First road bike?

SuperSean11

Ive been looking on the forum for the past few weeks and have decided to get a road bike and might train for races. Have about €400-500 to spend on a bike and the essentials. Would it be worth my while heading to Cycle SuperStore to have a look at bikes or is there a good place on the Northside of Dublin?

245

The Giant Defy 4 is slightly over budget (50 euro or so but you can haggle away most of that) and it has one very satisfied customer here:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055585152

I'm no expert though but I've seen a few Specialized bikes that give the equivalant Giant a run for its money

DePurpereWolf

Way too many cycle shops: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=103848287752602980333.00045ddb61439aa43150d&z=7

SuperSean11

DePurpereWolf wrote: »

Way too many cycle shops: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=103848287752602980333.00045ddb61439aa43150d&z=7

Exactly my point dont know where to go for advice and good starter road bikes.
Thanks for the map.

lyders

Hi,

I too am also looking to get into the world of road racing. I'd rather just get a cheap bike for my first one. Anyone have any good places to look. New or Second Hand.

I've been looking at the Viking Giro D'Italia on eBay. Is this a good choice?

This bike is also 53cm. I think a 50cm bike might better suit me. Would getting a 53 be bad?

petethedrummer

lyders wrote: »

This bike is also 53cm. I think a 50cm bike might better suit me. Would getting a 53 be bad?

It depends on how tall you are. How tall are you?

lyders

5' 5" with inside leg length of 76cm

SuperSean11

If I join a cycling club would they point me in the right direction?

blorg

lyders wrote: »

Hi,

I too am also looking to get into the world of road racing. I'd rather just get a cheap bike for my first one. Anyone have any good places to look. New or Second Hand.

I've been looking at the Viking Giro D'Italia on eBay. Is this a good choice?

This bike is also 53cm. I think a 50cm bike might better suit me. Would getting a 53 be bad?

If you actually want to road race (not triathlons) I wouldn't go near that Viking, much better to stretch to the likes of the Giant. STI levers (where the gears are on the brake levers) would be pretty much a must I reckon for someone starting racing in this day and age. Bunches are tight and it is a big advantage to be able to shift without having to take your hands off the bars.

Even if you don't want to race the likes of the Giant would be a much better bet.

Ideally I would stretch the budget a bit and get something with a Tiagra groupset minimum. 105 would be even nicer and more compatible for upgrading.

Lumen

This sort of thing, amongst the crap on here.

lyders

blorg wrote: »

If you actually want to road race (not triathlons) I wouldn't go near that Viking, much better to stretch to the likes of the Giant. STI levers (where the gears are on the brake levers) would be pretty much a must I reckon for someone starting racing in this day and age. Bunches are tight and it is a big advantage to be able to shift without having to take your hands off the bars.

Even if you don't want to race the likes of the Giant would be a much better bet.

Ideally I would stretch the budget a bit and get something with a Tiagra groupset minimum. 105 would be even nicer and more compatible for upgrading.

Thanks a lot for your advice...not sure I understand all of it!! But I guess the Viking is out! Too big anyway. I guess I'll go to a few bike stores and check out the Giant Defys.

*Hank Scorpio*

Bump, sorry thread hijack.

I was also thinking of starting. I'm not interested in racing, just for my own recreational purposes. I visited the bike shop in Omni Park, Santry. I was shown quite a few bikes but the guy recommended a road bike for the long run, the Claud Butler San Remo and Echelon bikes. The San Remo is 619euro and the Echelon 695euro.

Does anyone have any experience of these bikes? What other essentials would you need? Helemet, gloves, shoes etc.

SuperSean11

*Hank Scorpio* wrote: »

Bump, sorry thread hijack.

I was also thinking of starting. I'm not interested in racing, just for my own recreational purposes. I visited the bike shop in Omni Park, Santry. I was shown quite a few bikes but the guy recommended a road bike for the long run, the Claud Butler San Remo and Echelon bikes. The San Remo is 619euro and the Echelon 695euro.

Does anyone have any experience of these bikes? What other essentials would you need? Helemet, gloves, shoes etc.

Seems a bit dear for a bike you only want for recreational use. Any ideas for bike shops in north Dublin?

DePurpereWolf

Depends on what is recreational. For some people, climbing the col de tourmalet is their idea of recreation.

FrankGrimes

*Hank Scorpio* wrote: »

Bump, sorry thread hijack.

I was also thinking of starting. I'm not interested in racing, just for my own recreational purposes. I visited the bike shop in Omni Park, Santry. I was shown quite a few bikes but the guy recommended a road bike for the long run, the Claud Butler San Remo and Echelon bikes. The San Remo is 619euro and the Echelon 695euro.

Does anyone have any experience of these bikes? What other essentials would you need? Helemet, gloves, shoes etc.

Hey Hank, the Buying A Bike wiki wouldn't be a bad place to start, there's plenty of which bike threads aswell so have a search and invest a bit of time reading and things will seem clearer, it can be pretty complimicated to get your head around all the variables with road bikes at first.

I just had a quick look online and it looks like both of those bikes have very entry level parts - e.g. Shimano 2200 is the lowest of their 6 ranges (which go upwards as 2200, Sora, Tiagra, 105, Ultegra, DuraAce). Now that doesn't mean it won't go or it'll fall apart, it'll just mean it'll be relatively heavier and clunkier than more expensive bikes and the ride quality might not be as good. It'll be well faster than a mountain bike though and if you're just doing brief spins, they may be grand for you, though that is still quite a bit of cash outlay. For another 100-200 you might be able to pick up a decent aluminium frame with carbon forks and Tiagra components. 2nd hand might also be a good bet for you so check here (and Adverts.ie) for a start.

Leave aside another 150-200 for helmet, good lock, lights, pump, saddle bag, tyre levers, spare tubes, mini tool and shorts and jersey and maybe a jacket if you plan on doing longish rides.

Good luck with it.

kennyb3

SuperSean11 wrote: »

Seems a bit dear for a bike you only want for recreational use. Any ideas for bike shops in north Dublin?

humphries cycles in finglas. pm acoustic if you can. bought a bike there two weeks ago. very happy

blorg

A road bike for longer distances is good advice but if you are new to cycling and plan any hills make sure to get a compact or triple.

I wouldn't be mad on either of those Claud Butlers to be honest, something like the Giant Defy 3 would be a better bet. Alternatively Giant Defy 4 is around the same spec as the Claud Butlers at €550 and these days Giant has a much better reputation for producing racers. If you could stretch to something with Tiagra, all the better.

Recreational has a wide range as DePurpereWolf says, most posters here do not race yet many have bikes that cost in the thousands. If you are going to spend a lot of time on the bike and do long distances it makes sense to me. Indeed there is probably more call for a nice comfortable carbon bike if you do 200km around Wicklow for fun, you could probably get by in a race just as well on a nice stiff aluminium machine.

lyders

So I ended up buying this today!! I'm pretty happy with it. Was so excited cycling home today! Good buy????


Is the image working?

jamsieboy86

blorg wrote: »

A road bike for longer distances is good advice but if you are new to cycling and plan any hills make sure to get a compact or triple.

I wouldn't be mad on either of those Claud Butlers to be honest, something like the Giant Defy 3 would be a better bet. Alternatively Giant Defy 4 is around the same spec as the Claud Butlers at €550 and these days Giant has a much better reputation for producing racers. If you could stretch to something with Tiagra, all the better.

Recreational has a wide range as DePurpereWolf says, most posters here do not race yet many have bikes that cost in the thousands. If you are going to spend a lot of time on the bike and do long distances it makes sense to me. Indeed there is probably more call for a nice comfortable carbon bike if you do 200km around Wicklow for fun, you could probably get by in a race just as well on a nice stiff aluminium machine.

The Giant Defy's are out of stock in the Cycle Superstore, was in there today trying to buy one, they can't get any more in from Giant either.

blorg

Looks good lyders- are you female by any chance? Did you buy new or second hand?

2008 SCR 3W I think- good solid Sora components, Tiagra RD and a triple that will get you up any hill.

Next stop you need to get shoes and new pedals

Based on your inside leg measurement you _probably_ also want your saddle a fair bit higher (usually it would be above the bars.)

lyders

blorg wrote: »

Looks good lyders- are you female by any chance? Did you buy new or second hand?

2008 SCR 3W I think- good solid Sora components, Tiagra RD and a triple that will get you up any hill.

Next stop you need to get shoes and new pedals

Based on your inside leg measurement you _probably_ also want your saddle a fair bit higher (usually it would be above the bars.)

Yup...i am female...i do like the nice and girly paint job!!

Yup...right on the model and spec. Got it pretty new..only used for one day.

I figure there is way more on the list to get!!

lyders

lyders wrote: »

I figure there is way more on the list to get!!

The problem really is that the list just keeps getting longer the more stuff you get

*Hank Scorpio*

FrankGrimes wrote: »

Hey Hank, the Buying A Bike wiki wouldn't be a bad place to start, there's plenty of which bike threads aswell so have a search and invest a bit of time reading and things will seem clearer, it can be pretty complimicated to get your head around all the variables with road bikes at first.

I just had a quick look online and it looks like both of those bikes have very entry level parts - e.g. Shimano 2200 is the lowest of their 6 ranges (which go upwards as 2200, Sora, Tiagra, 105, Ultegra, DuraAce). Now that doesn't mean it won't go or it'll fall apart, it'll just mean it'll be relatively heavier and clunkier than more expensive bikes and the ride quality might not be as good. It'll be well faster than a mountain bike though and if you're just doing brief spins, they may be grand for you, though that is still quite a bit of cash outlay. For another 100-200 you might be able to pick up a decent aluminium frame with carbon forks and Tiagra components. 2nd hand might also be a good bet for you so check here (and Adverts.ie) for a start.

Leave aside another 150-200 for helmet, good lock, lights, pump, saddle bag, tyre levers, spare tubes, mini tool and shorts and jersey and maybe a jacket if you plan on doing longish rides.

Good luck with it.

The Echelon has that. Not too bothered about having aload of gears tbh.

The guy in the store showed me two road bikes before that, 1 demo model which didn't have the gear 'flicker' and 1 bike that was between 400-500euro. The next one up was the San Remo/Echelon. I'll look around a bit more.

lyders

Dónal wrote: »

The problem really is that the list just keeps getting longer the more stuff you get

I've just begun to notice that! :eek:

SuperSean11

lyders it looks nice. What shop did you get it in? How much did cost? Are you going to race with it?

lyders

SuperSean11 wrote: »

lyders it looks nice. What shop did you get it in? How much did cost? Are you going to race with it?

A lot of questions!! Ehh maybe trying to get into some racing. I figure i'll get race fit first and see where i go from there.

*Hank Scorpio*

A noob question incoming. From reading through alot of threads I see replacing the pedals is quite common, even on newly bought bikes. Why is this?

blorg

*Hank Scorpio* wrote: »

A noob question incoming. From reading through alot of threads I see replacing the pedals is quite common, even on newly bought bikes. Why is this?

The suggestion is to replace flat pedals with clipless ones that use a cleat on the shoe to affix it firmly to the pedal while cycling.

*Hank Scorpio*

blorg wrote: »

The suggestion is to replace flat pedals with clipless ones that use a cleat on the shoe to affix it firmly to the pedal while cycling.

I see. Is it more convenient?

Btw I bought my bike today Got it in the UCD Bike shop, a Defy 4. Cycled back to Raheny on it. The saddle was very uncomfortable. I'm also a bit of a noob using the gears.

kennyb3

*Hank Scorpio* wrote: »

I see. Is it more convenient?

Btw I bought my bike today Got it in the UCD Bike shop, a Defy 4. Cycled back to Raheny on it. The saddle was very uncomfortable. I'm also a bit of a noob using the gears.

get a good pair of shorts and you wont know yourself. less vibrations and easier to cycle two days in a row

FrankGrimes

*Hank Scorpio* wrote: »

I see. Is it more convenient?

Btw I bought my bike today Got it in the UCD Bike shop, a Defy 4. Cycled back to Raheny on it. The saddle was very uncomfortable. I'm also a bit of a noob using the gears.

After going through a load of hassle with saddle pain and trying out several different saddles of different shapes and sizes and never getting comfortable until I went back to a cheapish saddle after changing the seatpost height, I'd defo reckon saddle position is more of a factor than the actual saddle itself (not that it's not important though).

Search around on the web and you'll find ways to measure yourself and figure out the right saddle position for you. Too high and the saddle feels like it is sticking into you, too low and your knees come under a lot of pressure and the lower back and hips feel the strain (generally takes a couple of hours on the bike to notice this). That said, road bike saddles are generally smaller than the big cushioned yokes on hyrbids or mountain bikes, so there will be a certain amount of just suffering through it for the first while to get used to it.

Now all you gotta do is point it in the general direction of Wicklow and be prepared for some pain!

blorg

*Hank Scorpio* wrote: »

I see. Is it more convenient?

Btw I bought my bike today Got it in the UCD Bike shop, a Defy 4. Cycled back to Raheny on it. The saddle was very uncomfortable. I'm also a bit of a noob using the gears.

Clipless pedals are more efficient and keep your foot in just the right place. You can get either a road system if you are going to be just going for spins and not walking or a mountain bike system which has the cleat recessed so you can walk in the shoes.

+1 you need cycling shorts. The Giant saddle is sort of OK, not great in my own experience. Saddles are a very personal thing.

horizon26

wiggle in England have some very good value focus bikes but be very careful about sizing.The focus cayo 105 is under 1000 euro has a full carbon frame and 105 components.I have focus cayo expert 2008 and the bike is very fast great to climb although it has a very racer set up just a thought.

*Hank Scorpio*

Yeh I think I need proper shorts or something with a bit of padding :P Ass is very sore atm, particularly when sitting down

Time to do some research on pedals. Cheers blorg.

Also kudos to the guy in the UCD bike shop. Sounded frenc, brown hair, if you frequent here thank you.