duckling wrote: ↑Sun Jan 23, 2022 9:48 pm
Thanks for you help everyone! I’m a lady, and the Haro bike I tried actually had a step-through frame but I couldn’t find that version on the website - sorry for the confusion!
Andy, I couldn’t find any Liv Rove 2s in Melbourne but there are some 3s and 4s. Not sure if these would be suitable?
They also have some Liv Alight 2s which seem quite similar? I can’t really tell the difference other than they don’t have a suspension fork - I’m not 100% sure if that’s a good or bad thing though!
https://ivanhoecycles.com.au/products/l ... eucalyptus
Mozzie, I’m over in the Dandenong Ranges so would probably ride around in Lysterfield most often (not the Commonwealth Games tracks though, just the easier trails) - especially in summer since I’ll be able to have a swim afterwards
And in cooler weather, maybe the random fire trails through the forest and the bike paths along the creeks and railway line.
The main difference between the Rove 2 and Rove 3 appears to be the gearing (2x9 vs 2x8). The 9 speed obviously has smaller "gaps" between gears so easier to find a "comfortable" gear. I suspect though that as a "new" cyclist who doesn't know any better you would just adapt to whatever you have and work with it. I would rather get a 2x8 than a 3x7 I think - unless you will have some serious hills as the 3x7 goes a bit lower than the 2x8.
The Alight 2 appears to be very similar in spec to the Rove 3 - rigid forks and skinnier tyres, so the ride will be less compliant - this may not matter to you but if you are riding on light off-road trails or (gravel) rail trails, the larger tyres and slight suspension may make things a bit smoother. I would imagine that the Alight might be 1-1.5kg lighter though ? Strangely enough the Alight 2 seems to be $50 dearer than the Rove 3 in spite of have essentially the same gearing and brakes, but non-suspension forks (usually cheaper) and slimmer tyres ?
The Alight 1 would probably be a better bike with 2x9 gearing and composite fork, but quite a bit dearer, so perhaps not the best value.
You could also look at a Liv Tempt 2 - a MTB rather than hybrid, but has 2x9 gears, longer travel suspension and larger tyres - for the same price as the Alight 2. The downside might be that it would be slower on the road due to lower gearing - you would be pedaling pretty hard to get over 40km/h, which may not matter to you ? May not be any stock though ? Also look at Tempt 3 or 4 perhaps.
https://www.liv-cycling.com/au/bikes-tempt-2022
My wife has a Liv Bliss 2 2019 model (back then there was more than 1 model in the range) which is only 3x7 and she has ridden over 3,000km (mostly on roads, footpaths and some light off-road tracks) on it, and it is still going strong. The longest ride we have done is 36km. I have had to spend a bit of time tweaking the shifting to get the gear changes nice and smooth, but other than that it rides well enough for her needs. The only thing I have replaced in that time is a chain. It is the cheapest option at about $600.
https://www.liv-cycling.com/au/bliss-2022
My suggestion would be to go back to the bike shop and look at these (and other bikes), sit on them, try them for size and fit, perhaps some short test rides, and see what feels best and which bikes you like the look of (colours etc). At this end of the spec range there probably isn't going to be a huge difference (especially to an inexperienced rider) so finding something in stock that looks and feels good is probably the most important thing.
If you start with a $600 Liv Bliss, Liv Tempt, Liv Rove or similar it should be plenty adequate for you to try some rides, gain some fitness, get a feel for riding again, and last you at least a couple of years. If by then you have the urge to get something better hopefully the current bike shortage situation will have normalised and you can pick something better without having to wait for months. If you decide that riding isn't working for you, you can sell the bike and only have "lost" a couple of hundred dollars.
