Less driving more riding, but what bike will become my first

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Comments

  • davmaggs
    davmaggs Posts: 1,008
    Taking a slightly different approach to the other recommendations it might be worth asking around people you know to see if you can borrow a bike for a while. It is amazing how many good intentions are laid up in sheds in great condition that never get used.

    That way you can see if you like the commuting, what annoys you about the machine, what features you would want and importantly you find out before spending money if it is for you.

    PS I have noticed that people with good intention machines find it hard to part with them, so ask to borrow it.
  • Headhuunter
    Headhuunter Posts: 6,494
    The only think I would say is that if you have back problems, a slightly more upright and less stretched out position may be better. I ride road bikes but when I was diagnosed with degenerated discs in my back, the doc said that, although cycling is fantastic as it warms up and loosens the muscles in the lower back, a stretched out position is not ideal. With that in mind a hybrid (gasp), may be better?
    Do not write below this line. Office use only.
  • clarkey cat
    clarkey cat Posts: 3,641
    a touring bike?
    Dolan Mythos
  • Dr Manhattan
    Dr Manhattan Posts: 17
    whitestar1 wrote:
    Check Decathlon - the TRIBAN 5 is just £500 and is pretty well loaded with a good feature set.

    That looks quite nice, I prefer the allez though.
  • Dr Manhattan
    Dr Manhattan Posts: 17
    coriordan wrote:
    With a bit of research on parts, (and some patience) you can get some great deals on eBay. Unless you plan of giving your bike a thrashing, then a well looked after 2nd hand bike can represent fantastic value for money. (obviously no warrenty being the issue)

    I was doing the same as you about 3 weeks ago, except with 300 quid.

    I wanted Alu frame, carbon forks, tiagra (or equivalent) gears and a name I recognised (specialised, ribble, cube etc). Or a vintage alu racer (some of those older colagnos are just beautiful).

    I pretty much added everything in my size (56cm) in myebay and was watching everything, removing it once I went over budget. If you aren't sure about it, then you can usually google most modern bikes to get an idea of the retail value anyway.

    I ended up with a 2001 (ssshhheeesshhhh old) Fasuto Coppi San Remo (I had heard nothing about it, and still no idea if I was ripped off) in showroom - yes, showroom condition - with carbon forks, brand new saddle, cleaned up immactulately (it looked unridden) full Ultegra throughout (and a dura-ace rear cassette), and the guy even threw in the old ultegra cassette and spare stem.

    All for 250 quid (and another 50 to get the train to Nottingham to get it).

    So this was 3 weeks ago, and I am now lying on my sofa having just smashed out a 90 mile sportive in 6hours (and I wouldn't consider myself fit - not a lump, but not 'fit') and demolished a few 'seasoned' riders on their new trek/specialized, with my training consisting of a 6 mile each way commute and a few laps of richmond park.

    My in-the-know friends say I did well for that price. Also i LOVE the stickers. Fairly plain skyish blue just with the name on it.

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120754300944? ... 1438.l2649

    was the auction. God I LOVE it!

    I was going to go down the ebay route but warranty was what stopped me. That is very important to me. Also building a relationship with a bike shop as I plan on buying more.
  • Dr Manhattan
    Dr Manhattan Posts: 17
    bails87 wrote:
    Do the Spesh/Treks have rack/guard mounts?

    Practicality is worth thinking about with a commuter.

    Not sure, but I won't ever ride in the rain and will only carry a back pack.
  • Dr Manhattan
    Dr Manhattan Posts: 17
    The Beginner wrote:
    While I can understand the 'get a road bike not a hybrid' posts on here, there are still a lot of good fast hybrids out there (as Hybrids cover everything from MTB's with slicks to road bikes just with a flat bar its a vague classification at best).

    I carry a reasonable amount of kit so use panniers (I hate the sweaty back from a rucksack) and have my Hybrid set up with low bars and it's fairly sportily set up, besides nothing annoys a shaven leg roadie in team kit/lycra with a backpack more than being passed by a Hybrid with panniers and the rider wearing a plain T and baggies.....god but they hate it!

    Simon

    Although 90% of me wants to go with the road bike I won't know for certain until I get to the bike shop this week and test ride both.
  • Dr Manhattan
    Dr Manhattan Posts: 17
    davmaggs wrote:
    Taking a slightly different approach to the other recommendations it might be worth asking around people you know to see if you can borrow a bike for a while. It is amazing how many good intentions are laid up in sheds in great condition that never get used.

    That way you can see if you like the commuting, what annoys you about the machine, what features you would want and importantly you find out before spending money if it is for you.

    PS I have noticed that people with good intention machines find it hard to part with them, so ask to borrow it.

    I can only think of one of my neighbours who has a bike. It's a mountain bike and he hardly ever rides it so that'll be no use. lol
  • Dr Manhattan
    Dr Manhattan Posts: 17
    Headhuunter wrote:
    The only think I would say is that if you have back problems, a slightly more upright and less stretched out position may be better. I ride road bikes but when I was diagnosed with degenerated discs in my back, the doc said that, although cycling is fantastic as it warms up and loosens the muscles in the lower back, a stretched out position is not ideal. With that in mind a hybrid (gasp), may be better?

    I'm suffering from a little muscle atrophy. I'm not surprised some muscles started to waste away seeing as I was avoiding bending over and moving in certain positions for a good few months. I need to rebuild my back muscles and also loosing up my body a bit so the stretched position seems ideal.
  • Headhuunter
    Headhuunter Posts: 6,494
    Dr Manhattan wrote:
    Headhuunter wrote:
    The only think I would say is that if you have back problems, a slightly more upright and less stretched out position may be better. I ride road bikes but when I was diagnosed with degenerated discs in my back, the doc said that, although cycling is fantastic as it warms up and loosens the muscles in the lower back, a stretched out position is not ideal. With that in mind a hybrid (gasp), may be better?

    I'm suffering from a little muscle atrophy. I'm not surprised some muscles started to waste away seeing as I was avoiding bending over and moving in certain positions for a good few months. I need to rebuild my back muscles and also loosing up my body a bit so the stretched position seems ideal.

    If you really do have weak back muscles, a stretched position will put more strain on them whereas a more upright position will not... Of course I have no idea how bad your back is, but a stretched position is really not good if you really do have problems and may make things worse. Having said that, I ride with a fairly stretched position (against the physios recommendation) as I just couldn't bring myself to ride like a nodder and I've strengthened my back muscles at the gym...
    Do not write below this line. Office use only.
  • bails87
    bails87 Posts: 12,998
    Dr Manhattan wrote:
    bails87 wrote:
    Do the Spesh/Treks have rack/guard mounts?

    Practicality is worth thinking about with a commuter.

    Not sure, but I won't ever ride in the rain and will only carry a back pack.

    But there will be plenty of times when the road is still wet, but it's not actually raining, that's when guards will make the most difference.

    I wear a backpack, and am used to wearing one due to MTBing, but I sometimes wish I had panniers instead, can't really fit them to my frame though.
    MTB/CX

    "As I said last time, it won't happen again."

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