What type of bike, and what size frame?

thirtythirty

Howdy.

So i've decided to take up cycling. I used to cycle all the time (mountain biking), but since my main mountain bike mates are now in uk and my car no longer takes a bike rack, i just kinda stopped doing it.

I've never used racing bikes (albeit a couple goes on my mate's) and dont have much interest in them, but i want to take up road cycling, primarily for fitness *cougetridofbellygh*. So i was looking at the hybrids / cross bikes.

I know nothing about them though.

- Are they the same sort of speed as racing bikes, or am i going to look silly frantically peddling away in the bus lane and get overtaken by a plastic bag in the wind?
- I would rather not spend more than around the €200 mark. Is that realistic, or do i need to seek out the perfect 2nd hand one?
- Finally, i'm about 5,10 (32" leg according to my jeans if that helps!), what size frame should i be looking at? I have a GT Zaskar mountain bike, but i would be hesitant sizing it up against that as i spend most of the time on my feet leaning back on that, so dont know what it'd be like on roads.

Cheers.

blorg

If you want to cycle on the road, get a road bike. I wouldn't buy a road racing bike to ride around trails.

What is it means you "don't have much interest in them"? This just doesn't make sense to me.

Main problem with a hybrid is the lack of hand positions on longer rides. They are a good choice for commuting or shorter distances, or someone starting off. Longer distances however better on a road bike.

With a cross bike you are looking at something that pretty much looks like a racing bike anyway just with knobbly tyres so you can take it off road, this would be the better bet but you would want to swap the knobblies for slicks for road use, unless you want to go slower and have crap grip on the tarmac (particularly cornering) just to make things a little more interesting...

Or you could just buy the bike that is designed for doing medium to long distances on the road... A road bike.

thirtythirty

blorg wrote: »

What is it means you "don't have much interest in them"? This just doesn't make sense to me.

I hate the seating position and the narrow curly handlebars on them. I find them incredibly uncomfortable.

Would a cross bike with slicks give similar performance to a road bike? Obv it'l be slower, but would it be acceptable speed?

Lumen

Possible terminology confusion:

"Cross bike" can mean either a flat-bar hybrid or cyclocross bike which is a drop-bar racer with extra clearance and often off-road brakes.

A cyclocross bike will be only marginally more squishy than a road bike (if that's what you mean by comfort), but your body position will be largely the same.

Road bikes can feel a little uncomfortable to start with, but become more comfortable as you get fitter. Hybrids start out more comfortable, but get less so as you get fitter.

So the appropriate choice depends on whether you intend to get more or less fit as time goes on.

blorg

As Lumen says we may have a misunderstanding here as to what you mean by a cross bike- do you mean a hybrid?

Note also you can get more relaxed geometry bikes (such as those designed for touring) that will not have as much of a drop from saddle to bars but will still have the curly bars (these give you more hand positions which adds to comfort over distance.) You can also get auxiliary brake levers on the flat bit of the bars so you effectively have the same position as on flat bars.

If you really don't want it, a hybrid is however fine for shortish spins up to maybe 1h30-2h00 or so. It is slower than a road bike, yes, but if your goal is losing weight that doesn't really matter so much, you will be putting in a bit more effort to keep up a given speed on the hybrid.

I had hybrids myself before I got a road bike and did plenty of km on them and lost plenty of weight doing so.

Morgan

spottyelephant wrote: »

Howdy.

So i've decided to take up cycling. I used to cycle all the time (mountain biking), but since my main mountain bike mates are now in uk and my car no longer takes a bike rack, i just kinda stopped doing it.

I've never used racing bikes (albeit a couple goes on my mate's) and dont have much interest in them, but i want to take up road cycling, primarily for fitness *cougetridofbellygh*. So i was looking at the hybrids / cross bikes.

I know nothing about them though.

- Are they the same sort of speed as racing bikes, or am i going to look silly frantically peddling away in the bus lane and get overtaken by a plastic bag in the wind?
- I would rather not spend more than around the €200 mark. Is that realistic, or do i need to seek out the perfect 2nd hand one?
- Finally, i'm about 5,10 (32" leg according to my jeans if that helps!), what size frame should i be looking at? I have a GT Zaskar mountain bike, but i would be hesitant sizing it up against that as i spend most of the time on my feet leaning back on that, so dont know what it'd be like on roads.

Cheers.

You could just take up mtbing again. How far do you live from the hills? There seems to be a resurgence of interest in mtb these days so you'd easily find people to ride with.

thirtythirty

I'm going to try mountain bike a bit more, but during the week it's just not going to happen, thats why im looking at road cycling, and on the rare saturdays that i dont feel like dracula and need to stay in bed, i'm invariably sailing. Maybe sundays then!


Well im more on the fence as to whether i get a racer or hybrid now. Sincerely doubt i'll ever go more than 2hours after work during the week, but then again why not just go the whole way and forget the hybrids. Can you get racer's with wider handle bars? I like a good metre spread!

Also, any guidance on frame size? (5,10"ish)

Lastly, any good resources where i can look at 150 - 300 euro bikes (1st or 2nd hand, dont bother me)

Also, what about this?

blorg

Generally road handlebars go up to 44cm, it is difficult to get above that. The general rule is it should be as wide as your shoulders. If much wider it might not be very comfortable on the drop bit. By comparison MTB bars are around 58cm, wider than road bars but I have not heard of 100cm bars.

You would probably be around a 56cm in frame size but it depends on the bike. I am 6ft and ride 58cm.

thirtythirty

I think i've found the perfect answer!

Are Giant FCR's essentially thoroughbred racing bikes except with flat handlebars?
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/EN-GB/bikes/road/2431/32466/

Morgan

Lumen wrote: »

The question I'm sure he's asking himself is "which type of cycling is most likely to bring me into close proximity to a rather well-presented but impractically dressed woman".

And we're 1-1 on that score...

Jaysus, at least I didn't try to poke the poor girl with a sandwich.

spottyelephant wrote: »

I think i've found the perfect answer!

Are Giant FCR's essentially thoroughbred racing bikes except with flat handlebars?
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/EN-GB/bikes/road/2431/32466/

If you're determined to stick to the road and you really can't get to grips with drop-bars then that would be a good choice. Most of the big bike brands have a "flat barred road bike" in their range.

DJsail

Well that's a sure way of starting an argument amongst the purists but in short, yes the Giant FCR shares the same frame geometry as the Giant Defy range designed for road use, apart from the handle bars which subsequently gives you a more upright riding position.

For long spins however consider adjusting to the drop bars as you'lll no doubt be far more comfortable so with that in mind have a look at the Defy range also.

Doubt you'll pick up a FCR for Eur200 unless you've spotted something second-hand. Out of curiosity how much cycling do you intend doing weekly? You may tire of the flat bars fairly quickly as soon as your joined by a boardsie flying with drop bars!

Either way if your sure you can't adjust get the FCR as it seems to tick all your boxes

DJsail

What are the odds, just had a look on adverts.ie and saw a FCR3 for Eur400, at 200 off the RRP its a bargain! It is in Galway however and you'd have to make sure it is a 3 and not a 4 or something but how bad!

www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=132847&cat=52

thirtythirty

I actually saw that, but unfortunately i think the frame is too big for me

I'm not sure about cycling frequency yet, but i'd hope to go for 1hr / 1hr 30 four times a week anyway. You can fit drops to the fcr i think anyway, so i may end up doing that. I think i'd be happy spending up to 400 or so for the right bike.

DJsail

Yeah if it was a L frame I'd say go for it at that price but the bloke selling it doesn't seem to know what size it is, you could always call him and ask him to read the sticker.

You could indeed fit drop bars onto the bike but dropbars+STI gear/brake levers will set you back another Eur150-200 but will give you that flexibility so overall I'd say get one as judging by your above posts it fits the bill exactly

blorg

You are better off deciding now whether you want drops or not as it is expensive to change later.

Bloch

I have a hybrid (Ridgeback element) and I put bar ends on it. I prefer it to a racer (aka road bike) and I find I can crouch low enough when I want to go that bit faster, or against a headwind.

To be honest, when I cycle around and see people on racers, 9 times out of 10 they are holding the top of the bar, NOT crouched in the racing position. But of course, it is good to be able to get down low and fast when you need to.

Try the gumtree.ie. That's how I bought my Ridgeback 2nd hand for €250.
Here's a good one: (Secialized Sirrus)
http://www.gumtree.ie/dublin/75/42757875.html
This one could be worth a look. Never heard of the make though.
http://www.gumtree.ie/dublin/14/43101714.html

There's also some guy who keeps putting up classic steel-framed racers from the 80's on gumtree.

thirtythirty

Can someone tell me if this is any good please and thank you!

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=38414

blorg

spottyelephant wrote: »

Can someone tell me if this is any good please and thank you!

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=38414

It's a good deal at £359 although I doubt it was ever really £799. The main issue with it for me would be the crankset which seems very undergeared with a 48 big ring. Not necessarily a dealbreaker if you are not planning on racing it.

thirtythirty

Thanks for al the help guys, think im going to go for that Vitus and see how it works out

DJsail

Good luck and let us know how you get on!