Giant Bowery

daz51
daz51 Posts: 159
edited January 2010 in Road general
Saw one of these the other day in my LBS and again just had a look at the review on here.

I am looking for a fixie / freewheel bike but you dont see this in many places?

any reason why? anyone got one ?

Daz
«13

Comments

  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    it;s just out this year - so perhaps not many around yet.

    also - it is not considered 'cool' among the hipster fixies to have an off-the-peg fixed gear and especialy not one with that new fangled modern geometry compact frames - and double-especially not that selll-out, american corporate machine bikes like the langster and the bowery.

    otherwise it is decent looking, light and good value for a first fixe. I have a langster which I love (in many ways it is my favourite bike!) The bowery is slightly cheaper RRP although a langster can be had for around the £350mark too
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,070
    I don't think you see many around because it's so fucking ugly! A horrible, horrible bike which looks cheaper and nastier than it actually is.
  • daz51
    daz51 Posts: 159
    Andyp i agree with you,

    I looked at giants when deciding for my first roadbike. I looked at Giants SCR range and the Allez range by Specialized.

    I have hence gone for the Allez due to the Giants looking cheap & nasty.

    so what you say dont suprise me and as they are meant to be the biggest bike manufacturer i think their whole range could be a lot better
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    well what was this thread for if you have already decide that Giants are cheap and nasty??

    And I guess if you are still looking for an OTP fixed then the langster is for you as it shares the exact same geometry as the allez
  • meagain
    meagain Posts: 2,331
    Beauty, eye, beholder an' all that, but I reckon the Bowery looks good! Close call between it and the Langster IMO.

    And I've never had a bad Giant, from a few grand TCR and XTC down to 100 quid hacks!
    d.j.
    "Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    There is nothing wrong with Giants, just because a certain model is ugly that is no reason to slag off the entire brand for gods sake.

    Give me a Giant next to a Specialized anyday.
  • daz51
    daz51 Posts: 159
    The S.C.R range certainly looks cheap and nasty compared to the Allez range
  • meagain
    meagain Posts: 2,331
    Not to me they don't!
    d.j.
    "Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."
  • willy b
    willy b Posts: 4,125
    We have one in the shop. Think it looks a brilliant bike!

    Initial impressions:
    It seems very light indeed, I actually think it does look very nice, sleek lines, and teh compact frame, although not traditional i think looks so much better than other frames imo.

    Infact i think it is so good i think i'm going to buy one :lol: I'm going to use it as a normal road bike and a bike to commute to uni and work. Literally nothing to go wrong with it, perfect!
  • daz51
    daz51 Posts: 159
    Hey Guys,

    sorry for the long reply guys, in reply to Gkerr4 i should have worded it a bit better. The Bowery is the only Giant which looks good to me so thats why i asked why it does not sell.

    I am looking at the Bowery though and i botie some good deals coming up on it
  • willy b
    willy b Posts: 4,125
    Found it for £272 Thought that was cheap!!

    Can't remember where though, i'll hae a look!
  • peejay78
    peejay78 Posts: 3,378
    i've seen a few OTPs. i rode a fuji back in the day when they were red (not that long ago). i have a pathological dislike of langsters, despite the fact that they are great value and a sweet ride.

    the giant bowery seems practical, but i have to say, it is quite possibly the ugliest OTP i have EVER seen. i'm sure it rides well, but it is absolutely VILE to look at. the geometry is pashley-esque, it's the sit-up-and-beg of OTP track/fixed bikes. and i like OTP bikes.
  • J_C_M
    J_C_M Posts: 2
    Ignore the Bowery, check this thread for options for OTP fixed/ss - personally I'd be looking at the Pearson Touche

    http://www.londonfgss.com/thread6022.html
  • meagain
    meagain Posts: 2,331
    The LFGSS list is pretty good. I've considered most of them,,,,and the only one I'd maybe, just maybe, swop for this

    nice4.jpg

    is the Tricross Single. I HATE getting wet in the places where one gets wet without 'grds you see!
    d.j.
    "Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."
  • peejay78
    peejay78 Posts: 3,378
    edited August 2008
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    Personally I like Giant as a brand - the frames seem well made & relaible to me. I think that it is the colours, decals & marketing that let Giant down - it's not seen as a cool brand. Would choose it over Specialised and other mass produced bikes. My experience of the brand is with MTBs - same issues but excellent value bikes.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    J_C_M wrote:
    Ignore the Bowery, check this thread for options for OTP fixed/ss - personally I'd be looking at the Pearson Touche

    http://www.londonfgss.com/thread6022.html

    I can recommend the Touche, fantastic bike - here's mine: 2230528677_a85552fecc_b.jpg

    IMHO the Giant is ugly as sin.
  • blorg
    blorg Posts: 1,169
    edited February 2009
    I just got a Bowery from Pearson this morning. Main motivator was the price, £225.

    It didn't come with the fixed cog attached as I was expecting so for now it is just singlespeed. I am already very pleased, the thing rides really nicely and is not half as heavy as I had expected (I know the XL with pedals is 9.5kg actual weight, need to locate my fishing scales to weigh this one.)

    th_giant_bowery.jpg th_giant_bowery_assembled.jpg

    I was not overly concerned about the aesthetics but TBH I don't think it is a bad looking bike, welds are a bit on the chunky side but other than that I wouldn't be complaining.

    If the prices were the same I would have gone for a Langster, purely on weight grounds, but that option was almost twice the price (indeed there was virtually nothing anywhere near the price of the Bowery.)

    Seems really responsive and no trouble at all to get up the 100m or so ascent on my 6.5km commute. I'm starting to think that gears are a completely unnecessary innovation :D
  • Littigator
    Littigator Posts: 1,262
    I've just ordered one today from Perason Cycles who have a special on...I got it for £225! For that price I think I've got a pretty nice looking bike that will hopefully ride well for the price.

    I currently have a Specialized Allez as my daily bike and don't think they'll be a huge difference given the similarities in geometry and the frame material/build.

    As for comparisons with what 'true' fixie enthusiasts think of them...blah blah blah. I am spending £200 quid to try a new style of riding and if I like it then I'm happy. As for comparisons with the Pearson Touche, I think that's a bit unfair don't you. Comparing a 200 quid off the peg with a hand built made to measure for £500, not really any comparison is it.

    That said, if I do get on with my new ride, I'll be looking eventually to get the Pearson as it is a lovely bike, but sshhhh don't tell the wife.
    Roadie FCN: 3

    Fixed FCN: 6
  • Littigator
    Littigator Posts: 1,262
    I've just ordered one today from Perason Cycles who have a special on...I got it for £225! For that price I think I've got a pretty nice looking bike that will hopefully ride well for the price.

    I currently have a Specialized Allez as my daily bike and don't think they'll be a huge difference given the similarities in geometry and the frame material/build.

    As for comparisons with what 'true' fixie enthusiasts think of them...blah blah blah. I am spending £200 quid to try a new style of riding and if I like it then I'm happy. As for comparisons with the Pearson Touche, I think that's a bit unfair don't you. Comparing a 200 quid off the peg with a hand built made to measure for £500, not really any comparison is it.

    That said, if I do get on with my new ride, I'll be looking eventually to get the Pearson as it is a lovely bike, but sshhhh don't tell the wife.
    Roadie FCN: 3

    Fixed FCN: 6
  • toshmund
    toshmund Posts: 390
    Just picked mine up from the LBS this afternoon. I paid the full £350, but showed some allegiance to the local LBS - decent shop/helpful blokes, etc. £350 is still a bargain price anyway. Managed to get a set of mudguards fitted using P clips - which was one of the main things it was disparaged for in the review, I read beforehand. It has the lugs on the forks, but not on the rear stay. Will probably go for the carrier as well eventually. Good bike for the money, lovely seating posture. Like mentioned earlier, don't compare it against a bike costing £500. Think the option of changing the tyres to a 23 is a good one as well. The 26's are a bit chunky

    Ref the Giant being "ugly as sin" - it must be a matter of opinion. The Pinarello must satisfy your taste, not mine though. So be it.
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    blorg - that looks real nice - I like the look of it - not as 'compact' a frame as I was expecting - looks great and at £225 its a bargain!!
  • People do talk cack on here sometimes. If you are looking for a fixie and your budget is 'cheap as chips' otherwise the wife will exterminate you and your child will have no shoes, then the Bowery is a genuine contender. Add mudguards and away you go for potentially around the £300 mark all-in.
  • Dickie
    Dickie Posts: 1,489
    People do talk cack on here sometimes. If you are looking for a fixie and your budget is 'cheap as chips' otherwise the wife will exterminate you and your child will have no shoes, then the Bowery is a genuine contender. Add mudguards and away you go for potentially around the £300 mark all-in

    So very true,no uglier than the Langster. An all alloy bike For just over £200, its in the cheap shite hybrid, mtb territory. If I had the money....

    What size tyres with guards can you use?
  • Dustine
    Dustine Posts: 184
    I saw one in my LBS, but the mudguard clearance, or lack of it, surprised me, for a bike you would use all winter. Short reach brakes front and rear if im not mistaken. You could use race guards it appeared, but then you could on any bike. Im surprised you squeezed full length guards in!!!
  • peejay78
    peejay78 Posts: 3,378
    it's good value and i am sure it rides well. speaking subjectively, i think it looks revolting. i'd rather have no shoes and a starving wife and child.
  • I'll let you try that out first. If you are indeed married and do indeed have children. Let me know how you get on.
  • System_1
    System_1 Posts: 513
    I just got one of these from Pearsons too. Absolutely loving it so far. Not as harsh a ride as I was expecting.
    peejay78 wrote:
    i think it looks revolting. i'd rather have no shoes and a starving wife and child.
    Revolting? It's a bike for f**k sake. It's no uglier than any other compact alu frame out there. I think it looks alright, maybe not as nice as a proper steel track frame but IMO better looking than a Touche and miles cheaper than either.


    blorg wrote:
    It didn't come with the fixed cog attached as I was expecting so for now it is just singlespeed.
    Stick it on there, that was the very first thing I did. In fact the freewheel sprocket was taken off this afternoon as it was rattling a bit and I'm never likely to use that side. Fixed is brilliant fun. You don't even need any tools, pedalling will tighten it down good and proper, and the lockring can be tighened on with a few gentle taps with a screwdriver.
  • sean1
    sean1 Posts: 7
    This is a good buy for any one that wants to get into fixed gear riding.
    I built my first Fixie with and old hybrid frame ,it weighs a tonne I ride 48~18 .
    I went to an LBS to get the rear wheel built,it cost me £95 with a flip-flop hub and a singlespeed 18 and fixed 18 cog.So £225 is a steal
    Train with this over winter ,come spring you will have legs of steel.
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