Newby with bike and several Q's...

gav_sw20

Hi all – newby here whose getting back into cycling after 15 years (I found alcohol and football) !!!

Didn’t want to spend a major amount of money so got a Saracen Vortex LE for £300 with road tyres and a few accessories…bargain I thought !

I looked at a few bikes: GT = frame sizes were not consistent with fitting my body, MONGOOSE = nice bike, didn’t like the colour but had SUS Lock operated from the handlebars which was cool, however the Saracen fitted perfectly was a good price (Reduced from £500) and was pleasing on the eye.

Questions re the sort of biking I’m going to be doing, which will mainly be road riding, dirt tracks and a bit of grass (Id say 70/30 in favour of the road): -
• Any recommendations on a helmet (last time I bought a helmet it was a Specialized Air Force II so don’t think that will fit anymore) !!!
• Will I require bar-ends?
• The pedals on the bike are pretty lame (plastic) and want to upgrade ASAP – should I get straps? FULL SPD’s? or the ones that allow SPD’s one side and regular footwear on the other (When you cant be bothered to put SPD shoes on) ?
Also will ANY pedal fit any bike or are there certain sizes, threads etc... ?
• Seat – any recommendations on a nice comfy seat (I appreciate I’m gonna get saddle-soar but how can I make life a little but easier ?

I’m not too fussed about cost, I rather spend a bit more to get something decent than have a cheapo version that will need replacing within 6 months.

Top site by the way - v.usefull posts and love the Beginners section as most of my Q's when looking for a bike where answered here.

Gav.

dav1

Hi, welcome

• Any recommendations on a helmet (last time I bought a helmet it was a Specialized Air Force II so don’t think that will fit anymore) !!!

I have a met duello, cost me £40 abour a year ago and is a nice helmet. Its a personal choice thing though. Spend as much as you can justify on it and get something that looks comfortable and will protect you. Giro make good helmets.

Your LBS will be a good place to see them and possibly have a try of a few.

• Will I require bar-ends?

Up to you entirely, some poeple love them, some hate them. Depends what you are most confortable with (are you always wishing you has somewhereelse to put your hands when climbing?)

• The pedals on the bike are pretty lame (plastic) and want to upgrade ASAP – should I get straps? FULL SPD’s? or the ones that allow SPD’s one side and regular footwear on the other (When you cant be bothered to put SPD shoes on) ?

dont get straps, if it goes pear shaped they arn't easy to get out of wheras SPDs are.

Also will ANY pedal fit any bike or are there certain sizes, threads etc... ?

I think they are all the same. Not too sure though so I would look to others for the correct answer to this one.

• Seat – any recommendations on a nice comfy seat (I appreciate I’m gonna get saddle-soar but how can I make life a little but easier ?

depends how much you want to spend. WTB saddles are nice and comfy IMO (got a speed V on my bike)

miss notax

Hello!

I'm also a newbie so can't comment on much of your post - but I have made the switch to SPD's about 2 months ago and havn't looked back since as my riding has improved so much since. I also always clip in automatically so - personally - I would always have the full SPD's. If you havn't used them before prepare yourself for a few tumbles, I had a hidieous night ride when I first got them falling off every time I stopped :oops:

Sarah

supersonic

Get used to the bike and the way it handles before comitting to SPDs. Carrying through skills learned on flats to SPD will make you pedal much better - SPDs can encourage bad habits (mashing pedals, jumping rather than bunny hopping etc).

As for helmets, you must try one on first at a shop.

dirtbiker100

personally if i were you i'd spend:
£30 on a helmet - go to your local bike shop and try them on and ask which have a crash replacement scheme (ie giro, bell and several others). it all comes down to fit and styling really. Mine is a giro hex if you're wondering. I tried the more expensive Xen by giro and it was a really really nasty fit whereas the cheaper hex was great.

£20ish on pedals, I'm a fan of flat pedals and a cheapish set of metal flat pedals will be about £20, dmr V8's are £25 and are what i always put on a bike.
Your bike should have 9/16" threads.
cheapo one piece cranks on bmx and mtbs have 1/2" threads but i really really doubt thats what you have.

£20 on a saddle. A "Spoon" saddle made by "Charge". I know they're on wiggle and its a low price compared to other saddles. They've recieved loads of praise for comfort right out the box. Won't do much better unless you have plenty of cash to splash (even then i'd still have a spoon )

Bar ends, see how you get on with out them I haven't used them for over 10 years now. mainly only needed on big climbs. I doubt you'd need them

clas

I had bar ends on my bike for years.
I used them once.
I dont have them now but some people swear by them

stumpyjon

Clas wrote:

I had bar ends on my bike for years.
I used them once.

Me too, never used them, when I finally took them off I discovered the extra inch of space at either end significantly improved the feel of my bars (knuckles were no longer getting scraped by shifters etc.) wish I'd done it sooner.

ride_whenever

Fizik gobi saddle.

Wellgo all metal pedals.

supersonic

Good combo, I have the Wellgo MG1 and a Fizik Gobi Ti on the Zaskar. Can get V8 'copies' for about 12 quid (with pins)