danIT Posted February 6, 2009 Posted February 6, 2009 Me and the missus are looking to get a bit more exercise lol Were thinking of getting bikes and just doing a bit of cycling roud the local area, so it will be mostly road and a bit of off-road round the nature reserve. I know nothing about bikes and im not sure how much I should spend, I havent got a budget, so any advice on where to buy and what i should look out for appreciated. Oh and im 6ft 4 and 18 stone if that makes any difference lol
mattx Posted February 6, 2009 Posted February 6, 2009 Me and the missus are looking to get a bit more exercise lol Were thinking of getting bikes and just doing a bit of cycling roud the local area, so it will be mostly road and a bit of off-road round the nature reserve. I know nothing about bikes and im not sure how much I should spend, I havent got a budget, so any advice on where to buy and what i should look out for appreciated. Oh and im 6ft 4 and 18 stone if that makes any difference lol The R1s are quite quick, but I'll stick with my FMX650 thanks.....Oh, you mean one with pedals...... How about one of these: http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/images/object_images/535x535/10319038.jpg I used to love my chopper.....[ I still do in a pervy type way ]
laserblazer Posted February 6, 2009 Posted February 6, 2009 I'd go to Halfords. They have some pretty good bikes and the sales staff are reasonably well trained.
gwendes Posted February 9, 2009 Posted February 9, 2009 (edited) wiggle.co.uk - can't recommend the Focus bikes enough. Mine's been rock solid for two years. My preferred bike is a hardtail MTB on slick tyres... something like... Focus Northern Lite 2009 Only £524.30 I have the 2007 version of the Northern Lite... Focus Northern Lite 2009 Specifications Frame Sport 6061 Aluminium Frame Fork Rockshox Tora SL Coil with 100mm Travel Rims Concept SL, Eyelet, Disc, Aluminium Front Hub Concept SL, Disc, QR Rear Hub Concept SL, Disc, QR Tyres Schwalbe Smart Sam 26 x 2.125 Cassette SRAM PG-950 9 speed, 11-32T Crankset Shimano Deore, 44/32/22 Bottom Bracket Shimano BB-UN26 Shift Levers SRAM X.7 Trigger Rear Derailleur SRAM X.9 Front Derailleur SRAM X.5 Chain Shimano CN-HG53 Brakes Tektro Auriga Comp, hydraulic disc brake Stem Concept SL 100mm 31.8mm/28.6mm Handlebars Concept SL 31.8mm Saddle Concept SL MTB Seat Post Concept SL Pedals Aluminium cage with Reflector plus http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Continental_Ultra_Gatorskin_MTB_Tyre/5360021704/ Edited February 9, 2009 by gwendes
gwendes Posted February 9, 2009 Posted February 9, 2009 (edited) Actually, don't buy that, I'm going to! Remember to get it half price too... Wiggle Cycle to Work Edited February 9, 2009 by gwendes
steve_nfi Posted February 9, 2009 Posted February 9, 2009 Anything less than a 500cc isn't worth bothering with.
Disaster Posted February 9, 2009 Posted February 9, 2009 If it's mainly road stuff then stay away from cheap full suspension bikes. I had a Specialized before and they have a pretty decent range to choose from.
TechMonkey Posted February 9, 2009 Posted February 9, 2009 get one of these Can get it on the cycle to workl scheme too so save money! PLus you'll be ultimately cool.
Dodgex1 Posted February 9, 2009 Posted February 9, 2009 wiggle.co.uk, chainreactioncycles.com. GT, Specialized and Kona are popular realtively cheap starter bikes that aren't going too drop to bits. Depends how much you've got really. Better to spend 350quid on something you'll enjoy using than 90 on a Halfords special thats going to break and feel like you're sat on stick. I also agree with Gwendes on the Focus's's'ss
gwendes Posted February 9, 2009 Posted February 9, 2009 get one of these Can get it on the cycle to workl scheme too so save money! PLus you'll be ultimately cool. WANT. NEED.
gwendes Posted February 9, 2009 Posted February 9, 2009 Anything less than a 500cc isn't worth bothering with. Fancy a race?
Netman Posted February 9, 2009 Posted February 9, 2009 I'd recommend a hybrid model as others have said - I have an excellent Scott (when the missus isn't 'borrowing' it!) as well as my classic Peugeot road bike. Have a look at your local specialist bike dealers - you can get some excellent second user bikes for very little money - might be the best way to get started... Quick rule of thumb: For mainly road use - light = good, heavy = bad. No suspension and no chunky tyres! The amount of people you see wasting energy pedalling off-road monsters around the streets is amazing!
Dodgex1 Posted February 9, 2009 Posted February 9, 2009 I'd recommend a hybrid model as others have said - I have an excellent Scott (when the missus isn't 'borrowing' it!) as well as my classic Peugeot road bike. Have a look at your local specialist bike dealers - you can get some excellent second user bikes for very little money - might be the best way to get started... Quick rule of thumb: For mainly road use - light = good, heavy = bad. No suspension and no chunky tyres! The amount of people you see wasting energy pedalling off-road monsters around the streets is amazing! You're saying 10inch rear travel is too much for cycling to work?! Dam!
rolfea Posted February 9, 2009 Posted February 9, 2009 A kona for riding round locally? that's a bit much isn't it? Just a Specialized Hardrock will do for that kind of thing, get it from Halfords you get one free service after wards, even if they are a load of numpties in there. If not try something like a Saracen, they're pretty cheap but tend to do the job. Both of these options also come under £300 usually, and the Hardrock can come in GIRLY COLOURS! Or, if not, buy a Kona, but these are more expensive. With Kona you tend to pay a high percentage for the name, but they are of good quality. Make friends with a local small Kona dealer, become friends with them and they might give you £500 off it (like me) Or look around GT and Giant, they don't tend to be bad. As for website, people have already suggested Wiggle.co.uk chainreactioncycles.com are more expensive for full builds but can get some bargains parts wise. Specially with the "flood damaged" goods. As for now, i'm going to stick to my thousand pounds worth of Custom Built Fireeye Dirt Jump bike and my Kona Stinky Freeride rig =D
gwendes Posted February 9, 2009 Posted February 9, 2009 Unless you need it, avoid full suspension. Front suspension is good if you venture off road at all. Portsmouth includes lots of off-road shortcuts! I agree re Specialized/ Kona/ GT - lovely bikes - but Focus give you good quality frames draped in lovely components for a good saving. If I were richer I'd get something like Focus Zonukwa 2009 Only £629.10 compared to http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Kona_Cinder_Cone_2009/5360039048/ Not on these wages
plexer Posted February 9, 2009 Posted February 9, 2009 I'm also on the look out for a new bike for the commute to work. My current £100 special is just about had it. I've just had a look on fleabay and found this shop bankrupt-surplus-bikes-bits and was wondering if something like: BANKRUPT 26" WHEEL MENS URBAN/MTN BIKE SARACEN KIT on eBay, also Frames, Bike Parts, Cycling, Sporting Goods (end time 15-Feb-09 11:33:36 GMT) Would be any good for normal road riding to work? Ben
KWestos Posted February 9, 2009 Posted February 9, 2009 (edited) How about this: Just what you need Edited February 9, 2009 by KWestos
plexer Posted February 9, 2009 Posted February 9, 2009 Ok I'm 5' 10" what size frame should I go for are there any guides to frame size? Ben
Netman Posted February 9, 2009 Posted February 9, 2009 (edited) Ok I'm 5' 10" what size frame should I go for are there any guides to frame size? Ben It's more on inside leg than height... I have a 19.5 inch frame and inside leg 30" A 20" inch frame would be around 31" inside leg... Edit: Just checked and for a road bike your frame size should be 67% of your inside leg... Edited February 9, 2009 by Netman
dhicks Posted February 9, 2009 Posted February 9, 2009 any advice on where to buy and what i should look out for appreciated. Personally, I'd stick with your trusty local bike shop - they'll find you a decent bike the right size for you, be able to fix bits if they go wrong, etc. Size is important, you don't want to hurt your knees. Definitely get cycling shorts, the padding is a life-saver (not just for your backside, either - men's, er, frontsides need some padding, too) - you can wear trousers over them if you don't like showing your legs off. Might be worth getting a sort-and-comfy gel seat, too. Learn, and practice, how to change a flat tyre - you'll need a repair kit, you can get compact ones that will fit under your seat. -- David Hicks
witch Posted February 9, 2009 Posted February 9, 2009 (not just for your backside, either - men's, er, frontsides need some padding, too) -- David Hicks HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Love it!!!!
PEO Posted February 10, 2009 Posted February 10, 2009 (edited) Im in the club Muddybums Home Page and here is my bike... picture take last sunday up in castelton http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/531083/DSC01379.JPG Edited February 10, 2009 by PEO
chilbs Posted February 10, 2009 Posted February 10, 2009 Ok I'm 5' 10" what size frame should I go for are there any guides to frame size? Ben If you go to www.cyclestore.co.uk and go to a bike that you are interested in there is either a size guide or link to a size guide for that brand as different manufacturers measure their frames differently.
plexer Posted February 10, 2009 Posted February 10, 2009 PEO could you have posted a bigger picture? Ben
PEO Posted February 10, 2009 Posted February 10, 2009 (edited) PEO could you have posted a bigger picture? Ben heh! sorry, meant' to resize that... whooops Edited February 10, 2009 by PEO reduced in size
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