New bike?

linsen
linsen Posts: 1,959
edited January 2010 in Commuting chat
I think I may like to have a new bike.

Some pretty nasty noises were emanating from Gladys' bottom bracket last night when I cycled to evening classes and so I think she may have to go into retirement.

So, that leaves me with three other bikes I could, in theory, get about on:

Road bike - not to be left unattended due to my inability to replace it if it gets nicked, and it is not really a "pub bike"

Hardtail MTB - says it all. The town centre is not up a mountain, and neither is my place of work (though it sure feels that way at the moment)

Old racer being made into SS - great for short or flat journeys but due to having the "spine of a 70 year old woman" (cheers, doc), really not good for anything with any hills.

So, what should I get? I am looking to spend no more than around £500, the bike needs to have gears please.

I shall ignore any suggestions of wheelchairs etc
Emerging from under a big black cloud. All help welcome
«1

Comments

  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    Can you get C2W or similar?

    New bike = good cycling motivation!
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    linsen wrote:
    So, what should I get?

    A new bottom bracket for 15 quid?!
    Faster than a tent.......
  • linsen
    linsen Posts: 1,959
    Rolf F wrote:
    linsen wrote:
    So, what should I get?

    A new bottom bracket for 15 quid?!

    I'll introduce you to Gladys sometime. I bought her in 1994 for £99

    She weighs around 8 stone. Last time I tried to take the old dear apart to mend something it was all seized together.
    Emerging from under a big black cloud. All help welcome
  • linsen
    linsen Posts: 1,959
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    Can you get C2W or similar?

    New bike = good cycling motivation!

    Sadly, though I work for the government that introduced C2W, my County Council does not have a C2W scheme for teachers

    :roll:
    Emerging from under a big black cloud. All help welcome
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    edited January 2010
    linsen wrote:
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    Can you get C2W or similar?

    New bike = good cycling motivation!

    Sadly, though I work for the government that introduced C2W, my County Council does not have a C2W scheme for teachers

    :roll:

    :roll: indeed! How very pesky of them.

    Saw this looking through the wiggle sale the other day - can't remember what size you take but anyway...

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Sale/26/Focus ... 360037606/

    EDIT: this is also rather bargain-tastic...

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Sale/26/Focus ... 360037597/
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    linsen wrote:
    She weighs around 8 stone. Last time I tried to take the old dear apart to mend something it was all seized together.

    She sounds perfect!! (no, I don't want her :lol: )
    Faster than a tent.......
  • linsen
    linsen Posts: 1,959
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    linsen wrote:
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    Can you get C2W or similar?

    New bike = good cycling motivation!

    Sadly, though I work for the government that introduced C2W, my County Council does not have a C2W scheme for teachers

    :roll:

    :roll: indeed! How very pesky of them.

    Saw this looking through the wiggle sale the other day - can't remember what size you take but anyway...

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Sale/26/Focus ... 360037606/

    EDIT: this is also rather bargain-tastic...

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Sale/26/Focus ... 360037597/

    Just one look at that hybrid mad eme realise I prefer drop handlebars

    I may pop to my LBS and see what they suggest (whilst fluttering my eyelashes)
    Emerging from under a big black cloud. All help welcome
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    linsen wrote:
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    linsen wrote:
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    Can you get C2W or similar?

    New bike = good cycling motivation!

    Sadly, though I work for the government that introduced C2W, my County Council does not have a C2W scheme for teachers

    :roll:

    :roll: indeed! How very pesky of them.

    Saw this looking through the wiggle sale the other day - can't remember what size you take but anyway...

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Sale/26/Focus ... 360037606/

    EDIT: this is also rather bargain-tastic...

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Sale/26/Focus ... 360037597/

    Just one look at that hybrid mad eme realise I prefer drop handlebars

    I may pop to my LBS and see what they suggest (whilst fluttering my eyelashes)

    :lol:

    Was thinking of it for my mum who thinks drops are scary, and thought of it as a direct replacement for Gladys...

    Drops are better. Definitely. :D
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • linsen
    linsen Posts: 1,959
    Oh dear, LiT, do you really put me in the same category as your mother? Not that she isn't one of the coolest dudes I know, but ......
    Emerging from under a big black cloud. All help welcome
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    linsen wrote:
    Oh dear, LiT, do you really put me in the same category as your mother? Not that she isn't one of the coolest dudes I know, but ......

    :lol::lol:

    No, not at all, my thougth process was 'Linsen wants a new gladys I know of a cheap hybrid there you go'.
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    linsen wrote:
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    Can you get C2W or similar?

    New bike = good cycling motivation!

    Sadly, though I work for the government that introduced C2W, my County Council does not have a C2W scheme for teachers

    :roll:

    :roll: indeed! How very pesky of them.

    Saw this looking through the wiggle sale the other day - can't remember what size you take but anyway...

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Sale/26/Focus ... 360037606/

    EDIT: this is also rather bargain-tastic...

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Sale/26/Focus ... 360037597/

    Ooh ooh new bike time new bike time! I have the 06 version of the Variado, paid £800 for it. Fantastic bike, highly recommend it.
  • gabriel959
    gabriel959 Posts: 4,227
    That Variado is great value as well Linsen. Comes with Shimano 105, Carbon fork and some decent wheels. I would be surprised if you could do better for the money.
    x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
    Commuting / Winter rides - Jamis Renegade Expert
    Pootling / Offroad - All-City Macho Man Disc
    Fast rides Cannondale SuperSix Ultegra
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,052
    What's wrong with the spesh mtb you have? Stick some slicks on it and ur done!

    Simples
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    itboffin wrote:
    What's wrong with the spesh mtb you have? Stick some slicks on it and ur done!

    Simples

    Indeed (minus the simples - damn those merecats - if I see any, I'll stamp on 'em); my round trip is now about 18 miles all done on a steel framed, slick shod mtb. Comfier on the crap Leeds tarmac than any road bike and perfectly good for the hills and the flat.
    Faster than a tent.......
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Ribble? e.g.

    http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/specialed ... ERA&bike=1
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • linsen
    linsen Posts: 1,959
    itboffin wrote:
    What's wrong with the spesh mtb you have? Stick some slicks on it and ur done!

    Simples

    That would involve regular wheel changing. Which would upset my already delicate balance of "can I be bothered to ride?"
    Emerging from under a big black cloud. All help welcome
  • linsen
    linsen Posts: 1,959
    hmm cyclocross?

    Anyone got a specialized tricross?
    Emerging from under a big black cloud. All help welcome
  • Aidy
    Aidy Posts: 2,015
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    New bike = good cycling motivation!

    Quite - I want a new bike. Keep seeing all these pesky threads about people buying new ones! (Although I've been in lurk mode lately).

    That said, with my 7 (and a half) bikes, I'm finding it increasingly hard to justify new ones :)
  • suzyb
    suzyb Posts: 3,449
    I'd like a new bike as well but with a limited second hand only budget and being so darn short I doubt I'll find one.
    Whippet
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,052
    cjcp wrote:
    Ribble? e.g.

    http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/specialed ... ERA&bike=1

    Wow that's cheap, one of the guys at work has that ribble winter frame, it's very very nice and cheap.

    I love my Dolan & Ribble I have a feeling there made by the same company.
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • linsen
    linsen Posts: 1,959
    CJCP I like your suggestion

    Would need a compact though

    oooh, me back ......
    Emerging from under a big black cloud. All help welcome
  • Bassjunkieuk
    Bassjunkieuk Posts: 4,232
    You can spec a compact on there and it doesn't effect the price :-)
    I was oggling the selection of Ribbles yesterday and rather surprised at the relatively good value for money :-)

    Now I just need to decide which child to put on ebay.........
    Who's the daddy?
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    Player of THE GAME
    Giant SCR 3.0 - FCN 5
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    linsen wrote:
    CJCP I like your suggestion

    Would need a compact though

    oooh, me back ......

    :)

    Something which only occurred to me this morning, and possibly one for others to comment on as I may be off the mark: it would be worth you investing in a quality fork and seatpost to dampen the road buzz. *May* make your ride more comfortable.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • linsen
    linsen Posts: 1,959
    Good thinking. I have a feeling that I will ened up needing to spend FAR more money than I would like to, but I very rarely buy myself anything so I reckon I will cope.

    I am now just off to LBS to see what they will do for me. But I won't couch it in those terms.......
    Emerging from under a big black cloud. All help welcome
  • Cafewanda
    Cafewanda Posts: 2,788
    -null- wrote:
    I'd like a new bike as well but with a limited second hand only budget and being so darn short I doubt I'll find one.

    My commiserations as a fellow shortie. I'm lucky that my company signed up to C2W so that's how I'm funding my new n+1 obsession :roll: :)


    Good luck with the research Linsen.
  • linsen
    linsen Posts: 1,959
    Oops just bought one
    Emerging from under a big black cloud. All help welcome
  • UndercoverElephant
    UndercoverElephant Posts: 5,796
    linsen wrote:
    Oops just bought one

    Details? :D
    Sun - Rain - Snow
  • Cafewanda
    Cafewanda Posts: 2,788
    and pictures. You know the drill :lol:
  • UndercoverElephant
    UndercoverElephant Posts: 5,796
    Cafewanda wrote:
    and pictures. You know the drill :lol:

    Yes, pictures! Naturally, they must comply to the many rules of tarty bike photos...
    Sun - Rain - Snow
  • Jay dubbleU
    Jay dubbleU Posts: 3,159
    No pics - didn't happen :wink:

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