Recommend a bicycle

ba_barabus

Hi folks,

I'm hoping you can give me some advice. I currently have a "Made In Nottingham" Raleigh Manta Ray but it is requiring a lot of maintenance work to be done. It's actually in excellent shape and doesn't look the 15 years old it actually is. It's not beyond repairing but as it would cost 125-150 to sort I'm considering upgrading to a newer bike under the bike to work scheme.

My basic requirements are for something for commuting a few k's in Dublin and maybe going for a relaxing cycle in the countryside occasionally. I'd like something light and comfortable for cycling so no racers. It's purely a commuting bike that I can cycle comfortably, stop and get up to speed quickly.

My fitness isn't great but that's why I'm back on the bike hence I'm not interested in a racer and frankly I think the Gardaí would pull me if I went out in lycra shorts.

I really don't know where to start with bikes or what types of bikes to look at. I know the shop had brands like Giant and Fuji with huge wide tyres which looked great but I assume these are very far from my actual needs.

Buzwaldo

Giant rapid, Specialized sirrus an similar from other reputable manufacturers are good 'road hybrids' - comfy, relatively fast, reliable and saleable if you get the bug and want to change.
If you give an idea of your budget you may get more specific feedback.

ba_barabus

Buzwaldo wrote: »

If you give an idea of your budget you may get more specific feedback.

A good question, one I don't know the answer to. I was told that I can get 52% of the purchase price back on any bike + equipment with the repayments over 12 months with no cash down.

That could of course been a big hairy lie. I know nowt about bikes. If it was a car I was buying this would be highly researched but I don't know what I'm looking at with bikes.

BoardsMember

I bought a specialized a good few years, maybe 5 or 6, and it's still going strong. Commuting use mostly. Never let me down. Good solid bike and reasonably quick for a bike that is not light.

ba_barabus

Ok, how much is a Specialized sirrus or Giant?

Can you recommend anywhere that selling them. My cycle takes me through Donnybrook, Ranelagh, Rathmines and up near Sundrive. If I could stop along my commute route that would be great. Would prefer deal with independents who would take a few minutes to talk me through what I'm looking at and doing.

BoardsMember

ThinkBike, formerly Commuting Solutions, on main street Rathmines would be near enough on your way. If you come up from Ranelagh on Castlewood Ave you'd be taking a right, rather than a left towards Sundrive. I think they do Trek and Giant, both good brands. I know nothing compared to most on here, but if I was to offer some advice I'd say to go for something as sporty or light as you can afford. If you do, you'll enjoy cycling it way more, and so get better use out of it.

I'd say 500-600 would get you a very nice, comfortable, sporty hybrid.

ba_barabus

BoardsMember wrote: »

ThinkBike, formerly Commuting Solutions, on main street Rathmines would be near enough on your way. If you come up from Ranelagh on Castlewood Ave you'd be taking a right, rather than a left towards Sundrive. I think they do Trek and Giant, both good brands. I know nothing compared to most on here, but if I was to offer some advice I'd say to go for something as sporty or light as you can afford. If you do, you'll enjoy cycling it way more, and so get better use out of it.

I'd say 500-600 would get you a very nice, comfortable, sporty hybrid.

Thanks for that suggestion. I'll drop in and see what they say. I'd like something as light as possible alright as I'd preferably like to keep it a few years and get some decent use out of it. Money sounds about right too.

Buzwaldo

That'll get what I suggested. Good shop is the way to go, make sure you get right fit/size etc. Avoid bikes with suspension - not needed for road use. Good locks essential in Dublin.

dreamerb

+1 on ThinkBike, which will also give you two years free servicing when you buy a new bicycle there. I bought from them recently and found them excellent. You might be able to use their two-day try-out offer if you're unsure what you want.

It's worth calling in to Wolfe's Cycles on Sundrive Road as well, though I reckon ThinkBike's customer service is streets ahead.

I have the women's specific version of the Giant Rapid (Giant dash) and it's a lovely bike, very light and a pleasure to cycle. Your entry level Rapid, the Rapid 4, should come in around the €600 mark; the Rapid 1 will come in somewhere around €1200. You might get a discount depending on how your employer operates the cycle-to-work scheme - if they use one of the intermediary companies to issue a voucher, probably not, if they pay the shop directly, almost certainly. You could also check if they have any 2014 clearance stock as the 2015 should be coming in - you might get lucky!

Get a good lock if you don't already have one.

Other things to consider: don't be afraid to ask to change pedals - may be free, depending on what you want (was for me: I wanted flats instead of the mediocre toe-clip ones that came with it). Likewise, might be worth changing from quick-release to fixed skewers, depending on personal preference, puncture rates and parking security.

Happy hunting!

ba_barabus

Cheers for the feedback. I never got a chance to call in as I was out if work stupidly late.

ba_barabus

I forgot to ask what do I look for in a good lock?

dreamerb

ba_barabus wrote: »

I forgot to ask what do I look for in a good lock?

Kryptonite evolution or better. Depends on your parking options: the more exposed the more lock required! If you have quick release wheels, you'll obviously need a cable too. Some will recommend you always have two independent locks of different types to make theft more challenging, but you have to weigh up the inconvenience and weight versus risk mitigation.

Some of the Abus locks are well regarded I think, but I've never had one so can't comment from knowledge.

ba_barabus

dreamerb wrote: »

Some of the Abus locks are well regarded I think, but I've never had one so can't comment from knowledge.

I'll bear that in mind. 90% of the time it'll be safe in work. The rest of the time it will just be nipping to the shops.