[quote=“Vorkosigan”] James has some really great deals.
[/quote]
I am also interested, but who is James?
For a good cheap road bike, James Murray at Warehouse 185 can get you a great deal. If you want a more versatile bike, Id suggest the Surly Crosscheck, but that would cost around 40k … but would last a good long time with room for both fat and thin tires, rack/fender mounts.
The Ascend is an ergonomic disaster. It is is more about perceptions of comfort and not actual comfort and efficiency when riding a bike. Furthermore, the Ascend is a GIANT… don’t feed the beast.
I’m still making do with my old one. It seems that a new bicycle for me isn’t one of our household’s financial priorities. :aiyo:
I’m still making do with my old one. It seems that a new bicycle for me isn’t one of our household’s financial priorities. :aiyo:[/quote]
Best not to rush into a purchase anyway. You’ll find a good one if you take your time.
[quote=“maowang”]For a good cheap road bike, James Murray at Warehouse 185 can get you a great deal. If you want a more versatile bike, Id suggest the Surly Crosscheck, but that would cost around 40k … but would last a good long time with room for both fat and thin tires, rack/fender mounts.
The Ascend is an ergonomic disaster. It is is more about perceptions of comfort and not actual comfort and efficiency when riding a bike. Furthermore, the Ascend is a GIANT… don’t feed the beast.[/quote]
Pardon the newbee naivete, but what’s wrong with Giant. I checked out the local store and saw some bikes I like, and a mechanic there was really nice and helpful.
Also googled Warehouse 185 and found this recent blog (perhaps by someone at Forumosa?) on James’s store, complete with address, etc. Sounds like something I should check out –
taiwanincycles.blogspot.com/2011 … ea-is.html
(Maoman, you might look for such a store in Taipei or even take a side trip out to this place if you happen to be in Taichung anyway. It’s located on the edge of the city, so you’d probably need a car to get there.)
Giant’s retail strategy is like Wal-Mart’s. They are aggressively trying to run the independent bike shop owners out of Taiwan. They approach owners with the sweet deal… if you want to sell Giant bikes, which are cheaper as they enjoy domestic status, then your inventory must be 90% Giant. Furthermore, you are not allowed to highlight any other brand. If you don’t accept, they open a Giant shop in the area to leach business. They will even accept losses in some stores and offset those by greater company profits, simply to destroy the independent competition. Giant is closely linked to the government and they use this position to squelch opportunity for others. Goodbye choice.
Ironically the Giant store down the road from me closed down recently but the independent store on the same road is thriving. The Giant store had by far the better location as well.
Funny… Maybe the rental agreement changed.
Giant will offer “sweet deals” to their dealers. “Sell 20 bikes and get one to sell for free.” This pressures the dealers, who are required to purchase X number of bikes from Giant, to work to simply reduce inventory. They end up pushing people out the door with the wrong bike.
[quote=“maowang”]Funny… Maybe the rental agreement changed.
Giant will offer “sweet deals” to their dealers. “Sell 20 bikes and get one to sell for free.” This pressures the dealers, who are required to purchase X number of bikes from Giant, to work to simply reduce inventory. They end up pushing people out the door with the wrong bike.[/quote]
I don’t like what I am hearing and will take heed, but I did like the guy I was talking to and didn’t feel like I was pressured at all or getting bad suggestions, but then I don’t know what I don’t know, so…
[quote=“Tazzie”][quote=“maowang”]Funny… Maybe the rental agreement changed.
Giant will offer “sweet deals” to their dealers. “Sell 20 bikes and get one to sell for free.” This pressures the dealers, who are required to purchase X number of bikes from Giant, to work to simply reduce inventory. They end up pushing people out the door with the wrong bike.[/quote]
I don’t like what I am hearing and will take heed, but I did like the guy I was talking to and didn’t feel like I was pressured at all or getting bad suggestions, but then I don’t know what I don’t know, so…[/quote]
Two simple tests: (1) will the store owner measure your height and limb length to get a good fit? (2) Will they let you ride it out of the store for an hour?
Also, Murray’s 185 Warehouse will sell you more bike for the price you pay for the Giant, I guarantee it. If you are not in the Chung, Tazzie, let me know. I’d be happy to pick you up at the train station and run you over there so you can ride one yourself. DISCLAIMER: James and I are friends, and I bought my most recent bike upgrades from him.
[quote=“DrTom”]Agreed with Vorkosigan… Get a road bike if you are not going to do any offroading.
And, I got my road bike for just
$10,000NT
, new, in Taipei. taiwanho.com/talk/viewtopic. … 4&start=15
For those who want higher-end stuff, the shop in Taipei where I bought my bike from will build a bike with components you specify. They offer a setup with full Tiagra-level components (including STI paddle shifters) and carbon fork for $25,000NT.[/quote]
Nice deal!!!
Thanks, Vorkosigan. Have lived in Taichung for 24 years, give or take. I’ll visit James’s store when I have a free afternoon.
OK, I am highjacking this thread.
I have had this bike hanging off my wall for some time, 17 inch frame, my frame is 185cm. It’s off road, fat tires and the lot.
OK, I took it down to the local Giant guy, and paid him NT$400 for doing it up a little.
He then told me that the bike is too small, and yes, the frame could be bigger, however the only think hurting on me is my ass(did 110km the last 2 days, and have not biked for 5 years.). I then said OK, sell me one like the one I got, however his reply was that I needed a good roadbike and not a MTB, because I hardly ever left a paved surface anyway.
Is the bloke right?
Note that he also told me not to get splashguards on the bike, as I would not ride in rain anyways, and I then got caught out near Yingge yesterday so well…
[quote=“Mr He”]OK, I am highjacking this thread.
I have had this bike hanging off my wall for some time, 17 inch frame, my frame is 185cm. It’s off road, fat tires and the lot.
OK, I took it down to the local Giant guy, and paid him NT$400 for doing it up a little.
He then told me that the bike is too small, and yes, the frame could be bigger, however the only think hurting on me is my ass(did 110km the last 2 days, and have not biked for 5 years.). I then said OK, sell me one like the one I got, however his reply was that I needed a good roadbike and not a MTB, because I hardly ever left a paved surface anyway.
Is the bloke right?
Note that he also told me not to get splashguards on the bike, as I would not ride in rain anyways, and I then got caught out near Yingge yesterday so well…[/quote]
well yes he’s right, from a purists point of view. MTB’s are designed to be ridden downhill and off-road, they are inefficient for road riding. But if you like riding them on flat, paved surfaces you still can. However on a road bike you can get further, faster with less effort. They are designed to cover road surfaces as efficiently as possible. They’ll also get you up Taiwan’s hills faster; roadies overtake MTB’s going up hills, rarely vice versa.
Frame - metal or cheapish carbon fibre?
I am a weekend rider.
[quote=“Mr He”]Frame - metal or cheapish carbon fibre?
I am a weekend rider.[/quote]
carbon fork, aluminum frame…have a look at the entry level local brands i.e. fujibikes.com/bike/details/newest_1_0
Oops, bought a bike at the local shop. It is a giant, paid some 30k so hope it will do. Why carbon forks?
Why carbon forks? Because aluminium forks are crap in comparison to carbon.
Carbon forks can be made for almost the same cost as alu these days, and are so much better at directional control and frequency damping that it just makes no sense to go for alu forks.
Now, if they could only make cheap carbon forks with an all carbon steerer tube too we’d all be a lot safer (most failures I[wikipedia2=][/wikipedia2] have seen have been at the join between the legs and the steerer tube).
[quote=“urodacus”]Why carbon forks? Because aluminium forks are crap in comparison to carbon.
Carbon forks can be made for almost the same cost as alu these days, and are so muc better at directional control and frequency damping that it just makes no sense to go for alu forks.
Now, if they could only make cheap carbon forks with an all carbon steerer toon we’d all be a lot safer.[/quote]
There are pros and cons to all materials.
If you ask me (and I use carbon forks) aluminium forks are much better suited to touring. Carbon forks fail in an instant whereas aluminium gives a longer warning. Aluminium can be modified and repaired, whereas carbon forks cannot once they are set. Aluminium is cheaper. Aluminium is less prone to fracture from my experience. Aluminium is also less susceptible to ageing, and material degeneration over time. Aluminium forks are easier to add bosses to and are more reliable under load over time.
For racing purposes and general usage I would, and do in fact use carbon forks. If living in a remote area however or touring, I would go with a material which is more dependable such as aluminium or even steel.
Carbon forks also fail slowly. I have broken two sets in the last ten years, one at a steerer join and one at a crown-leg junction… both were noticeable events that happened over weeks, from over use or poor construction. Aluminium forks are reputed to break just as badly, especially if crashed on…
I am unsure of the wisdom of modifying the metallurgy of an aluminium fork by modifying it by welding bosses onto it. If it doesn’t come with the bosses you need, get another set that does. Aluminium is also supposed to work harden in a way that carbon and steel don’t, leading to brittle failure.