Help a cycling newbie out !

com1

hdowney wrote: »

I don't know whether to split out into my own thread or not so mods feel free if ye think I shoulda.

I am hoping to return to cycling - last time I was on a bike I was about 12 and I got twatted by an old fella in a car!!!!

I used to love it, it is great exercise, getting from a 2 b etc.

Now I am a somewhat 'larger' lady and don't have the first clue with purchasing myself a new cycle. I'd be pretty much 95% cycling on roads, perhaps the odd bit of slightly offroad - nothing mental or the likes. HEEEELP

Depending on budget... this may not be the worst option

http://www.halfords.ie/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/carrera-subway-ladies-hybrid-bike-2011-2012-medium-16

com1

com1 wrote: »

Depending on budget... this may not be the worst option

http://www.halfords.ie/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/carrera-subway-ladies-hybrid-bike-2011-2012-medium-16

You will get better for more but spending any less (on a new bike) could be just buying problems. The subways tend to be fairly well thought of at this price point. (or they used to be anyway)

ProudDUB

Hijack away hdowney. It sounds like we are in the same boat & I'm sure that I can benefit from any pearls of wisdom that are thrown your way.

Yesterday, was the first day I put back to back, puncture free cycles together and the tire is still fine. So it looks like the rim issue may be (ok, puncture Gods, I said may be ) solved. Yay !

Any one got suggestions for a 1-2 bike bike rack, that can be left on the car all the time & you can still access the boot? When I feel more confident, I hope to start taking the bike further afield. I just don't want to have to keep taking it on and off all the time.

beauf

You could put it on the roof?

beauf

com1 wrote: »

You will get better for more but spending any less (on a new bike) could be just buying problems. The subways tend to be fairly well thought of at this price point. (or they used to be anyway)

That would be my thinking.

Go no lower in terms of budget anyway.

Just be aware that you need a good person to set the bike up for you, so that depends how good the person in the shop is.

ProudDUB

beauf wrote: »

You could put it on the roof?

Not an option. The bike is far too heavy for one person to manouver up onto the roof of a car. Even if I could get it up there, how are you supposed to get it down again when you get to where you are going? Put a ladder in the boot of the car too? Not being smart...genuine question.

smacl

ProudDUB wrote: »

Not an option. The bike is far too heavy for one person to manouver up onto the roof of a car. Even if I could get it up there, how are you supposed to get it down again when you get to where you are going? Put a ladder in the boot of the car too? Not being smart...genuine question.

How big is the boot? One cheap and easy option is to pop the wheels off the bike and stick the whole lot in the boot rather than use a rack at all. You'll want quick release skewers on the wheels if you don't already have them, and may want to practise a couple of times taking the rear wheel off, but its easy enough and a one minute job.

hdowney

If you are short etc yea why not a small two step jobby would fold flat enough to chuck into the boot/back seat of the car. I'll likely be going for a roof rack as my car is saloon boot, seats don't go down etc.

hdowney

com1 wrote: »

Depending on budget... this may not be the worst option

http://www.halfords.ie/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/carrera-subway-ladies-hybrid-bike-2011-2012-medium-16

Gonna sound divvy, but one thing I never got about bikes was the hight thingy. I'm a 5'7" chica so I presume this'd be the right height.

Do they have knowledgeable folk in halfords. For measuring, getting stuff like saddle to handlebar alignment right? Wondering if I might be more advantagous popping along to Everest in Bray?

HivemindXX

ProudDUB wrote: »

Any one got suggestions for a 1-2 bike bike rack, that can be left on the car all the time & you can still access the boot? When I feel more confident, I hope to start taking the bike further afield. I just don't want to have to keep taking it on and off all the time.

If you have a tow bar you could get a rack that mounts to this. These are very sturdy and you can access the boot and leave them on. However you may not want to leave them on since they make the car considerably longer with the corresponding negative impact on parking and manoeuvring.

The best thing probably is a roof rack since it ticks all the boxes you mentioned initially however as you said if your height and/or strength compared to bike weight aren't up to it then this is no use. I can't imagine lifting my commuter over my head and positioning it on a roof rack.

The usual type of rack you see which sits on the back of the car with various straps doesn't do what you want really but how close it gets varies. None that I'm aware of has any way of locking in place so I wouldn't want to leave one on the car day in day out since I think it would be stolen eventually. Most of them are quite light so you can probably release two of the (usually six) straps and open the boot ok.

Here's a link to the racks that Wiggle sells. I have a Saris Bones and it is quite easy to put on and take off although it is still a hassle I'd rather not bother with. It doesn't meet your criteria at all but as far as I know no boot mounted racks will.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/car-racks/

As people have said putting the bike in the back of the car is pretty handy depending on what type of car you have. With a hatchback you can just fold down a rear seat, take off the front wheel and slot it in. Just a couple of minutes work. I've slotted four bikes in the back of a car with no problem, although we needed a second car to transport the left over cyclists. It was a lot easier than putting on two bike racks.

desertcircus

ProudDUB wrote: »

(Btw, some feedback from the rest of ye would be appreciated on the Pendleton bike. Here is the Halfords link to it.

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/pendleton-initial-road-bike

desertcircus, why did you suggest that one in particular, as opposed to others?)

Apologies, coming back late to this! The reason I suggested the Pendleton was because the amount of money you were talking about spending was getting close to 300 quid to keep cycling a bike that's causing you persistent problems. I had a quick look around for what was available at that price range, and the Pendleton jumped out - it's a little heavy for a road bike (although still a lot lighter than your current bike), but the reviews I looked at were uniformly positive, and it's hard to see better value in a new bike for someone who wants to put in plenty of miles.

Wishbone Ash

ProudDUB wrote: »

...Any one got suggestions for a 1-2 bike bike rack, that can be left on the car all the time...

Bike racks are occasionally stolen from cars. When you remove the bike, it is generally recommended that you place the bike rack into the boot until you return from your cycle.

cdaly_

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Bike racks are occasionally stolen from cars. When you remove the bike, it is generally recommended that you place the bike rack into the boot until you return from your cycle.

And, if you have a tow hitch, this Thule Xpress rack takes about 10 seconds to fit or remove...

Wishbone Ash

Qualitymark wrote: »

... I cycle everywhere, every day, and wear ordinary clothes, and underwear.

That's a different matter entirely if wearing them with 'ordinary clothes'.

The point that previous posters are making is that they shouldn't be worn with lycra as it defeats the purpose of wearing the lycra in the first place.