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what kind of bike to buy?

  • 13-04-2009 7:26pm
    #1
    thehamo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,049 ✭✭✭


    Hi guys, just looking for some advice

    I signed my self up to do the gaelforcewest challenge in August. The stages include a 32km road stage and 12km off road stage. Obviously i cant do the off road stage on a road bike so i was just wondering would a mountain bike be hell on earth doing the road stage? They reccomend semi slick tyres on the website but that means nothing much to me. Also.... heres the catch, I have a VERY limited budget to get a bike,around the 200 mark, so will probably be looking in the second hand market.

    Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

    Cheers,

    Mark.


Comments

  • #2
    SetOverSet
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 421 ✭✭SetOverSet


    Perhaps a cross bike might be your answer. Similar to a road bike - different frame geometry, higher BB clearance, clearance for wider tires and usually canti brakes for mud clearance, etc. I dunno where you'll pick one up for 200 though...


  • #3
    thehamo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,049 ✭✭✭thehamo


    Would something like this be pointless?:confused:

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/LargeImage.aspx?ModelID=25442&FileName=25442-1.jpg


  • #4
    Gavin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,676 ✭✭✭Gavin


    It's cheap but it is actually a mountain bike. It's probably the best you'll find for that price range.

    Semi slick tyres are ones with very little tread on them. So fast on tarmac, but don't offer as much grip offroad. Probably be fine for the sort of trails the gaelforce does.

    As Set mentions, a cross bike would be ideal.. but it's a very limited budget.


  • #5
    Lumen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,218 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    This has come up a few times - suggest you do a search.

    To summarise: apparently the winners do it on road bikes. Cross bikes are expensive. Mountain bikes are heavy and overkill for the short gravelly sections.


  • #6
    blorg
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,995 ✭✭✭✭blorg


    The off-road section is I believe very short so you are better off leaning towards speed on the tarmac.

    You are unlikely to get anything even half decent for €200 though.

    I am selling my 58cm tourer, would be perfect for this sort of event; 9 speed 105 but with clearance for tyres up to 700x35 or more. Looking for closer to €475 though (flexible but not €200 flexible :))

    th_Sirrus_01.jpg


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  • #7
    Enduro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,791 ✭✭✭Enduro


    Get a roadbike. Also, get real and up your budget. Remember, buy ****e... buy twice.


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