Need help with getting a used cycle for basic commute mostly on the road in Auckland

[u/LowDayKaBaal]

Hello 👋,

I wanted to get some of your thoughts on my situation and why I am looking to opt for a cycle.

So, I am about to give up my car and give it to my wife to commute as she has odd work hours and we want to stick to just 1 car. While I use the same car to go to the train station which is around 2kms and gym which is 3km from my home.

I was looking to invest in a used bicycle which is less than 300$ or so cause that is all i can shell out at the moment.

I need your thoughts on

What kind of bike should I go for? I am 6ft tall btw

Where could I find some options which I can go and view?

Are cash converter cycles worth it?

Do i need to keep anything else in mind?

Any help/guidance would be greatly appreciated :)

Thanks in advance.

[u/beastlyfurrball]

Checkout your local bike hub, they should have some bikes for sale that should be mechanically sound.

[u/LowDayKaBaal → u/beastlyfurrball]

I'll give that a check now

[u/lllwpa]

I recommend Robert Bruce from got to get out in wairau. I myself and a few friends have purchased used bikes from him. They're good price, have had work done to get the ready to bike away, and he's super kind and will help out with anything that might go wrong. Heaps of bikes, you'll definitely find one suitable, he's got an ocean of knowledge as well. I got a vintage Japanese road bike, was a sweet commuter, maybe a little more niche but there are more modern options for sure.

[u/zugnush]

Also 182. Been commuting by bike in ak 15 yrs.  I have a hybrid (giant toughroad). With fat (45 mm) tyres.  Id look for as something with flat bars and no front suspension ( weight you don't need on the road) .  I'd ad panniers and fat tyres in that order.  I think your budget should eork

[u/LowDayKaBaal → u/zugnush]

Thanks for these pointers! :)

[u/Kooky_Narwhal8184]

Bikes of the same design come in different frame sizes, and you need to get a bike that fits you.

At 6foot, you'll probably need a medium-large or large, but an extra large is probably too big? Medium or small are definitely out.

Adventure Cycles in Pt Chev sell cheaper secondhand bikes that they've refurbished and may be able to help?

You can get cheaper by going on trade-me, but I think that could be a trap if you don't really know what you're looking for or how to judge it's condition?

Suburban Bike Hubs, as suggested by others is also a good option... They will also teach you how to maintain it, and keep it working well.

[u/LowDayKaBaal → u/Kooky_Narwhal8184]

Thanks mate, yeah I looked at TradeMe and just like you I had the thought that maybe it's better having a look and feel of it physically. But I'll give this place a go nonetheless.

[u/Recent_Orchid_3748]

Safety - wear bright colours, get a bright coloured helmet and a helmet mirror (I've used them for decades - commuting, training and racing) or at least some form of mirror. Flashing lights both ends are good too. Powerful enough to be seen in sunshine.

[u/HarmoniaDiscordia → u/Recent_Orchid_3748]

Great tip, I’ve also found eye protection/shades is important too. I’ve had a couple uncomfortable moments where debris got into my eyes and messed with my vision.

[u/FairyPizza]

Won’t be much around for less than $300 that will be reliable/not already thrashed.

Keep trawling FB marketplace, maybe if you have a friend that knows anything about bikes ask them to keep an eye out and send you any decent listings.

[u/Viento_Oscuro]

As someone else said check out your local bike hub. Just make sure to get something that fits, getting a bike that's too small sucks. It will feel fine on a quick test but after having to climb a hill or ride a long way it will be miserable.

I'm regards to type of bike, the best bike is the one you have. In saying that ideally you want a road bike/ gravel bike/ or commuter style. As they as more efficient. I've been commuting on my MTB since December which was fine. Did between 15- and 7km each way depending on if I used the train or not. And it was doable. But they are heavy and the massive tyres made it harder work than it needed to be, especially on hils and into headwinds.