Whittie
Member
Registered: 11th Aug 06
Location: North Wales Drives: BMW, Corsa & Fiat
User status: Offline
|
I'm wanting to start cycling to the gym, its only about 2 miles each way, so its pointless taking the car.
I know nothing at all about bikes, but dont want to walk into halfords and buy a shit cheap one, where the gears will snap or the brakes stop working etc 
So what should I get? Its literally for doing about 20 miles a week on, what do I need, full suspension, just front suspension?
Not bothered what it looks like, just want it to have decent brakes if anything, disc brakes the best? 
Budget... Not really wanting to spend over £300, but can go a little over if needbe.
Thanks,
Alex
|
AlunJ
Member
Registered: 3rd Apr 07
Location: Newport
User status: Offline
|
are you actually going to go off road? Better off with a hybrid I would have said.
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Specialized-Sirrus-2011-Road-Bike_37685.htm
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Escape-3-2011-5-Hybrid-Sports-Bike_45463.htm
If you did want to buy something from halfords I hear the carrera range are not too bad.
|
Conway563
Member
Registered: 7th Jun 06
Location: Yate, Bristol
User status: Offline
|
As Alun says if it's just for road riding you don't want any suspension
|
RichR
Premium Member
Registered: 17th Oct 01
Location: Waterhouses, Staffordshire
User status: Offline
|
For what your using it for, walk into your local independent bike shop and talk to them. Tell them your budget and see what takes your fancy.
On a personal note, I'd always want to clip in on road
|
AlunJ
Member
Registered: 3rd Apr 07
Location: Newport
User status: Offline
|
Excuse to post my baby
|
Dr Pepper
Member
Registered: 21st Sep 02
Location: oxford Drives Renault Clio RS200
User status: Offline
|
definately dont want suspension if you are on roads .... just use your budget to buy the best hybrid you can get imo
[Edited on 23-05-2011 by Dr Pepper]
|
Whittie
Member
Registered: 11th Aug 06
Location: North Wales Drives: BMW, Corsa & Fiat
User status: Offline
|
This one seems like a good deal considering the money off it?
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_786835_langId_-1_categoryId_165499
But can't see much difference between the above and something like this...?
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_518215_langId_-1_categoryId_165499
Will those bikes be quite light or not?
Alun, I know nothing, but that looks cool and very expensive 
|
Jamie Walby
Member
Registered: 15th Nov 04
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by AlunJ
Excuse to post my baby
I have an Allez Triple. Nice bike though as I am cycling more I wish I had got something up a bit.
|
Jamie Walby
Member
Registered: 15th Nov 04
User status: Offline
|
I cycled 100miles yesterday. Who wants to congratulate me.
|
AlunJ
Member
Registered: 3rd Apr 07
Location: Newport
User status: Offline
|
for the price I would imagine them to be quite heavy, best way to find out is go in and try one I guess. I'm not really all that clued up on mountain bikes.
Mine was £589 and tbh that's pretty much an entry level model road bike I'd love something from planet x or pinarello but it's becoming silly money when I don't get out often enough on it
|
Robbo
Member
Registered: 6th Aug 02
Location: London
User status: Offline
|
well done old bean
|
AlunJ
Member
Registered: 3rd Apr 07
Location: Newport
User status: Offline
|
Aye mines the triple, I actually ordered the compact but they sent me the triple
Your first century jamie? How was it, I've yet to do more than 15miles
|
Jamie Walby
Member
Registered: 15th Nov 04
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by AlunJ
Aye mines the triple, I actually ordered the compact but they sent me the triple
Your first century jamie? How was it, I've yet to do more than 15miles
Yeah! First century. Was strange if I am honest. I did a sportive in the morning which was 70 miles around some killer hills in Dorset. Ill be honest a couple of hills I jumped off and walked the last 20metres. Around 60miles I wasnt in great shape but the last 3 miles I smashed it.
Then I went out again about an hour after I got home on a relatively flat route. Again a couple of miles around the mid 80s I wanted to chill out but just came down a few gears and kept the legs spinning. Then to finish I did a lap of a road called Cavendish road which took me to 99miles. Coming into my road the last 150 metres or so I tried to sprint. Got to 28mph which I was pleased with.
Once it was done I didnt feel too bad. It was just those couple of occassions where I wanted to die. Just cycled through it. Before yesterday the most I had done in a day was about 65miles.
|
AlunJ
Member
Registered: 3rd Apr 07
Location: Newport
User status: Offline
|
cavendish road
I really need to start upping the mileage tbh
|
Jamie Walby
Member
Registered: 15th Nov 04
User status: Offline
|
Yes you do. 15miles is pathetic.....
To be honest when i started cycling properly last year I never thought I would be doing the amount I do now.
|
AlunJ
Member
Registered: 3rd Apr 07
Location: Newport
User status: Offline
|
tell me about it, I cover about 70miles a week normally, I just don't go out for long enough a day
|
Whittie
Member
Registered: 11th Aug 06
Location: North Wales Drives: BMW, Corsa & Fiat
User status: Offline
|
Went to halfords before, all looked quite cool tbh
The first one I posted was there, weighed more than I thought though. Quite liked it
Are "Voodo" bikes any good?
|
Mad Moe
Member
Registered: 14th Jun 01
Location: Northumberland
User status: Offline
|
Just slightly more than your budget but significantly better bikes than those Carreras
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kona/lanai-deluxe-2011-mountain-bike-ec026529
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/hardrock-disc-2010-mountain-bike-ec019400
[Edited on 23-05-2011 by Mad Moe]
|
AlunJ
Member
Registered: 3rd Apr 07
Location: Newport
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Whittie
Are "Voodo" bikes any good?
They look alright, but given the cheapest one is £379 i'd personally be looking at something with a better name, like moe just posted you can get a kona for £320! maybe i'm just a brand snob
|
AlunJ
Member
Registered: 3rd Apr 07
Location: Newport
User status: Offline
|
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Specialized-Hardrock-Mountain-Bike-2011-Hardtail-MTB_38497.htm
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-q220-2011/
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/giant-revel-3-2011/
[Edited on 24-05-2011 by AlunJ]
|
Chrissy
Premium Member
Registered: 28th Jan 06
Location: Sunny Glasgow Drives: Astra J
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by AlunJ
Excuse to post my baby
What groupset are you running Alun? Sora?
How do you get on with the shifters?
>>>> Chris <<<<
|
AlunJ
Member
Registered: 3rd Apr 07
Location: Newport
User status: Offline
|
it's a 2011 so it's the shimano 2300  It's taken some getting used to with the shifters but I find them okay now. Coming from a fixie though, I don't know any different
[Edited on 24-05-2011 by AlunJ]
|
Chrissy
Premium Member
Registered: 28th Jan 06
Location: Sunny Glasgow Drives: Astra J
User status: Offline
|
Has the 2300 got the wee thumb bits? Seen a couple Sora bikes with them while I've been looking for my next purchase and wondered how they faired.
>>>> Chris <<<<
|
AlunJ
Member
Registered: 3rd Apr 07
Location: Newport
User status: Offline
|
This what you mean?
I get on alright with it, feels nice and positive to me, I'd expect the sora shifts nicer though.
|
Jamie Walby
Member
Registered: 15th Nov 04
User status: Offline
|
Those shifters are positive buuut if you want to change up a gear when you are down on the drops then its impossible.
|
