A friend went for his first cycling ride and asked me an interesting question “why can’t I start cycling with a simple bike”?
In his exact words:
“Last week I went to Bharatpur. I cycled for about 15 – 20 kms. Liked it. I think I want to do more.
My daughter who is very unfit would also like to join me.
Can you recommend me economic cycles for beginners.
If you can spare time, I would also like to understand why shouldn’t I start with something like
Atlas Goldline, Hero Jet /shenshah”
So why can’t I start cycling with a simple bike?
Straight off the bat, there is absolutely NO problem in riding a basic, simple bike. Lakhs of people in India ride the Atlas Goldlines/ Hero Jet and equivalent bikes. These are incredible workhorses and if maintained well, will give years and years of service.
Now that we have that clear, here are the pros and cons of using a bike like the Atlas Goldline/ Hero Jet.
Pros
- Super simple and easy to maintain bike
- Any cycle mechanic can fix it for you if it breaks down
- Budget friendly
- Spares are easily available and are budget friendly
- Works very well as a commuter bike and for carrying loads
Cons
- Heavy weight (~18 kgs)
- Available in limited sizes (22inch frame), so getting a bike to fit your body isn’t a possibility
- Designed for commuting, so if having fun (speed, off roading etc.) is the aim, this may not be the right option
- If you live in a hilly area, this bike will be cumbersome on the climbs
That said, there are people who have done brevets on these bikes. Brevets are long distance endurance rides to be completed in a set time. The minimum distance of a brevet is 200 km which is to be completed in 13.5 hours. So there is nothing stopping you from using an Atlas Goldline Super or Hero Jet as your commuter, load hauler or your exercise bike.
Bike options at a similar price point
At this price point, you’ll get a single speed steel frame bike. Here are some from Decathlon and Hero which are similarly priced (as of this writing, the amazon link showed the Hero Jet priced at INR 6,899/-)
Price: INR 5,999
Simple single speed bike with a steel frame
See the bike on the Decathlon website
Price: INR 5,399/-
Simple single speed bike with a steel frame
See the bike on the Flipkart website
Price: INR 7,999
Simple single speed bike with a steel frame. Upgrades from the ST 10 are aluminum wheels, quick release front wheel and a quick release seat post. Quick release doesn’t need tools to open and makes it easier to open the wheel and to adjust the seat height
See the bike on the Decathlon website
Price: INR 7,999
Same as the ST20 LF on the left. This is a men specific geometry, while the ST20 LF is a women specific geometry
See the bike on the Decathlon website
Apart from the ones pictured above, there are several other options in a similar price range. You’ll get a simple single speed steel bike. At a slightly higher price range, you’ll get the same kind of steel frame, with extras like quick release seat posts, wheels and a few other additions.
Possible options in the next price bracket
In the next pricing bracket, you’ll get a 7 gear steel bike. 7 gears will help you tackle inclines and give you the option of speeding a little more on the flat sections. And there’s this single speed fixie which you can pick up – I’ve loved riding this one and had a lot of fun on it!
Price: INR 11,999/-
This one comes with 8 gears and is a good bike to ride in the city
See the bike on the Decathlon website
Price: INR 9,999/-
This one is a rugged mountain bike which can be used for city riding and off road trails
See the bike on the Decathlon website
Price: INR 10,999/-
This is a simple single speed fixed gear bike. You can set it so that when you pedal forward, the bike moves forward and when you pedal backward, the bike moves backward – this is used for braking. And you can set it to run normally too. This is quite a fun and stylish bike to ride. I rode this one for a year and a half and had a ton of fun with it!
See it on the BikeARK website
In addition to these, there are a number of bikes available in the price bracket of INR 6000 to INR 12000. You will be easily able to pick one up from your neighborhood cycle shop.
Things to keep in mind while buying a new bike
- It should fit your body well – a bike that doesn’t fit you will cause you all kinds of aches and pains and will be quite uncomfortable to ride. Always test ride the bike before you buy it
- Easy to maintain – A reputed brand will give you good components and after sales service
There’s a common saying in the cycling world – durable, light or cheap. Pick any 2. As long as you’re clear about what you want, you’re good to go.
Do you have questions or comments? Do post them here and I’ll try my best to answer them.
P.S. Do check out this blog on How to start cycling – 101.
P.P.S. This is not a paid promotion from Decathlon, or any other brand 🙂