News

Our 6-bicycle garage: From an MTB to a road & even a hybrid model

21st August 2023, 15:42 by Utkarsh Chaudhary

The Canyon Endurace AL is my current leisure bike whereas my wife uses the Rockrider ST100 as her daily ride.

BHPian aneezan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

We currently have 6 cycles in our garage. It’s a couple more than the number of people in the house, and aligns with the Netherlands quote - There are more bikes than people in the country.

Here is a summary of all of them, in no specific order of preference, and some of them being used interchangeably.

Rockrider ST100 (MTB)

Color: Orange & Blue - Size: M - Bought: Nov 2021

My wife's daily driver/rider and she swears by it. A sturdy little mountain bike. Bought this from Decathlon in Bangalore just before leaving for the Netherlands. It has had no fault so far. Apart from the usual self-maintenance, it has worked perfectly. It's very comfortable, easy to handle and the wide tires offer good stability. Shifting duty is with a Microshift 7x3 setup.

Even though we have an electric bike, my wife prefers this for her office, errand and leisure rides. She's added a pouch at the front, panniers at the rear with big saddle bags. These bags are enough to carry the weekend grocery.

Personally feel it’s the most solid bike of the lot that we have. Also, I love the colors on this bike.

Triban RC120 (Road)

Color: Grey - Size: L - Bought: August 2020

Bought during the first lull of the Covid pandemic in 2020. I had started exploring with the MyBike 7 which was gathering dust and rust for over 5 years, when a series of rides felt so pleasurable that I went and grabbed this bike from Decathlon Bangalore. 3 years and over 18,000km and it's still going. Without the proper knowledge of maintenance initially, I abused it to the extent that I had to change the crank and both the shifters. It has taken heavy falls, one of which fractured my arm and done multiple BRMs. I still love it. Carried it over to the Netherlands and have used it extensively in 2022, riding up the hills of Vaals and Aachen.

Comes with Aluminium frame, Carbon Fork and Microshift 8x2 shifting. This model didn't have disc brakes then. Due to the amount of use, I changed the crank and shifters to Claris. Both my son and I use it for errands and short casual rides these days.

Riverside 500 (Hybrid)

Color: Night Blue - Size: L - Bought: June 2022

My son's daily rider. He initially wanted a drop bar, but then I somehow convinced him to get a hybrid as a start for his regular school rides. Bought a size L so both of us can ride. Though he expressed his preference for a road bike initially, he began to love the 500 as time went on and also realized why I requested him to take a hybrid first as a beginner. Nowadays, if we are going somewhere within the city, he prefers to ride his cycle while we take the car. Always keeps telling me there's a freedom that a bike ride gives you that no car can! I fully second that.

The Riverside 500 has a light aluminum frame, with a 9x1 speed transmission with B-Twin and Microshift components and mechanical disc brakes.

Canyon Endurace AL (Road)

Color: Cold Cactus - Size: M - Bought: February 2023

My current leisure ride. I had decided it was to be a Canyon after the RC120 but didn't know whether it was to be a carbon or an aluminum frame. Weighing all odds, I thought I would go for the AL 7. Carbon-Yes, but maybe for later. Had to wait for about 1.5 months for delivery post placing the order on Canyon's website. I couldn't wait.

Currently, it has been 4.5 months and have done ~2,500km. It has performed brilliantly so far. Quick, smooth shifting 105s, and most of everything has been much more comfortable than the RC120. My back has thanked me so far. I am not a racer but try to average between 25 to 30kph. This Canyon has been perfect so far. Has taken me for one 213km ride and multiple 100s (10 on the trot in July).

Comes with a full Shimano 105 (11x2), Aluminum Frame, Fulcrum Racing wheels, Schwalbe One 30" tires. One of the reasons I got the Canyon was that the weld seams are not seen(as in the case of other Aluminum Road Bikes of the same class).

Btwin ST100 (Kids MTB)

Color: White - Size: 20" - Bought: 2015

My daughter's leisure and school bike. Was my son's earlier, but currently doing the duty perfectly for my daughter's school. Was initially slightly bigger for her and was about to get a smaller cycle, but she's grown quickly into it recently. She prefers this now for her daily school trip to either me taking her on the electric or going by car. The biking infrastructure in the Netherlands perfectly suits ride (as with other kids as well). Has started to rust and show its age now with long years of abuse and neglect. The tires are wobbling slightly and the brakes aren't sharp as they should be, but tinkering with it now and then helps. And my daughter doesn't mind.

It’s a steel single speed cycle, and raised handle-bars, which is suitable geometry for her.

Riverside Electric 920E (Hybrid Electric)

Color: Grey Blue - Size: M - Bought: September 2022

We bought this specifically for one reason. Taking our daughter along with us, whether it's to her school, local errands or short leisure rides on the weekends. Currently sits as the least preferred bike in our garage. Ever since my daughter started riding the ST120, she doesn’t prefer sitting on this. I fitted a cushion on the rear for her to sit comfortably. Though it's easy to ride and serves its purpose, the artificiality in the riding doesn't feel great. We use it for grocery shopping and other commutes nowadays, since it's easier to heave bags while riding.

Comes with an 8x1 SRAM set up and can go about 80km on a full battery at power set at 1. At 3, the range drops to about 40. Range also depends on temperature and a host of other factors too. Full review of this bike is here.