Should I buy this Bike for the Ring of Kerry???

Sikpupi

Am seriously thinking about buying this bike after an earlier Boardsie recommendation for the young fella (19yrs) . Actually... it will probably fit me and so the two of us will get use of it.

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_810731_langId_-1_categoryId_212377

Only question is... can he cycle the Ring of Kerry on it??? He after a bike for it as all his mates doing it.... if so - then I can use it for the local parks and trails etc when he gets fed up of it!!

Have a reservation on last one in local branch.. and must make a decision by 3pm tomorrow!!

If anyone can give me some advise - I would appreciate !!

Am under pressure here.... story of my life!!!

Tonyandthewhale

If he's in decent shape he'll be able to cycle the ring of kerry on it but that doesn't mean it's the correct tool for the job.

The subway is a fairly good option for short commutes or bike-packing type touring (it's cheap, it's reliable, it's reasonably well specced and it looks quite nice) but it's not designed for long medium or long distance road riding (ie 100km and up).
It's got flat bars, 26inch (mountain bike) wheels, fairly fat tyres, an elevated seating position and low-range mountain bike style gearing not to mention the fact that it's significantly heavier than most road bikes.

Most people doing the ring of kerry will be riding road bikes (often referred to as 'racing bikes') which have drop bars, 700c wheels, narrow, high-pressure tyres, gearing designed to maximise speed, an aerodynamic riding position and low weight.

If his friends are on road bikes and he's riding the subway he simply won't be able to keep up (unless they're happy to slow down a lot or he's happy to work an awful lot harder than the rest of them).

Sikpupi

Thanks Tony.......

I don't want to buy him a 'road' bike cos he just won't use it for the Summer as he cycles around town, visits mates etc!! I don't think all his mates have road bikes either for the Ring.... they begging /borrowing for the trip. So more a social day out for them!!

Can I ask... with the gears etc, will he not be able to take Commiskista and Molls ?? As a one -off would be get around for the day...in effect I need to get him a bike for the day and if I get him this... we both could enjoy it for the rest of the Summer.

Regards

analordafx

personally i wouldn't dream of it on a mountain bike, he will be left foe dead on that, social outing or not, he will be wrecked on that yoke, get him a road bike with flat bars or something along those lines!!

Roger Hassenforder

Coomakista and Molls are gentle enough, if he's a fit enough young pup, he'll fly up them

Tonyandthewhale

Sikpupi wrote: »

I don't want to buy him a 'road' bike cos he just won't use it for the Summer as he cycles around town, visits mates etc!!

Why can't he do that on a road bike?

HivemindXX

Sikpupi wrote: »

Can I ask... with the gears etc, will he not be able to take Commiskista and Molls ??

The issues with the gears are actually more to do with an inability to keep up on flat/downhill sections due to not being able to pedal fast enough. He may find the hills easier than his friends that have borrowed road bikes.

The Subway is down as a hybrid. It doesn't have suspension and it's not insanely heavy (my bike is heavier). Plenty of people do the RoK on hybrids and even less suitable bikes. If his friends are mostly inexperienced / borrowing bikes I don't think there will be any problem keeping up even if they get quite fancy bikes.

Sikpupi

This is a Hybrid.... not a mountain bike. I agree that it impossible on a mountain bike.. but as said earlier - plenty of people doing it on hybrids.

Tony....19yr old lads want 'cool' bikes. They like jumping paths, cutting across parks, using them as goal posts !( only messing here!) I have a road bike and he laughs at me in my lycra! This would suit his image more!!

MajesticDonkey

Sikpupi wrote: »

Tony....19yr old lads want 'cool' bikes. They like jumping paths, cutting across parks, using them as goal posts !( only messing here!) I have a road bike and he laughs at me in my lycra! This would suit his image more!!

Ah here, not all young lads are that way!