Recommend me a new bike
Discussion
I often do a 20 mile casual ride after work, and on weekends maybe 30-35 miles. My current bike is an entry‑level Giant Talon 3 - it’s done me well, but it’s heavy, slow, and a bit too small (I’m 6’3” on a Large frame).
I’d say 80% of my miles are on paved roads, but I also cut across muddy fields, gravel paths, up kerbs and down flights of stairs fairly often…so I want something capable enough off‑road but still quick on the tarmac.
Originally I was thinking of sticking with a non‑electric bike - maybe something like a Giant Revolt 2 - but I’ve been wondering if an e‑bike might get me out riding more, and further. I’ve never ridden an e‑bike before, but I’m currently averaging about 10 mph on my Talon 3, so a comfortable 16 mph average on an e-bike sounds really tempting.
This one caught my eye - probably the maximum I’d want to spend:
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/talon-eplus-ex
Anyone familiar with this? Or is there something better for mixed surfaces and longer rides in that sort of budget/genre?
Including a few gratuitous pictures of a typical ride
I’d say 80% of my miles are on paved roads, but I also cut across muddy fields, gravel paths, up kerbs and down flights of stairs fairly often…so I want something capable enough off‑road but still quick on the tarmac.
Originally I was thinking of sticking with a non‑electric bike - maybe something like a Giant Revolt 2 - but I’ve been wondering if an e‑bike might get me out riding more, and further. I’ve never ridden an e‑bike before, but I’m currently averaging about 10 mph on my Talon 3, so a comfortable 16 mph average on an e-bike sounds really tempting.
This one caught my eye - probably the maximum I’d want to spend:
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/talon-eplus-ex
Anyone familiar with this? Or is there something better for mixed surfaces and longer rides in that sort of budget/genre?
Including a few gratuitous pictures of a typical ride
Given your height you could do much worse than get this https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/stilus-29-full-suspe...
I know you probably don't need the suspension but kn an ebike the extra weight won't make a lot of difference and the bosch motor is excellent.
I know you probably don't need the suspension but kn an ebike the extra weight won't make a lot of difference and the bosch motor is excellent.
Bill said:
At risk of restarting the ebike debate, why an ebike? You do a decent distance as it is and half that budget gets you a decent XC mountain bike or gravel bike.
Please restart the debate! I know very little about bikes - especially e-bikes - so I’m trying to figure out what actually makes sense before potentially buying something expensive.When you say “decent distance,” do you mean I’m riding too far for an e-bike to be useful, or not far enough?
My longest rides are about 50 miles, and honestly it’s a bit of a slog on a heavy 27.5" bike. I’d love to be able to do that kind of distance without completely wiping myself out.
Also, I feel like I’d actually cycle more (for getting from A to B, not just weekend rides) if I had an e-bike - mainly because I wouldn’t have to plan my whole day around food, recovery, or the gym.
Barchettaman said:
Keep what you have there and add an e-hardtail to the fleet. They re absolutely hilarious things and will get you out for longer.
Best in mind that you may never ride your non powered bike once you have the assisted one.
Why a hard tail over a gravel bike with drop bars? They seem to be all the rage from what I can see. Best in mind that you may never ride your non powered bike once you have the assisted one.
SkinnyPete said:
When you say decent distance, do you mean I m riding too far for an e-bike to be useful, or not far enough?
My longest rides are about 50 miles, and honestly it s a bit of a slog on a heavy 27.5" bike. I d love to be able to do that kind of distance without completely wiping myself out.
No, just wondering what an ebike would add.My longest rides are about 50 miles, and honestly it s a bit of a slog on a heavy 27.5" bike. I d love to be able to do that kind of distance without completely wiping myself out.
My OH has an ebike - Merida eSpeeder. It's lower power and lighter than most ebikes.
Upsides: It's great on hills. It's great when she's tired. The eSpeeder is the weight of a mountain bike. They can be motivational. They have more range than you might think, particularly on a lower power setting.
Downsides: assistance cuts out at about the speed a good hybrid, gravel or road bike would hold. So then you're lugging a lump around at moderate speed. Most are like lead - if you think your current bike is heavy, go lift a full power ebike over a gate...
Cost to buy and when you need to repair. And you will need to repair. Range anxiety.
You need to go ride a proper ebike or a lightweight ebike to help indorm you. I also suggest you borrow a good quality hybrid or gravel bike. Some wider tyres for the bit of off-road you do, but much lighter, faster and possibly comfier on road than your current bike. Is there a demo day or good shop nearby you can try bikes out with?
FWIW, alongside my wife's eBike I have a Genesis gravel bike - 50mm 29er fast tyres that zip on the road, drops for a day I want to get out the wind some or get a different hand position, lightweight rack with a wee bag on top of panniers for touring. Full mudguards, 2x10 group set, disc brakes that work well. It's the business for the riding you describe.
Upsides: It's great on hills. It's great when she's tired. The eSpeeder is the weight of a mountain bike. They can be motivational. They have more range than you might think, particularly on a lower power setting.
Downsides: assistance cuts out at about the speed a good hybrid, gravel or road bike would hold. So then you're lugging a lump around at moderate speed. Most are like lead - if you think your current bike is heavy, go lift a full power ebike over a gate...
Cost to buy and when you need to repair. And you will need to repair. Range anxiety.
You need to go ride a proper ebike or a lightweight ebike to help indorm you. I also suggest you borrow a good quality hybrid or gravel bike. Some wider tyres for the bit of off-road you do, but much lighter, faster and possibly comfier on road than your current bike. Is there a demo day or good shop nearby you can try bikes out with?
FWIW, alongside my wife's eBike I have a Genesis gravel bike - 50mm 29er fast tyres that zip on the road, drops for a day I want to get out the wind some or get a different hand position, lightweight rack with a wee bag on top of panniers for touring. Full mudguards, 2x10 group set, disc brakes that work well. It's the business for the riding you describe.
Bill said:
At risk of restarting the ebike debate, why an ebike? You do a decent distance as it is and half that budget gets you a decent XC mountain bike or gravel bike.
This is my current ridable bikes, the 2 eBikes are the only ones that get ridden. Will be adding a 3rd eBike soon .
Slippery slope, see!! 
I've rented an ebike, and it's hilarious what you can cycle up, but you feel the weight on the descents and once you hit max speed.
The OP does 20-30 miles on an old clunker fine, but the step from there to 50 is significant - twice as long and needing some thought over fuelling.
A half decent gravel bike would take the edge off that for far less than an ebike. And then it's just a bit of building up.
Or he could, you know, cheat...
I've rented an ebike, and it's hilarious what you can cycle up, but you feel the weight on the descents and once you hit max speed.
The OP does 20-30 miles on an old clunker fine, but the step from there to 50 is significant - twice as long and needing some thought over fuelling.
A half decent gravel bike would take the edge off that for far less than an ebike. And then it's just a bit of building up.
Or he could, you know, cheat...
SkinnyPete said:
Why a hard tail over a gravel bike with drop bars? They seem to be all the rage from what I can see.
I'd say a hard tail is more specialised, and not what the OP wants, reading his description. I have both plus an aero road bike, and love all 3, but the hardtail is for proper off roading. Daveyraveygravey said:
SkinnyPete said:
Why a hard tail over a gravel bike with drop bars? They seem to be all the rage from what I can see.
I'd say a hard tail is more specialised, and not what the OP wants, reading his description. I have both plus an aero road bike, and love all 3, but the hardtail is for proper off roading. I agree that a hardtail is a much more off-road focussed bike, whereas OP is majority of distance on road.
Think of an ebike as just another kind of bike. I like my ebike (a hybrid road bike) and my hardball MTB, both are fun and both are for different types of riding.
Have a look at https://www.cyclingelectric.com/ and similar to get some idea as to what ebikes are all about.
Have a look at https://www.cyclingelectric.com/ and similar to get some idea as to what ebikes are all about.
It depends on what you want to do, you're riding respectable distance but are finding it heavy and slow. So do you want to develop as a cyclist and get fitter or do you want to do long leisurely rides? If the former then choose wisely. Many years ago a hybrid taught me to hate compromises, it was average on road and average off road. So sold it and got a road bike and an MTB that were perfect in their discipline (this is why I don't get the concept of gravel bikes)
If the latter then ebikes are great and get an emtb or gravel bike
Or my choice shop wisely and get 2 bikes for your budget!
If the latter then ebikes are great and get an emtb or gravel bike
Or my choice shop wisely and get 2 bikes for your budget!
I’m definitely more about leisure rides than chasing fitness goals. I just enjoy getting out with friends - countryside, coast, good weather - the bike’s just the excuse really.
One thing I’ve noticed is how many bikes don’t have front suspension. Kind of surprises me, because if I lock out the forks on mine, the ride feels awful. Dropping tyre pressure helps a bit, but then it feels like I’m working harder than I need to.
One thing I’ve noticed is how many bikes don’t have front suspension. Kind of surprises me, because if I lock out the forks on mine, the ride feels awful. Dropping tyre pressure helps a bit, but then it feels like I’m working harder than I need to.
SkinnyPete said:
I m definitely more about leisure rides than chasing fitness goals. I just enjoy getting out with friends - countryside, coast, good weather - the bike s just the excuse really.
One thing I ve noticed is how many bikes don t have front suspension. Kind of surprises me, because if I lock out the forks on mine, the ride feels awful. Dropping tyre pressure helps a bit, but then it feels like I m working harder than I need to.
A regular fork with no suspension flexes slightly so gives a nicer ride than a locked suspension one. I leave my suspension on. One thing I ve noticed is how many bikes don t have front suspension. Kind of surprises me, because if I lock out the forks on mine, the ride feels awful. Dropping tyre pressure helps a bit, but then it feels like I m working harder than I need to.
SkinnyPete said:
One thing I ve noticed is how many bikes don t have front suspension. Kind of surprises me, because if I lock out the forks on mine, the ride feels awful. Dropping tyre pressure helps a bit, but then it feels like I m working harder than I need to.
Locking out a suspension fork is rather the worst of both worlds because you have all the weight and stiffness of a suspension fork without any compliance benefit from the suspension itself. Most (decent) non-suspension bikes have carbon forks laid up to produce significant passive flex and even steel forks are designed to flex. Aluminium forks can be pretty jarring. kambites said:
SkinnyPete said:
One thing I ve noticed is how many bikes don t have front suspension. Kind of surprises me, because if I lock out the forks on mine, the ride feels awful. Dropping tyre pressure helps a bit, but then it feels like I m working harder than I need to.
Locking out a suspension fork is rather the worst of both worlds because you have all the weight and stiffness of a suspension fork without any compliance benefit from the suspension itself. Most (decent) non-suspension bikes have carbon forks laid up to produce significant passive flex and even steel forks are designed to flex. Aluminium forks can be pretty jarring. But a decent carbon or even steel fork, good handlebars, tyres not over pressurised and good bike position make bumps very manageable without a loss of efficiency or excess weight.
Thanks folks.
Going to check out one of these on Saturday.
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/revolt-1
If I could average 12/13mph on this compared to the 10mph on my current bike I think that would be a good improvement.
Going to check out one of these on Saturday.
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/revolt-1
If I could average 12/13mph on this compared to the 10mph on my current bike I think that would be a good improvement.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff