Which cycle to buy?
Calling all the Cycling enthusiasts, particularly in NCR/ Delhi ---
Winter 2008-09 is starting and afternoons will soon be bearable. It would be the best time to pedal across North India. Let’s plan from casual Sunday rides to week long rides in the Himalayas to cycling to Pushkar Mela. In looking for like-minded cycle people, I came across two Delhi groups – Delhi Critical Mass and Delhi Cycling Club by ITDP. Maybe the two are connected at some level. I haven’t explored them yet. Drop in a word/comment; Get linked if you are up for a ride.
Click here for a calendar of cycling expeditions in India.
I need help in buying a cycle.
Budget - 10K-15K
Requirement - Long distance mountain biking + Portability
I am tall - 5ft 10 inches
Looking for very dependable, high quality gears and chain
Please recommend a suitable model, also the best cycle stores in Delhi that offer a range of accessories.
I found Target Firefox quite comfortable but have been told I can go for still better cycles.
Would like to test ride the cycle in Delhi before placing an order.
One thing I learnt - Figure out whether you want to cycle off-road on slopes or you want to go fast on flat roads. MTB bike with fat tyres for the former, Road bike with thin tyres for the latter.
October 17th, 2008 - 17:49
Trip in the Nilgiris at the end of 2008 -
http://blog.bumsonthesaddle.com/2008/10/17/tour-of-nilgiri
October 18th, 2008 - 02:06
hello guys reading this article.
you can join Delhi cycling club.
please check the below mentioned link.
http://groups.google.com/group/delhicycling
i am from mumbai but.. taught this link will help you guys.
–
anoop
http://mumbaicyclist.blogspot.com/
October 20th, 2008 - 05:43
you have a buget of btwen 10 to 15 k. Target sounds kewl.
it can handle the jerks on the bums and also it is very smooth and is designed aero dynamically.
but i will suggest you to go for trek 3700 .. if you are planing to invest 15 k. just add some 2 k along with it.
or may be if you are going to regularly do off road and only a few on roads go for trek 4300 which will cost 22 k.
which is one of the best bikes for off roads and on as well. also check for your frame size. since you are tall.
let me know if you need any more info.
bye.
Happy Cycling
October 20th, 2008 - 05:44
Thanks anoop, why do you recommend trek 3700 over target?
October 20th, 2008 - 05:47
With regard to you bike query, you should check out the Cycle Market at Jhandelwalan (Rani Jhansi Road). Most of the Indian bicycle companies/brands have their dealers there and you would get a good price and wider choice. For the lifestyle and high-end/foreign brand bikes, the the best is TREK with wide choices to suit every age group (I also own one) which costs slightly more than your budget of 10-15k. Other are Firefox, Merida, LA Soverign. If you visit Lajpa Nagar Market, both Merida and Firefox have their showrooms and Firefox is also the India distributer/dealer for TREK.
Although it’s upto you to decide but my personal suggestion is that if you have been cycling very often and familiar with gear system then only you should go for the high-end bikes at the moment otherwise go for less expensive Indian bikes for first year, make yourself comfortable (specially with gears, shifter and derailers), develop more understanding on what bike would suit you more and then invest in hi-end bikes as per your choise/comfort/performance. You can also go for foldable Indian bike which costs around 3-4k, if you want to carry your bike comfortably in the car or you may consider buying a decent old bike from any retail shop initially which will cost you around Rs.1000-1500.
October 21st, 2008 - 04:18
check out firefox, trek and merida. hero, atlas & hercules they are a bit heavier. i have been using a firefox-cyclone for around three years. bought it for 7.5k.
October 21st, 2008 - 04:20
thankyou very much anoop, nalin n sudip
October 22nd, 2008 - 00:20
hey Malvika,
looking at all your requirements you should look at the Trek 4300 – http://blog.bumsonthesaddle.com/2007/7/18/the-trek-4300
Its a little above your budget, but its worth that difference. At 5’10″ you should be ridng an 18″ frame.
the Target is an ok bicycle. Nothign to write home about. The components are not great and in a years time you are going to be looking at upgrading multiple components.
stick to the 4300. Its a good bicycle and its going to serve you well !
October 22nd, 2008 - 00:22
Check out http://firefoxbikes.com/station.htm they have a couple of outlets in
Delhi and will help you out.
October 22nd, 2008 - 02:14
Hi Malvika,
Taiwanese bikes are best in the world. Particularly for a frame like yours, no one makes a better bike than the Taiwanese companies. You should look for someone in India who gets bikes from Taiwan. They own the art of bicycle making.
J
October 22nd, 2008 - 02:16
thanx rohan, nikhil n jen. i am headed to lajpat nagar tomm..mainly to chk out trek 3700, trek 4300 and meridas
November 2nd, 2008 - 04:49
I visited the firefox and merida bikes at lajpat nagar, delhi yesterday. now i have to decide between merida matts sub 10, trek 3700 and trek 4300. There seems to be no great difference except that merida has a double rim which makes it stronger and it also felt the lightest in the three. Full credit to the well-informed guy called Pushpinder at Merida. I am now trying to dig out some bike facts / testimonials from users to help me in the final decision.
December 20th, 2008 - 04:17
ok everyone.. i finally bought Trek-3700 in acid gold. Its light, a real beauty, 21 gears. with some accessories, it cost me rs 17000. the adrenalin is back.
January 12th, 2009 - 00:21
i am chandan from bengaluru.
i am planning to buy a touring bicycle.
budget is within 15k. trek bikes are pretty costly.
and one of my friends suggested sovereign. can you tell me if the bike you bought is worth the money and serves the purpose?
about its weight,stability,sturdiness..etc.
me and frnds (3 of us ) are buying together.
what sort of discount i may get in this case.
January 12th, 2009 - 00:23
Yes my bike is worth its money. I researched it a bit before I bought it. Mine is a LA Spectrum Alloy with disk brakes both back and front – It is a Hard Tail. Shimano TX70 – derailleurs and the disc brakes are ST-EF50 – All components are better than much higher priced TREK or MERIDA bikes – if you research it a bit. So I felt that This was worth the money at 12K which is the discounted price that the dealer gave me at.
I just changed the tyres to “roadster tyres” as I felt the originals were just too huge and were not really for all terrain rides. Remember – in bikes it is the fork (front suspension), the derailleurs and shifters an brakes that are the most important. The costlier brand names are only worth it after a year or so – just like Indian cars. After sometime the normal badly integrated ones fall apart or rattle on the road.
My bike has held up well – but I have not ridden too much on it as yet – it is still new – so this is just an initial feedback – I have to experience it more and will let you all know more after 3 to 6 months or riding. Right now it feels and works great.
Name: Spectrum Alloy (26”)
Color: Gold
Height : 4ft 5in – 134cm to 6ft 1in – 185cm
Description:
Alloy 6061 frame with, over size suspension fork
Integrated threadless head set
Shimano TX70 21 speed derailleurs & shifter set # ST-EF50
Front & rear disc brake, rear kick stand alloy
Alloy rim, stainless spokes
Included water bottle
http://www.la-sovereign.com/
January 27th, 2009 - 10:04
Hi….
I went to firefox,merida and la sovereign showrooms in delhi at Lajpat
nagar today and after reading the blogs i thought for buying either trek
3700 or one of meridas, to my surprise the trek 3700 is now costing Rs
16995/- and it really pissed me off cause i soo wanted to buy it and to
make it worse the sales guys at firefox are soo not interested in doing
their job of dealing with the customer and giving the details of the bikes
!!! After then i visited merida and happens to meet pushpendra, he
suggested me MATTS 5-V (which was in my budget of 15k,including some
accesories) but m really confused ?!! can anyone suggest which bike
should buy TREK 3700 or MATTS 5-V ? and btw the two which bike has a
better front/rear shifter and front/rear derailleur , cause i dont know
anything about it !? any how is target from firefox cause m getting it for
10k !!
January 27th, 2009 - 12:45
ehh…i think matts 5 v is costing me rs 15000/- exact…is it a gud deal ? haeelp phuleez !
January 27th, 2009 - 22:27
hey, the trek cost me that much too.. ask pushpender if he can get u a trek… as the firefox shop salesguys don’t look too promising abt after sales service
January 28th, 2009 - 05:54
to dashyn: i think trek 3700 might be better. you might as well spend the extra 2000 bucks and get it. ask pushpender..
January 28th, 2009 - 16:14
Hi,
btw malivika how did target responded when you guys road it to leh , were the gears , front suspension gud and anything you wanna share abt target ? also any one wanna do charity and gift me trek ??? 
Well i bought target today…was happy when i purchased it !! but now why m i feeling that i shud have purchased trek3700 ? sigh ! i think i was destined for firefox …but m happy
January 29th, 2009 - 06:41
dashyn: target did well in Leh.. but we weren’t expected to rely on the bike’s strength too much…
May 11th, 2009 - 15:31
Nice site! Will come back again – taking you feed as well, Thanks.
May 14th, 2009 - 10:42
Hi Malvika,
while searching for a good gear mountain bike, i happened to visit ur blog. After reading the previews, i feel that u must’ve done a lot of research before buying a bike.
Can u please tell/guide me, WHERE CAN I BUY USED GEAR MOUNTAIN BIKES? Foreign bikes r too costly, which r other brands?
My budget is between Rs.2000-Rs.2500.
Regards
Dev
May 14th, 2009 - 10:53
@ dev: as far as i know..
1) post a message on DCC online group.. that’s delhi cycling club. someone lookin to sell off an old bike might reply.
2) i think u will hav to increase ur budget. I know that 21 gear hero bike comes for rs5000. i bought my bike from lajpat nagar. u will find shops for imported bikes there.. expensive.
3) but i have heard that the place for local bikes of all kinds is karolbagh – jhandewalan extention.
May 20th, 2009 - 08:09
Thanks Malvika,
Yes i can think of increasing the budget. I bought my bike from Jhandewalan ext in my childhood. Yet to visit Lajpat Nagar, that’s closer to my home compared to Jhandewalan.
But there’s another thing which i think & very confused about it i.e. whether i should buy an indoor(exercise) bike or an outdoor bike? The purpose is ofcourse fitness.(people who’ve experienced indoor exercise bike r criticising for it, donno why! ).
But the bike (exp) u bought from L N’g'r, may i see it’s pic ?
(i also’ve an account on orkut).
May 20th, 2009 - 11:26
@ dev: okk… i know its getting hot this summer but i would not compare a real bike to an indoor bike at alll!!! where is the thrill of tackling the road then, new sights, swerves and turns. The whole feeling of rubber on road, locking and twisting and jumping…
for a pic of my bike just look at trek 3700 (the green one) on google
June 12th, 2009 - 00:50
Juhi Dang asked me:
Thanks Malvika,
The link is awesome for a beginner like me. I have some specific queries.
•Considering its the first time I’ll be cycling since school days, do u think it is wise to invest in a geared cycle? I have never tried a geared cycle
•I m about 5’1″; so considering my height, what frame size do u suggest – is 14″ – 15″ fine? Any comments on the wheel size
•Should I go in specifically for the ladies models of Merida/Firefox or a standard model? Is a standard men’s model uncomfortable to ride, again considering my short built?
I’d really appreciate your views on this.
________________________________________________
Here are my answers:
1 Well, if i were just restarting to cycle, i wouldn’t invest in a 10k bike. learning gears is no big deal.. it will come to you and soon be reflex. I think you should just get pedaling first, whether it is on a second hand bike and an ordinary cycle for rs.2000. But it’s up to you.. if you are confident your interest won’t fizzle out, then get a great gear bike. u know, a trek or merida is to be loved. in 5000 rupees you get Hero geared bikes. Trek n merida are also for long distances. for stuff like 6-7 km, get an ordinary bike. get started. then get trek/ merida. according to ur requirement and dedication, u will hav to choose between low end bike, mid level and high level.
low is hero
mid is firefox
high is trek, merida
2 for frame size, chk zen of cycling website. It says that you will need a 13 to 15 inches bike at your height. Here is the link: http://zenofcycling.com/?q=node/28
The guy you buy your bike from will fit the correct wheel size on his own. It took me a while to gather info and then buy my bike. Make a visit to the store. Go have a look to start with. Take a test ride. Then you can go buy on another visit. Dekho toh.
3 I couldn’t help you there as I have no knowledge there; haven’t come across a ladies MTB myself. I use a guy’s bike and it’s fine. But then, I couldn’t compare.
Oh yeah, if you are only going to do road biking in Delhi, pick a slim tire bike. No point getting an MTB.
June 12th, 2009 - 23:27
@rahul jain: For ordinary road biking, DCC purpose, I think you should pick up an Indian bike with gears.. like Hero. Or even a non-gear bike. But slim tyres for sure. One feels like a moron pushing MTB tyres on long road distances.
August 26th, 2009 - 04:50
my suggestion is good for good rear derailers (i have never had to change the front gears in my rides in and around delhi)…they are the ones that are used most often in the delhi..gurgaon or for that matter around delhi gurgaon….unless you want to go for real high altitude mountain biking…
i dont know if the shops allow you to try them out….try out the bikes if the allow you…go for what you find the most comfortable…the right height is important…there is not much difference in the good brands…
i would go for a mountain bike with the big tires..with all the potholes…
hope this helps…
cheers
vj
August 26th, 2009 - 05:07
Normally, a careful evaluation of the rider as well as his needs is recommended…
Couple of steps that I would recommend,
1) There is a sea of information which is available on the Net. In case you have time – go through some of the articles on the Net as they might give you a good perspective on what to look for + some technicalities about biking in general. (though there will be lot of clutter & confusion)
2) Talk to friends who own bikes, esp. the type that you wish to buy.
3) Visit Merida, Firefox, T&T & evaluate the option (including color, finish – matt/gloss) basis the wisdom gathered by going through the aforementioned 3 steps.
I’m sure you will not regret your decision once you follow the above process approach/methodology.
Cheers!!
Manish
August 26th, 2009 - 05:13
Chandresh: I am planning to buy a mountain bike in next 2-3 days…. I can spend 15K to 20K INR……..I am a newbie as far as geared bikes are considered.
Jasbir: Given your price bracket, you’ll have options from FF Target, Trek3700 and Merida Kalahari 8xM. Between these 3, pls check them yourself. And don’t buy bikes with disc brakes unless you raise your budget to invest in hydraulic ones.
August 26th, 2009 - 06:25
In 15K to 20K INR you can go for Trek Series 3 or Cannondale F9. Both are decent bikes and gives you similar features you can get Trek from Gurgaon’s Firefox showroom in MGF Plaza Mall and Cannondale from BSA showroom in sector -14.
August 27th, 2009 - 01:01
Rupesh emailed:
I was in the same boat last year exactly around the same time. Only difference was that I had NO clue on bikes and I didn’t know anyone who was into biking. So the entire research that led me tobuy my bike was through net. Almost all of it is documented in these 2 posts of my blog. Feel free to rummage through them.
Buying the Bike – Part I
http://blog.rupeshtripathi.com/2008/08/buying-bike-part-i.html
Buying the Bike – Part II: Research continues
http://blog.rupeshtripathi.com/2008/08/buying-bike-part-ii-research-continues.html
August 27th, 2009 - 23:36
Chandresh, most of your body weight will rest on the saddle, so do choose this component carefully. You may consider buying a “non-unisex” model like this one: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/real-man.html
A 50 cc blood sample for the testosterone-test can help you to get the bottom of this tissue.
On the other hand, this saddle may not suit some people and they suffer “calf muscle twitches” first in their left leg and then the right. They blame their age, but actually don’t have a leg to stand on. The problem is their saddle. We’ll dissect other components over the next 12 months.
…….
August 27th, 2009 - 23:37
Whoa!! Ashok, i was completely blown off by this saddle,, this is truly an epitome of the most advanced technology available to the mankind today. I doubt the fact if they will be able to get to the bottom of the issue just from 50cc of my tissue. I was also wondering if i cud get the chain cleaning solution as complimentary
http://sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html
what an extensive research these germans hav put into it.. Hail Them!!!
August 27th, 2009 - 23:45
Hi guys,
Some good news on the puncture prevention front.
‘SLIME” (that is the brand), the gooey green liquid that prevents punctures, is now available in India. For those of us who have been using it for a while, I can only say that it is extremely effective. I, for example, filled it in my tubes about six months ago and have not had a single puncture since then despite going on trails that are extremely puncture prone, including the Manger downhill.
There is some dealer called TATA ABS in Gurgaon. Don’t have his number, but that can probably be had from a company called Scan Solutions that is importing it in India.
We also need to check the sizes they have it available in. I think it might be the big barrels/buckets or huge bottles, for they are targeting the transport sector.
Cheers!
August 27th, 2009 - 23:54
in Galleria market, Gurgaon there is a shop which deals with car accessories around 4-5 months back they had stock of SLIME.
September 1st, 2009 - 16:11
Hi, wats the program
I am planning to buy a bike.
my budget is b/w 4k to 5k.
Will be riding in delhi for fitness and fun.
Shall I go for a gear or non gear bike and what kind of tyre I should be looking for – Slim or MTB?????
I guess as a fresher Hero Octane NV or Atlas Stealth series 300 will do????????
Kindly suggest
September 1st, 2009 - 23:38
@pradeep:
If u plan to go offroad get MTB. Offroad happens in Gurgaon. Pedalyatris do it. Chk pedalyatri.in. You might like to join them later in which case aroad bike just won’t do.
For strictly road – slim tyres.
Get gears for flyovers. Forget about a non-gear bike.
I am not familiar with the cycles you are talking of. Besto luck.
September 30th, 2009 - 10:01
hi, firstly i thank my friend kulbir sehgal for forwarding this link. Malvika and others have largely clarified the queries. I am 45 yrs,6’2”. I intend to buy a hercules bicycle with shockers(both) with out gears with thin tyres. However, when i checked the hercules website i found that there is no cycle to my height in their inventory. Any suggestions! zen web indicates that I should go for frame size of 21-23″ and Inseam length of 31-33″. I have a budget of maximum 4-5 k. I am not ready to invest more.
November 18th, 2009 - 15:16
Planning to start biking after like 20 years… thanks to Malvika’s blog, got plenty of stuff to read that’ll hopefull helpme in making a decision. I’ll post queries to the experts here if I am still unable to decide after surfing the net enough.
Just to fill in, not 100% sure if the interest will sustain or not. Want to buy something that I can use on road (and occasionally on rough terrains), budget of 5-6K maybe!!! Any off-hand suggestions are welcome!
November 19th, 2009 - 00:54
@ashrut:
I remember I was unsure myself in Delhi, college first year. And as a student, my budget was ha-ha. So, I borrowed my friend’s old bike. he got it to me – punctured, cobwebby and wobbly. And boy, did that bike go km and km after that! It’s damn addictive. Start with anything. Start. Walking and autorickshaws (n car for nearby places) becomes history.
November 20th, 2009 - 04:18
Thanks Malvika for the encouragement. I think I’ll go for one of the indian bikes that would fall within my budget to start with!
December 1st, 2009 - 04:20
Hey
We just picked up some Firefox bikes and are struggling to find good cycling routes in Delhi. The BRT (for the first time) was a blessing coz of the cycle track that goes all the way across Pragati Maidan but other than that are there any interesting tracks where one does not have to battle the Bluelines.
December 1st, 2009 - 04:38
@Ankur: Really recommended: NEhru Park to Rashtrapati Bhavan to India gate n back..out of ur dreams for a bike route. If you explore around, you will find neglected parks with tracks and a small Shimla style brick bridge.
Join GK Bikers gang to do that route on Sunday and Wednesday mornings. You should find them on facebook. Super fast road bikers; they mean business and dont wait etc.
Other than that.. regular roads are good if it’s really early morning. You could also try Gurgaon-Faridabad road.
Then a mini-area suggestion..Amrita Shergill marg zone.. cut through Lodi Garden. Do Jor bagh area and behind India Habitat Centre.
I personally don’t enjoy BRT.. the restricting cycle lane with those blocking columns at the starts and ends.
December 1st, 2009 - 05:21
Last Sunday we did GK2 to Supreme Court to India Gate to Rashtrapati Bhavan and back via Golf Links and used the BRT for the last stretch.
Nehru Park sounds like an idea for sure. Going around Lutyens Delhi was a thought for this weekend.
Could not locate the GK Bikers on Facebook or Google.
Thanks for the info.
January 25th, 2010 - 04:18
I don’t usually take the time to drop a comment, however it is difficult to find good information on this topic today. You did a wonderful job in this blog post and I think I’ll check out your other articles as well. Keep writing!
April 5th, 2010 - 15:22
From Jeremy, from PEdalYatri mails:
There are a couple of things that one should always bear in mind when purchasing a bike.
The first is: Light. Strong. Cheap. Pick any two. If it’s cheap, it might be light but not strong. And if it is strong it wont be light…
The second is: F= Ma. So the heavier the bike, the more force (i.e. muscle power) will be required. Especially when going up some of the rather extreme hills in the Aravalis.
Obviously it becomes a compromise as not everyone has the luxury to afford the best and lightest specced bike. But the big mistake a lot of people make when buying new is to be impressed & influenced by the peripherals like suspensions and brakes. It’s like deciding to buy a car based on the sound system rather than the engine and chassis. It’s not necessarily wrong but it may not be the right reason to buy it. There is nothing wrong with rim brakes (in fact they work just as well, are more reliable and more serviceable) and dual suspension is a luxury for extreme downhill racers. A 21 speed is really limiting your ratios; 24 is the least you should look for.
I don’t know the bike in question but a dual suspension MTB with disc brakes for Rs8k… it’s likely to be a clunker. Which is fine for pootling down to the shops once a month but will make some of the Pedalyatri rides a bit more challenging than they need to be.
My advice, assuming that you are on a budget, is to try find a good second hand bike like a Trek 4300. Or maybe one of the other Pedalyatris knows of another make that you can get second hand which meets the criteria of a good frame and good basic componentry. Because, trust me, one of two things will happen when you buy a cheap bike:
It’ll make riding a mission to the point that you’ll lose enthusiasm and give it up, making the purchase a waste of money
You’ll realise very quickly the deficiencies of the bike and you’ll find yourself wanting to upgrade equally quickly, making the purchase a waste of money.
Lance Armstrong says “It’s not about the bike” (which is easy for him to say when he rides the best that money can buy) but ultimately the equipment that you use can have a huge impact on your enjoyment of the sport and your ability to perform.
Hope this helps and that I haven’t offended anyone who rides a clunker…
Jeremy
April 5th, 2010 - 15:23
From sourav biswas, PedalYatri mail:
Jeremy,
I totally agree to your points. Altho am a newbie to it, but i have realised the fact about an equipment on my first ride with the PYs. I was putting much more extra efforts in pedaling but cudnt match their speed. Altho i havnt had as much stamina as them to catch up to their speed, but then also the distance was too much to blame the stamina factor. What i concluded is that its my bike’s tire diameter & gear ratio which restricted my speed altho i was putting more effort than them. I then never went on a ride with PYs and am thinking of upgrading my bike to ride with them. Can you suggest me one within the price range upto 15-18k max.
Cheers!!!
April 5th, 2010 - 15:23
From jasbir, pedal yatri mail:
One of the best pieces of advice and so well written.
Munish, you should really stay away from Heros of the world. They are not there yet.
Another thing about riding together is to be within the specs of the groups. There are quasi-pros who ride Lefties (how I envy that). Anything outside of that could impact the group in case of breakdowns.
I am responding to this as I am a prime example. I started with an FF Cyclone which didn’t have QR (a very basic requirement for the kind of rides we do) and, on one of extreme rides when I punctured a tyre I ended up holding back the rest as we didn’t have a spanner/ wrench to take the wheel off top change the tube.
Trust me, it becomes frustrating. These days QR is available in most bikes, but that was an example to put the point across.
You can look at Trek3700, Merida or Schwinn. For a tight budget, I would even recommend FF Target.
Float a query for a seconds bike.
Choice is yours.
Jasbir