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Bike upgrade advice

  • 23-04-2010 6:07pm
    #1
    Milan Cobian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 122 ✭✭


    I bought a bike a few months ago with the bike to work scheme, a Carrera Subway 2. Since then I have discovered 2 things: 1) I like cycling a lot. 2) the bike is not totally suitable for road touring.
    So what would anyone suggest I could do to the bike to improve its suitability, like is it possible to refit a bike with dropped handlebars?
    Or would I need a new bike entirely? I'm reluctant to do this for obvious money reasons.
    My normal spin is about 40-70km around the Dublin area, depending how much time I have. The steepest stuff I've tried so far is Howth summit.


Comments

  • #2
    dave.obrien
    Closed Accounts Posts: 573 ✭✭✭dave.obrien


    Milan Cobian wrote: »
    I bought a bike a few months ago with the bike to work scheme, a Carrera Subway 2. Since then I have discovered 2 things: 1) I like cycling a lot. 2) the bike is not totally suitable for road touring.
    So what would anyone suggest I could do to the bike to improve its suitability, like is it possible to refit a bike with dropped handlebars?
    Or would I need a new bike entirely? I'm reluctant to do this for obvious money reasons.
    My normal spin is about 40-70km around the Dublin area, depending how much time I have. The steepest stuff I've tried so far is Howth summit.

    Refitting a bike with dropped handlebars is possible, but the integrated brake shifters work out quite expensive... A quick search on Chain Reaction Cycles showed up a 9 speed shimano Sora pair of lever for €115, with the lower right hand shifter on it's own costing €45. If you're considering it, ask someone like Mr Skeffington to talk you through it maybe.

    The obvious alternative is to check adverts.ie or the adverts subforum here for a reasonably priced second hand. Not meaning to pimp it, but I'm looking to move one of mine on through adverts with spd pedals, and an option for some gear and bike shoes:

    http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=210730&cat=209#thumb

    It probably isn't the type of thing you're looking for, but it is an idea to consider a second hander, if you like cycling a road specific bike will give you a lot more distance and speed for the effort you put in.


  • #3
    Coronal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 395 ✭✭Coronal


    As has been said, it can be done, but can work out to be expensive; you're looking at around 200 euro anyway. If you're thinking of doing a lot of road cycling on it, it could be worth saving up for a while and getting a full road bike.

    I did the same thing as you and bought a hybrid and very quickly determined that a road bike would have been more suited :D You should be alright with those distances on a hybrid, and probably most climbs, I'd say. Putting that money aside and getting a decent second hand road bike could be a better long term option.

    My $0.02 :)


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