Just moved to Munich, need a town bike

[Pikey P]

Hi all.

I am a keen but rather lazy cyclist. My current arsenal is a 07 Orange Crush and a 07 Specialized Allez.

I moved to munich about two weeks ago from rural lancashire and i would like a town bike.

The specalized will get wreaked if i continue to use it around town, big curbs and cobbled streets and im too scared to leave the Crush locked up any where than isnt in sight.

So im looking for a nicish town bike that isnt to flashy to attract theives but isnt a Aldi 50E jobby.

I have seen a lot of the schwinng cruiser types around town and they look good but i want to know what tehz are like to ride.. do you get a good pedal stoke out of them and do they handle city life well?

Limit is 600E or 400GBP. sorry no pound sign on this keyboard.

[a11y_m]

Is your cycling hilly? i.e. do you need gears or will a singlespeed do?

If gears, go for a Shimano Nexus/Alfine equipped bike – internal gear hubs are the way forward for city bikes. I run an Alfine for regular MTBing and it’s holding up fine (Nexus is a non-disc, less strong variation). So little maintenance which is a lifesaver on a commuting/city bike IMO.

You should be able to get one within a £600 budget – afraid I’m useless for model recommendations though. The Cannondale Badboy was always attractive to me: a nice bike but matt black paint and very inconspicuous looking. Edinburgh-Bicycle worth a look for their own brand bikes if you’re ordering online/overseas. Might be worth posting the Q on www.singletrackworld.com for bike suggestions.

[Rags]

I have a cannondale badboy and its a great bike providing the terrain is relatively flat, ie. normal roads.
Its a relatively inconspicious you say, other than the massive 'cannondale' logo emblazoned on the frame!
Its a good bet as its more of a performance hybrid and well suited to fast road biking!

[pdV6]

At well under your budget, I'd consider one of these:


Revolution Courier Classic Disc £299

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?...

[a11y_m]

IMO the extra £50 for this Nexus-equipped one is very much worth it:

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?...

Soooo much better that I find it weird riding with normal gears again on my full-susser...

[Pikey P]

its not especially hilly, but i would prefere gears i think. I have jsut read up on those shimano hubs and they sounds amazing.. technolgy has made the turney archer 3 speed usable again.

I would be happy with a nexus equipped bike and normal v brakes rather than full on discs as i have enver been impressed with the stopping power of the Hayes nines on the Crush and thats with 8" rotors.

In have done a bit of search myself this morning and found the Mongoose Sabrosa. The version thats within budget seems to be a single speed but i can get last years OHV model for 499 but its a tad expensive. Anyone got an opionion on Mongoose, have they evolved well from there bmx history?

Also, has anyone got a list of bikes or a way of searching for bikes with the Nexus system?

Thanks for the edinburgh bikes linky, i presume they are like merlin and build to order?

Has anyone ridden the schwinng type cruiser dalily, or are they more of a gimmick?

Cheers

Kieran

[a11y_m]

Pikey P said:

Thanks for the edinburgh bikes linky, i presume they are like merlin and build to order?

Nah, I don't know who actually manufactures the frames and puts them together, but they're actual off-the-shelf bikes you can buy instore. Obviously cheaper than branded stuff but I'd guess it'll be the same frame made in the same factory as some other bikes. Central Scotland is absolutely hoachin' with Edinburgh Bicycle bikes (common as much that is).

[pdV6]

a11y_m said:

Pikey P said:

Thanks for the edinburgh bikes linky, i presume they are like merlin and build to order?

Nah, I don't know who actually manufactures the frames and puts them together, but they're actual off-the-shelf bikes you can buy instore. Obviously cheaper than branded stuff but I'd guess it'll be the same frame made in the same factory as some other bikes. Central Scotland is absolutely hoachin' with Edinburgh Bicycle bikes (common as much that is).

Yeah - AIUI they order in a huge batch of frames once a year and build them up for sale off the peg.

[Pikey P]

who makes the frames?

im trying to get away from being a brand snob... i know small manufactures can make nice bikes. i think i just need a beating.

[a11y_m]

Pikey P said:

who makes the frames?

im trying to get away from being a brand snob... i know small manufactures can make nice bikes. i think i just need a beating.

No idea, but I'd put my money on Giant or the like. It'll be some factory in Taiwan that churns out the cheaper frames that Giant/Specialized/Trek/etc offer but with slight variations in geometry and material specs.

You could ask them?!

[Pikey P]

a11y_m said:

You could ask them?!

good point, not that it matters really, like you said, all mass produced somewhere.

I have a Zaskar frame back home with a 1" crack in the top tube which kinda proves that expensive frames arnt always worth it

[Mekon]

Personally, I wouldn't bother with a slick-equipped mtb if I had the choice (I currently ride a Kona Kileaauuauauauauauaauuauauaua for commuting). I'd go for something with a more traditional sit-up-and-beg position. The German bike market have a class of bikes that are a bit more sporty than the traditional dutch-style city bikes or cruisers. They are called Trekking Bikes. Look for some with some Schwalbe Big Apples fitted, and you'll have something that's much more capable than a dutch bike when you want to go up hills, but is still hugely more comfortable for relaxed city riding.

In that you are in Germany, I'd go for something like a Fahrradmanufaktur T-50 with the SRAM 7 speed hub. Goes for about 550E

http://www.fahrradmanufaktur.de/T50_Sram_Spectro_7...



According to Google, it's come top in a couple of german group tests of "trekking bikes" in your budget. If your budget has a little flexiblity, I'd be very tempted by an Azor Secret Service. Azor bikes are built to last 20 years. They testing they do on their bikes is ridiculous.

http://www.workcycles.com/workbike/bicycles/workcy...

[pdV6]

Mekon said:

Look for some with some Schwalbe Big Apples fitted, and you'll have something that's much more capable than a dutch bike when you want to go up hills, but is still hugely more comfortable for relaxed city riding.

I run Schwalbe Big Apples on my commuter MTB and whilst they're a lot quicker on tarmac than knobblies, I wouldn't want to take them off-road on anything worse than a footpath. In fact, there's a short uphill stretch of gravelled path on my route home and getting any traction is a right bugger.

Probably the same for any semi/slick/road tyre though.

[Pikey P]

Thats what the dam things are called! i have been wandering around seeing these chunky road tyres and searchign google for Schwinng New Yorkers.. I was close.

Thanks for info guys, ill read up

[Pikey P]

Mekon said:

Personally, I wouldn't bother with a slick-equipped mtb if I had the choice (I currently ride a Kona Kileaauuauauauauauaauuauauaua for commuting). I'd go for something with a more traditional sit-up-and-beg position.

Is that for a comfort reason... ie back not stretched over bars or for another reason?

If its comfort then would you say a Mtb with short high rise stem gives the same setup?

[Mekon]

In my experience, it's not just the positioning of the stem, although a high rise, short stem and pair of moustache bars will get you close. The seat tube angle makes you feel semi-recumbent, which is astonishingly comfortable. Additionally, the extra weight and huge tires make you feel like your are gliding over the road imperfections. It's by no means the fastest way to travel, but the view is wonderful and you are not in any undue hurry to get to your destination. I come over all Churchillian on my dutch bike. Imagine one of DeRs oratories about Albion's past glories ringing in your ears as you sweep past hordes of proles dispatching forthright wisdom. I suspect a Pashley roadster would be required for the full experience, or indeed, a Velorbis Churchill.

[beanbag]

I'm living in Vienna I've just bought one of these for the city:



I can't fault it. It's a fantastic bike and bloody fast due to the very skinny tyres a has a good component set to match. It's also very comfortable to ride although as with all non-suspension bikes, a little bumpy on the cobbles.

Can't recommend it enough!

[snotrag]

a11y_m said:

You could ask them?!

Hi guys...!

Those particular frames are made by Merida I believe. They are assembled at our warehouse in Dalmeny, Scotland. And obviously you will expect me to say this, but they really are great value. Superb town bikes, inconspicous, tough as old boots, light weight, practical and sensibly specced and designed- IE tough puncture resistant continental tyres, strong rims, Rapidfire gears, Neat cable routing, 2 Bottle mounts, Subtle paint schemes, etc etc...

Theres various models, either 26" or 700C, Disc or V, Geared or Nexus. Take your pick.

Others to check out that spring to mind are Marin Muirwoods, Cannondale Badboy 650 or 700, Giant Escape.

[a11y_m]

snotrag said:

a11y_m said:

You could ask them?!

Hi guys...!

Those particular frames are made by Merida I believe. They are assembled at our warehouse in Dalmeny, Scotland. And obviously you will expect me to say this, but they really are great value. Superb town bikes, inconspicous, tough as old boots, light weight, practical and sensibly specced and designed- IE tough puncture resistant continental tyres, strong rims, Rapidfire gears, Neat cable routing, 2 Bottle mounts, Subtle paint schemes, etc etc...

Theres various models, either 26" or 700C, Disc or V, Geared or Nexus. Take your pick.

Others to check out that spring to mind are Marin Muirwoods, Cannondale Badboy 650 or 700, Giant Escape.

Wasn't aware we had EBC staff in our midst

Merida is one of the name I was trying to remember! We've not bought any Edinburgh-Bicycle own-brand bikes ourselves but I swear by the cycling rucsacs (made by Vaude). The bikes seem to be decent value - honest I'm not connected in any way! - but that Nexus-equipped bike is £50 cheaper than the equivalent Carrera bike at Halfords.

Funnily enough, my wife's now said she's after a town/commuter bike once she moves to her new job - unfortunately Edinburgh-Bicycle aren't included on her bike-to-work scheme, grrr