Goodmorning! Newbie from QC here.
Matagal po ako tumitingin tingin sa groups, forums, Google atbp. pero wala pa akong nakikitang eksaktong sagot sa katanungan ko. Tingin ko isolated ang dilemma ko or baka may nakapagtanong na pero di ko lang talaga mahanap.
I currently own a year 2000 steel frame bike with a rigid fork that I salvaged from our bodega. I "restored" it by giving it a new coat of paint and fitted it with a new wheelset (Mavic Deemax), groupset (SIS/Tourney), handle grips, saddle etc. I've been using it for 3 months everyday without fail (some 10+ km a day give or take) as my daily commuter and for some long-ish rides during weekends. Dahil dito I've been able to save up money from gas and transpo costs to buy myself a Mosso Falcon 2 frame, an ITM cockpit and an XCR 011 series fork which I regret buying (more on this later.)
Ang katanungan ko, ano ba mas maaappreciate ko, 2014 Deore or 2013 Alivio? (Please take into account that the release of the new Alivio series is this year.) I've been riding on roads 100% of the time and I have no plans on taking my bicycle/s to a trail. I have no plans on joining any competition but I am in the process of training myself for a 420km solo ride this November from QC to Naga. I don't have issues regarding budget pero kung gagastos ako ng malaki mas gusto ko sana na may viable, concrete reason. Karamihan kasi ng nakikita kong rason puro "kung ano ang kaya ng bulsa", personal preference, upgrade proof at kung ano pa. Bihira ako makakita ng answer regarding road performance at quality. Kung may makita man ako madalas mixed, biased opinions din. I don't mind sticking with the cheaper option and vice versa pero I guess what I'm looking for right now before getting my groupset would be an objective breakdown on each.
I originally decided on a suspension fork dahil sa totoo lang di kagandahan ang kalsada natin. Sa daily route ko masasabi ko na parang nag trail narin ako araw-araw. I figured that all the bumps and potholes would be much easier for me to handle once I get a suspension fork.
Regarding the XCR 011 series fork which I greatly regret buying, naguguluhan ako between an Epicon fork or an XCR fork. Again, nalito ako because of looking at countless reviews. Some people from foreign groups/forums say that the difference between the XCR and Epicon is miniscule. This is reason enough for me not to spend an extra 5k on the fork. Pero yung iba nating mga kapatid they swear by their Epicons stating that kahit saan mo dalhin pasok na pasok sa banga talaga. Is the price discrepancy worth it? Again I don't mind spending more kung justifiable naman ang rason.
Thanks and I hope makatulong din itong post ko sa ibang newbies.:)
Matagal po ako tumitingin tingin sa groups, forums, Google atbp. pero wala pa akong nakikitang eksaktong sagot sa katanungan ko. Tingin ko isolated ang dilemma ko or baka may nakapagtanong na pero di ko lang talaga mahanap.
I currently own a year 2000 steel frame bike with a rigid fork that I salvaged from our bodega. I "restored" it by giving it a new coat of paint and fitted it with a new wheelset (Mavic Deemax), groupset (SIS/Tourney), handle grips, saddle etc. I've been using it for 3 months everyday without fail (some 10+ km a day give or take) as my daily commuter and for some long-ish rides during weekends. Dahil dito I've been able to save up money from gas and transpo costs to buy myself a Mosso Falcon 2 frame, an ITM cockpit and an XCR 011 series fork which I regret buying (more on this later.)
Ang katanungan ko, ano ba mas maaappreciate ko, 2014 Deore or 2013 Alivio? (Please take into account that the release of the new Alivio series is this year.) I've been riding on roads 100% of the time and I have no plans on taking my bicycle/s to a trail. I have no plans on joining any competition but I am in the process of training myself for a 420km solo ride this November from QC to Naga. I don't have issues regarding budget pero kung gagastos ako ng malaki mas gusto ko sana na may viable, concrete reason. Karamihan kasi ng nakikita kong rason puro "kung ano ang kaya ng bulsa", personal preference, upgrade proof at kung ano pa. Bihira ako makakita ng answer regarding road performance at quality. Kung may makita man ako madalas mixed, biased opinions din. I don't mind sticking with the cheaper option and vice versa pero I guess what I'm looking for right now before getting my groupset would be an objective breakdown on each.
I originally decided on a suspension fork dahil sa totoo lang di kagandahan ang kalsada natin. Sa daily route ko masasabi ko na parang nag trail narin ako araw-araw. I figured that all the bumps and potholes would be much easier for me to handle once I get a suspension fork.
Regarding the XCR 011 series fork which I greatly regret buying, naguguluhan ako between an Epicon fork or an XCR fork. Again, nalito ako because of looking at countless reviews. Some people from foreign groups/forums say that the difference between the XCR and Epicon is miniscule. This is reason enough for me not to spend an extra 5k on the fork. Pero yung iba nating mga kapatid they swear by their Epicons stating that kahit saan mo dalhin pasok na pasok sa banga talaga. Is the price discrepancy worth it? Again I don't mind spending more kung justifiable naman ang rason.
Thanks and I hope makatulong din itong post ko sa ibang newbies.:)