Giant bicycles - Seek 2 - Experiences of a commuter bike

Right off the top, let me say I like Giant's 2009 Seek 2. I’ve been riding it for just over a month in a commuter role, and it’s a solid piece of kit. Right out of the box, it an acceptable commuter bike, but not perfect. A little work (and cash) can make it a outstanding.
Now, the nitty gritty -

Specs:
SIZES S,M,L,XL
COLORS Grey
FRAME ALUXX-Grade Aluminum
FORK CroMo, alloy steerer w/ rack mounts
SHOCK N/A

HANDLEBAR Alloy low rise, 25.4mm
STEM 3D Forged Aluminum, 25.4mm
SEATPOST Alloy, 30.9 x 350mm
SADDLE Giant Unity SuperSoft Venture
PEDALS Alloy platform

SHIFTERS SRAM X.5, trigger, 9SPD
FRONT DERAILLEUR Shimano M530
REAR DERAILLEUR SRAM X.5, long cage
BRAKES Avid Juicy Three disc, 160F / 160R
BRAKE LEVERS Avid Juicy 3

CASSETTE Shimano HG50, 11-34T, 9SPD
CHAIN Shimano HG50
CRANKSET FSA Alpha Drive, 26/36/48T
BOTTOM BRACKET FSA PowerDrive, cartridge

RIMS Alex Ace-18, alloy, double wall, 36H
HUBS Formula, alloy, sealed, disc
SPOKES Stainless steel
TIRES Maxxis Columbiere, 700x32C


Yeah, that’s all nice, but what is the bike like to live with?

Well, let me enlighten you to my experience:

1. Frame.

Nice, solid, quick handling. Brushed Aluminum (gray) with a supposedly "proprietary" manufacturing process called Aluxx. I'm guessing that process is hot drawing aluminum tubes and tig welding them together. I'll give them credit for actually owning their own foundry to control the alloy quality. Meh, whatever, just media hype if you ask me, but the frame welds are very neatly done and clean for whatever that's worth. Overall, the whole frame is clean and understated, an important feature for those of us who are mature riders and don’t want to look like a rolling advertisement or scream “FEAR THIS” to everyone we see. Giant has seen fit to install as many mounting points and threaded bosses you could ever want! Even front fork rack mounts are provided. Every line and hose (hydraulic brakes) has its own holder cast right into the frame. Nothing hangs, nothing “flaps in the breeze”, it’s all neat and tidy. A nice feature that is often overlooked is that the cables are not routed under the front down tube where they would be exposed to road grime and grit thrown up by the front tire. Seems like a mundane consideration doesn't it? Well, the name of the game is a long running, reliable commuter here. Longer component life by intelligently routing cables and lines is important. The nice muted look of the Seek 2 may also allow it to fly under the radar with thieving types....

2. Brakes.

Yeah, well....I’ll admit these are my first set of disc brakes on a bicycle (yeah, I’ve been living under a rock, OK?).

That being said, my previous bike had rim brakes. Besides, disc brakes used to be SO expensive. Things have changed lately and they seem to have trickled down to us more mundane riders. Overall, I don’t notice a whole lot of difference in DRY riding. Maybe a little better power and feedback, but that’s about it. Where the hydraulic brakes have it all over rim brakes is WET riding. Where I’d have to plan ahead in wet weather on rim brakes, disc braking seems only limited by the tire grip in the wet. And since I live on Vancouver Island, we get A LOT of rain. I’m a convert, discs it is from now on. The Juicy Three hydraulic brakes also seem to have better feel and feedback than my wife’s mechanical discs on her Transend LX. Not a lot more, but more. The only complaint with the Seek 2 brakes is noise. The rear disc is quiet and smooth; but the front tends to “moan” on application. More of an annoyance than anything, but I find myself favoring the rear over the front. Maybe it will “bed in” after a few more months. I had the LBS (Local Bike Store) I purchased the bike from include some spare pads in the deal and threw them in my panniers since I’m not sure how fast they wear. Some” just in case” insurance for my own peace of mind...

3. Suspension.

None. And good riddance.

Now, before you start with the “but my bum hurts”, “it’s too rough”, “it’s too harsh”, hear me out. For me, this is a commuter. Honestly, I’ve never found suspension useful on anything besides my downhill bikes, my legs are my suspension off road (I don’t sit when on trails except for the infrequent straight bits). When I get up on a commuter bike to climb a hill, I want all the available power to go into moving the bike forward. Suspension forks waste energy in compressing the springs on every down stroke. Not what I want. I want to go forward, not up and down. The rest of the time, I’m riding relatively smooth pavement. If you want a cushy ride, invest in a suspension seat post, all your power goes into moving forward and it still takes the abruptness off bumps. The TIG welded and gusseted frame can handle it just fine, even if your bum can’t.
Leave the suspension forks on a commuter bike to the "WALMART" specials....it's mostly for looks on the street anyways and just makes the bike heavier. It's also just one more thing to break, not a useful feature on a commuter bike. You want a "stone axe" instead of a switchblade here, something simple and strong that absolutely will not break and leave you stranded on your way to or from work...

4. Seat.

This is a very personal thing. No, not because it goes in your bum, because everyone is shaped different. The Seek 2 stock pad works for me with a pair of bicycle shorts. Find something that fits you well and stick with it. I wear bike shorts under my regular shorts to get the benefit of the extra padding without looking like some “head to toe” spandex freak. It’s a personal choice (besides, Spandex is NOT flattering if you’re not someone like Lance Armstrong).

5. Shifting/Gearing.

Well, bit of a story here;

Mine kept jumping between gears and chattering/graunching all the time. The front gear set dropped the chain twice and lots of graunching from the rear on the maiden ride home from the LBS. My wife was riding her Trandsend LX behind me and couldn’t figure out what all the noise and fuss was about as her bike was near perfect right out of the box (we bought both bikes at the same time to get a better deal-more money=more haggling power). Considering my bike was a more expensive model, this was very annoying! And very odd for SRam pieces. A bit closer inspection revealed that the rear derailleur cable was out of the small groove in the mechanism. A quick reroute and cable length adjustment and the Seek became the smooth shifting, well mannered bike I had paid for. There’s lots of gearing for the Seek 2. The 27 possible gears are good for crawling uphill or screaming down the backside at “ludicrous speed”....

6. Handle bars.

Not one of my favorites.

The stock bars are pretty much flat with very little sweep back. I find it causes discomfort on my wrists after about twenty minutes. My wife has a Giant Transend LX and those bars are just about right. The body angle is just about right on the Seek 2, it’s the minimal sweep back that causes discomfort for me. The LBS that I bought it from has offered to swap them out (including stem) essentially free of charge. I’ve been eyeballing a bar at the store with built in mounts for a light and cycle computer anyways and it has a better sweep back angle. You results may vary....

7. Grips.

They are the ergonomic design that seems so popular these days. They’re comfy, but after a couple days they migrate around the bar and I find myself twisting them back into position. Do yourself a favour and buy some of the ergonomic grips that have the clamping end on them to prevent migration. I will...

8. Tires.

700 size and damn near slicks.

They roll easily and allow relatively high speeds. Nice tires. BUT; wet riding is an exercise in restraint. Since they’re almost slick, their grip in wet riding in always in doubt. They’ve never squirmed on me, but I just can’t seem to trust a slick tire and keep my speeds down as a result. I may buy replacements with a bit more water siping when they’re worn, sacrificing some speed and ease of pedaling for better wet grip (remember Vancouver Island and rain?). Don’t even think about dirt riding on these puppies unless you’re wearing lots of armored clothing...I even avoid dirt walking paths...

9. Fenders.

None.

Get some if you ride in wet at all. My wife’s Transend came equipped and for good reason, it’s billed as a commuter. Which is what we’re talking about here on the Seek 2. Swallow your pride and buy some full coverage fenders. You can get some nice thin ones in black that you’ll hardly notice after a day of so but will be very grateful for on the first wet road ride. Don’t try to save your machismo and buy mountain bike fenders or a front deflector for the frame downtube. This is a commuter, remember? MTB stuff just comes out looking dumb.....

10. Mirrors.

None.

Meh, I’m not a fan of bar mounted mirrors anyways. They just stick out and make it hard to thread though small places. I have one that mounts on my helmet so I can swing it around and get a full look behind me without much head movement. Takes a little getting used to, but after a couple rides it becomes natural AND safer....

11. Chain Guard.

None.

Get one if you wish. A good idea if you intend to make short hops in your business suit or regualr clothes. I didn’t but may if I can find one nice and understated to go with the bikes overall “theme”...

12. Lights.

None.

Get some.

This should be your very first purchase priority after the bike itself. You need lights on a commuter.
Let me say that again;

YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE LIGHTS ON A COMMUTER!

The more the better and buy the best/brightest lights you can afford. Get something that is bright and has a long running time. Something with readily available batteries is best, rechargeables are also acceptable, but when they die on a ride, they're dead. At least something like a "AAA" can be carried in your pack and swapped out quickly. Lots of people light steady lights, I prefer flashing LED's. For me, it's more about the cars seeing me than me seeing the road. I call them my please don’t “F’n” hit me lights! My eyes built in "night vision" still works well enough on my ride home to see where I'm going. But if you're tooling down an unlit road, you're not going to feel safe at all if you don't have lights or the batteries die on you. If your ride to work, you will eventually get caught after dark on a late day. It WILL happen. I am even considering something like these: http://www.instructables.com/id/SpokePOV:-LED-Bike-Wheel-Images/
Not for the “bling bling” factor, but to be seen from the side VERY CLEARLY at night from the side as well as the front. Just be advised that they can “vibrate” the bike at high speeds if not properly balanced on the wheel....

13. Rear Rack.

None.

Get one.

You are going to want storage on a commuter. This is where you are grateful you bought the full coverage fenders as MTB fenders do not play well with a rear rack. I bought a nice Axiom unit. Grab some bungees for odd size items as well (briefcase, etc). Again, my wife’s Transend LX came with a rack already and bungees on it. It’s Ok, but I prefer the Axiom and it bolted right on as Giant put the bosses on the frame and positioned the rear caliper just right for rear a rack install.

14. Panniers.

None.

Get some.

Commuter bike, remember? A rear rack is nice, now you need something to hang off it. Some nice Axiom Cartier Journey series bags fit the bill for me and swallow up everything I need to carry. Make sure you at least get something with a hard back in the bag to ensure they don’t interfere with the spokes. My bags also have a reinforced bottom (rubberized). Makes them useful for a run to the grocery store for items such as canned goods...

15. Kick stand.

None.

Get one.

‘Nuff said.

16. Horn or Bell.

None.

I don’t have one, but it’s a good idea if you do any city riding. Again, my wife’s Transend came with one as delivered.

17. Tire pump/Inflator.

None.

But a good idea on a commuter. Nothing sucks more than coming out to the bike after a day of work to discover a flat. Either from a puncture or you dumbass friends thinking it was funny to flatten a tire on you....

18. Tools.

None.

Get one.

The Seek 2 follows the modern pattern of removable wheels with levers and same size Allen head bolts. A cheap bicycle multitool allows on the fly adjustments and can handle pretty much anything outside of a cracked frame on the road. I got one at the local departmetn store and it works fine for everything on the bike (except spokes), it's a cheap "schwinn" one if I remember. It may make the difference between a comfortable ride home and walking home pushing your bike. Chuck it in one of the small pouches in your panniers (you did buy those bags, right?)

19. Bike Lock.

None.

Get one.

If you plan to commute on the bike, you’re going to have to leave it unattended at your destination. Get a lock that uses cable instead of the solid style ones. A cable one have to be cut with bolt cutters and can be a major PITA to a thief if you get a quality one. Thicker cable = more of a PITA to cut. Plus, you can thread it through you frame and those quick release wheels. It sucks if you come out after a hard day’s work to find your bike gone. It sucks just as much to find you frame still there and your wheels gone (now you have to carry it instead of push it!). One word of note; the brushed finish on the frame and forks acts like a “cheese grater” on painted bike racks. Every time you pull it out it’ll have paint from the rack on it, messing up that nice clean, new look...I avoid them in favor of more secure storage at my destination. It may be worth your while to find some kind of tape or “wrap” to cover your usual contact points where you put your bike at work/stores/etc....

20. Streamers ,“spokey dokkies” and baskets.

Ummm, yeah......riigghttt......Go home Pee Wee. I'm not that willing to give up ALL my machismo.... ;)

Overall, the Seek 2 is a solid value. Sleek, classy, solid construction and never looks out of place or flashy. Good quality components at a bargain price. A great commuter bike for those who still aren’t yet ready for something that looks like a “Pee Wee Herman” bike. It’s so nice, I often find myself cleaning it in the garage after a wet weather ride and thinking about buying upscale components for it....
It’s an even better bike value when you look at the price. I had mine equipped as above for an out the door price of around 750 bucks (well, I already had the lights and a lock). That’s Canadian prices, taxes included. Like most people, that's a substantial amount of cash for me to spend on a bicycle, but you'll get it back in fuel savings over a couple years, sooner if you live where you can bike most of the year. Another consideration to bicycling and justifying the intial setup cost- the health benefit is immeasurable.

Also, don’t be afraid to “haggle” with the LBS salesman....they’ve got room to move on nearly anything, no matter what they tell you. And the more you buy in one sitting, the lower the prices go.That's what we did and walked out with two commuters (Wife's Transend and my Seek 2) for right around 1500 bucks Canadian "all in", both nicely equipped for commuting.

Finally, consider this;
The bikes in the shops are mostly 2009 models right now. Much like cars, the 2010's are shipping out soon if not already. Bicycling season is also winding down across most of the country. This could possibly be the best time to grab a new Seek 2 as a quick perusal of their corporate site also shows the "2" is not in the next year line up - http://www2.giant-bicycles.com/en-GB/bikes/model/seek.0/4864/38991/

Although I don't understand having a "seek 0" and skipping "2" in the "o-4 lineup"....

The 2010 models are shiny and have hydro formed forks, no "unsightly" welds (personally, I don't mind seeing a nice quality weld, which is what this bike has). These are sure to make those 2009 Seek models look dull and uninspiring under the bright show room lights. Yup, I'm thinking dealers may want to move those 2009 Seek 2 model out pretty quick......deals to be had for sure.

As I said, out of the box its good commuter bike and at a great price point.

A few bucks later it’s a perfect one.

Now Go Get One!

=)