I live in Kawasaki (near Tokyo) and have been in Japan for a couple of years. I want to buy a bicycle and have a pretty precise idea of what kind of bicycle I want, but I can not find such a bike in a physical shop; I sometimes see such a bike in online shops but am unable to determine the right size (I don't know which size I need in the first place, and have difficulties interpreting the size descriptions on the websites as well, as there seem to be a lot of different ways of describing the size). If someone could point me to a physical shop in Tokyo/Kawasaki/Yokohama where I can find such a bike, or online shop and explain how to make sure the bike size fits me, I would be very thankful.
The kind of bike I want: first, I need to say that I am not familiar with bicycle terminology especially in english; the general type of bicycle I'm searching for has a diamond frame and straight handles, and gears; it looks somewhat like a cross between a racing bike and a mountain bike. I believe the current term for this type is "cross" or "hybrid" but I might be wrong. I want to use it for commuting to work (3 km door-to-door), and on weekends for longer tours around Tokyo. I like to ride fast. The weight of the bike must not be above 13 kg, better is below 10 kg. It is also important that the frame does not have "thick" tubes and also not "sloping" tubes, i.e. I don't like it if they make the bicycle more lightweight by achieving stability through structure (in the sense of making the tubes hollow but very thick). For the frame any material is OK.
Regarding the frame geometry etc, this one comes quite close to what I mean, a "Doppelganger 402 Sanctum": http://www.doppelganger-sports.jp/bike/product/402/1_1.html
Where can I find such a type of bike? (obviously at this site but I mean other bikes like this). I went to several physical shops in Tokyo/Kawasaki/Yokohama; those seem to have only a) mama chali, b) very heavy mountainbikes (24 kg and up) and c) weird stuff like carbon fiber bikes equipped with two shopping baskets and an umbrella holder - all not what I'm looking for. If someone has a recommendation for a shop in said area which has sane bicycles I'd really like to know.
So I thought I better order online. I invested a fair amount of research but the only bike I found to my liking is this "Doppelganger 402 Sanctum" linked above. In principle I also like Tokyo Bike as they are lightweight and come in three framesizes (http://www.tokyobike.com/), but the problem with Tokyo Bike is that the wheels are very small and narrow, so I don't want on of those.
About the 402 Sanctum, this actually looks quite close to what I'm searching for, it's only 12.2. kg, but I can not figure out if the size fits me; they write about the size : 1700 mm / tire : 700 × 28c, but I do not know how to interpret this. (I am 1,73 cm, wheight 70kg, male). Also it makes me wary that the Sanctum bike goes for 24,000 Yen according to kakaku.com - I wonder if a bicycle this cheap can be any good?
Sorry for this long post and not asking one clear question. Basically I'd really like to know if the 402 Sanctum might be good for me and am especially worried about frame size and quality of the bike; or, how I can find a good bike as described.
Thanks.
The kind of bike I want: first, I need to say that I am not familiar with bicycle terminology especially in english; the general type of bicycle I'm searching for has a diamond frame and straight handles, and gears; it looks somewhat like a cross between a racing bike and a mountain bike. I believe the current term for this type is "cross" or "hybrid" but I might be wrong. I want to use it for commuting to work (3 km door-to-door), and on weekends for longer tours around Tokyo. I like to ride fast. The weight of the bike must not be above 13 kg, better is below 10 kg. It is also important that the frame does not have "thick" tubes and also not "sloping" tubes, i.e. I don't like it if they make the bicycle more lightweight by achieving stability through structure (in the sense of making the tubes hollow but very thick). For the frame any material is OK.
Regarding the frame geometry etc, this one comes quite close to what I mean, a "Doppelganger 402 Sanctum": http://www.doppelganger-sports.jp/bike/product/402/1_1.html
Where can I find such a type of bike? (obviously at this site but I mean other bikes like this). I went to several physical shops in Tokyo/Kawasaki/Yokohama; those seem to have only a) mama chali, b) very heavy mountainbikes (24 kg and up) and c) weird stuff like carbon fiber bikes equipped with two shopping baskets and an umbrella holder - all not what I'm looking for. If someone has a recommendation for a shop in said area which has sane bicycles I'd really like to know.
So I thought I better order online. I invested a fair amount of research but the only bike I found to my liking is this "Doppelganger 402 Sanctum" linked above. In principle I also like Tokyo Bike as they are lightweight and come in three framesizes (http://www.tokyobike.com/), but the problem with Tokyo Bike is that the wheels are very small and narrow, so I don't want on of those.
About the 402 Sanctum, this actually looks quite close to what I'm searching for, it's only 12.2. kg, but I can not figure out if the size fits me; they write about the size : 1700 mm / tire : 700 × 28c, but I do not know how to interpret this. (I am 1,73 cm, wheight 70kg, male). Also it makes me wary that the Sanctum bike goes for 24,000 Yen according to kakaku.com - I wonder if a bicycle this cheap can be any good?
Sorry for this long post and not asking one clear question. Basically I'd really like to know if the 402 Sanctum might be good for me and am especially worried about frame size and quality of the bike; or, how I can find a good bike as described.
Thanks.