Any cyclists out there? Road bikes specifically...I want to buy my first bike

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Jack Tatty, Oct 3, 2014.

  1. [​IMG]
     
    snotty likes this.
  2. Moons

    Moons Supporter

    I get the buy new thing - but there really are some amazing bikes going for much cheapness second hand - WAY more than before they brought in the cycle to work scheme.

    A lot of them have had no use - the last three bike I bought were second hand

    1997 Kona Kula - new price £1500 in 1997, I bought it 4 months old for £700 - I still own it, though its massively outdated now.
    2006 Schwinn Aluminium Road Bike - £650 in 2002, I bought it for £170 in 2010 and it is mint - had an OCD Rolls Royce Aero engineer from Derby owner.
    2012 Jamis Xenith Comp full carbon road bike - £1800 in 2012 - I bought it last month for £600 - thought this one needed a new cassette and chain, and I buggered the wheels up so it's cost me a few quid more.

    Lesson learnt on number 3 bike is buy on condition not spec.
     
  3. Jack Tatty

    Jack Tatty Supporter and teachers pet

    And spokies of course
     
  4. Stabilisers are so old fashioned ... our 4 year old under his mum's tuition went straight from his balance bike to pedalling (no stabs)
     
  5. proper cyclists take them spokey dokey thingys off
     
  6. This is essential. Fancy Lycra kit and a flashy bike is one thing, but a set of Brooke Bond tea cards that make your back wheel sound like an engine is pure class :thumbsup:

    Oddly, I don't see many Scoobee-Doos on the handlebars of the many sweating Lycra fiends that clag up our local roads. Some folk have no taste.
     
    Jack Tatty likes this.
  7. three wheeler if you have a basket ;)
     
  8. Jack Tatty

    Jack Tatty Supporter and teachers pet

  9. Woodylubber

    Woodylubber Obsessive compulsive name changer


    It was awesome :thumbsup:

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    Barneyrubble likes this.
  10. I keep the wooly gussets for my going out pants !
     
  11. Better safe than sorry!
     
  12. Do you have CycleScheme where you work?
     
  13. I have got Giant defy, I bought mine a few years ago on cycle to work scheme for £500 and still have. Its not carbon but light enough for my daily commute and the odd trip round the peaks.

    I did make a mistake when buying a replacement front wheel I bought a shimano r500 front wheel. The wheel only has 20 spokes with the poor condition of the roads I was constantly replacing broken spokes try to avoid low spoke count wheels.
     
    Jack Tatty likes this.
  14. Interesting thread. I got back into cycling this year and do love it. I used to do 10k a year cycling around London but had got a bit rusty since I moved up North again.

    I had an old (but good) MTB that I resurrected and stuck slicks on it to get me going. I did the Coast to Coast cycle ride in August from Whitehaven in Cumbria to Sunderland which is around 160 miles and 13000ft of climbing on the route we took (two and a half days to do it). I've since bought a really decent road bike (Canyon Endurace CF9.0) which is epically good and am looking forwards to lots of big rides next year. I did take my time in researching everything and am very pleased with what I ended up getting given how much choice is out there and how confusing it can be.

    Any thoughts from that? Well first be really clear on what you actually want the bike for. Road riding? Trails? Family days out? proper XC MTB stuff?

    For any of these its essential you get the right size. You can do simple inside leg measurement stuff and there are loads of guides out there or a full body measurement if you want

    http://www.competitivecyclist.com/Store/catalog/fitCalculatorBike.jsp#type

    This is a link to a really good bike store in the USA and their fit calculator is free to use and pretty thorough. You can also specify the fit style you want too and its all explained there. It does road and MTB fits and several options within those disciplines.

    If its a road bike then once you have the size sorted you can decide what you need specifically. Race style bike? Endurance fit (slightly more relaxed geometry for longer ride comfort)? Do you need or want to have mudguards or carry a rack etc.? Do you want dropped bars or flat? MTB would have similar sub categories.

    Less expensive road bikes will be heavy typically, especially if they are loaded with "spec". MTBs loaded with spec at this sort of price will be REALLY heavy. At your target price I would avoid disc brakes as they will probably be tat and the braking forces on the hub rather than the rim will really challenge the front spokes so expect buckles. Also some city bikes come with front suspension and this will also be cheap and heavy at this price (good suspension forks cost as much as your entire budget)

    Google is your friend. You can find models to research really easily and then find reviews if them and deals.

    This is the perfect time to buy a bike as there are LOADS of sales on as shops everywhere try to empty stock ready for 2015 stuff to arrive.

    Places to look that no-one has mentioned? What about Wiggle (excellent online cycle store)

    Here is an example of what they can do and its on your budget http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-f85-tiagra-2014/

    Personally I would steer well clear of Halfords or of Boardman bikes. The pro end of the Boardman range are great (£2k plus) but the inexpensive ones whilst looking great are very heavy and crucially they fall to bits, probably because they are assembled in Halfords from not the best components. When I did my CTC ride three of the guys had Boardman's and all three had bits fall off and one had a wheel buckle. No one else had a problem. Fortunately we were carrying spares and tools so we could keep them going.

    All that said, cycling is brilliant fun so get going and get your bike!
     
    physiopro and Jack Tatty like this.
  15. @Bertiebot

    my experience of Wiggle is they are fine as long as you don't have a problem, I gave up using them sometime ago as if you had a problem you just couldn't contact them (they don't publish a telephone number). Plenty of other shops out there who are happy to actually speak to you. Its funny you mention wheel problems on the Boardman bikes I found similar comments on a review of the Felt that you linked to.

    Spokes on a mountain bike ... never had any issue even with cheaper wheels ... and never come across this anywhere else? Just interested really.
     
    Bertiebot likes this.
  16. Hi @Pickles

    So far so good with wiggle for me though I have bought loads of components rather than bikes. Their return service is really easy and works but I have never had to deal with a warranty issue. Local Bike Shop is likely to be the best most of the time I guess but there is less stock and prices not so keen.

    The spoke thing is that a disc brake bike brakes the hub and the spokes have to carry a much heavier load in slowing you down than rim brakes. Loads of potential advantages of discs especially off-road. Cheaper bikes with strong wheels will be fine but probably heavier.

    Only one of the Boardmans on our trip had a problem wheel. The other two had a number of bits come loose/fall off e.g. the cable guide under the bottom brakes on one lost a bolt disabling the rear gear change and nearly caused the rider to fall off. All niggles and Halfords did replace the wheel but the reliability of Boardmans remains a source of merriment amongst the folk I ride with.

    My point really was that if you are on a budget then keeping the bike spec simple is likely to mean lighter and maybe better quality bits. A great example of this is Isla Bikes who make THE best kids bikes you can buy. They do an adult one that is a town bike and its really well made and light and so much lighter than Trek or Specialized bikes at anything like the same price point. My eldest daughter has one after a lengthy tour around bike shops and is very happy with it. Doesn't look as sharp as the main brands but much better quality.

    http://www.islabikes.co.uk/bike_pages/beinn29.html
     
  17. Jack Tatty

    Jack Tatty Supporter and teachers pet

    No. Unless they do it for stay at home dad's. :). They have it where Mrs JT works though so we'll be looking into it.
     

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