Advice about Push Bike for Myself

• 

  barge-in hunter on 01/03/2023 - 21:47

  +1

  The unfortunate truth is $500 won’t get you anything much of passable quality in a new bike - which puts you in the second hand market, or tweaking this one.

  I would recommend keeping this one (as it seems reasonable, from what I can see?) and getting the shop to spend a couple of hours sorting it out for you.

  • 

    AustriaBargain on 02/03/2023 - 01:09

    Are there Chinese brands of bikes out there? Surely in China $500 gets you a decent bike.

    • 

      rumblytangara on 03/03/2023 - 16:06

      Unfortunately not. $500 in China gets doesn't get you anything good. All semi-decent parts will still be the major Japanese/Western brands, and will cost the same if not more over there.

      You can get some cheap carbon stuff (frames, bars, even rims), but the effort involved in identifying, sourcing and installing from all over the place will 1) not be worth it and 2) not be doable for $500. Certainly not for anything I'd care to trust my wellbeing to.

      (I used to live there, and have sourced a lot of bike stuff over the years)

      • 

        Euphemistic on 03/03/2023 - 19:14

        $500 might get you a basic but reliable bike from the likes of anaconda or 99 bikes etc. The big chains that have their own house brands. They’ll be near as good as a bike shop brand worth $6-700.

        The ‘Chinese’ bikes are pretty much $100 bikes for Kmart or specifically made for house brands.

• 

  altomic on 01/03/2023 - 22:35

  that schwinn is a piece of shit. put it out on your nature strip with a badly written sign saying "FREE"

  just get on gumtree or facebook marketplace and find a flat bar bike

  this is a fine bike for your needs at $280

  or this apollo for $200

  or this trek for $180

  you're not doing the Tour De France, you are looking for a comfortable bike . get a reasonable inexpensive second hand bike and, if you find yourself really enjoying riding and are doing it super regularly, then treat yourself to something better in the future.

  • 

    AdosHouse on 01/03/2023 - 23:14

    The frame and saddle is about all that is left from the original Schwinn bike, is the frame that bad? Like is it poorly constructed and likely to break?

    That Trek bike looks good.

    • 

      altomic on 02/03/2023 - 00:30

      putting a flat bar on the schwinn means that you will still have the "road bike" positioning i.e. you will be leaning forwards considerably.

      if you're wanting something for general exercise and walking the dog then a bike where your not hunched over would be better.

      where abouts in Bris are you located?

      • 

        AdosHouse on 02/03/2023 - 00:31

        Northside, up Redcliffe way.

        • 

          altomic on 02/03/2023 - 00:37

          +6

          @AdosHouse: sweet , I'm in redcliffe too

          I have a Giant flat bar bike that you can have.

          it just needs brake cables (i.e. it doesn't have any brake cables) . you could probably transplant the ones off the schwinn.

          has a little rust on the chrome bits which would come off, but from memory it is a solid bike.

          in the morning I'll put some air in the tyres and take some pics and message you about it.

          if you like it then it's yours.

          • 

            AdosHouse on 02/03/2023 - 00:55

            @altomic: Yeah that'd be great.

            I have a set of Shimano road brake cables next to me, you think that will work?

            • 

              altomic on 02/03/2023 - 01:11

              @AdosHouse: possibly

• 

  tebbybabes on 02/03/2023 - 04:16

  Just sharing that I picked up a beautifully riding Chro-Moly Shogun trailbreaker for just $20 a few weeks ago. Obviously, it needs a bit of work and it's paint and frame look like it'll be safe from random vandalism or theft from the train station - but the main thing is, it rides like a dream. Steel is real.

  There are gems out there.

• 

  Euphemistic on 02/03/2023 - 08:51

  If the offer above doesn’t pan out, $500 is the minimum you should budget for a new bike. It won’t be great, but if you can find one of the ‘home brand’ bike shop bikes at this price it should be OK, especially for a flat bar roadie without suspension.

  It’s not worth upgrading the Schwinn to flat bars. Maybe keep it for if you decide you want a faster bike.

  Other than that $400 for a used bike with an original RRP of closer to $1k is a good target and will allow $100 in the unlikely need of some service items. You can get cheaper second hand bikes, but the $300-500 mark it usually good for lightly used, quality, flat bar roadies.

  Fortunately bikes are fairly simple and unless you’re looking at specialist road race bikes, really cheap bikes or higher spec mountain bikes the parts are largely interchangeable. They are pretty easy to service with a little elbow grease, mechanical aptitude and YouTube clips.

• 

  shaybisc on 02/03/2023 - 11:39

  What kind of dog?

  "Which handlebars are best for your bike commute? Rating handlebars for commuting and urban cycling"

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNNm0OTTjGU

  • 

    AdosHouse on 02/03/2023 - 12:43

    Bull mastiff cross. A big idiot. He's lucky I like him…..sometimes.

    I have a under saddle attachment for attaching dog. It puts there wight underneath your centre of gravity so that if they pull it doesn't pull you over.

    • 

      Euphemistic on 02/03/2023 - 13:49

      Missed the bit about the dog. Bicycles are very efficient you won’t get a lot of exercise if you are riding, even at dog running mg speed. Maybe you’d be better to walk/jog (Please don’t take that the wrong way)

• 

  1st-Amendment on 09/03/2023 - 14:02

  If you're not doing serious pedaling I'd look at some sort of cruiser. I never even considered them until one day I was at my Mum's place and jumped on her step-through cruiser with big fat squishy seat and long handle bars. It was a really fun bike to ride on. It won't go fast and it sucks up hills, but it was very comfortable to ride on the flat. I'm even considering getting an electric version so I can get up the hills where I live, Although you'll pay a lot more for electric: https://www.99bikes.com.au/velectrix23-cruiser-step-through-…