Flat Bar Road/Commuter/Hybrid advice

[cmiccycles]

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for having me as part of the community.

I'm looking to get back into cycling after a decade or so, where I used to just ride my old basic mountain bike (which I no longer own). Having extensively perused the advice shared in other posts, I'm looking for a flat bar road, commuter or hybrid. At this stage I don't think I would be comfortable yet on drop bars (although I'll be sure to test once VIC's lockdown ends!). For context, I'm a bigger guy (182cm, 115kg) but have reasonable cardio fitness. The plan is to get a bike that I can take out for weekly rides on paths (anywhere from 10-40km or so), with the possibility of eventually riding to and from work in Melbourne's CBD (I live in the outer northern suburbs). I'd love to get something for around $500ish, but appreciate that I may need to stretch to $1000 (if not more) to get something worthwhile.

With all that in mind, could you please share your thoughts on the following two ads:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 6846607523

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 4350459716

Also, if you have any recommendations as to which bikes I should be looking at (and where I should be looking), that would be amazing!

Thank you so much for your help

[BritniPepper]

I like the look of the Merida but I think it may be overpriced for something six years old. You'd want to have it serviced, I think.

A reasonable bike - that isn't something out of K-mart or whatever - is going to be closer to a grand new. And around half that used.

I have a Merida Crossway 10 and I'm very happy with it. The Speeder U200D is pretty much what I'd be looking for as an upgrade. Hydraulic disks are what I'm looking for next time around. This one's a bit big for my comfort, but.

Britni

[Nobody]

Forget the Merida. It is only a 52cm frame which would suit someone of about 170 cm tall.

[cmiccycles]

Forget the Merida. It is only a 52cm frame which would suit someone of about 170 cm tall.

Done - thanks for that!

How do we feel about the Avanti? Avanti seem to have pretty mixed reviews in the forum...

Is there anywhere in particular people would recommend looking for bikes? It's crazy how bad stock is - can't seem to find many decent L flat bar bikes in stock anywhere and FB marketplace/gumtree don't have much at the moment.

[bychosis]

It’s unfortunate that stocks are low due to both manufacturing being shut down and last year’s crazy boom for bikes. We still seem to be Suffering the shortage. Second hand bikes sell quickly because new are hard to come by.

IMO Avanti are fine. I’ve owned a couple and have no issues.

The most important thing is fit. If you don’t fit, you’ll be uncomfortable and won’t ride.

If looking second hand, gets your googles working and check the rrp of what you are looking at. $1k is a good starting point for a quality entry level bike.

[Nobody]

How do we feel about the Avanti?

I have two. Bought them both cheaply second hand and they have both been good to me.

[Andy01]

Forget the Merida. It is only a 52cm frame which would suit someone of about 170 cm tall.

Is that correct ? I had thought (perhaps incorrectly) that the frame size was based on the seat tube length, so 52cm = around 20-21", which in most bikes is probably a Large (maybe Medium - depends on the make/style - I am looking at a Giant Roam hybrid currently where the Large is 50cm) frame, and Large frames are generally suited to people around 178-188cm tall.

[cmiccycles]

I have two. Bought them both cheaply second hand and they have both been good to me.

That's great to know - I'll keep Avanti bikes in mind!

If looking second hand, gets your googles working and check the rrp of what you are looking at. $1k is a good starting point for a quality entry level bike.

Thank you, great advice. Does anyone know where I can find the rrp of the Avanti Blade Pro in the above ad? It seems like an older bike and I can't find the rrp (have checked old Avanti catalogues, as well as just google searching). I feel as if $550 might be a bit steep for an older bike, but if it has the components that justify the cost, I'm fine with spending that despite being an older bike.

[Nobody]

Forget the Merida. It is only a 52cm frame which would suit someone of about 170 cm tall.

Is that correct ? I had thought (perhaps incorrectly) that the frame size was based on the seat tube length, so 52cm = around 20-21", which in most bikes is probably a Large (maybe Medium - depends on the make/style - I am looking at a Giant Roam hybrid currently where the Large is 50cm) frame, and Large frames are generally suited to people around 178-188cm tall.

It is a S/M in Merida's size.
https://www.merida-bikes.com/en-au/bike ... PEEDER+200

You can look at the distance between the wheels in the photo in comparison with the Avanti to see that it isn't a large bike.

[Andy01]

Forget the Merida. It is only a 52cm frame which would suit someone of about 170 cm tall.

Is that correct ? I had thought (perhaps incorrectly) that the frame size was based on the seat tube length, so 52cm = around 20-21", which in most bikes is probably a Large (maybe Medium - depends on the make/style - I am looking at a Giant Roam hybrid currently where the Large is 50cm) frame, and Large frames are generally suited to people around 178-188cm tall.

It is a S/M in Merida's size.
https://www.merida-bikes.com/en-au/bike ... PEEDER+200

You can look at the distance between the wheels in the photo in comparison with the Avanti to see that it isn't a large bike.

Fair enough. I didn't look up Merida. I am trying to find a Giant Roam 1 (flatbar hybrid) in Small, and according to the geometry, a Roam 1 Large is a 50cm frame (the XL is 55cm, which is a M/L in the Merida);

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/au/roam-1-disc

So, obviously large variations between manufacturers. Probably has something to do with the Merida probably being more "road" derived, and the Roam perhaps being more MTB derived ?

[baabaa]

So, obviously large variations between manufacturers.

Suggest you look at the top tube length ( and even better an ETT the E for estimated) and you may get a better understanding of sizes,
the old school stand over height will also help, as frames vary so much in seat and head tube lengths in combo with the rim and tyre sizes.
Get your ETT right and you can make any bike fit later.

[Andy01]

So, obviously large variations between manufacturers.

Suggest you look at the top tube length ( and even better an ETT the E for estimated) and you may get a better understanding of sizes,
the old school stand over height will also help, as frames vary so much in seat and head tube lengths in combo with the rim and tyre sizes.
Get your ETT right and you can make any bike fit later.

Being 165cm with quite short legs THE most important measurement for me is the standover - to avoid obvious damage when I drop off the saddle at a stop

In Merida Crossway 500 for example, the shop measured me up and recommended a Medium frame. I tried one and couldn't get both feet flat on the ground while straddling the top tube. The ETT of that bike was only 10mm larger (580mm vs 570mm) than my 2018 Norco Storm 3 Small (badly damaged in a head-on with a Ford Territory recently), but the standover of the Merida Medium is about 50mm higher than my Small Norco. I also tried a Medium Giant Roam 4 and I can stand flat, but a little uncomfortably - it's ETT is 10mm larger than the Merida at 590mm but the standover is 30mm lower, so not a great fit, but better than the Merida. A Small is the right size for me.

[bychosis]

Being 165cm with quite short legs THE most important measurement for me is the standover - to avoid obvious damage when I drop off the saddle at a stop

Be careful you don’t end up with a cramped cockpit. Getting a lower standover for short legs might mean a shorter too tube and you competitively longer torso mightn’t have enough room.

Other thing is that when you stop both feet flat isn’t necessary. Keep your right foot on the pedal, put your left foot on the ground and lean the bike over as required.

Having great standover is more important on a mountain bike than it is in a road bike.

[Andy01]

Being 165cm with quite short legs THE most important measurement for me is the standover - to avoid obvious damage when I drop off the saddle at a stop

Be careful you don’t end up with a cramped cockpit. Getting a lower standover for short legs might mean a shorter too tube and you competitively longer torso mightn’t have enough room.

Other thing is that when you stop both feet flat isn’t necessary. Keep your right foot on the pedal, put your left foot on the ground and lean the bike over as required.

Having great standover is more important on a mountain bike than it is in a road bike.

Thanks. I will bear that in mind. It is a MTB or (probably) a Giant Roam 1 which has a MTB looking frame with geometry not too different from my Norco MTB.

There is no way I can stay on the saddle and reach the ground at all, even with one foot. I need to dismount to reach the floor at all, and usually I drop both feet off the pedals.