What should i be looking for ??

elvis jones

Hi all,

I'm looking to buy a bike and here is what i'll be using it for.

2 miles a day to the train station and back

Also i'm marathon training and need a bike to do some cross training to save to old legs from a pounding. Roughly 10 to 20 miles at a time twice a week or so.

The majority of these cycles will be on country roads with some basic hills !!

I have a budget of about 700 ( doing the cycle to work scheme ).


Any advice would be great.

elvis jones

Bueller, Bueller, anyone anyone...........................;)

Going to wheelworx tomorrow

lukester

Ask for an entry level road bike. They should have something at your budget, and can give you all the advice you need. They have a good reputation around here.

elvis jones

Cheers, what "type" of bike should i be looking for.

Hybrid, mountain etc.........

petethedrummer

elvis jones wrote: »

I'm looking to buy a bike and here is what i'll be using it for.

2 miles a day to the train station and back

Buy a BIG LOCK. Bikes at train stations are easy pickings for thieves.

Lumen

elvis jones wrote: »

Cheers, what "type" of bike should i be looking for.

Hybrid, mountain etc.........

It depends what your aspirations are. If you're marathon training then there may be proper road cycling in your future, in which case you should buy a drop bar road bike.

Don't buy a mountain bike for cycling on the road.

elvis jones

Ha ha, i have a big lock...........but i might buy a BIGGER LOCK !!

Lumen

petethedrummer wrote: »

Buy a BIG LOCK. Bikes at train stations are easy pickings for thieves.

^^ yeah, that affects the choice a bit. TBH, spending €700 on a station bike seems a bit of a risky move.

lukester

elvis jones wrote: »

Cheers, what "type" of bike should i be looking for.

Hybrid, mountain etc.........

lukester wrote: »

Ask for an entry level road bike.

Gives you options for the future. I'd avoid a MTB, and personally I'd avoid a hybrid.

lukester

Lumen wrote: »

^^ yeah, that affects the choice a bit. TBH, spending €700 on a station bike seems a bit of a risky move.

Shite, missed that bit.

But a €100 POS then and a separate bike for training on.

Lumen

elvis jones wrote: »

Ha ha, i have a big lock...........but i might buy a BIGGER LOCK !!

You cannot fully protect a bike with a lock. What about your saddle, handlebars and stem? A few seconds with an allen key and they're gone.

elvis jones

Lumen wrote: »

It depends what your aspirations are. If you're marathon training then there may be proper road cycling in your future, in which case you should buy a drop bar road bike.

Don't buy a mountain bike for cycling on the road.

ok looking at 15 to 20 mile cycles to begin with and see from there. I have lovely stress fracture so need to replace some running with the bike so keep my fitness up.

The roads where i am aren't great so waht something that can handle the odd pothole and bump !!

Lumen

elvis jones wrote: »

The roads where i am aren't great so waht something that can handle the odd pothole and bump !!

Road bikes are very strong. I crashed mine into a ditch at 40kph last weekend, and it wasn't even scratched, although the front wheel needs some attention.

lukester

elvis jones wrote: »

ok looking at 15 to 20 mile cycles to begin with and see from there. I have lovely stress fracture so need to replace some running with the bike so keep my fitness up.

The roads where i am aren't great so waht something that can handle the odd pothole and bump !!

A road bike will handle all of that. Lots of people here train on crappy roads regularly.

petethedrummer

Here's a list of road bikes from the wheelworx website.
http://www.wheelworxbikes.com/index.php?cPath=1_17&page=1&sort=3a

If you want to get reviews, just cut and paste the name of the bike into google along with the word 'review' and you might get some decent info on the bike.

Bike Radar has a fair amount of reviews.
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/bikes/road

elvis jones

Lumen wrote: »

You cannot fully protect a bike with a lock. What about your saddle, handlebars and stem? A few seconds with an allen key and they're gone.

Help i'm new no all this, stop scaring me:eek:

elvis jones

Thanks for all the advice, i have a rubbish one and i think i'll continue to use it for the commute !!

i'll look up the road bikes now and no doubt will come back with a few questions:D

elvis jones

Ok is a road bike the same as a racer ( for those of us who know nothing ).

I really don't like those handlebars at all. Some of those look ok but i rather handlebars with a high position. Ones that look like an "L" on the left side facing up, if that makes any sense ?

Also would they have normal pedals or would i need specific shoes ???

Sorry for all the questions, just want to go into the shop with a little knowledge ( even if this can be dangerous:D )

Lumen

elvis jones wrote: »

Ok is a road bike the same as a racer ( for those of us who know nothing ).

I really don't like those handlebars at all. Some of those look ok but i rather handlebars with a high position. Ones that look like an "L" on the left side facing up, if that makes any sense ?

Also would they have normal pedals or would i need specific shoes ???

Sorry for all the questions, just want to go into the shop with a little knowledge ( even if this can be dangerous:D )

Yes, road bike=racer, but since you can race all sorts of bikes (in the appropriate conditions) the term "road bike" is preferred.

It is not uncommon for people new to cycling to choose a hybrid because they don't like the idea of drop handlebars. Most of them change their minds eventually, or condemn themselves to a life of underachievement (joke).

The most important thing is that the bike fits you.

elvis jones

Lumen wrote: »

Yes, road bike=racer, but since you can race all sorts of bikes (in the appropriate conditions) the term "road bike" is preferred.

It is not uncommon for people new to cycling to choose a hybrid because they don't like the idea of drop handlebars. Most of them change their minds eventually, or condemn themselves to a life of underachievement (joke).

The most important thing is that the bike fits you.

Thanks,

I'll look at both tomorrow. There seem to be lots of hybrids in my price range.

petethedrummer

If you buy a racer you won't be spending all your time on the drops. In fact I never use mine. You will have more hand positions available and I would argue the position of your hands on the hoods on a racer is more natural than on regular handlebars.

As an example: Giant do a flat-bar road bike (or hybrid) called the Rapid
and a road bike/racer called the Defy.

The frame measurements are pretty much identical on the two bikes. So you would arguably more comfortable if you went with the Defy because of the greater number of hand positions you can achieve.

The Giant Defy and Felt Z series have pretty upright frame geometry for racers.

elvis jones

Looking at those bikes i just see the seating position as very forward. I rather a more upright position, does this rule out a lot of road bikes ??

Is the hybird more upright and also are there much differences in the gearing from road bike to hybrid ?

Lumen

elvis jones wrote: »

Looking at those bikes i just see the seating position as very forward. I rather a more upright position, does this rule out a lot of road bikes ?? Is the hybird more upright

Yes and yes, although there are plenty of "relaxed geometry" road bikes out there.

elvis jones wrote: »

are there much differences in the gearing from road bike to hybrid ?

Depends what you mean by "gearing". They all have gears, hybrids are often geared lower but not that would make any difference. The shifters are different.

Forget which feels more appropriate now. You need to decide what sort of cyclist you want to be. If you are going to approach cycling with any degree of seriousness, just buy a road bike.

Hybrids are fine (and are quite capable of going long distances at decent enough speeds) but I don't understand why someone athletic enough to run a marathon would choose one. It's like running in flip flops.

elvis jones

Lumen wrote: »

Yes and yes, although there are plenty of "relaxed geometry" road bikes out there.



Depends what you mean by "gearing". They all have gears, hybrids are often geared lower but not that would make any difference. The shifters are different.

Forget which feels more appropriate now. You need to decide what sort of cyclist you want to be. If you are going to approach cycling with any degree of seriousness, just buy a road bike.

Hybrids are fine (and are quite capable of going long distances at decent enough speeds) but I don't understand why someone athletic enough to run a marathon would choose one. It's like running in flip flops.

Thanks for all that, i have a stress fracture.........must have been using flip flops:D

anoble66

man you come out with some classics

Lumen wrote: »

Yes and yes, although there are plenty of "relaxed geometry" road bikes out there.



Depends what you mean by "gearing". They all have gears, hybrids are often geared lower but not that would make any difference. The shifters are different.

Forget which feels more appropriate now. You need to decide what sort of cyclist you want to be. If you are going to approach cycling with any degree of seriousness, just buy a road bike.

Hybrids are fine (and are quite capable of going long distances at decent enough speeds) but I don't understand why someone athletic enough to run a marathon would choose one. It's like running in flip flops.

elvis jones

Well i'm back from wheelworx and settled on a Giant Rapid 3. It has the race set up with the handlebars and position i was looking for.

Happy with my choice, any feedback ?

elvis jones

AHHHHHHHHHH went out on my crappy bike and did 10 miles this morning. Now i'm thinking the road bike might be better for holding positions as my hands were sore with the limited positions on my old bike.............my bike was a little on the stiff sife as well

Should i go for the defy 3 ???? its that or the rapid 3

petethedrummer

Well everyone who replied suggested you go for the road bike. But its up to you as to what you feel comfortable with. I had a Giant hybrid and moved to a Giant road bike and much prefer the road bike.

elvis jones

petethedrummer wrote: »

Well everyone who replied suggested you go for the road bike. But its up to you as to what you feel comfortable with. I had a Giant hybrid and moved to a Giant road bike and much prefer the road bike.

Yeah i really think so.

Just wondering is there much difference between the defy 3 and 3.5. Also if get a pair of clip in shoes from a friend will they work with any pedals or would i need to get specific shoes for specific pedeals.........sorry i know little about this area:o