The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: Denarius on July 22, 2014, 06:04:19 AM
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I know, probably coke vs pepsi right? (not that you healthy mustachians would drink such poison! ;)) I am considering the Trek Allant and Giant Escape City. Probably left over model years as used versions can be hard to come by. Roundabouts the same price.
I am open to other reasonable considerations as well, especially if the value is right.
the bikes would mostly be used for short rides around town to the grocery store, recreational bike path riding, and some occasionally longer adventures (13.5 miles one way to work). These bikes are aesthetically attractive to me and have features like fenders to keep clothes clean and racks for carrying things. Trek and Giant have been around for a while and parts would be easy to get should something break or upgrades are wanted.
I am fortunate enough to have both a trek and giant retailer near by.
Thoughts?
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I use a Giant Escape as my winter commute (about 11 miles) and think it's a great bike after adding a rack, fenders, and bar ends (mine is the regular escape, not the fancy tricked out one). The Trek bike you linked has a much more upright sitting position because of the high angled stem and thus will take more effort to go the same distance.
Either would work great for short trips, but a 13.5 mile commute will be more difficult with the Trek you linked.
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3715/12621243485_30876f3890_z.jpg)
(Escape after a winter commute)
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I use a Giant Escape as my winter commute (about 11 miles) and think it's a great bike after adding a rack, fenders, and bar ends (mine is the regular escape, not the fancy tricked out one). The Trek bike you linked has a much more upright sitting position because of the high angled stem and thus will take more effort to go the same distance.
Either would work great for short trips, but a 13.5 mile commute will be more difficult with the Trek you linked.
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3715/12621243485_30876f3890_z.jpg)
(Escape after a winter commute)
Hardcore!
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Yeah the Trek is slightly more relaxed, which could be a good or bad thing depending on what you want. A more appropriate comparison to the Escape would be the Trek FX series, which would be cheaper for the same spec level but then you would have to add aftermarket racks and fenders.
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If you have not done so already, test ride both. Personally, I will not buy a bike if I cannot test ride it. In some cases, you have to call around to find someone who has one available for a test ride.
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the bikes would mostly be used for short rides around town to the grocery store, recreational bike path riding, and some occasionally longer adventures (13.5 miles one way to work).
Between these two, because it's mostly for noodling around, I'd go for the Trek. If you get the right size it should be a bit easier to get comfy on.
I'd really opt for a late 80's/early 90's rigid mountain bike, though. MOst have steel frames, fat tires and plenty of ways to adjust them to meet your own needs. They aren't fast, but getting groceries shouldn't be.
Read JUST RIDE by Grant Peterson before you buy a bike, though. It should be at your library.
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Read JUST RIDE by Grant Peterson before you buy a bike, though. It should be at your library.
meh, GP does little more than promote his ill-informed brand of overpriced historical reenactment bicycles and bicycle accessories.
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Hi,
I just got the Giant City Escape for my main commuter. I have only been riding it for the past week, but it has been great all around. One thing I did notice about the 2014 Escape model is the narrow (flat) top tube. This created some rattling, since the bike's brake cables go through the frame. I fixed the problem with some zip ties.
Other than that, it's a great bike.
-winston
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Resurrecting this old thread.
My beloved 2009 Trek Allant was stolen out of my backyard last night. It was my daily commuter and grocery-getter, outfitted with a cargo bucket and big front basket.
https://archive.trekbikes.com/us/en/2009/trek/allant#/us/en/support
Can any bike-y mustachians recommend an equivalent ride? Trek has discontinued this model and I am struggling to find anything similar.
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Santa Cruz
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Thoughts?
Whichever one fits you best. Honestly either would work - it just comes down to your own 'geometry' and particular riding style (relaxed vs sliiiiightly more aggressive).
Test-ride them both, then get whichever one you like more fitted to your dimensions.
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My Escape got more aggressive when I swapped the flat bars for drops. Still does well in the snow.
:P
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My Escape got more aggressive when I swapped the flat bars for drops. Still does well in the snow.
:P
I'd like to see a picture of that. I also have an escape and have been thinking about doing this. What brakes/shifter combo did you install? I eliminated my front derailleur and have been using it as 1 x 8 for the last year...I despise front derailleurs.
I would probably leave as 1 x with drop bars and possibly remove my triple crankset and install a NW chainring.
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Dura-ace 8 speed bar ends (they work fine with Shimano mountain or road RDs/FDs) and Tektro RL520s. Using bar ends is pretty intuitive (much nicer than stem or downtube shifters).
I love front derailleurs though, they're very light, easy to set up and let you run a close range rear cassette while still having all the range you need for very steep hills. I've seen an awful lot of people who don't seem to understand how to set them up properly though.