If it's for general commuting around town then go for a hybrid or flat bar road bike. More comfy than a racer and a bit easier to ride (tyres aren't as skinny).

You can probably get a bottom end new hybrid for $500.

I'm biased, but for $500 you can get a pretty good new or second hand single speed bike these days. Fuji and SE make good cheap new single speed road bikes. For restored ones check ebay.

Single Speed is probably great if you are planning to ride around the flatter parts of Melbourne (eg Northern/Western suburbs). If you're like me and riding more around the eastern suburbs I reckon you'd want to be pretty fit before you try a single speed.

as for the question about which bike shop to go to... go to the one that you feel comfortable with when you walk in the door. we have a heap of bike shops in newie, and i went to a couple of them when i was looking around for my new road bike. but as soon as i dealt with the guys from two wheel industries, i knew that i would buy my bike from them. they were really happy to chat, listened to what i needed/wanted in a bike, and gave me a pile of practical solutions. they also spent time fitting me out and all in all i just felt really comfortable with them. chances are you will find some people you want to shop with as well, and that level of trust in your bike dealer is great - especially because if you really get into cycling, you will probably get to know the guys are your local bike shop pretty well.

I'm somewhat enamoured with this bike at the moment:

Check out the awesome push rod brake system!

drool

The Classic Bicycle Shop
121 Grey St, St Kilda , Victoria , 3182

Ph: (03) 9593 6622

what do you guys think about buying an 80's drop bar road bike and fitting it out with flat bars for a general commuter bike? it's going to spend a bit of time at uni while I'm studying so don't want anything too flashy so it doesn't get nicked. any recommendations?

Good idea, autumnleaves. I'm all for it!

townies 4 lyfe!

autumnleaves, yep I'd go with the '80's drop bar road bike and fitting it out with flat bars'.

FrankieTeardrop, beware those vintage bikes, those 26'' wheels are a nightmare to repair. They don't even use presta or schrader valves on the tires, so you'll have to get the tire pump they supply. But I suppose if you're not living in a hilly environment and you're doing less than 50km a day it should be fine. I just wouldn't fork out a whole lot of money on it. Plus they're heavy! But pretty!

Did you get your stolen townie back, nishiki?

cheers guys :) any recommendations for places to pick up decent second hand road bikes?

Good point Ed. It's hard enough negotiating the terrain between 27'' and 700x23c wheels and tubes. If you buy a new bike, make sure you can get it repaired easily!

Or you could just get one for less than 500 dollars woo!:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Vintage-Raleigh-Mens-Bike-Malvern-Star-Road-Bike_W0QQitemZ330311613962QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes?hash=item330311613962&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318

THAT is pretty damn cool. The Brooks saddle clinches it.

franks - no :((((((((((( but i put another bike of the same model on lay-by, so i should have that one in a few weeks.

you're all yuppies, go to Series and get one for like $50.

what or where or even who is Series, Zac?

it's this shop in brunswick way, near the end of the 96 tram. they use old bike parts and make up new ones for real cheap.

or if you want something badass, shifter bikes

he means ceres bikes.

ma bad- i wasn't sure of it's spelling.

You can call CERES office any weekday on 9387 2609 (9am to 4.30pm)

Also, can anyone who transitioned from an upright riding position to hunchy, road bike position lemme know how they found it? Did it take you long to adjust and feel comfortable?

sonian said 10 minutes ago:

''Frame size is: Seat tube and top bar both 56 cm Centre to Centre.''

Does this make sense to anyone? Really not understanding the centre to centre part.

Centre to Centre means the measurement is taken from the middle of the headtube to the middle of the seat tube (for the top tube) and centre of the bottom bracket to the centre of the top tube at the seat tube (for the seat tube).

It's kind of hard to explain...

Imagine there is no stem or seat post in the bike, so there is two holes (head tube and seat tube). The measurement is taken from the middle of the head tube hole, along the top tube to the middle of the seat tube hole.

Make sense? Just google ''center to center measurement bike''

sonian said 4 minutes ago:

Also, can anyone who transitioned from an upright riding position to hunchy, road bike position lemme know how they found it? Did it take you long to adjust and feel comfortable?

If you are riding on the hoods of the brakes on drop bars, you aren't that low. I swap between bikes with all different handlebars all the time and it's not bad at all.

Unless you ride a beach cruiser now.

Oh great, thanks Velodrome. Looks like the frame size will be pretty close to perfect...

I just saved 42% on a brooks seat. Boom.

How common is seat stealing? I'm concerned about this, perhaps needlessly.

If you're that worried, glue a small ball bearing in the allen key head of the seat clamp with super glue. Only way to get it out is using acetone, etc.

It's not fail safe, but it's a deterrent.

my saddle is probably the most expensive thing i own, but in 5 years nobody's tried to pinch it.

thanks - you've put my mind at ease.

my bike is a heap of shit, but my boyfriend has been doing a lot of work to it. the seat is definitely the most expensive component yet.

I need a new bike I think.

I need a workhorse I can ride daily to work and stuff...

I also wanna do some bigger rides.. 100km per day rail trails, etc..

I want something not to fancy but good... perhaps a flat bar road bike??

recommendations?

Go to Mottainai behind Rose St market

they seem to be all about the second hand... ?

For longer rides you'll probably benefit from the multiple hand positions of drop bars. But yeah, some kind of road bike. The biggest challenge for you with vintage/secondhand is probably finding something to fit you properly, because you're really tall and have a generous cucumber between your legs.

This would be an excellent bike for your needs but it is probably surplus to your budget.

because you're really tall and have a generous cucumber between your legs.
because you're really tall and have a generous cucumber between your legs.

Have a look on melbournebicyclecentre.com or 37 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill

You could always get one of these to strap it to, I guess.

changed my mind. initially I was quoted $300 to get my bike fixed... the bloke at Samson Cycles (barkley st, brunswick) said he could do the job for $100. I'm picking it up in 30 mins

good stuff.

I've had my seat and suspension post stolen.

I want a bike trailer.

andydepressant said 34 minutes ago:
suspension post

LOL.

(sorry)

My brother-in-law is selling his black Allergro ONYA9.
He bought it less than a year a go at Human Powered for $900ish.
It has a 9 speed internal hub, front hand brake and the back pedalling brake.
550 and it is yours.

Someone's selling a Civia Bryant with a solid touring setup (four bags, two racks, a rebuilt back wheel and Schwalbe Marathon tyres) for $800 on Gumtree. Looks like a pretty good deal and would also make for a pretty great commuter, I'd think!