Road Bike in August or Jan '10

Glitterangel76

This may seem like a long winded post...but please bear with me

I recently had my bike stolen, and so now while I wait for the insurance company to pay up some pittance (turns out I had under-insured my bike) my friends and colleagues want to know why I don't get a bike on the B2W scheme.

My plan was to use the B2W scheme to get a nice road bike in the New Year. I was always going to need a second bike for commuting to work and for pottering around Clontarf/Howth/Dublin...doing grocery shopping etc.

However I am now wondering is it worth getting the road bike sooner than later and just getting a second hand bike from the Little Bike shop in Fairview. (was there on Saturday, and there were some nice ones available.)

I think I am worried that I won't use the road bike and it will sit gathering cobwebs in the shed...I don't really know anyone up here that has a road bike so I would have to rely on my own motivation to get up and out on the road bike....although there is a train for racing group in dublin that I could join.

In fact while I am writing this thread, I think my main problem is that I am anxious that people will laugh at me.:o

So my question, is do I get the road bike this month or wait till Jan '10?

blorg

If you would otherwise be without a road bike most certainly get one now, what would you cycle otherwise between now and January?

petethedrummer

Glitterangel76 wrote: »

I think I am worried that I won't use the road bike and it will sit gathering cobwebs in the shed...I don't really know anyone up here that has a road bike so I would have to rely on my own motivation to get up and out on the road bike....although there is a train for racing group in dublin that I could join.

Use it for your commute and you might feel in the mood to do a few extra kms in the evening when you get home. You could go on a boards spin or join Dublin Wheelers or Swords CC. And remember, if you don't use it over the winter you will be added to the wimp list.

Anyone got a link to that leisure cycling group?

LDB

I think I am worried that I won't use the road bike and it will sit gathering cobwebs in the shed...I don't really know anyone up here that has a road bike so I would have to rely on my own motivation to get up and out on the road bike....although there is a train for racing group in dublin that I could join.

If you enjoy road biking then you should get one now. There are a few of us boardies out that area who go out to the boards spins etc so you could do that with us.

What's the train for racing group that you are taking about? that might be interesting.

Glitterangel76

blorg wrote: »

If you would otherwise be without a road bike most certainly get one now, what would you cycle otherwise between now and January?

Er....I could get a second hand bike to use for commuting etc but I am wondering is it worth getting 2 bikes this month (a second hand hybrid/mtb for commuting & grocery shopping and then a new road bike on the b2w scheme)..or stick with my original plan, which was to replace the stolen bike with a new hybrid/mtb this month and get the road bike in January.

Glitterangel76

petethedrummer wrote: »

Use it for your commute and you might feel in the mood to do a few extra kms in the evening when you get home. You could go on a boards spin or join Dublin Wheelers or Swords CC. And remember, if you don't use it over the winter you will be added to the wimp list.

Anyone got a link to that leisure cycling group?

See I don't want to get added to the wimp list.. Growing up my dad would have those awesome fitness ideas...and eventually the rowing machine, stationary bike and gym memberships were cancelled or were hidden in the attic (cos the machines made too much noise when me or my brother used them..)

I'll have to google the Dublin Wheelers and Swords CC...see what they are all about

Glitterangel76

LDB wrote: »

If you enjoy road biking then you should get one now. There are a few of us boardies out that area who go out to the boards spins etc so you could do that with us.

What's the train for racing group that you are taking about? that might be interesting.

This is the train for racing group link (not sure if it will work, as the page is blocked here in work...darn I.T!!)

http://www.meetup.com/Dublin-Social-Cycling-Group/calendar/11076938/t/nr1c_grp

Think I would go cycling with them, before even attempting tagging along on a boards spin...from reading the posts on boards..ye guys sound a little crazy and way way faster than I am

LDB

Glitterangel76 wrote: »

I'll have to google the Dublin Wheelers and Swords CC...see what they are all about

There are a good few of us from here in swords (myself included). If you want to race they are certinally a great club to do it with. Not sure if Dublin Wheelers have a club racing league.

blorg

Is there a particular reason you can't use the Cycle to Work scheme to get a road bike now rather than Jan 2010? Will probably be cheaper now too.

Glitterangel76

blorg wrote: »

Is there a particular reason you can't use the Cycle to Work scheme to get a road bike now rather than Jan 2010? Will probably be cheaper now too.

I wanted to see how much cycling I would do as I didn't want to end up on the wimp list...but after reading comments regarding bike prices...I started to re-think my bike plan.

Thanks everyone for all the great advice, I'm off to google different ladies road bikes

Raam

Hi Glitterangel, Swords CC are trying to get more lady members so maybe you will consider us as a club? There is a touring section and also a race section. I'm a member there and there are quite a few others who post here who are also members. The league races are a good place to start if you want to get into racing. They are handicapped to try make it a level playing field. You could also try the Boot Inn league next year which is for ladies who want to start racing. I am of course assuming that you want to race!

Glitterangel76

I'm not sure if I want to race...guess I'll have that as an aim for 2010

Ok, without confusing me, what is the difference between a 'groupset' Tiagra and Sora?

The 2 bikes I'm looking at are similar except for this element and price. €200 in the difference.

I say 'groupset' as this is what boards wiki is telling me its called..so if its not, I'm sorry.

Caroline_ie

Sora is entry-level components. 8 Speed - Sora is made more for the occasional rider who doesn’t plan on doing much in the line of riding.

Tiagra is also level entry, but Shimano considers this line to be “advanced recreational.” . 9 Speed.

105 is better, a little more advanced, but still considered entry level 'racing'.

Glitterangel76

Ahh thank you
back to the google drawing board

petethedrummer

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Sora is entry-level components. 8 Speed - Sora is made more for the occasional rider who doesn’t plan on doing much in the line of riding.

Sora is up to 9 speed nowadays. My mate bought a specialized with 9 soras on it. Though the Felts we looked at had only 8 soras.

Tiagra shifters are way better than sora ones. The down shift button on the soras seems like a pain the behind.

godihatethehils

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Sora is entry-level components. 8 Speed - Sora is made more for the occasional rider who doesn’t plan on doing much in the line of riding.

Tiagra is also level entry, but Shimano considers this line to be “advanced recreational.” . 9 Speed.

105 is better, a little more advanced, but still considered entry level 'racing'.

Is Ultegra the best? I got very confused when I went into the LBS get my compact. Would it go something like this.... (ranking from worst to best)

sora
shimano tiagra
shimano 105
shimano ultegra

i suppose i'm missing out about 15 million other makes and models...

penexpers

godihatethehils wrote: »

Is Ultegra the best? I got very confused when I went into the LBS get my compact. Would it go something like this.... (ranking from worst to best)

sora
shimano tiagra
shimano 105
shimano ultegra

i suppose i'm missing out about 15 million other makes and models...

No that's right for Shimano. After Ultegra is Dura Ace. Below Sora is 2800.

Raam

godihatethehils wrote: »

Is Ultegra the best? I got very confused when I went into the LBS get my compact. Would it go something like this.... (ranking from worst to best)

sora
shimano tiagra
shimano 105
shimano ultegra

i suppose i'm missing out about 15 million other makes and models...

You shouldn't be worrying your pretty blonde ahead about these bike things. Leave them to us boys.

godihatethehils

Raam wrote: »

You shouldn't be worrying your pretty blonde ahead about these bike things. Leave them to us boys.

I hear another volunteer to change my next flat...

Raam

godihatethehils wrote: »

I hear another volunteer to change my next flat...

I hear another volunteer to cook my next dinner.

godihatethehils

Raam wrote: »

I hear another volunteer to cook my next dinner.

There's just one of them.....

Glitterangel76

Oh lordy who knew a simple question would end up with a volunteer service being created

So in the theme of that...I will volunteer to stop asking silly questions, in return will someone help me find a bike and hopefully cure the itch created by the addiction that is road bikes & cycling??

penexpers

Glitterangel76 wrote: »

Oh lordy who knew a simple question would end up with a volunteer service being created

So in the theme of that...I will volunteer to stop asking silly questions, in return will someone help me find a bike and hopefully cure the itch created by the addiction that is road bikes & cycling??

There is no cure, sorry.

Glitterangel76

penexpers wrote: »

There is no cure, sorry.

Oh well.. guess i'll keep asking silly questions then

So would a sona groupset be ok for a total novice?

LDB

Glitterangel76 wrote: »

Oh well.. guess i'll keep asking silly questions then

So would a sona groupset be ok for a total novice?

I for one think it would do you fine. That's what I have as that was what I could afford when I bought my road bike. If you have more in the budget you could go for a higher spec though, it'd probably last longer or something.

Glitterangel76

LDB wrote: »

I for one think it would do you fine. That's what I have as that was what I could afford when I bought my road bike. If you have more in the budget you could go for a higher spec though, it'd probably last longer or something.

Thanks LDB