Need some help please

cholschlag

Ok people, any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I just bought a Giant Cypress DX. I was torn between this bike and the Specialized Expedition. I chose the Giant because of the bike shop. Is this a good bike or should I have gone with the Specialized. I paid 360 for the Giant and the Specialized was a 2005 for 310. I had the shop upgrade to rapid fire shifters and they put on a brake/shifter combo set that they said it would normally cost $60 but they just charged me $30. What do you all think.

alfeng

I don't think buyer's remorse is necessary if a basis for your purchase was the bike shop ...

Without knowing the two bikes, but realizing that they are in the same general price range, the biggest difference is probably cosmetics ... with one bike possibly having a "nicer" this-or-that than the other.

What components were on the Specialized AND what components were on the Giant (before changing the shifters)?

While I would have kept the grip shifts, $30 is a very reasonable added cost for the rapid fire shifters, IMO.

Giant may be a Taiwanese based company (is tha right?), but I am sure the Specialized frame is also fabricated in Taiwan ...

Specialized may be an American based company, but I think you will be hard pressed to find anything made-in-America on thier bikes, now.

And, the Specialized components are probably fabricated in Taiwan or other parts of Asia even if they are Shimano or SRAM just as the components on the Giant.

So, if the frame was properly fitted to/for you AND you like the shop you bought the bike from, then you shouldn't have reservations about your decision between the two bikes ...

FWIW. I "love" hybrids (well, the 700c variety -- I don't own one, however) because you CAN adapt them to suit your preferences over the course of time. Yes, they are a compromise in some ways ... and yes, it can be costly to change the components (e.g., if you wanted ROAD bars & shifters) ... the tires are best suited for dirt roads, but are "okay" for most paved riding. The new 29er (700x58) tires can probably be fitted on the rims (presuming the wheels are 700c) which means that if you are technically adept, you could use the bike for off-road riding (well, that front fork may not be robust enough for serious off-road riding, but if you are technically adept enough for a 29er, then you will probably know the limitations of the hardware beneath you) ... or, you could put slightly smaller, 700x28 tires on the bike for faster rolling on pavement.

Hybird bikes are a good thing.

stokell

My new Giant Cypress is made in China. The previous one I bought had an American flag on it. It was designed in the U-S but made in Taiwan.

Yes, I've purchased a second one. The first is in semi-retirement fastened to a fence by a subway station. In 5 years I did over 10,000 kms on it. I actually like the new one better than the old one. The front shocks seem to work quite well and they've re-done the gearing making it more useful as a commuter bike.

But, hang on. Isn't the Cypress a hybrid? Okay for recreation and commuting, but I don't think I'd tour on it.

__________________
Allan Stokell
one less car
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/stokell

cholschlag

The reason I bought it was strictly for recreation. I want to be able to ride with my kids. I took it for a ride this morning and have to be honest, I was a bit disappointed. The back tire is either bent or way out of adjustment. I started on a ride and had to turn around cause it seemed to get worse and actually started to rub on the frame. Hopefully the bike shop will take care of it. Thanks to everyone that has replied. The front derailur also was not working properly.