Jump to content

Flat bar road bikes

Featured Replies

Posted

I want a bike that is relatively light, and reasonably fast.

I have back problems, so a drop bar racer wont work for me.

I've virtually narrowed down my search to Scott Metrix 20 and Avanti Blade 4.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

  • 2 weeks later...
 

Hi Bingers,

I had a quick look at the specs of both bikes. One appears to have disk brakes, the other doesn't. I strongly recommend the one with disk brakes. They are far superior, especially in the wet.

The Shimano components on the Scott appear to be at the same level, or superior to the ones on the Avanti.

Therefore, the Scott would be the one I would choose, based on components. You should try to ride both, to see if both are comfortable. GIANT usually give great value for money, so it might be worth checking out what you can get for the same money in their range.

Good luck!

  On 18/09/2012 at 03:04, bingers said:

I want a bike that is relatively light, and reasonably fast.

I have back problems, so a drop bar racer wont work for me.

I've virtually narrowed down my search to Scott Metrix 20 and Avanti Blade 4.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

  On 18/09/2012 at 03:04, bingers said:

I want a bike that is relatively light, and reasonably fast.

I have back problems, so a drop bar racer wont work for me.

I've virtually narrowed down my search to Scott Metrix 20 and Avanti Blade 4.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Yes I do.

Please refrain from wearing lycra and stupid corporate logos.

Stay off Beach Rd and keep to the left.

Otherwise, Enjoy.

 

Ride both. Youll know. Decent shops can arrange a test. Bikes arent cheap...takem for a test. Get them set up right too.

  On 29/09/2012 at 10:49, Biffen said:

Yes I do.

Please refrain from wearing lycra and stupid corporate logos.

Stay off Beach Rd and keep to the left.

Otherwise, Enjoy.

Au contraire, I recommend that you wear lycra, with as many different colours as you date.

Head to Beach Road, there is safety in numbers.

Keep left - pretty sensible.

It is good to avoid busy roads, because some drivers seem to blame cyclists for the roads being busy, rather than all the other vehicular traffic in front of them!


Why the lycra? I have never understood this unless you are in a race of some sort. I wear the "gooch" protecting shorts underneath shorts or jeans but never EVERs on there own.

I have taken up riding (a Bauer commuter only) again recently and farken love it. The amount of times I actually arrive in advance or same time as cars/, trams etc is amazing.

Keep left but not too far left near parked cars, I was almost car doored today not for the 1st time.

Stand up and be tall when cars are stopped in traffic as cars turning across from the other side of the road can see you (again almost taken out 3 times recently).

Watch out for people walking across the road, they do not look for bike riders at all. Have almost taken out/been taken out numerous times.

Be careful riding directly next to a car as they tend to randomly swerve at unknown times without indicating at all.

  On 06/10/2012 at 11:01, Cards13 said:

Why the lycra? I have never understood this unless you are in a race of some sort. I wear the "gooch" protecting shorts underneath shorts or jeans but never EVERs on there own.

I have taken up riding (a Bauer commuter only) again recently and farken love it. The amount of times I actually arrive in advance or same time as cars/, trams etc is amazing.

Keep left but not too far left near parked cars, I was almost car doored today not for the 1st time.

Stand up and be tall when cars are stopped in traffic as cars turning across from the other side of the road can see you (again almost taken out 3 times recently).

Watch out for people walking across the road, they do not look for bike riders at all. Have almost taken out/been taken out numerous times.

Be careful riding directly next to a car as they tend to randomly swerve at unknown times without indicating at all.

Crikey's 'Cards' , that read like a 'Near death experience' . Think I'll stick to the exercise bike or designated bike route's around Melbourne . Not interested in being 'Taken out' in a hurry :)

I don't wear 'lycra' . I think the 'Authorities' would shoot me if that happened .

  • 3 months later...
  • Author

There is a sequel to my story. Not a happy one.

I bought an Avanti Blade 4. A lovely bike. Relatively light and fast.

Unfortunately on 28 November 2012 I came off the bike at relatively high speed. 7 broken ribs, 4 fractured vertebrae, broken shoulder + bruised lung. Oh, the bike is basically ok, but I haven't ridden it since. I'm still recovering.

Expressions of sympathy gratefully accepted.

 

Bloody hell. :(

Did a shoulder/collarbone way way back . It takes a while. Get better mate .

  bingers said:
There is a sequel to my story. Not a happy one.

I bought an Avanti Blade 4. A lovely bike. Relatively light and fast.

Unfortunately on 28 November 2012 I came off the bike at relatively high speed. 7 broken ribs, 4 fractured vertebrae, broken shoulder + bruised lung. Oh, the bike is basically ok, but I haven't ridden it since. I'm still recovering.

Expressions of sympathy gratefully accepted.

Shitballs! What the hell happened Bings? I know I ride too fast and put myself in silly situations and must pull my head in a fair bit especially after seeing that!


The roads are really dangerous for cyclists these days. Few motorists know sufficient laws to keep themselves and others safe in a car, let alone the regulations applicable to cyclists. Fewer still even care - might versus right. I was down towards Inverloch around new years and the number of cars that overtook cyclists on blind corners at 80+ k/h was distressing. Also, If you're travelling 'bush', how about looking at the tourist info first that says quite clearly that the 84th annual road race is on and plan accordingly. Beach road? What, you mean the cycling mecca that's been that way for almost a century?

Everyone needs to lift thier game. People on bikes are not good cyclists, just like people in cars are not good drivers. In the CBD from 4pm through to 7pm a surprisingly large number of people on bikes attempt to get home. Most have some form of lighting, although those that don't, in the middle of winter where everything is dark grey at 5pm, are in my opinion suicidal. Many also wear black on black with black trim. Also in my opinion suicidal. I was recently abused crossing Little Lonsdale. My fault was not looking right twice (the wrong way) for the cyclist wearing black, with no lights, speeding (road is 40 limitied) down a one way street. The moron came very close to cleaning me up and then abused and blamed me, Almost also got run down in Rathdowne by a pretty girl on a pretty bike that decided the pedestrian crossing with the little green man going didn't apply to her. Ran over my feet. 'After you' I said. She didn't say a word, just kept on going.

And so castles made of.. wait. Where was my rant?

Hope the backs holding up while all the other bits mend mate.

whilst driving from burwood to the city and return i noticed a lot of bikes

i then noticed that virtually no bikes (1 in about a 100 it seemed) had any rear vision mirrors

this amazed me. Is there not a regulation saying you must have rear vision mirrors

maybe i'm missing something

anyone care to explain this mystery?

  daisycutter said:
whilst driving from burwood to the city and return i noticed a lot of bikes

i then noticed that virtually no bikes (1 in about a 100 it seemed) had any rear vision mirrors

this amazed me. Is there not a regulation saying you must have rear vision mirrors

maybe i'm missing something

anyone care to explain this mystery?

No regulations to have them, no regs that i'm aware of at all for bikes even on lights, high vis/bright coloured clothing etc. I used to have a "low rider" with mirrors and it was a bit of help for sure thinking of getting one for the city bike. From my experience though most of the issues occur are in front of you and if something does happen from behind the bike rider is in troulbe even if they can see it coming. Bikes riders need to be the one's on the defensive, people break before cars/trucks/poles/fences/roads.

  • Author

Thanks guys. The accident was entirely my own fault. No other party involved. I went round a bend on the bike path near Collingwood Childrens Farm too fast. There was gravel all over the path. (Never been gravel there before.) I had nowhere else to go other than AOT. The rest is history.

I have recovered from the broken ribs reasonably. It only hurts when I laugh. I had to stop watching Ricky Gervais on TV last week for this reason!!

I'm recovering from a shoulder operation, but it is very slow going. I have to have a second operation in a few months to remove the metalwork.

It will be a fair while before I'm back on the bike. And I will certainly be riding a lot slower and more conservatively. Shame really cos I'm not particularly into exercise and my fitness had certainly improved over the past couple of years.

My neighbour (60+) was knocked off his bike about 6 months earlier and suffered a a compound fracture of his elbow. And when I was in hospital (RMH - dont start me on the treatment I received there!!!!!!), the woman in the same room had suffered a shockingly broken leg after being knocked off her bike.

So, fellow bike riders, take care!!!!

  On 06/10/2012 at 10:33, Green Demon said:

Au contraire, I recommend that you wear lycra, with as many different colours as you date.

Head to Beach Road, there is safety in numbers.

Keep left - pretty sensible.

It is good to avoid busy roads, because some drivers seem to blame cyclists for the roads being busy, rather than all the other vehicular traffic in front of them!

All right-at the risk of sounding anti-bike, why on earth do cyclists ride two abreast on Beach Rd?

Why are they on it at all?

There is a path running along the beach that goes from the city to Mordialloc.Today I couldn't drive a car on Beach rd because it was given over to cyclists.

Drivers pay for that road.

Do Cyclists think they are the guys from CHiPS?

I love riding my bike but I use the remnants of my brain about it.

FFS-Beach Rd is a dumb place to ride-bendy and switching from 1 to 2 lanes depending on parked cars.

Cyclists act as if they own it and frequently get hit.

I believe bikers should be forced off it and/or made to pay a registration fee for the use of it.

The damage to my car is getting out of hand.


  On 13/01/2013 at 07:35, bingers said:
Thanks guys. The accident was entirely my own fault. No other party involved. I went round a bend on the bike path near Collingwood Childrens Farm too fast. There was gravel all over the path. (Never been gravel there before.) I had nowhere else to go other than AOT. The rest is history.

I have recovered from the broken ribs reasonably. It only hurts when I laugh. I had to stop watching Ricky Gervais on TV last week for this reason!!

I'm recovering from a shoulder operation, but it is very slow going. I have to have a second operation in a few months to remove the metalwork.

It will be a fair while before I'm back on the bike. And I will certainly be riding a lot slower and more conservatively. Shame really cos I'm not particularly into exercise and my fitness had certainly improved over the past couple of years.

My neighbour (60+) was knocked off his bike about 6 months earlier and suffered a a compound fracture of his elbow. And when I was in hospital (RMH - dont start me on the treatment I received there!!!!!!), the woman in the same room had suffered a shockingly broken leg after being knocked off her bike.

So, fellow bike riders, take care!!!!

Good lord Bing hopefully you on the rebound soon enough, take care next time and I bloody well will too!

  Biffen said:
All right-at the risk of sounding anti-bike, why on earth do cyclists ride two abreast on Beach Rd?

Why are they on it at all?

There is a path running along the beach that goes from the city to Mordialloc.Today I couldn't drive a car on Beach rd because it was given over to cyclists.

Drivers pay for that road.

Do Cyclists think they are the guys from CHiPS?

I love riding my bike but I use the remnants of my brain about it.

FFS-Beach Rd is a dumb place to ride-bendy and switching from 1 to 2 lanes depending on parked cars.

Cyclists act as if they own it and frequently get hit.

I believe bikers should be forced off it and/or made to pay a registration fee for the use of it.

The damage to my car is getting out of hand.

Believe biking @ Buller @ this time of year is to die for and there you could have a real influence on your home turf with your car !

  On 13/01/2013 at 03:08, Spork said:
The roads are really dangerous for cyclists these days. Few motorists know sufficient laws to keep themselves and others safe in a car, let alone the regulations applicable to cyclists. Fewer still even care - might versus right. I was down towards Inverloch around new years and the number of cars that overtook cyclists on blind corners at 80+ k/h was distressing. Also, If you're travelling 'bush', how about looking at the tourist info first that says quite clearly that the 84th annual road race is on and plan accordingly. Beach road? What, you mean the cycling mecca that's been that way for almost a century?

Everyone needs to lift thier game. People on bikes are not good cyclists, just like people in cars are not good drivers. In the CBD from 4pm through to 7pm a surprisingly large number of people on bikes attempt to get home. Most have some form of lighting, although those that don't, in the middle of winter where everything is dark grey at 5pm, are in my opinion suicidal. Many also wear black on black with black trim. Also in my opinion suicidal. I was recently abused crossing Little Lonsdale. My fault was not looking right twice (the wrong way) for the cyclist wearing black, with no lights, speeding (road is 40 limitied) down a one way street. The moron came very close to cleaning me up and then abused and blamed me, Almost also got run down in Rathdowne by a pretty girl on a pretty bike that decided the pedestrian crossing with the little green man going didn't apply to her. Ran over my feet. 'After you' I said. She didn't say a word, just kept on going.

And so castles made of.. wait. Where was my rant?

Hope the backs holding up while all the other bits mend mate.

Some are planning some more sports to play on the Highways, One is motorized Skate Boarding. Groups of up to 50 at a time, over mini marathon distances. Another mooted is Ultra Trotting, Trots that run along Highways for 50 kilometers.

Some even want to take over the highway Intersections to play six-a-side soccer, during light changes.

  On 13/01/2013 at 04:43, daisycutter said:
whilst driving from burwood to the city and return i noticed a lot of bikes

i then noticed that virtually no bikes (1 in about a 100 it seemed) had any rear vision mirrors

this amazed me. Is there not a regulation saying you must have rear vision mirrors

maybe i'm missing something

anyone care to explain this mystery?

Rear view mirrors? It would be pointed at their face to see how smooth they look.

no indicators.

no hazardlights like slow moving or dangerous vehicles have.

just the competative spirit required to be playing on a road near you, & just in case, the 'bird' is at hand when required.

  • 2 weeks later...

I have returned recently from a month riding in Thailand and Cambodia.

Despite the crazy traffic there, I felt much safer there on a bike than I do in Australia. There is a much greater acceptance in SE Asia of bikes as a legitimate road user. Nobody sticks to lanes, or even drives down the correct side of the road, but everyone recognises that everyone else has as much right to use the road as anyone else.

That doesn't happen in Australia. Road users have a sense of entitlement such as 'we pay for the roads, so bikes should get off it'. Firstly, that's wrong, and secondly, who cares? The roads are public property and should be used by anyone who lawfully does so. There is an anger which I don't understand.

I'm not a lycra clad road warrior, but I ride my bike every day to work and have now sold my car. All I want is to be able to ride my bike safely from point A to point B without someone trying to run me off the road just because they have a problem with me existing. I can deal with people swearing at me for no other reason other than that I'm using the same road as them (thus forcing them to drop their speed from 60 km/h to 25 km/h for 5 seconds), but I can't deal with people trying to make my trip less safe. Why should I have to suffer extra risk just because some idiot suffers feelings of inadequacy?

Biffen, I don't ride down Beach Rd, but I can see why those who ride for sport would. It's a great view, the road is flat, long and there's a big gap between traffic lights. Cyclists are entitled, legally, to ride two abreast. Besides, it's a multi lane road so there should be no issue with it. Why do you have an issue with it?

I will admit my issues with cyclists are irrational.

Soon after I wrote that about Beach Rd I saw another one bite the dust.

It needs fixing.

Cyclist should pay for the widening.

Or stick to the fkn track.

For their own benefit.


  On 27/01/2013 at 13:26, Axis of Bob said:

I have returned recently from a month riding in Thailand and Cambodia.

Despite the crazy traffic there, I felt much safer there on a bike than I do in Australia. There is a much greater acceptance in SE Asia of bikes as a legitimate road user. Nobody sticks to lanes, or even drives down the correct side of the road, but everyone recognises that everyone else has as much right to use the road as anyone else.

That doesn't happen in Australia. Road users have a sense of entitlement such as 'we pay for the roads, so bikes should get off it'. Firstly, that's wrong, and secondly, who cares? The roads are public property and should be used by anyone who lawfully does so. There is an anger which I don't understand.

I'm not a lycra clad road warrior, but I ride my bike every day to work and have now sold my car. All I want is to be able to ride my bike safely from point A to point B without someone trying to run me off the road just because they have a problem with me existing. I can deal with people swearing at me for no other reason other than that I'm using the same road as them (thus forcing them to drop their speed from 60 km/h to 25 km/h for 5 seconds), but I can't deal with people trying to make my trip less safe. Why should I have to suffer extra risk just because some idiot suffers feelings of inadequacy?

Biffen, I don't ride down Beach Rd, but I can see why those who ride for sport would. It's a great view, the road is flat, long and there's a big gap between traffic lights. Cyclists are entitled, legally, to ride two abreast. Besides, it's a multi lane road so there should be no issue with it. Why do you have an issue with it?

i ride for leisure and exercise. ive done a number of Vics and Interstaters. I only mention this so as to suggest I do actually like bikes

I also live on the Nepean Hwy bayside. I can tell yo that the vast majority of cyclists are good. I can also tell you theres a fair share of arrogant sh!theads who's sole goal it would seem is to fight some sort of war agaisnt cars and paying users of roads.

Cyclists pay for nothing. Lets get that clear. They pay no licence, they have to PASS no licence. They pay no insurance. I say THIS so as to highlight the inbalance between positions. The minute you get a small handful together they seem to think theyre a peloton on the Tour !!

As is often the way a minority spoil it for the rest. This lot do a really good job of it too.

Roads were designed for cars. It just so happens bikes use them too. Where theres a bike path /lane then the road has been designed also for bikes.

  On 30/01/2013 at 21:49, belzebub59 said:

i ride for leisure and exercise. ive done a number of Vics and Interstaters. I only mention this so as to suggest I do actually like bikes

I also live on the Nepean Hwy bayside. I can tell yo that the vast majority of cyclists are good. I can also tell you theres a fair share of arrogant sh!theads who's sole goal it would seem is to fight some sort of war agaisnt cars and paying users of roads.

Cyclists pay for nothing. Lets get that clear. They pay no licence, they have to PASS no licence. They pay no insurance. I say THIS so as to highlight the inbalance between positions. The minute you get a small handful together they seem to think theyre a peloton on the Tour !!

As is often the way a minority spoil it for the rest. This lot do a really good job of it too.

Roads were designed for cars. It just so happens bikes use them too. Where theres a bike path /lane then the road has been designed also for bikes.

I & ii - So, you pay for nothing, bub? iii -Or chariots, or .. everyone?

Roads were designed for people. Roads were designed for a horse and cart.

Cyclists pay tax. They pay for the road. Car registration isn't the sole source finance for transportation. A lot of that money would go into driver licensing, education etc.

So if cyclists pay to use the roads, why aren't they allowed to use it? Because it's ever so slightly less convenient for a motorist that overtakes them?

If there is more acceptance from everyone on the road then it will be safer for everyone and everyone will be happier.

 
  On 27/01/2013 at 13:26, Axis of Bob said:

I have returned recently from a month riding in Thailand and Cambodia.

Despite the crazy traffic there, I felt much safer there on a bike than I do in Australia. There is a much greater acceptance in SE Asia of bikes as a legitimate road user. Nobody sticks to lanes, or even drives down the correct side of the road, but everyone recognises that everyone else has as much right to use the road as anyone else.

That doesn't happen in Australia. Road users have a sense of entitlement such as 'we pay for the roads, so bikes should get off it'. Firstly, that's wrong, and secondly, who cares? The roads are public property and should be used by anyone who lawfully does so. There is an anger which I don't understand.

I'm not a lycra clad road warrior, but I ride my bike every day to work and have now sold my car. All I want is to be able to ride my bike safely from point A to point B without someone trying to run me off the road just because they have a problem with me existing. I can deal with people swearing at me for no other reason other than that I'm using the same road as them (thus forcing them to drop their speed from 60 km/h to 25 km/h for 5 seconds), but I can't deal with people trying to make my trip less safe. Why should I have to suffer extra risk just because some idiot suffers feelings of inadequacy?

Biffen, I don't ride down Beach Rd, but I can see why those who ride for sport would. It's a great view, the road is flat, long and there's a big gap between traffic lights. Cyclists are entitled, legally, to ride two abreast. Besides, it's a multi lane road so there should be no issue with it. Why do you have an issue with it?

Bob, if you are going to quote asia then you should do some research on asian road kill rates

you'd be surprised how high they are. something you don't necessarily see as a short term tourist


Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Featured Content

  • CASEY: Geelong

    There was a time in the second quarter of the game at the Cattery on Friday afternoon when the Casey Demons threatened to take the game apart against the Cats. The Demons had been well on top early but were struggling to convert their ascendancy over the ground until Tom Fullarton’s burst of three goals in the space of eight minutes on the way to a five goal haul and his best game for the club since arriving from Brisbane at the end of 2023. He was leading, marking and otherwise giving his opponents a merry dance as Casey grabbed a three goal lead in the blink of an eye. Fullarton has now kicked ten goals in Casey’s three matches and, with Melbourne’s forward conversion woes, he is definitely in with a chance to get his first game with the club in next week’s Gather Round in Adelaide. Despite the tall forward’s efforts - he finished with 19 disposals and eight marks and had four hit outs as back up to Will Verrall in the second half - it wasn’t enough as Geelong reigned in the lead through persistent attacks and eventually clawed their way to the lead early in the last and held it till they achieved the end aim of victory.

    • 0 replies
    Demonland
  • REPORT: Geelong

    I was disappointed to hear Goody say at his post match presser after the team’s 39 point defeat against Geelong that "we're getting high quality entry, just poor execution" because Melbourne’s problems extend far beyond that after its 0 - 4 start to the 2025 football season. There are clearly problems with poor execution, some of which were evident well before the current season and were in play when the Demons met the Cats in early May last year and beat them in a near top-of-the-table clash that saw both sides sitting comfortably in the top four after round eight. Since that game, the Demons’ performances have been positively Third World with only five wins in 19 games with a no longer majestic midfield and a dysfunctional forward line that has become too easy for opposing coaches to counter. This is an area of their game that is currently being played out as if they were all completely panic-stricken.

      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 0 replies
    Demonland
  • PREGAME: Essendon

    Facing the very real and daunting prospect of starting the season with five straight losses, the Demons head to South Australia for the annual Gather Round, where they’ll take on the Bombers in search of their first win of the year. Who comes in, and who comes out?

      • Thanks
    • 177 replies
    Demonland
  • NON-MFC: Round 04

    Round 4 kicks off with a blockbuster on Thursday night as traditional rivals Collingwood and Carlton clash at the MCG, with the Magpies looking to assert themselves as early-season contenders and the Blues seeking their first win of the season. Saturday opens with Gold Coast hosting Adelaide, a key test for the Suns as they aim to back up their big win last week, while the Crows will be looking to keep their perfect record intact. Reigning wooden spooners Richmond have the daunting task of facing reigning premiers Brisbane at the ‘G and the Lions will be eager to reaffirm their premiership credentials after a patchy start. Saturday night sees North Melbourne take on Sydney at Marvel Stadium, with the Swans looking to build on their first win of the season last week against a rebuilding Roos outfit. Sunday’s action begins with GWS hosting West Coast at ENGIE Stadium, a game that could get ugly very early for the visitors. Port Adelaide vs St Kilda at Adelaide Oval looms as a interesting clash, with both clubs form being very hard to read. The round wraps up with Fremantle taking on the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium in what could be a fierce contest between two sides with top-eight ambitions. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons besides us winning?

      • Thanks
    • 273 replies
    Demonland
  • PODCAST: Geelong

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 7th April @ the all new time of 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we dissect another Demons loss at Kardinia Park to the Cats in the Round 04. Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show. If you would like to leave us a voicemail please call 03 9016 3666 and don't worry no body answers so you don't have to talk to a human.

      • Thanks
    • 40 replies
    Demonland
  • VOTES: Geelong

    Captain Max Gawn leads the Demonland Player of the Year in his quest to take out his 3rd trophy. He leads Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver who are in equal 2nd place followed by Kade Chandler and Jake Bowey. You votes please. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1.

      • Thanks
    • 30 replies
    Demonland