Geekzone Cycling Thread

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Networkn
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#3331408 14-Jan-2025 12:59

mudguard:

Specialized Sirrus?
My partner has one for commuting

https://www.specialized.com/nz/en/sirrus-x-20/p/200342?color=322584-200342

I like the look of this, I wonder about that bar height though.

I see this is about 12.3KG, this is about as heavy as I'd want. Lighter would be better.

It doesn't need to be this years model etc.

Handsomedan

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#3331410 14-Jan-2025 13:04

networkn:

Handsomedan:

What's the budget?
What sort of "look" does she like (i.e. does she want a mountain bike, BMX style bike, step-thru cruiser)?
Are there any specific brand names you're for/against?

No specific budget, ideally under $1000.

She prefers the look of

https://www.99bikes.co.nz/products/pedal-jet-3-trapeze-turquoise?currency=NZD&variant=44187730018543&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&stkn=e29437b58574&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAkJO8BhCGARIsAMkswyhYrrRCSX6d1LhFT65vZqLLCjt5fR9quprh6B3zPQcjlABF4YpGYfsaAoZ3EALw_wcB

over

https://www.evocycles.co.nz/Product/578136/product?variation_id=578137&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAkJO8BhCGARIsAMkswyi0l6IuBozaBjeyHwIOIZOpxqKLjmk0NRRAOKfNzAqgWoH6yj3NQzAaArmvEALw_wcB

But said she is less worried about looks than the gears being easy to use and smooth. I want decent brakes and lightweight.

Quality is a factor, I want something to last her through High School ideally.

I am not keen on an E-Bike as I suspect too heavy, too expensive, and too likely to be stolen.

Don't care about brand per se, would prefer something with good after sales support and quality.

Cool - that makes suggestions easier!

ooh, I love New Bike Day!

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Batman

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#3331412 14-Jan-2025 13:10

https://www.99bikes.co.nz/collections/mtb-hardtail-bikes/products/marin-bobcat-trail-4-hardtail-mountain-bike-29-wheels-silver-2022

https://www.evocycles.co.nz/Product/579894/2025-giant-talon-29-4-radiant-orange

https://www.torpedo7.co.nz/mammoth-alpine-mtb-i012532-matteteal

https://www.torpedo7.co.nz/trek-2024-marlin-5-mtb-i035016-purple

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#3331413 14-Jan-2025 13:10

networkn:

No specific budget, ideally under $1000.

She prefers the look of

https://www.99bikes.co.nz/products/pedal-jet-3-trapeze-turquoise?currency=NZD&variant=44187730018543&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&stkn=e29437b58574&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAkJO8BhCGARIsAMkswyhYrrRCSX6d1LhFT65vZqLLCjt5fR9quprh6B3zPQcjlABF4YpGYfsaAoZ3EALw_wcB

over

https://www.evocycles.co.nz/Product/578136/product?variation_id=578137&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAkJO8BhCGARIsAMkswyi0l6IuBozaBjeyHwIOIZOpxqKLjmk0NRRAOKfNzAqgWoH6yj3NQzAaArmvEALw_wcB

But said she is less worried about looks than the gears being easy to use and smooth. I want decent brakes and lightweight.

Quality is a factor, I want something to last her through High School ideally.

I am not keen on an E-Bike as I suspect too heavy, too expensive, and too likely to be stolen.

Don't care about brand per se, would prefer something with good after sales support and quality.

please do not buy these

networkn

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#3331417 14-Jan-2025 13:14

Batman:

please do not buy these

They were the first two that looked like what my daughter commented on.

Handsomedan

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#3331419 14-Jan-2025 13:16

This would potentially fit the bill.

Good quality componentry, a quality and reliable brand, the right kind of shape/type of bike for commuting, with fairly robust build, so it'll take some relative abuse.
https://www.99bikes.co.nz/collections/bikes/products/2022-marin-stinson-1-st-tan-blue

Marin Stinson 1 ST Hybrid Bike Tan/Blue

Marin Series 1 6061 Aluminum Frame, Low-Step Design, Comfort Control Geometry
CrMo Steel Rigid Fork with Fender and Rack Eyelets
Power CX7 Mechanical Disc Brakes
Shimano Altus/Alivio 1x7 Speed Drivetrain
Kickstand Mount, Bottle Boss, Fender & Rack Mounts for Commuters

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Handsomedan

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#3331747 15-Jan-2025 11:21

Got out to WCRC in Riverhead (Auckland) last night for an after-work ride.

Used the opportunity to practice getting over my fear of gaps. For some reason I am OK with black trails and DH parks etc, but cannot for the life of me get past my fear of gaps and drops.

Anyway - it was unusually dusty across most of the trails, but there were the usual bog-spots that had thick and gloopy mud, despite the lack of heavy rain over the last couple of weeks.

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mudguard

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#3331760 15-Jan-2025 12:31

Nice!!
Yes I found the only mud in Auckland on the Traverse over to Ninja/Heavy Metal. Almost came to a dead stop. And covered my tyres and then of course me and my bike once I was up to speed.

Handsomedan

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#3331771 15-Jan-2025 13:27

mudguard: Nice!!
Yes I found the only mud in Auckland on the Traverse over to Ninja/Heavy Metal. Almost came to a dead stop. And covered my tyres and then of course me and my bike once I was up to speed.

That's exactly where I found my mud.

I also found Ninja/Heavy Metal both really overgrown and unloved.
I think I may have to go back with some gear and do a bit of maintenance.

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networkn

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#3331774 15-Jan-2025 13:37

Handsomedan:

This would potentially fit the bill.

Good quality componentry, a quality and reliable brand, the right kind of shape/type of bike for commuting, with fairly robust build, so it'll take some relative abuse.
https://www.99bikes.co.nz/collections/bikes/products/2022-marin-stinson-1-st-tan-blue

Marin Series 1 6061 Aluminum Frame, Low-Step Design, Comfort Control Geometry
CrMo Steel Rigid Fork with Fender and Rack Eyelets
Power CX7 Mechanical Disc Brakes
Shimano Altus/Alivio 1x7 Speed Drivetrain
Kickstand Mount, Bottle Boss, Fender & Rack Mounts for Commuters

Looks good, but 14KG apparently.

Handsomedan

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#3331776 15-Jan-2025 13:40

networkn:

Handsomedan:

This would potentially fit the bill.

Good quality componentry, a quality and reliable brand, the right kind of shape/type of bike for commuting, with fairly robust build, so it'll take some relative abuse.
https://www.99bikes.co.nz/collections/bikes/products/2022-marin-stinson-1-st-tan-blue

Marin Series 1 6061 Aluminum Frame, Low-Step Design, Comfort Control Geometry
CrMo Steel Rigid Fork with Fender and Rack Eyelets
Power CX7 Mechanical Disc Brakes
Shimano Altus/Alivio 1x7 Speed Drivetrain
Kickstand Mount, Bottle Boss, Fender & Rack Mounts for Commuters

Looks good, but 14KG apparently.

I wouldn't get too hung up on the weight, TBH - unless you're planning on her lifting it and transporting it on anythimng other than its wheels, it's going to be fine.

Light bikes come at a cost - I always paid good money for my kids' bikes, but they were MTB's with decent spec for going offroad and jumping etc - they needed to be a little lighter. And I always lost loads of money on them.
A commuter bike is likely to be a bit heavier, as a result of its intended use - no need to throw titanium or carbon fibre on a general commuter bike.

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Handsomedan

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#3331781 15-Jan-2025 13:50

Another option could be something like this, which may be a little lighter?
https://myride.co.nz/products/avanti-x-plorer-ms-1w-2022-blue

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Handsomedan

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#3333368 20-Jan-2025 10:11

Reading today that another MTB manufacturer is on the verge of collapse, it really makes me wonder about the cycling industry as a whole.

I understand that COVID gave them a massive boost, with demand outstripping supply and the subsequent drop off in demand, with a massive backlog of parts orders left them with overstocked parts bins and inventory up the wahzoo, but taking away the industry itself - aren't these businesses, first and foremost?

Could they not have applied some business nouse and worked their way through these challenges? Seems like they were so busy gouging through COVID, they forgot to employ actual business people to run the business side of things.
They're also still charging redicilus prices for lower-specced bikes, while some of the bigger players are discounting like crazy (see my recentish purchase on an eMTB for 40% off).

Bike innovation as a whole is slower than it has been in recent years - a lot of manufacturers are simply changing up minor things like paint jobs and component specs for the "new" models of many bikes.

In mountain biking, the geometry innovation that happened in the last few years ("longer, lower, slacker") has hit its natural middle point and bikes are largely coming out with the same kind of numbers, from HT anmgles, to chainstay lengths and BB heights etc.

They invented new categories to try and fill people's garages and sheds with new bikes, like gravel bikes, Down Country MTB's and "All Mountain" (which is really just an enduro/trail mix). This has just confused things and now people are left wondering what they should actually get, instead of maybe doing some innovating themselves (i.e. create your own gravel bike from a good XC bike with drop bars and the like, take a good XC bike and make it slightly more aggressive with parts and tuning to have a Downcountry bike, ride your All Mountain bike like an enduro bike, because that's actually what it is).

Personally, I think the industry gets what it deserves. I just feel sorry for the poor people who are losing their jobs, as they are mostly not the ones that are respionsible for this mess - those people are usually the last to go and the best paid.

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networkn

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#3333370 20-Jan-2025 10:30

I have to say, you aren't the first person to say this, but having approached a number of bike shops, the prices don't appear much better nor the discounts any higher than any other time I've considered buying a bike.

I still haven't sorted my daugher a bike, seems like the weight factor is in the too hard basket, but if we aren't saving any weight, then really the only real benefit of a new bike for her is better gears, and I'd imagine in 5 years, gears should have improved at the $500-700 mark?

Perhaps my expectation of what an overstock indicated were incorrect, I had been thinking that there would be some half price bikes around, and I might have been able to get a lightweight > $1000 bike for < $1000

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#3333439 20-Jan-2025 11:44

networkn:

I have to say, you aren't the first person to say this, but having approached a number of bike shops, the prices don't appear much better nor the discounts any higher than any other time I've considered buying a bike.

I still haven't sorted my daugher a bike, seems like the weight factor is in the too hard basket, but if we aren't saving any weight, then really the only real benefit of a new bike for her is better gears, and I'd imagine in 5 years, gears should have improved at the $500-700 mark?

Perhaps my expectation of what an overstock indicated were incorrect, I had been thinking that there would be some half price bikes around, and I might have been able to get a lightweight > $1000 bike for < $1000

There's two things here really - the ~$1000 pricepoint isn't where you're seeing the deep discounts. It's the $10k+ bikes that are getting the hefty price cuts as new models come in to supercede them.
Case in point - my eBike was $6k all up, down from a $10k rrp. Only a month before I bought it, it was "on sale" for $8k.

I've seen $25k eBikes for $15k - that's a $10k saving, but isn't cheap by any means.

The other thing is the gearing - I assume you mean the overall compnentry? If so, it improves year on year, but doesn't necessarily get cheaper. Take (for example) the Shimano Deore groupset and below - made largely for entry-level bikes, youre now seeing Deore and the new CUES groupset on quite high-end and pricy bikes, so the idea that a sub-$1000 bike will get a marked improvement in gears/components may be wishful thinking.
You might get slightly better performance fro mthe entry level components as the trickle-down effect is felt, but ultimately the savings are seen more at the other end of the market - as are the real improvements.

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