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Best bike in €500-€600 category?

  • 20-03-2012 12:22am
    #1
    Seanchai
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,401 ✭✭✭


    I went looking for my first bike today. Essentially I'm looking for a light but solid bike. I'm overweight so I don't want to be struggling up hills to work carrying my laptop with a heavy bike. If I improve my fitness come summer I would certainly be interested in cycling around Ireland with this bike. As a 10-year-old I once cycled 50 miles (as they then were) in one day! For now, though, this bike will just be used in the city for the 10km of going to/coming from work.

    The man in the bike shop hadn't much of a range - all seemed to have been Merida bikes. I had never heard of them before. Are they well regarded? After talking to me he recommended what he told me was a 'Hybrid' bike, specifically the Merida Crossway 40-D. It was €589. Is this a good bike for the money? There was another Merida there for €349, the Matts 10-V for €349. Is the Crossway worth paying €240 more for?

    What bike would you recommend for the money I'm willing to spend?


Comments

  • #2
    Tonyandthewhale
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,867 ✭✭✭Tonyandthewhale


    You don't need suspension and you don't need disc brakes for riding to work unless your route to work features a stretch along a mountain biking trail, I wouldn't buy either of those.
    Cheap suspension on a road going bike will just slow you down and make everything heavier and more complicated. Disc brakes are actually nice to use and have they're advantages but they're overkill for a bike that's going to primarily be ridde on sealed roads so you can spend your money better elsewhere.

    Also, the Matts 10-V is a mountain bike, not a hybrid, it's for mountain biking not road riding.


  • #3
    daelight
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 194 ✭✭daelight


    Hi,

    Simply, if you really are serious to improve fitness and bike around the country.. go for the best bike you can afford.


  • #4
    Seanchai
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,401 ✭✭✭Seanchai


    Tonyandthewhale wrote: »
    You don't need suspension and you don't need disc brakes for riding to work unless your route to work features a stretch along a mountain biking trail, I wouldn't buy either of those.
    Cheap suspension on a road going bike will just slow you down and make everything heavier and more complicated. Disc brakes are actually nice to use and have they're advantages but they're overkill for a bike that's going to primarily be ridde on sealed roads so you can spend your money better elsewhere.

    Also, the Matts 10-V is a mountain bike, not a hybrid, it's for mountain biking not road riding.

    Thanks. What would you recommend? He did also mention a Merida Speeder bike which he said, if I recall correctly, hadn't got the suspension etc of the Crossway and would be easier to move.


  • #5
    mp31
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 815 ✭✭✭mp31


    I'd do more research - visit a few more bike shops to see what they have and what they recommend. Make notes and check pricing on the web to see how competitive they are as well.

    Also take a look at the Giant Escape, Specialzed Sirrus, Trek 7.1/2/3 etc. these are all hybrid bikes from other large manufacturers similar to the Merida Speeder.

    Remember to budget for the extra's as well - helmet, lights, pump, spare tube(s), water bottle(if you start doing longer spins), high viz stuff, lycra .. the list goes on.


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