I have 2 choices ...

zummerzet-lou
zummerzet-lou Posts: 95
edited November 2009 in Road buying advice
Hi, after scouring the local bike shops, I have whittled the choices to 2: Both are the 2009 models, with a little discount so price wise they are within $100 of one another

This one:
http://www2.giant-bicycles.com/en-au/bi ... 172/31898/

or this:
http://www2.merida-bikes.com/en_INT/Bikes.Detail.199

What are your thoughts?

Comments

  • rake
    rake Posts: 3,204
    merida looks a better paint scheme. double chainset is lighter and less messing about.
  • zummerzet-lou
    zummerzet-lou Posts: 95
    Well, the merida on the link is the 2010 paint scheme ... the 2009 is white, with grey or pale blue .. still nice though!

    I live in South NZ, which is mostly flat on the plains ... however, there are some monster hills should I chose to head towards them (or put my bike on car to drive to them).

    How much harder is a double going to be compared to a triple (I'm not very fit at the mo, and guessing I'd 'need' a granny ring to attack any hill, let alone some of the local ones!)
  • marin_maniac
    marin_maniac Posts: 513
    That Merida frame looks very much like my Boardmand Comp!
  • rake
    rake Posts: 3,204
    compacts were designed to give lower ratios without having a triple.make sure its not a standard double.you will be at walking speed in low gear.
  • zummerzet-lou
    zummerzet-lou Posts: 95
    so I should consider a compact double? ....

    The merida has a Shimano Sora 34.9 Double - is that good or bad?
  • Papapete
    Papapete Posts: 133
    The Merida has a compact 50/34 front with an 11-25 rear which should get you up most hills, however if you are unfit and in doubt go for the triple on the Giant (granny ring may be very useful!)

    After that I would go for the one you like the look of, and go ride :)
  • zummerzet-lou
    zummerzet-lou Posts: 95
    Well, I didn't buy either of these ... do you want to see what I did get?

    I spent a bit more .......

    shopped a little longer .....


    and ....


    http://www.pushbikes.co.nz/product_info ... cts_id=500
  • Aggieboy
    Aggieboy Posts: 3,996
    That should get you nicely to Akaroa on that 'ride', shouldn't it!?
    "There's a shortage of perfect breasts in this world, t'would be a pity to damage yours."
  • zummerzet-lou
    zummerzet-lou Posts: 95
    Aggieboy ... the bike would probably do the trip to Akaroa fine, although I don't think the rider is quite in the same league .... yet!

    For those that have no idea about that "ride", take a lookie: http://www.lerace.co.nz/
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    which one do you prefer the ride of?

    I'd go for the merida, it looks nicer and there appears to be naff all between them spec-wise.
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • zummerzet-lou
    zummerzet-lou Posts: 95
    Thanks Ride_whenver, but if you scroll down a tad you'll see I bought something completely different (and a bit more expensive). Well pleased with it though :lol:
  • STEFANOS4784
    STEFANOS4784 Posts: 4,109
    rake wrote:
    merida looks a better paint scheme. double chainset is lighter and less messing about.

    Good adice for a beginner :shock: Ya git :wink:

    Go second hand mate, this question pops up constantly, real answer is get a half decent 2nd hand bike. If you like it you'l;l be saving for some rediculously expensive bike in the illusion it'll make you faster :wink:

    If you hate it ya can sell it at a nominal loss :)

    You'll know you love it when you mash that 1st hill that you used to walk up 8)
    winter beast: http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr34 ... uff016.jpg
    Summer beast; http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr34 ... uff015.jpg
  • zummerzet-lou
    zummerzet-lou Posts: 95
    Second hand is OK is you are an average size. Me, I'm only 5"2 and small or xSmall road bikes are very common ... and I also wanted to try a few different ones to see which one fitted best, and know that the first one I tried was still available when I went back to it.

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