First Bike, advice needed...

willya

Hi,
First post, first bike (well since I was 14!)

So I am looking into buying a bike on the bike to work scheme.
Price range: €700-1200

What I want the bike for:
I would like to cycle to the gym in the mornings before work (approx. 5km), so it would mean having to bring a bag (back-pack) with clothes and laptop.
I can leave the bike at the gym, then have a 2 minute stroll to work & cycle home. I'll be doing this in Cork so hills will be an issue.

I'd also like to do long(er) cycles at the weekends well, build up to long cycles and maybe look at getting involved with a club etc.

I guess my main question is do I need a hybrid or a road bike or what would people recommend?

Craig06

If you want to get involved in a club you'll need a road bike most of the time. Buy an aluminium road bike with a carbon fork and 10speed gearing like shimano tiagra or 105. I bought an audacio 400 2013 last year and love it

MB Lacey

A hybrid is great for everything except longer rides (not very comfortable).
A road bike is great for longer rides and can be used for what you'd use a hybrid for.

I think you need a road bike - especially if you want to get involved with joining a cycling club.

If you're concerned about hills - get a triple geared road bike or compact with a big cassette range (12-30 will see you up any hill)

macnab

Buy a road bike. If you decide to buy a hybrid then I advise you to spend about €200 on a 2nd hand one, because like most people you will eventually buy a road bike and wish you had not wasted your Cycle To Work money on a hybrid.

Brian?

It's only a matter of time before someone reccomends this:

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3073

willya

Thanks all,

Looks like I'm buying a road bike then.
Will look into the bikes recommended.

Anything I need to look out for when buying...

Does a road bike mean I need to get those clip on shoes (I'm sure there is a technical name for them)?

Seaneh

Aluminium Frame, carbon for. Full tiagra groupset and sub 9.5kg for €703, I reckon it's a bargain.
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-7-road-bike-black-id_8239802.html#anchor_ComponentCrossSelling

Or full carbon bike with full tiagra groupset and only 8.9kg for pretty much bang on a grand.
The frame itself is only 1150grams and is the same frame the decathlon team used a few years ago.
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/fc-3-road-bike-black-id_8221749.html#anchor_ComponentProductFeatures

That said, the Canyon or Rose with 105/Apex is hard beat at the price.

Especially from the canyon outlet shop.

http://www.canyon.com/_en/outlet/list.html?type=race&serie=Roadlite&size=&state=&sort=new

studiorat

You could look at a fast tourer or a cross bike as well. You'll still be able to go for spins on it at in the evenings and weekends, you can put a carrier on it and it won't get destroyed commuting every day. Lower gears for Cork too, though you won't need them. You'll get used to it, especially if you go to the gym every day.

Victoria Cross cycles (Cork) have Genesis and Ridgeback bikes which would be worth a look. They would be fine for club spins as well unless you are considering racing.

Lemlin

Seaneh wrote: »

Aluminium Frame, carbon for. Full tiagra groupset and sub 9.5kg for €703, I reckon it's a bargain.
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-7-road-bike-black-id_8239802.html#anchor_ComponentCrossSelling

Or full carbon bike with full tiagra groupset and only 8.9kg for pretty much bang on a grand.
The frame itself is only 1150grams and is the same frame the decathlon team used a few years ago.
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/fc-3-road-bike-black-id_8221749.html#anchor_ComponentProductFeatures

That said, the Canyon or Rose with 105/Apex is hard beat at the price.

Especially from the canyon outlet shop.

http://www.canyon.com/_en/outlet/list.html?type=race&serie=Roadlite&size=&state=&sort=new

Are Decathlon registered for the Irish bike to work scheme?

brianomc

Not trying to derail the OP's thread but from clicking the links above what would be the difference between http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3073 and http://www.canyon.com/_en/outlet/article.html?o=A1035846# that warrants an extra 150euro.

I'm sure someone has fallen off their chair in disgust at my question but it's so confusing trying to compare all the various bits. The most obvious thing to me is 1kg in weight. Been cycling a hybrid up to now and thinking of an upgrade.

Brian?

brianomc wrote: »

Not trying to derail the OP's thread but from clicking the links above what would be the difference between http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3073 and http://www.canyon.com/_en/outlet/article.html?o=A1035846# that warrants an extra 150euro.

I'm sure someone has fallen off their chair in disgust at my question but it's so confusing trying to compare all the various bits. The most obvious thing to me is 1kg in weight. Been cycling a hybrid up to now and thinking of an upgrade.

It's a 2010 model, only available in size 66. Not much demand for a 66 unless a load of ex NBA players take up cycling.

brianomc

Brian? wrote: »

It's a 2010 model, only available in size 66. Not much demand for a 66 unless a load of ex NBA players take up cycling.

Yep, good point. I could have sworn I was able to choose a size earlier but my head is messed up looking at various bikes I must have been thinking of a different one. Thanks.

willya

Lemlin wrote: »

Are Decathlon registered for the Irish bike to work scheme?

Nope, unfortunately not.:(

McGrath5

Brian? wrote: »

It's only a matter of time before someone reccomends this:

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3073

If only!

My size has been out of stock for a few weeks now. I emailed their customer service asking when the will receive more stock, but I have yet to get a reply.