Beginner Bike advice

Working class heroes

Apologies in advance good people as im sure this has been asked numerous times but;

Can someone suggest a solid starter bike(road) in the €500-800€ region please?

Thanks.

magicbastarder

first question - you buying on bike to work scheme? if not, would you consider secondhand?

Working class heroes

magicbastarder wrote: »

first question - you buying on bike to work scheme? if not, would you consider secondhand?

Thanks magic.
I'll be buying on the btw scheme.

Tim76

Working class heroes wrote: »

Apologies in advance good people as im sure this has been asked numerous times but;

Can someone suggest a solid starter bike(road) in the €500-800€ region please?

Thanks.

Giant Defys are decent. I picked up a Defy 0 for about €1200 as my starter bike and I love it. You could pick up some of the lower spec'd ones, e.g. Defy 2 or 3 for within your price range.

mirrormatrix

http://www.fitzcycles.ie/p/2507/stevens-san-remo#buy-tab-tab

Full Tiagra groupset with a fairly bomb proof set of wheels. Not bad for the price

Brian

If you're starting out, my recommendation would be to buy a cheap bike secondhand at first. That way you can familiarize yourself with cycling, you'll get a better idea of what you want when you get around to the purchase of a "good" bike with the tax discount, and if you decide cycling isn't for you in the end you haven't lost out on much money since secondhand bikes hold their value fairly well.

Working class heroes

Brian wrote: »

If you're starting out, my recommendation would be to buy a cheap bike secondhand at first. That way you can familiarize yourself with cycling, you'll get a better idea of what you want when you get around to the purchase of a "good" bike with the tax discount, and if you decide cycling isn't for you in the end you haven't lost out on much money since secondhand bikes hold their value fairly well.

Thanks all.
Good point above Brian. Might be an option alright.
I'll have a browse through the adverts here. Anyone any thoughts/advice on the pitfalls of buying second hand?

Thanks again people.
Edit: One other thing, how accurate/realistic are the online bike size calculators. One seems to suggest I need a 22" frame. I'm 6ft in height and an inside leg of about 32/33 inches. Does this seem about right? Sorry about the newbie questions......

CantGetNoSleep

Working class heroes wrote: »

Thanks all.
Good point above Brian. Might be an option alright.
I'll have a browse through the adverts here. Anyone any thoughts/advice on the pitfalls of buying second hand?

Thanks again people.
Edit: One other thing, how accurate/realistic are the online bike size calculators. One seems to suggest I need a 22" frame. I'm 6ft in height and an inside leg of about 32/33 inches. Does this seem about right? Sorry about the newbie questions......

Yes it is about right, but different brands vary in size. If buying on BTW a shop should allow you to try a few different sizes - getting the right size is probably the single most important thing.

For buying second hand, many of the bikes here are well looked after. Look for someone who has cleaned the bike regularly (then they will have looked after it) and can tell you about components etc - you see a lot of 1000€ bikes for sale by people who could barely tell you the model, makes you a bit suspicious

Working class heroes

CantGetNoSleep wrote: »

Yes it is about right, but different brands vary in size. If buying on BTW a shop should allow you to try a few different sizes - getting the right size is probably the single most important thing.

For buying second hand, many of the bikes here are well looked after. Look for someone who has cleaned the bike regularly (then they will have looked after it) and can tell you about components etc - you see a lot of 1000€ bikes for sale by people who could barely tell you the model, makes you a bit suspicious

Good advice cgns, thanks.

Macy0161

Brian wrote: »

If you're starting out, my recommendation would be to buy a cheap bike secondhand at first. That way you can familiarize yourself with cycling, you'll get a better idea of what you want when you get around to the purchase of a "good" bike with the tax discount, and if you decide cycling isn't for you in the end you haven't lost out on much money since secondhand bikes hold their value fairly well.

I kinda regret not doing this, but at the same time I wouldn't have been confident looking at 2nd hand bikes at that point. Actually, not saying I'd be great now, but I have a bit more maintenance knowledge. So my caveat would be if you know someone who at least knows a bit.

But definitely what I wished out my first bike to work bike to be has changed, which brings me on to...

Tim76 wrote:

Giant Defys are decent. I picked up a Defy 0 for about €1200 as my starter bike and I love it. You could pick up some of the lower spec'd ones, e.g. Defy 2 or 3 for within your price range.

The aluminium defy's have been replaced by the Contend, and at least groupset wise, don't look the value of the defy's that were replaced.

I got a Defy Disc 2016, and it's comfy, but it's pretty much an endurance/ sportive bike only. It's not very versatile - no mudguard or rack mounts, or clearance for wider tyres if you fancy doing light trails.

If I was going again for a first bike, i'd seriously be looking at gravel/ cyclocross bikes too. A compromise for the road, but clearance if you fancied some trails/ fireroads, and probably mounts for mudguards and pannier racks if it ultimately became a commuter or winter bike.

Obviously part of the attraction of btw with most employers is installments, but it maybe worth looking at the likes of planetx after christmas to see what offers they have if you have the balance in cash. Save the btw but still go new bike?

magicbastarder

also worth asking whether in your stated budget, have you allowed for accessories?
locks, lights, etc.

Working class heroes

magicbastarder wrote: »

also worth asking whether in your stated budget, have you allowed for accessories?
locks, lights, etc.

Yes the budget stated is for bike only. I can add to it for bits and bobs.

magicbastarder

bear in mind that a lot of road bikes don't come with pedals. if you just want flat pedals, they won't add much to the cost. it's when you get 'clipless' pedals that the cost goes up - as well as the pedals, you need new footwear too.

Working class heroes

magicbastarder wrote: »

bear in mind that a lot of road bikes don't come with pedals. if you just want flat pedals, they won't add much to the cost. it's when you get 'clipless' pedals that the cost goes up - as well as the pedals, you need new footwear too.

Ill probably just go with flat pedals at first(do I need specialist footwear for flats). Once I get bedded in ill upgrade.

Russman

Working class heroes wrote: »

Ill probably just go with flat pedals at first(do I need specialist footwear for flats). Once I get bedded in ill upgrade.

You can get pedals that are flats on one side and clips on the other, like these
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/shimano-m324-clipless-spd-flat-mtb-pedals/rp-prod5937
I found them great for commuting in normal shoes / runners and other spins with cycling shoes on.

Working class heroes

https://www.donedeal.ie/bicycles-for-sale/giant-contend-sl-2017/17300036
Anyone any thoughts on this bad boy? What would it be worth etc?

Russman

Working class heroes wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/bicycles-for-sale/giant-contend-sl-2017/17300036
Anyone any thoughts on this bad boy? What would it be worth etc?

I'm open to correction, but I don't think you can use the bike to work scheme on a second hand bike.
Unless you're going the route of second hand to see if you like cycling, before getting your "good" bike on the BTW.

Working class heroes

Russman wrote: »

I'm open to correction, but I don't think you can use the bike to work scheme on a second hand bike.
Unless you're going the route of second hand to see if you like cycling, before getting your "good" bike on the BTW.

Yes that's what I'm edging towards now. What do you think of the bike linked? Worth making an offer? Thanks.

Russman

Working class heroes wrote: »

Yes that's what I'm edging towards now. What do you think of the bike linked? Worth making an offer? Thanks.

Honestly I'm far from an expert, and others more knowledgeable than me will be on, but Giants are excellent bikes and that one, if legit, seems like a good buy, depending on price. I'd even go so far as to suggest it wouldn't even need upgrading for a long time. That model is showing as €1,099 on the Giant website - I wouldn't have a clue what a reasonable offer would be if it was only ridden once, as the description states.