this post was submitted on 30 Mar 2026
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micromobility - Bikes, scooters, boards: Whatever floats your goat, this is micromobility

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Ebikes, bicycles, scooters, skateboards, longboards, eboards, motorcycles, skates, unicycles, heelies, or an office chair: Whatever floats your goat, this is all things micromobility!

"Transportation using lightweight vehicles such as bicycles or scooters, especially electric ones that may be borrowed as part of a self-service rental program in which people rent vehicles for short-term use within a town or city.

micromobility is seen as a potential solution to moving people more efficiently around cities"

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Hi,

I’m looking to get back into cycling after about a ten year break. I used to cycle everywhere but travel, injury and moving to the suburbs basically stopped me.

The main rides I’ll be doing:

36km (22mi) between my place and my girlfriends - little bit of road, mostly bike path, a little bit of gravel.  

8km (5mi) to JiuJitsu class - road/pavement/path.

With at least one loaded pannier, possibly two.

I’m 110kg (~242lb) with a fairly solid build, the steel frames are appealing.

I may do a little touring, I haven’t done it before but Australia has some great off road tour options. It might just be a nice idea that I never get around to. I like camping and being alone which is what appeals about touring.

Being in Australia, I’m pretty limited on what bikes are actually available.

I was recommended the Kona Sutra LTD ($4k) (by a sales guy) but I feel that the wide tires aren’t a great choice for the commuting and it’s a bit more than I was planning to spend. I don’t mind spending more on getting the right bike for me but I’m also pretty frugal so would prefer to spend less if I can find the right bike for less.

I’ve also been considering the Marin Nicasio plus ($1.3K), Nicasio 2 ($2.2k), Surly Preamble ($2.9k), Salsa Cutthroat ($4.9k) or maybe a Bombtrack Hook ($3.6k).

Plus about $1000 for fenders, racks and a big fat lock to lock it up.

Thanks for any input.

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[–] Mavvik@lemmy.ca 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I think any of those bikes would suit your needs. Unless you're extremely concerned about wind resistance or riding a fat bike, tire size wont make a big difference. The tread, material, and most importantly, air pressure of the tires are what you should be concerned with more than anything else. Personally, I ride a fully rigid 29" mountain bike that i primarily use for commuting. I find the wide tires are great for dealing with the shit road quality and I enjoy being able to take it off-roading without any hassle.

As for the bikes themselves, its hard to make a recommendation if you haven't biked in ten years because our bodies and preferences change over time. If you know the types of things you like then its easier (or maybe harder) to find a bike you'll like. In your position, I would honestly go for the cheapest bike available with fender/rack mounting points on the rear and the fork and just send it. Honestly, I might even go as far as suggesting you buy a secondhand bike and just seeing what you like and dislike about it before getting something new and shiny.

All that being said, I really love the overall vibe of the Marin Larkspur, good vibes and easy riding.

[–] SaneMartigan@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Yeah, the shit road quality is a big component in my decisions. Unfortunately the second hand market in Australia is pretty limited cos we're a smaller population that's far away we import less stuff.

[–] LowtierComputer@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

I have a Marin and am a big fan of it. But not that model. I agree to finding something on the cheaper end or, maybe even better: see if you can go test drive these bikes! See what you like before you buy. Make sure you have the seat height and everything set correctly for you. And remember that changing seats and handlebars is very easy if you don't like the feel/shape/position. Changing shifters and drivetrain components takes a lot more work.