Aug 22 2012, 12:56 AM
QUOTE(luckyboy84 @ Aug 20 2012, 08:03 PM)
hi there,
reputable brand names like Giant, Specialized, Kona, Scott, Cannondale, Trek etc may buy you quality assurance, better frame finish (paint, joint, cable seaters), better warranty, technical support, spare parts availability, wider share of user experiences (wider user base) and better resale value of the frame.
the price differences against generic brands like xds, exitway etc may vary based on the model and company, so it's best to seek advice from a local bike shop (lbs). there's nothing wrong trying out these generic ones as they might offer better components for the same price or lower. do not underestimate them, try them out if you have the chance as you may find very neligible difference with more expensive options.
important things to consider:
sizing - bike frames come in different size denominations, small, med, large, or their equivalence in numbers like 15, 16, 17.5, 19 21 i cant remember which specific length it refers to. the size you need is normally determined by your overall height. another important thing is the length of your legs. sizing's important as it will make the most difference between a happy comfortable ride or a frustrating and regrettable purchase. you may read articles online for "frame size" and seek help from your local bike shop (lbs) for the correct size.
weight, performance, componentry - . there are two major gear and brake component makers, Shimano (japan) and SRAM(usa). both have come a very long way, so you wont go wrong with either. both companies have segmented their products into groupset levels, based on largely on the weight, intended use (riding level and style, but dont worry for now) and definitely PRICE. for shimano you will hear names like altus, alivio, deore, slx, deore xt and xtr; SRAM - x5, x7, x9, xo and xx (entry level to highest end in that order).RM3000 can buy you some entry to mid level componentry bike, so you will be looking at the range of deore and partly slx (i have no experience with SRAM) with 3 (front) and 10 (rear) gears for a total of 30. you will usually find mixed intergroup components, or even between companies. eg the brakes could be a Deore but the rear derailleur from SLX. they are perfectly fine as long as they are compatible (in terms of gear numbers and company. many beginners make mistake here as they usually make their buying decision based on the gears alone, especially the rear derailleur and the crank by judging them to be the most prominent parts of the bike. deore and slx or even alivio are VERY OK for beginners. you might not be able to feel the difference at all when starting.
pay MORE attention to the wheels and tires as they make huge difference in the ride quality . Often, stock bikes offer better quality gear parts than a pair of good wheels (light and stiffer) as they are often perceived with higher overall value or quality of the bike. lighter wheels are always desirable especially when riding uphill. stock wheels usually weigh above 2 kg a pair while decent ones may go 1800 g or lower.
Tyres, though vary and affect your ride a lot, it's ok for you to ride stocks until later.anything frm size (width) 1.9 to 2.1 inches is ok for you for normal rides. make sure your tires are well inflated all the time and seek advice for the correct tire pressures for on the road and off road riding.
pedals - mainly two types - flat pedals and clipless (shoes and pedal retaining system for smoother and better transfer of your leg power). you may wanna start with flat pedals as they are safer, easier to pedal and compatible with a rider range of shoes especially when you're not ready to spend of specific clipless shoes. running shoes are not recommended as they have softer soles and you waste more energy when pedalling.
saddle, handle bars, handle bar grips, stem; make sure they are comfortable, reachable by your body height and size.learn or get help from your lbs on how to adjust them. it's a good time to learn the jargons and standards right frm the beginning like the brands, sizes (eg handlebar width, clamp size 25.4 or 31.8) and fitting as they would help you when replacing or upgrading later.
for the suspension system, you may get better answers from more experienced fellow riders here.
as mentioned, you will have to consider certain must-have like a bike helmet, gloves, shoes, lights, pocketable tools, tire and suspension pump. as you go along you might find the need for for a car bike carrier, bike stand, hydration systems either a bottle cage and bottle combination or a reservour type hydration bags (camelbak, hydrapack etc). common sense prevails here, so go with the right size, comfort, right budget and when the real need for the extras comes. do ask for these extras from the lbs as they might offer you better deal or even for free with your bike purchase.
read bike magazines and bike specific online sites and forums mentioned in page 1, you will learn a lot faster from the names and parts often mentioned in the featured bikes, especially the quality, performance and price (currency conversion are quite accurate here, eg for an item priced US dollar 500, you would expect the price to be around rm1500).
most lbs will offer good advice based on your needs and ability but if you're still skeptical and wanna make specific comparisons based on components alone, just ask for a component lists frm the salesperson or balik rumah, search and print urself and do your part again. well again and again, lbs reputation and service, warranty, right size, right comfort, right needs, right adjustments are the most important. update your experience of buying with us!
reputable brand names like Giant, Specialized, Kona, Scott, Cannondale, Trek etc may buy you quality assurance, better frame finish (paint, joint, cable seaters), better warranty, technical support, spare parts availability, wider share of user experiences (wider user base) and better resale value of the frame.
the price differences against generic brands like xds, exitway etc may vary based on the model and company, so it's best to seek advice from a local bike shop (lbs). there's nothing wrong trying out these generic ones as they might offer better components for the same price or lower. do not underestimate them, try them out if you have the chance as you may find very neligible difference with more expensive options.
important things to consider:
sizing - bike frames come in different size denominations, small, med, large, or their equivalence in numbers like 15, 16, 17.5, 19 21 i cant remember which specific length it refers to. the size you need is normally determined by your overall height. another important thing is the length of your legs. sizing's important as it will make the most difference between a happy comfortable ride or a frustrating and regrettable purchase. you may read articles online for "frame size" and seek help from your local bike shop (lbs) for the correct size.
weight, performance, componentry - . there are two major gear and brake component makers, Shimano (japan) and SRAM(usa). both have come a very long way, so you wont go wrong with either. both companies have segmented their products into groupset levels, based on largely on the weight, intended use (riding level and style, but dont worry for now) and definitely PRICE. for shimano you will hear names like altus, alivio, deore, slx, deore xt and xtr; SRAM - x5, x7, x9, xo and xx (entry level to highest end in that order).RM3000 can buy you some entry to mid level componentry bike, so you will be looking at the range of deore and partly slx (i have no experience with SRAM) with 3 (front) and 10 (rear) gears for a total of 30. you will usually find mixed intergroup components, or even between companies. eg the brakes could be a Deore but the rear derailleur from SLX. they are perfectly fine as long as they are compatible (in terms of gear numbers and company. many beginners make mistake here as they usually make their buying decision based on the gears alone, especially the rear derailleur and the crank by judging them to be the most prominent parts of the bike. deore and slx or even alivio are VERY OK for beginners. you might not be able to feel the difference at all when starting.
pay MORE attention to the wheels and tires as they make huge difference in the ride quality . Often, stock bikes offer better quality gear parts than a pair of good wheels (light and stiffer) as they are often perceived with higher overall value or quality of the bike. lighter wheels are always desirable especially when riding uphill. stock wheels usually weigh above 2 kg a pair while decent ones may go 1800 g or lower.
Tyres, though vary and affect your ride a lot, it's ok for you to ride stocks until later.anything frm size (width) 1.9 to 2.1 inches is ok for you for normal rides. make sure your tires are well inflated all the time and seek advice for the correct tire pressures for on the road and off road riding.
pedals - mainly two types - flat pedals and clipless (shoes and pedal retaining system for smoother and better transfer of your leg power). you may wanna start with flat pedals as they are safer, easier to pedal and compatible with a rider range of shoes especially when you're not ready to spend of specific clipless shoes. running shoes are not recommended as they have softer soles and you waste more energy when pedalling.
saddle, handle bars, handle bar grips, stem; make sure they are comfortable, reachable by your body height and size.learn or get help from your lbs on how to adjust them. it's a good time to learn the jargons and standards right frm the beginning like the brands, sizes (eg handlebar width, clamp size 25.4 or 31.8) and fitting as they would help you when replacing or upgrading later.
for the suspension system, you may get better answers from more experienced fellow riders here.
as mentioned, you will have to consider certain must-have like a bike helmet, gloves, shoes, lights, pocketable tools, tire and suspension pump. as you go along you might find the need for for a car bike carrier, bike stand, hydration systems either a bottle cage and bottle combination or a reservour type hydration bags (camelbak, hydrapack etc). common sense prevails here, so go with the right size, comfort, right budget and when the real need for the extras comes. do ask for these extras from the lbs as they might offer you better deal or even for free with your bike purchase.
read bike magazines and bike specific online sites and forums mentioned in page 1, you will learn a lot faster from the names and parts often mentioned in the featured bikes, especially the quality, performance and price (currency conversion are quite accurate here, eg for an item priced US dollar 500, you would expect the price to be around rm1500).
most lbs will offer good advice based on your needs and ability but if you're still skeptical and wanna make specific comparisons based on components alone, just ask for a component lists frm the salesperson or balik rumah, search and print urself and do your part again. well again and again, lbs reputation and service, warranty, right size, right comfort, right needs, right adjustments are the most important. update your experience of buying with us!
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