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bicyclesAfter reading over the discussion on my prior request for thoughts, I went with the low-end Giant Cypress, and I will report here after a while how it works.
Basic setup:
The Cypress is a 700c bike; relatively thin wheels with a large diameter. This improves efficiency somewhat, which is what I want for the long commuting on a bike path I intend to use it on (for the town, I have a cruiser). Standalone, it is $380.
I added better pedals, panniers/rack, basic fenders, lock, ordered magnetic lights, and most expensively, a leather saddle. Comfort is a huge point with me, and the shop had a Brook's leather saddle which I took the plunge on. According to the information I could find, it should be comfortable... after breaking in!
After all that, the final cost will be about $730. The other bikes I was looking at would have pushed me up to well over $800, if not $900, after my customizations.
One of the 'wow' things for me is the handlebar adjustment ability this bike has. I can maneuver the handlebars up or down and alter my geometry as needed. I'd never encountered this before.
The shop owner who helped me said I need to come in after about 50 miles or so to tweak the bike after it's been broken in.
One downside is that the tires need about 75 psi to operate well; I'll need to get a pressure gauge and pump them up weekly or so.
I took it out for a spin in some hideously wet weather and it performed quite marvelously - it zoomed along without much effort, which is exactly what I was looking for.
I went to Paradise Creek Bicycles in my town (web, facebook), and they have always been very friendly and helpful, without trying to upsell hardly at all.
Basic setup:
The Cypress is a 700c bike; relatively thin wheels with a large diameter. This improves efficiency somewhat, which is what I want for the long commuting on a bike path I intend to use it on (for the town, I have a cruiser). Standalone, it is $380.
I added better pedals, panniers/rack, basic fenders, lock, ordered magnetic lights, and most expensively, a leather saddle. Comfort is a huge point with me, and the shop had a Brook's leather saddle which I took the plunge on. According to the information I could find, it should be comfortable... after breaking in!
After all that, the final cost will be about $730. The other bikes I was looking at would have pushed me up to well over $800, if not $900, after my customizations.
One of the 'wow' things for me is the handlebar adjustment ability this bike has. I can maneuver the handlebars up or down and alter my geometry as needed. I'd never encountered this before.
The shop owner who helped me said I need to come in after about 50 miles or so to tweak the bike after it's been broken in.
One downside is that the tires need about 75 psi to operate well; I'll need to get a pressure gauge and pump them up weekly or so.
I took it out for a spin in some hideously wet weather and it performed quite marvelously - it zoomed along without much effort, which is exactly what I was looking for.
I went to Paradise Creek Bicycles in my town (web, facebook), and they have always been very friendly and helpful, without trying to upsell hardly at all.
no subject
Date: 2010-05-02 04:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-02 04:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-02 11:38 am (UTC)A track-pump with a pressure gauge is one of the things that I think would radically improve most people's on-road cycling experience (um, that is, assuming they used it ;) ). I see so many people out on woefully under-inflated tyres, and for on-road riding, it makes it *so* much harder work. The vast majority of hand pumps just aren't up to the job & if you don't *know* just how hard your tyres should be already, it's really easy to keep them too soft. So: yes, definitely worth getting!