New Bike

Gorill8

Help please. I'm looking to get a new bike, up to about €500 mainly to be used in getting me fit. It needs to be light and nippy, preferably not a racer though. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated
thanks

TinyExplosions

Your best bet is a 'flat bar road bike', sometimes called a hybrid, or a 'city cruiser'. Either the LaPierre RCR100 or the Giant FCR4 would be great bikes for 500 quid. The LaPierre would be slightly better specced in terms of gears etc, but Giant would be a better known brand by non cyclists (though both manufacturers sponsor Pro teams).

Don't forget you'll need to spend more cash on lights, clothing etc (maybe a helmet) -this can quickly add up!

You can also go down the internet route to pick up a cheaper bike, but if it's your first, going into a bricks and mortar store is possibly your best bet

blorg

You should probably be looking at lightweight hybrids- these have relatively thin 700c wheels like racers but flat bars and a more upright riding position.

kenmc

Any particular reason you are avoiding a racer? Just curious. there's always the danger that you might enjoy cycling and want to do more distance, in which case the racer is more comfortable cos of the different positions you can put your hands - e.g. on the top, on the brakehoods, on the drops - it all makes you change your back position a bit so it doesn't get so stiff...

Gorill8

I used to have a racer, just prefer the upright position i guess, and maybe the brittle nature of my old racer didn't help either!
I have a mtb but its just way too heavy, although it doesn't mind been hammered off kerbs and holes in the road

Raam

Gorill8 wrote: »

I used to have a racer, just prefer the upright position i guess, and maybe the brittle nature of my old racer didn't help either!
I have a mtb but its just way too heavy, although it doesn't mind been hammered off kerbs and holes in the road

You can still have an upright position with drop handlebars. It then leaves you with the option to use the sporty position when you need it. I'll admit that drop bars feel odd at first, but it doesn't take long to get used to them. I certainly appreciate the benefits of drops.

DirkVoodoo

The lapierre RCR100 and Giant FCR4 both fill your requirements. I would consider a road bike though, it can get very addictive especially seeing as you want to do it for fun.

Lumen

Maybe penexpers will take a cheeky offer on the Surly:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055441954

The Cross Check apparently has massive clearance to accommodate fat tyres, mudguards etc. Very versatile bike.

Gorill8

Was up in Halfords, cough, yesterday and they had a lovely Boardman, and a nice Carrera there, even cheaper if you go up to norn iron, any thoughts on these?
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_240387_langId_-1_categoryId_165534
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_241897_langId_-1_categoryId_165534

TinyExplosions

Boardman bikes get good reviews online, though there is a question mark over the brakes on that model (there should be a bikeradar review that mentions it)

If it's in your budget, go for it! The SRAM gears are probably similar in spec to the LaPierre

stuf

I have the Lapierre and as I've said here many times before I love the bike to bits but the only criticism I have is that the cassette gives very limited gearing for exercise use around Dublin. It's 11-30 and I changed to a 12-23 although 12-25 or 12-26 would probably make sense.

The problems came for me when on long cycles I try to keep my heart rate within a very narrow range. There's too many 2-tooth jumps on the 11-30 which makes for less control in the middle gears. Saying that, a replacement cassette doesn't cost too much so it's not a big deal to swap them out.

Raam

stuf wrote: »

The problems came for me when on long cycles I try to keep my heart rate within a very narrow range.

Why do you need to do that?

stuf

Raam wrote: »

Why do you need to do that?

Medical/physio advice after a heart attack three years ago. It's my personal situation but as far as I understand it it's generally good practise. As fitness increases then the required effort to attain the target heart rate (75% max) increases and it's a useful motivator for me and stops me slacking off. Obviously with hills then you have to go higher at times.

What I would have found with the original cassette was that I would be between gears and would have trouble getting a good sustainable cadence in some circumstances. Wasn't the end of the world but I do prefer the new gearing.

Raam

stuf wrote: »

Medical/physio advice after a heart attack three years ago.

Fair enough Can't argue with that.

What I would have found with the original cassette was that I would be between gears and would have trouble getting a good sustainable cadence in some circumstances. Wasn't the end of the world but I do prefer the new gearing.

I have a smiliar issue on my 9spd cassette. Somewhere in the middle there is a jump that is just too much. I need something in between.

stuf

Raam wrote: »

I have a smiliar issue on my 9spd cassette. Somewhere in the middle there is a jump that is just too much. I need something in between.

Sheldon's gear calculator is great for working out what to get - the drop down menu has all the common stock cassettes so you can see where the problem areas are and how much overlap between chainrings you have

stuf

Gorill8 wrote: »

Was up in Halfords, cough, yesterday and they had a lovely Boardman, and a nice Carrera there, even cheaper if you go up to norn iron, any thoughts on these?
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_240387_langId_-1_categoryId_165534
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_241897_langId_-1_categoryId_165534

if you or anyone you know has AXA insurance then the card you get with it gives you 15% off everything in halfords - doesn't work for discounted items but you can use it in the north

penexpers

Lumen wrote: »

Maybe penexpers will take a cheeky offer on the Surly:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055441954

The Cross Check apparently has massive clearance to accommodate fat tyres, mudguards etc. Very versatile bike.

Yes I will take offers on it

You can get 700x35 tires into it and there's still enough clearence for mudgaurds. Without mudguards it'll take up to 700x45

SerialComplaint

Gorill8 wrote: »

Help please. I'm looking to get a new bike, up to about €500 mainly to be used in getting me fit. It needs to be light and nippy, preferably not a racer though. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated
thanks

If you are in employment, wait until 2009 and push your employer to sign up for the Cycle to Work scheme, so can make a tax saving (20% or 41% depending on your tax rate).