don’t want a cheap, department-store bike. There’s a brand called Irland all over Ruten, but I know nothing about it; at least with a Giant or Merida, I can be sure of getting a decent bike. I hope.

Soooo frustrated with all the conflicting information out there. Kind of makes me want to run out and buy an SUV. :cry:

Any advice from real people living over here would be greatly appreciated.

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You are likely to find this to be a nearly impossible task. There is no perfect bike that will work for everything. You shouldn’t need to spend 15K to get a decent commuter bike that seems completely mismatched to what you asked for.

I also think the advice you were given was a bit too much from enthusiasts and not all that practical for you. You are just looking for a 30-40 min commute bike and weight and riding posture aren’t that important imo. I bought a 5K KHS mountain bike 3 yrs as my commuter bike and i have had very few problems with it. As a bonus nobody bothers to steal it when I’m teaching. If you have to leave your bike unattended outside while you’re teaching then I wouldn’t consider a bike >10K with a name brand on it.

when you buy a bike you can change the knobby tires for road tires. And you should.

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Maybe your frame is too big for you. You could try test-riding a bike with a smaller frame. It might be difficult, though, to find a bike with the handlebars higher than the saddle, the saddle high enough to pedal comfortably, AND the seat close to the handlebars. For what it’s worth, I’d encourage you to try riding in a more aerodynamic position just to see how it feels. I also used to prefer riding upright, but then I discovered that a good road bike is a lot more comfortable than it looks!

Yes, like abacus said, the knobby tires slow you down, but you can easily exchange them for smooth tires. If you like the cruisers and find them comfortable to ride, find a shop that sells them and get one! Fenders are awesome in the rain, lights keep you safe, and baskets totally come in handy. Seriously, these things are cool, not dorky.

I doubt you’re riding the wrong way. The distance from the saddle to the handlebars is not something you can adjust.

NT$15K is totally reasonable. And like abacus said, cheap bikes are less likely to be stolen.

Not a big deal at all unless you’re going to be climbing hills. You’ll accelerate a bit more slowly on a heavy bike, but so what?

No, not if you’re just a casual rider. Just make sure that you get the right frame size, or you’ll be uncomfortable.

There’s nothing wrong with Giant, but it never hurts to try other brands (which also offer warranties). I loved the old Fuji mountain bike I bought for NT$12K at a small local bike shop, and I love the Specialized Tricross I ride now. If you get a flat, it doesn’t matter what brand your bike is, you can still get it fixed at any bike shop. Only major problems require a trip back to the shop where you bought the bike.

The more you ride the bike, the more important fit is. Maybe you could try riding different bikes and see which one you like best. If you find a knowledgeable, non-pushy salesperson, he or she should be able to help you out with fit.

Hope this helps. Happy riding!

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Thanks so much for the awesome replies, guys. Another (probably stupid) question: If it’s for sale at a bike shop, is it a “good” bike. I really don’t want to be saddled with a Huffy or some such thing. I’d like to have it in a few years’ time, and not have to replace the whole bike because some weird part can’t be replaced; this happened to a friend. Another actually broke her cheap bike frame! That’s why I’m against “icky” bikes. That being said, are bike shops usually to be trusted (over here) to carry decent stuff, even in the lower price brackets?

As for the seat to handlebar measurement, how can i tell if it’s right? I’ve heard that women’s bikes are often shorter in this measurement, and as a short-waisted woman, maybe there’s something to it. Hmmmm… just now noticed that the bike i have now is a “men’s” model with the crossbar. I’ll have to try it again and see. My priority is to get something i like to ride, that I’ll ride often because I enjoy it, without having to sell the car to get it!

Thanks again; you guys are the best! :slight_smile:

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I think if it’s sold at a good bike shop, it will be a good bike. Unfortunately, I’m not familiar with Hsinchu, so I can’t recommend a local place for you. It might be worth your time to take a trip down to Taichung (here’s a great list of independent bike shops there) or up to Taipei (I could recommend a couple places) to check out all your options.

Being a guy, I can’t help you on this one. I’m guessing your best bet would be to get advice from the lady cyclists out there. The shop where I bought my bike (Specialized in Neihu) has two very competent female employees, but I imagine most of their bikes would be out of your price range.

You’re welcome. :slight_smile:

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Others can help more but a good starting point for determining the quality of a bike is whether or not it has at least the entry level Shimano shifters (Sora I think). I wouldn’t buy a budget bike if it didn’t have Shimano components.

I also wouldn’t get to worked up on sizing. Most bikes probably come in S, M, L (frame size) and I’m guessing you are probably a S but the important thing is to sit on it and see if it is comfortable.

I think most would agree that getting 26" tires is the best option for a casual rider.

I’m also not sure if I would agree that name brand bike shop is necessarily going to sell you a quality bike. Or at least a bike at a reasonable price. I find Giant’s to be overpriced especially for someone like yourself.

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I’d take the plunge and just go for a road bike with drop handlebars. I think after you get used to the riding position you will love it. Drop bars are great because you can have multiple hand positions, so your hands don’t get sore or fall asleep. Giant has some women-specific bicycles. Might wanna check out their website for some ideas.

The 2013 Sora (shimano) group seems like a good deal, actually. Not sure how much a bike would cost though.

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[quote=“Abacus”]Others can help more but a good starting point for determining the quality of a bike is whether or not it has at least the entry level Shimano shifters (Sora I think). I wouldn’t buy a budget bike if it didn’t have Shimano components.

I also wouldn’t get to worked up on sizing. Most bikes probably come in S, M, L (frame size) and I’m guessing you are probably a S but the important thing is to sit on it and see if it is comfortable.

I think most would agree that getting 26" tires is the best option for a casual rider.

I’m also not sure if I would agree that name brand bike shop is necessarily going to sell you a quality bike. Or at least a bike at a reasonable price. I find Giant’s to be overpriced especially for someone like yourself.[/quote]

Pretty good advice here, with a few caveats.

From shopping/researching for my fiancee, this is what I can tell you.

If you go with a hybrid or MTB, I would get something with Shimano trigger shifters (Altus, Acera, Alivio, Deore etc.). Those old “SIS” dial shifters that come on lower end city bikes really suck, from my experience.

Another thing to consider is that a flat bar road bike (700c wheels) would probably be noticeably lighter than a comparable women’s MTB, hybrid or city bike in case you had to lift it over barriers/haul it up any stairs etc. at any time. It would also be a quicker bike if you did end up getting into things more and wanted to go on longer recreational rides on the weekend. Dont get anything with suspension/front shocks. Its a marketing gimmick and unnecessary added weight.

Try looking at the Giant Frais, Specialized Sirrus or Vita and Merida Speeder. You should be able to get one of those for around 15,000, definitely under 20,000.

Also, I dont think Giants are overpriced in Taiwan at all. They are world-class bikes that are way cheaper here than they are elsewhere in the world. Predatory/anti-competetive business practices aside, Giant and Merida are pretty much the most bang for your buck in any bike category.

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Maybe too late, but there are lots of small bike shops in Hsinchu. There’s two in the small street with loads of bars in (nr Dongmen elementary school), another on Gongdaowu, up the road from a.mart, and another two within a couple of streets of the rt mart on zhongxiao rd. I’m sure there are others too. For Merida, there’s a dealer in Zhubei.

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[quote=“PaddyB”]Pretty good advice here, with a few caveats.
[/quote]

The caveats that you mention probably double the cost of the bike. it’s a better bike and everything you mention is better if someone feels like spending the money. I’ve got a 5K NT bike and it’s been perfect after 3 yrs and 4-5K km.

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Thanks, march. I’ll be sure to check those out!