Boards.ie

CJC999 · 30-05-2012, 14:31

Having decide a few weeks ago that i need to lose some weight and reach some reasonable level of fitness i decided to buy a bike through the BTW scheme. I read countless threads here and on other forums in relation to what bike to get but didnt get any firm answers and so decided to simply go along to my nearest shop and ask them.

I had a very very basic idea about group sets/brakes/frames etc etc but ultimately my decision was based on budget and looks.

I didnt want to spend any more than €700-800 on the bike and the rest was for clothing/helmet etc etc

I finally settled on a Ridley Triton C purely on its looks (grey/silver/black colour scheme) I know very little on the spec except that it has carbon fork and seat stem, shimano sora gears (triple set on front, 8 on rear) and it felt very light to lift (to me).

I sent off all the paper work early last week and it should all be sorted by the end of this week.

I've been reading endless threads on bikes and getting started being a complete noob in this area and the thing that seems to keep coming up is people choosing one bike over another because the other bike had a tripple gear set and now i'm wondering if i should maybe look into getting a bike with two and 9 or 10 rear cassette or does it not really make any difference?

The bike is purely for the odd evening and saturday/sunday morning cycle. I've joined a cycle club at work and hope that at the end of the summer i might be in a position to do some of the sportives arranged.

When i was in the shop choosing the bike it came down to the Triton and a Ridley EOS which has triangular sectioned frame which i didnt like the look of but i did ask about the gearing and explained that there are quite a lot of tight hill climbs in and around where i live and so starting off i wanted something that i would be able to ride up hill without having to get off and walk and therefore had lowest gearing for hills (maybe that should be highest but he knew what i meant) anyway he said the Triton had the lowest gearing of the two and so that made my mind up....

Now i'm not so sure. I havent got the bike yet and i imagine i could still change it and add money to get a different bike if need be so please advise me.

monkeypants · 30-05-2012, 14:38

I think the fact that it's a light bike is essential, so well done on getting that. Personally I'd prefer a compact over a triple as the 'granny ring' rarely gets used.

cdaly_ · 30-05-2012, 14:39

Doesn't hurt having a triple so I wouldn't worry there. It might be worth looking for a 9-sp cassette but that requires new shifters so you'd have to move up to tiagra at minimum. After that, it'll come down to how you ride the bike and where your interest leads you. There are all sorts of different bikes depending on what you do. Touring bikes are more relaxed but may be a bit heavier, racing bikes will be stiffer and lighter but less forgiving...

Masala · 30-05-2012, 14:39

I have a Ridley EOS and am dead happy with it!!!!

Don't beat yourself up on it......otherwise you would get no sleep!!!

I suppose you get what you pay for.....was standing beside a guy who paid €5k for a bike recently and I bet he is still not satisfied!!

BUT... must admit I don't see any other Ridley's on my runs!! So - I just convince myself that mine is a 'special' and treat it like a newborn!!

DirkVoodoo · 30-05-2012, 14:41

The bike sounds fine for starting out. You may find that as your ambitions and passion grow, you may keep it as a commuter/winter bike.

The main thing is fit and size, make sure you get properly sized up on the bike or consider a bike fit after purchasing to get everything dialed in. Avoiding injury and being comfortable are more important when you start out, components and materials less so.

TheBlaaMan · 30-05-2012, 14:42

Difficult to give a firm answer without knowing your level of fitness etc. A triple can be excellent for 'beginners' when tackling hilly routes as you have more 'easy' gears to use, but they can be tricky to set up correctly, so make sure that your retailer will adjust the gears etc FoC after you have put a couple of 100s km on the bike : cables stretch in the first few months and it will go out of adjustment.

Be assured that the Ridley is a great bike and will certainly suffice for a year or two - the issue of whether or not it was a good buy depends on whether you will keep at regular cycling (and perhaps outgrow the spec' of your new bike, in which case you may feel you have lost an opportunity to buy a better one) or keep it for only occasional use - if at all (in which case you've not shelled out too much money) - is really only something that perfect hindsight will answer..................

cdaly_ · 30-05-2012, 14:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkeypants

Personally I'd prefer a compact over a triple as the 'granny ring' rarely gets used.

Personally I prefer the triple 'cos the granny ring is there when I need it...

CJC999 · 30-05-2012, 14:51

Ok so i dont feel so bad about it now.

The BlaaMan, i will be perfectly honest and rate my level of fitness at near zero (10 being 100% fit) I changed jobs two years ago and moved to an office only position and so exercise is near enough nil with the exception of mowing the lawn and running around after my 2yr old daughter so i'm basically a complete beginner in every sense of the word. I'm approx 1.5 stone overweight which isnt a huge amount and should be easy enough shifted once i get started proper.

I'm from Donegal and so no matter which route i take from my home it will involve a mixture of tight short hills, long gradual hills and some flat/level sections and so gearing is quite important to me.

Tonyandthewhale · 30-05-2012, 15:12

Are you sure it's an 8 speed block on the rear? Sora has been 9 speed only for some years now (2300 being the only remaining 8 speed shimano road bike groupset).

petethedrummer · 30-05-2012, 15:19

A buddy of mine rides a triple with an 8 speed cassette on the back. He's a bit of a powerhouse and it can be difficult at times to keep up with him on the flat. The bike won't really hinder you for a long long time.

happytramp · 30-05-2012, 15:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonyandthewhale

Are you sure it's an 8 speed block on the rear? Sora has been 9 speed only for some years now (2300 being the only remaining 8 speed shimano road bike groupset).

Yep, it seems very odd indeed that a bike shop would be selling a new bike for that price with Sora 8 speed. Not that it's much inferior or anything but it's a few years old.

CJC999 · 30-05-2012, 15:31

I'm not sure now I'm nearly sure it was 8/3 but i could be wrong. If it does turn out to be an 8 speed then i'll bring it up when i go to collect the bike and see what they have to say about it. The bike is costing €700 so i wouldnt want something that went out of production 2 or 3 yrs ago!

smacl · 30-05-2012, 16:31

Have an older Ridley Triton C myself, with 9 speed campag xenon triple. I love the bike, and love having the triple even though there can be a fair amount of messing keeping it in good adjustment. Having the Wicklow mountains as my regular cycling ground, I use the granny ring at some point on most spins as it lets me stay in the saddle for steep gradients.

kincsem · 30-05-2012, 18:47

The important thing is to get the right size bike. The shop won't put you wrong on that, but if you like post your height and the bike size (frame size) here if you want reassurance.
There is no such thing as the right bike. I have five. I'm still looking for a bike that will let me effortlessly zoom up hills at high speed with a smile on my face while admiring the scenery.

High Nellie · 30-05-2012, 18:52

The bike is fine for where you are at now.
Just try to enjoy it and don't over-analyse at this stage.
If you ask 10 'cyclists' what type of bike you should get you will probably get 10 different answers, so you will never be 'right'.
just cycle and enjoy for a year or so, and learn as you go along.

30-05-2012, 14:31	#1
CJC999 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,946 Adverts \| Friends	Have I Chosen the Wrong Bike? Having decide a few weeks ago that i need to lose some weight and reach some reasonable level of fitness i decided to buy a bike through the BTW scheme. I read countless threads here and on other forums in relation to what bike to get but didnt get any firm answers and so decided to simply go along to my nearest shop and ask them. I had a very very basic idea about group sets/brakes/frames etc etc but ultimately my decision was based on budget and looks. I didnt want to spend any more than €700-800 on the bike and the rest was for clothing/helmet etc etc I finally settled on a Ridley Triton C purely on its looks (grey/silver/black colour scheme) I know very little on the spec except that it has carbon fork and seat stem, shimano sora gears (triple set on front, 8 on rear) and it felt very light to lift (to me). I sent off all the paper work early last week and it should all be sorted by the end of this week. I've been reading endless threads on bikes and getting started being a complete noob in this area and the thing that seems to keep coming up is people choosing one bike over another because the other bike had a tripple gear set and now i'm wondering if i should maybe look into getting a bike with two and 9 or 10 rear cassette or does it not really make any difference? The bike is purely for the odd evening and saturday/sunday morning cycle. I've joined a cycle club at work and hope that at the end of the summer i might be in a position to do some of the sportives arranged. When i was in the shop choosing the bike it came down to the Triton and a Ridley EOS which has triangular sectioned frame which i didnt like the look of but i did ask about the gearing and explained that there are quite a lot of tight hill climbs in and around where i live and so starting off i wanted something that i would be able to ride up hill without having to get off and walk and therefore had lowest gearing for hills (maybe that should be highest but he knew what i meant) anyway he said the Triton had the lowest gearing of the two and so that made my mind up.... Now i'm not so sure. I havent got the bike yet and i imagine i could still change it and add money to get a different bike if need be so please advise me.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

30-05-2012, 14:38	#2
monkeypants Closed Account Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2,362 Adverts \| Friends	I think the fact that it's a light bike is essential, so well done on getting that. Personally I'd prefer a compact over a triple as the 'granny ring' rarely gets used.

30-05-2012, 14:39	#3
cdaly_ Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3,885 Adverts \| Friends	Doesn't hurt having a triple so I wouldn't worry there. It might be worth looking for a 9-sp cassette but that requires new shifters so you'd have to move up to tiagra at minimum. After that, it'll come down to how you ride the bike and where your interest leads you. There are all sorts of different bikes depending on what you do. Touring bikes are more relaxed but may be a bit heavier, racing bikes will be stiffer and lighter but less forgiving...

30-05-2012, 14:39	#4
Masala Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 288 Adverts \| Friends	I have a Ridley EOS and am dead happy with it!!!! Don't beat yourself up on it......otherwise you would get no sleep!!! I suppose you get what you pay for.....was standing beside a guy who paid €5k for a bike recently and I bet he is still not satisfied!! BUT... must admit I don't see any other Ridley's on my runs!! So - I just convince myself that mine is a 'special' and treat it like a newborn!!

30-05-2012, 14:41	#5
DirkVoodoo Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 10,195 Adverts \| Friends	The bike sounds fine for starting out. You may find that as your ambitions and passion grow, you may keep it as a commuter/winter bike. The main thing is fit and size, make sure you get properly sized up on the bike or consider a bike fit after purchasing to get everything dialed in. Avoiding injury and being comfortable are more important when you start out, components and materials less so.

30-05-2012, 14:42	#6
TheBlaaMan Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Waterford Posts: 1,306 Adverts \| Friends	Difficult to give a firm answer without knowing your level of fitness etc. A triple can be excellent for 'beginners' when tackling hilly routes as you have more 'easy' gears to use, but they can be tricky to set up correctly, so make sure that your retailer will adjust the gears etc FoC after you have put a couple of 100s km on the bike : cables stretch in the first few months and it will go out of adjustment. Be assured that the Ridley is a great bike and will certainly suffice for a year or two - the issue of whether or not it was a good buy depends on whether you will keep at regular cycling (and perhaps outgrow the spec' of your new bike, in which case you may feel you have lost an opportunity to buy a better one) or keep it for only occasional use - if at all (in which case you've not shelled out too much money) - is really only something that perfect hindsight will answer..................

30-05-2012, 14:51	#8
CJC999 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,946 Adverts \| Friends	Ok so i dont feel so bad about it now. The BlaaMan, i will be perfectly honest and rate my level of fitness at near zero (10 being 100% fit) I changed jobs two years ago and moved to an office only position and so exercise is near enough nil with the exception of mowing the lawn and running around after my 2yr old daughter so i'm basically a complete beginner in every sense of the word. I'm approx 1.5 stone overweight which isnt a huge amount and should be easy enough shifted once i get started proper. I'm from Donegal and so no matter which route i take from my home it will involve a mixture of tight short hills, long gradual hills and some flat/level sections and so gearing is quite important to me.

30-05-2012, 15:12	#9
Tonyandthewhale Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,531 Adverts \| Friends	Are you sure it's an 8 speed block on the rear? Sora has been 9 speed only for some years now (2300 being the only remaining 8 speed shimano road bike groupset).

30-05-2012, 15:19	#10
petethedrummer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: dundalk/dublin Posts: 6,128 Adverts \| Friends	A buddy of mine rides a triple with an 8 speed cassette on the back. He's a bit of a powerhouse and it can be difficult at times to keep up with him on the flat. The bike won't really hinder you for a long long time.

30-05-2012, 15:31	#12
CJC999 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,946 Adverts \| Friends	I'm not sure now I'm nearly sure it was 8/3 but i could be wrong. If it does turn out to be an 8 speed then i'll bring it up when i go to collect the bike and see what they have to say about it. The bike is costing €700 so i wouldnt want something that went out of production 2 or 3 yrs ago!

30-05-2012, 16:31	#13
smacl Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,115 Adverts \| Friends	Have an older Ridley Triton C myself, with 9 speed campag xenon triple. I love the bike, and love having the triple even though there can be a fair amount of messing keeping it in good adjustment. Having the Wicklow mountains as my regular cycling ground, I use the granny ring at some point on most spins as it lets me stay in the saddle for steep gradients.

30-05-2012, 18:47	#14
kincsem Closed Account Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 4,007 Adverts \| Friends	The important thing is to get the right size bike. The shop won't put you wrong on that, but if you like post your height and the bike size (frame size) here if you want reassurance. There is no such thing as the right bike. I have five. I'm still looking for a bike that will let me effortlessly zoom up hills at high speed with a smile on my face while admiring the scenery.

30-05-2012, 18:52	#15
High Nellie Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: SW Posts: 362 Adverts \| Friends	The bike is fine for where you are at now. Just try to enjoy it and don't over-analyse at this stage. If you ask 10 'cyclists' what type of bike you should get you will probably get 10 different answers, so you will never be 'right'. just cycle and enjoy for a year or so, and learn as you go along.