FIRST BIKE

DU.LLAHAN

Hi i'm looking to start cycling to help with overall fitness, i want something that will keep me going for a year or 2, Will this bike be any good.

niceonetom

DU.LLAHAN wrote: »

Hi i'm looking to start cycling to help with overall fitness, i want something that will keep me going for a year or 2, Will this bike be any good.

Halfords have a pretty ropey rep around here. They sell a lot of bike-shaped-objects that are not fit to be ridden. The one you've linked to there appears to be an actual bike though.

It's very much at the bottom end of the road bike spectrum, but there's nothing on that bike that leaps out at me as really bad. 2200 is bottom rung shimano, but it will work well if set up and maintained. 32 spoke wheels are serviceable and should take some abuse. Steel fork is better than the alu some manufacturers use at that price point... the tyres are likely to be crap, but that true of most off the shelf bikes. Compact gearing is a good choice for a beginner.

The price is reasonable - you are very unlikely to find a better deal in a b&m shop, maybe on the net. I'd say go for it, but make sure that it's

1) a good fit.
what height are you? what's your inseam length (in bare feet)
2) properly put together.
this seems to be halfords' achilles heel. Have someone who knows about bikes go over it and get everything working as it should, the in-house mechs can't be trusted to put the handlebars on the right way up.

DU.LLAHAN

Im five nine, not sure what length my in seam but would there be much point in buying that bike and upgrading that to better standard in nine or ten months time doing it bit by bit.

blorg

DU.LLAHAN wrote: »

Im five nine, not sure what length my in seam but would there be much point in buying that bike and upgrading that to better standard in nine or ten months time doing it bit by bit.

No, you would be far better off selling it/keeping it as a winter bike and buying a new one, something like the £899/999 Planet X. It is generally cheaper to buy components all together and on a bike. Also you can't really upgrade 2200 as it is 8 speed, the next rung up is 9 speed and anything really worth upgrading to is 10 speed- so you would have to change most of the groupset in one go. Finally the frame/fork probably doesn't really justify the upgrade.

paddyduc

Not a great choice really. For another €180 you could buy a good starter bike alu frame/carbon fork and decent groupset.If you are totally new some shops do good starter packs which include all the little essentials you will need to get going.

www.chaindrivencycles.com

abcdggs

Can we have blorg saying buy a Planet X made into a sticky please

papac

Will this bike be any good.

I'd spend another couple of hundred and get something half decent but if you can't-

FWIW Cycling+ magazine did a group test of starter bikes in the summer and this came out tops.
I have had a good look at it in the shop when I was buying a hack bike earlier in the year (bought a Subway-suited my needs better) and I thought it seemed good value. Its well thought out spec-wise I think.
The 2200 shifters are a bit sloppy but my daughter has em on her bike and they work well so far.
+1 on the tyres but you can pay 5 times as much for a bike and get crap tyres on it. 28mm tyres will fit it (I measured it) which is good for a bit of light touring/commuting.I'd put good tyre on it now and use the originals in the Summer-I wouldn't trust em in the wet tbh and you will have to replace em eventually.Set of Gatorskins here
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055768809

Like Blorg says-dont bother upgrading-unless you can pick up bargains-you'll end up spending a good chunk of the price of a decent bike and only have a fair one.Save for a proper bike if you like cycling

All in all I think you could do worse for your money.Just watch out for Halfords staff-some are ok-some are criminally dangerous idiots ime. If you have any issues just keep taking it back and eventually you will get a good member of staff hopefully.

paddyduc

@ blorg.There's plenty of value to be got locally especially on beginner bikes. No need to go to uk for everything.

papac

paddyduc wrote: »

@ blorg.There's plenty of value to be got locally especially on beginner bikes. No need to go to uk for everything.

I know this is not directed at me but maybe the OP would benefit from some concrete examples of locally available value starter bikes.
I can't see any in the link you posted.
www.chaindrivencycles.com

Is that your shop btw Paddyuc.???

blorg

paddyduc wrote: »

@ blorg.There's plenty of value to be got locally especially on beginner bikes. No need to go to uk for everything.

Planet X was an example of how getting a complete new bike generally makes more sense as an upgrade option, not what I was suggesting he buy as a beginner bike.

My point was that while RRP on an full Ultegra groupset is £799, for £999 you can get the full groupset, plus a carbon frame/fork, wheels and finishing kit. Point: it is generally not worth upgrading piecemeal. Wheels are about the only exception as you can transfer these easily to a new bike; bikes are almost always underspecified with regard to wheels.

Same point would apply I am sure to buying components vs a complete new bike from a local shop, the complete bike is probably going to work out cheaper, no?

DU.LLAHAN

paddyduc wrote: »

Not a great choice really. For another €180 you could buy a good starter bike alu frame/carbon fork and decent groupset.If you are totally new some shops do good starter packs which include all the little essentials you will need to get going.

www.chaindrivencycles.com

Has this shop opened in sligo? I will pop in tommorrow after work and have a look

paddyduc

blorg wrote: »

Planet X was an example of how getting a complete new bike generally makes more sense as an upgrade option, not what I was suggesting he buy as a beginner bike.

sorry dude didn't realise you were on about the upgrade options. That said you do love to mention the x. no?:D

paddyduc

DU.LLAHAN wrote: »

Has this shop opened in sligo? I will pop in tommorrow after work and have a look

'tis open 10-6 .look forward to meeting you.

blorg

paddyduc wrote: »

sorry dude didn't realise you were on about the upgrade options. That said you do love to mention the x. no?:D

It is true, I love my X. I don't think you'll get a better bike for the money.

Beginners it is often a good idea to buy in a local shop anyway where you can get the sizing right/adjusted and get the after-sales service you will probably need (1 month cable stretch adjustment, etc.)

72hundred

paddyduc wrote: »

@ blorg.There's plenty of value to be got locally especially on beginner bikes. No need to go to uk for everything.

@paddyduc: offering your own services as advice on boards is tantamount to direct advertising.

paddyduc

72hundred wrote: »

@paddyduc: offering your own services as advice on boards is tantamount to direct advertising.

I wasn't offering my services in particular. Just some advice that's all.

DU.LLAHAN

paddyduc wrote: »

'tis open 10-6 .look forward to meeting you.

I'll not be hard to spot just look out for an overweight guy with a what am i doing in here look on my face:D

DU.LLAHAN

How about this bike for a first one. Its within my budget i was gonna buy a higher spec but cant afford it at this min.

blorg

DU.LLAHAN wrote: »

How about this bike for a first one. Its within my budget i was gonna buy a higher spec but cant afford it at this min.

It's crap. If that is your budget, buy second-hand.