which bike to buy

redratbike

Hi ,i'm a newbie on the forum , started commuting 30 miles round trip into work after christmas after saying i would for nearly 4 years,main reasons were fitness and money.

now my old sarecen hybrid lasted a month or so and i'm on a borrowed bike so really need to splash out on something decent that will take my 150 miles a week

i really like the look of a road bike but last time i rode one was approx 25 years ago and am more used to hybrids over the past 15 years of on-off riding so not sure how i'd get on with one .

so looking at hybrids but overwhelmed by the choice :shock:

i've got 4 in mind

raleigh 3.0 fs £600, specialised sirrus expert £699,trek 7.6 fx £699 and a graham weigh flat bar racer £599

the raleigh looks a good deal as it has hydraulic discs and tiagra gears,the trek and specialised both heavily reduced in price from approx 950 in evans and the last one i really like the look off bit unusual but no chance of seeing one in the flesh as the shop is in scotland.

so what i'm asking is any advice? thanks

jejv

Do some research.
What's a sensible rpm to pedal at ? How fast do you pedal now ?
Why do folks who cycle long distances have drop bars ?
You just going to use this in the summer ? [What's the point of the question]
How quick are you ?

Initialised

You really want drops, you know they're better really and the only thing holding you back is that drops with discs are still pretty rare and expensive. So hold out a bit longer and make the switch back to drops when roadies finally embrace discs later this year.

jonnyboy66uk

I just bought this bike for my girlfriend and its absolutely brilliant.. The value for money is immense and its an absolute speed machine....

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/gt-tachyon-20-2011/

redratbike

jejv wrote:

Do some research.
What's a sensible rpm to pedal at ? How fast do you pedal now ?
Why do folks who cycle long distances have drop bars ?
You just going to use this in the summer ? [What's the point of the question]
How quick are you ?

rpm..no idea

its for all year round use at the moment i'm covering a 15 mile ride in 57 mins ..when i started it was 70 mins so going in the right direction :-)

and yes drops are probably better more hand positions available etc

redratbike

Initialised wrote:

You really want drops, you know they're better really and the only thing holding you back is that drops with discs are still pretty rare and expensive. So hold out a bit longer and make the switch back to drops when roadies finally embrace discs later this year.

actually not too bothered about discs..and yes it looks like drops are better

redratbike

ok i went with a giant rapid 1 , yeah flat bars .... and at £640 i thought it was a bargain