I've been trying to look for information in English about this sweet bike I saw at our friendly neighborhood bike store. It seems that this bike is either too new or too unpopular that I could not find any reviews about it from people outside of Taiwan. Unfortunately, my Chinese is still bu hao.The bike is not a mountain bike or a pure road bike--I understand that most bike enthusiasts focus on these kinds of bikes. It's more of a comfy cruising bike designed for the road. And it's hard not to fall in love with it because it really looks great, not to mention that it's not very expensive. I got the picture above from Giant.
I've been visiting the two bike shops near my apartment the past few weekends to get a decent commuting bike. There are some really nice choices within my budget, including:
Giant Boulder Hardtail (no rear shocks) Mountain Bike
Merida RB660 Road Bike
Merida MTA 57 Hardtail Mountain Bike
So what makes a bike a good bike? Personally, I like all these bikes because they have decent Shimano parts that will let me ride at reasonable speeds. They're all made by respected bike makers, which also means that owners have to be extra careful with them (too many bike thieves). They all have very light aluminum frames as well. But I just don't know enough to make an informed decision. For example, I don't know the difference between SRAM, SIS, or Acera derailleurs (whew, had to look that up) or whether grip shifters suck. So, I'm probably picking the one that looks best: the Giant Flight M3.
I'm sure I'll do well. I also chose my previous bike for its looks. It was made of sturdy heavy-gauge steel by an unknown Chinese manufacturer. It had a frame designed for women, and it always managed to hurt my back. But it was the coolest green and black ride you could get for 300 Chinese Yuan (~US$45).
Strong Ladies' Bike (may you rest in peace)
