buying a bike

147ant

hi everyone, new bloke on line. i am looking for some advice, i am thinking of buying a new road bike but cant get my head around the size of most chainring sizes most bikes have a 50 tooth outside ring and a 34 insde with a 12/25 block on rear. at the moment i am on 52/42 rings, there for it seems to me that the gearing will be to small and i will be allways be on the outside ring. i like the look of the planet x bikes and the chris boardman range wot do you think . thanks :?:

rc856

Hello mate and welcome to the forum.
The differences are just a sign of the times. Your 52/42 is an older variation whereas most normal double chainsets are 53/39. The 50/34 you're talking about will be from a compact chainset. You'll lose a bit at the top end with the 50 tooth chainring but the 34 will help on climbs. Depends on where you live/what you need etc.
Can't say much about the Boardman range but I believe they get good reviews.
Depends on what your budget is etc.

147ant

thanks for advice m8,will take onboard wot u have said. no major climbs round my area so might have to change the chain rings,buget is about 1,500 pound

Hrun

Why not buy the bike you want and worry about the chainrings later. Ride it as standard for a bit before changing.

I bought mine and had to walk two hills today, but I am not going to change the bike, the challenge now it to get fit enough that I can ride those same hills.