The Bicycles thread

Ho0ligaN · 24th May 2010, 12:53

Is buying a bike for 30km (each way) commute to work with a backpack (laptop/books/lunch) a good idea?

More importantly, how long should it take each way even in peak traffic?

And, how is biking to office a healthy proposition? Sitting in exhaust fumes for so long will single handedly wipe out all the other pros it may have to offer?

phamilyman · 24th May 2010, 15:44

30km on bicycle is no easy task. I suggest you check with Murali on this issue. Regarding the smoke etc - you speak with the BLR BikesZone boys on this! but its deifnitely an issue.

Personally, I've never commuted but while going from point A to B, because you never stop on the cycle, the smoke doesn't get to you as it can, while in a jam! Because you can just lift n walk!

zenx · 24th May 2010, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by zaks

I have seen some very nice looking Btwin models of mountain, city and the hybrids in Decathlon ranging from 9k-25k. Anybody who owns this who would like to give some feedback?

The 5.2 is a pretty good bike, if you're looking for an MTB. Ask Sharath/Sriram to help you out with bike-fit etc when there.

theexperthand · 24th May 2010, 16:05

My first cycle was a Hero half-cycle, and later graduate dto Atlas full cycle and then to Hero Jet, during my 10th std. I was some how, more drawn todays the big green cycles than the sleek looking new cycles, so while my brother got a Hercules top gear with 5 gears, i was happy riding my Hero Jet.

Last year, I had the itch to get on a cycle again, and settled on a Firefox Fusion. it cost me around 8K, IIRC, and it is light weight and fun to pedel.

I do come to office on cycle once in a while, but mostly, I use it in the evenings. the most I have done on a single day is about 30 km, and the max speed I have done is 55km/h.

Rasputin · 24th May 2010, 17:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by zaks

I have seen some very nice looking Btwin models of mountain, city and the hybrids in Decathlon ranging from 9k-25k. Anybody who owns this who would like to give some feedback?

Btwin has a wide range, starting from 10k(for basic 5.x Bikes) to about 50k ( for Btwin rockrider 8).
I have been riding a Rockrider 6.3 for the last few Months. It comes with SRAM 27 speeder, Shock absorbers in Front & Back with Twin disc brakes. Paid around 25k for the Bike.

Btwin is Brand owned By Decathelon, thereby making it easier for servicing it you live in a place like Bangalore.

Finject · 24th May 2010, 17:05

Am looking for a bicycle to commute a distance of about 4-5 Km. a day and about 10-12 Km. on occasion. Trouble is, my budget is about 3-4K and I want a sturdy, good looking bike.
If possible, do specify if the bike will be available in Ahmedabad, as that is where I will be going to study, and it will make things a lot easier if I don't have to tug it along from Bombay.
Too bad Mahindra doesn't make bicycles. I'm missing my xylo already

TIA

zenx · 24th May 2010, 17:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finject

Am looking for a bicycle to commute a distance of about 4-5 Km. a day and about 10-12 Km. on occasion. Trouble is, my budget is about 3-4K and I want a sturdy, good looking bike.
If possible, do specify if the bike will be available in Ahmedabad, as that is where I will be going to study, and it will make things a lot easier if I don't have to tug it along from Bombay.
Too bad Mahindra doesn't make bicycles. I'm missing my xylo already

TIA

If you up that to about 8k, the Hercules ACT Ryder 105 is decent. Else you may be able to pick up a Fomas/Lumala - may need a trifle more DIY work but decent options.

Alternatively, a Mach roadbike (also available with straight handlebars) will be around 4.5k for the geared version - should do fine for the kind of distances you mention.

zenx · 24th May 2010, 17:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ho0ligaN

Is buying a bike for 30km (each way) commute to work with a backpack (laptop/books/lunch) a good idea?

More importantly, how long should it take each way even in peak traffic?

And, how is biking to office a healthy proposition? Sitting in exhaust fumes for so long will single handedly wipe out all the other pros it may have to offer?

30kms each way is bit much, tho some do it! A nice way to do it may be to ride one way, take the bus, take the bus again, and ride back.

How long ? Usually similar to your quicker motorbike trips, sometimes faster, if there's city traffic. By and large, should be about 30-50% quicker than in a car. Arterial roads, highways are obviously different, tho one light and you're even.

Fumes : you rarely travel with traffic - you're either ahead of, or behind them, mostly. Plus you get much fitter much more quickly, and pollution just matters lesser. In any case, the ambient air quality inside a car has been proven to be worse than in the surrounding traffic.

prabuddhadg · 24th May 2010, 17:43

Riding 30 km to office may not be a great idea in the Summer. The rest of the time, this is not too great a distance, and if the traffic is similar to the bumper to bumper traffic that we have in our metros, you will save time riding your bicycle. My 12 km commute to office by car takes me 45 min to 1 hour (more on the really bad days). On a bicycle, this route takes just over 35 minutes. Though, I don't ride to office because of parking space for my bicycle. The car can be left on the street, not the bicycle.

Driving an air conditioned car does keep you protected from the raw fumes. A motorcycle is much the same as a bicycle, but then you are just sitting there, not working out as on a bicycle. While it is debatable, I believe cycling will still benefit you.

Still, I should add here that I ride a bicycle almost entirely for recreation and exercise and not to commute.

McLaren Rulez · 24th May 2010, 20:21

Cycling for 30km is fine but not to work since you're almost certain to be sweaty and tired when you get there. Plus, make other arrangements for rainy days too. I cycle about 20km everyday but its purely recreational and I just go in one big circle through roads that are more or less empty.

kippu · 24th May 2010, 20:51

I am going to buy a bsa mach 1 with straight handle bars, anything to keep in mind while taking it from the shop?
any other alternatives in that price range?

anku94 · 24th May 2010, 20:59

Wow. Never knew a bicycles thread existed here. I'm planning to mod my bicycle too. It's nothing fancy, just a plain old Razorback. I'm planning on a custom paint job, adding disk brakes, and changing all the functional parts. And a few more performance mods, if that's an option. Plan to be executed by the mid of 2011.

DSC.CUSTOMS · 24th May 2010, 22:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edsel Rulez!

Wow. Pics, price and short review please!

Hi ,
It cost me around 20k . I shall add the pics and the review soon when i am done with exams . Its a pretty good 'everyday' bicycle .

prince_pervez · 31st May 2010, 07:47

Some Bikes I saw in a store here. One of them is a 7K$. The last one, the grey one, comes with a tag of 6K$ change.

SRK · 6th June 2010, 20:00

Hi Friends,
I too plan to join the Bicycle gang.
Earlier had a Hero Devil in Red Lazer paint. That was about 6 years ago. It was stolen from my building and then didn't get the chance to buy one.

Now I plan to get a new one for me and need your suggestions for it.
My budget is around Rs. 8000/-
What good bikes are available in this price range.

I had a look at Hero cycles website and found the Octane Recra and Spear models very attractive. What would be their costs?
Thanks in advance.

24th May 2010, 12:53	#481
Ho0ligaN BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 38 Thanked: Once	Is buying a bike for 30km (each way) commute to work with a backpack (laptop/books/lunch) a good idea? More importantly, how long should it take each way even in peak traffic? And, how is biking to office a healthy proposition? Sitting in exhaust fumes for so long will single handedly wipe out all the other pros it may have to offer? Last edited by Ho0ligaN : 24th May 2010 at 12:55.
	() Thanks

24th May 2010, 15:44	#482
phamilyman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 5,968 Thanked: 4,641 Times	30km on bicycle is no easy task. I suggest you check with Murali on this issue. Regarding the smoke etc - you speak with the BLR BikesZone boys on this! but its deifnitely an issue. Personally, I've never commuted but while going from point A to B, because you never stop on the cycle, the smoke doesn't get to you as it can, while in a jam! Because you can just lift n walk!
	() Thanks

24th May 2010, 16:05	#484
theexperthand Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,633 Thanked: 2,448 Times View My Garage	My first cycle was a Hero half-cycle, and later graduate dto Atlas full cycle and then to Hero Jet, during my 10th std. I was some how, more drawn todays the big green cycles than the sleek looking new cycles, so while my brother got a Hercules top gear with 5 gears, i was happy riding my Hero Jet. Last year, I had the itch to get on a cycle again, and settled on a Firefox Fusion. it cost me around 8K, IIRC, and it is light weight and fun to pedel. I do come to office on cycle once in a while, but mostly, I use it in the evenings. the most I have done on a single day is about 30 km, and the max speed I have done is 55km/h.
	() Thanks

24th May 2010, 17:05	#486
Finject BHPian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 99 Thanked: Once	Am looking for a bicycle to commute a distance of about 4-5 Km. a day and about 10-12 Km. on occasion. Trouble is, my budget is about 3-4K and I want a sturdy, good looking bike. If possible, do specify if the bike will be available in Ahmedabad, as that is where I will be going to study, and it will make things a lot easier if I don't have to tug it along from Bombay. Too bad Mahindra doesn't make bicycles. I'm missing my xylo already TIA
	() Thanks

24th May 2010, 17:43	#489
prabuddhadg BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 812 Thanked: 81 Times View My Garage	Riding 30 km to office may not be a great idea in the Summer. The rest of the time, this is not too great a distance, and if the traffic is similar to the bumper to bumper traffic that we have in our metros, you will save time riding your bicycle. My 12 km commute to office by car takes me 45 min to 1 hour (more on the really bad days). On a bicycle, this route takes just over 35 minutes. Though, I don't ride to office because of parking space for my bicycle. The car can be left on the street, not the bicycle. Driving an air conditioned car does keep you protected from the raw fumes. A motorcycle is much the same as a bicycle, but then you are just sitting there, not working out as on a bicycle. While it is debatable, I believe cycling will still benefit you. Still, I should add here that I ride a bicycle almost entirely for recreation and exercise and not to commute.
	() Thanks

24th May 2010, 20:21	#490
McLaren Rulez Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Mysore Posts: 3,387 Thanked: 5,099 Times	Cycling for 30km is fine but not to work since you're almost certain to be sweaty and tired when you get there. Plus, make other arrangements for rainy days too. I cycle about 20km everyday but its purely recreational and I just go in one big circle through roads that are more or less empty.
	() Thanks

24th May 2010, 20:51	#491
kippu BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cyberabad / hyderabad Posts: 146 Thanked: 58 Times	I am going to buy a bsa mach 1 with straight handle bars, anything to keep in mind while taking it from the shop? any other alternatives in that price range?
	() Thanks

24th May 2010, 20:59	#492
anku94 BHPian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 249 Thanked: 351 Times	Wow. Never knew a bicycles thread existed here. I'm planning to mod my bicycle too. It's nothing fancy, just a plain old Razorback. I'm planning on a custom paint job, adding disk brakes, and changing all the functional parts. And a few more performance mods, if that's an option. Plan to be executed by the mid of 2011.
	() Thanks

31st May 2010, 07:47	#494
prince_pervez Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Redwood shores, CA, USA Posts: 4,210 Thanked: 51 Times View My Garage	Some Bikes I saw in a store here. One of them is a 7K$. The last one, the grey one, comes with a tag of 6K$ change. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

6th June 2010, 20:00	#495
SRK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,201 Thanked: 524 Times	Hi Friends, I too plan to join the Bicycle gang. Earlier had a Hero Devil in Red Lazer paint. That was about 6 years ago. It was stolen from my building and then didn't get the chance to buy one. Now I plan to get a new one for me and need your suggestions for it. My budget is around Rs. 8000/- What good bikes are available in this price range. I had a look at Hero cycles website and found the Octane Recra and Spear models very attractive. What would be their costs? Thanks in advance.
	() Thanks