Are "expensive" clothing worth it ? This is what I bought.

john1967

It would be a shame if you weren't enjoying riding your 5 grand bike kit because your 10 quid bib shorts were letting you down.I would suggest endura for good quality at reasonable price levels.it fits me well,is comfy and I haven't had any bits fall apart
I was dispointed with a muddyfox top because the fit was all wrong.

VTech

OK, ive taken on board what people have said and will change the kit as I go but I reckon the reply about body change "hopefully" will relate to me as I would think I will lose the most weight to start with as any diet/exercise gives way to rapid weight loss to start with so hopefully the MF will last me for 6 months.

Im planning on riding weekly with the aim of getting myself on an event (70m more likely but would love to be able to ride 100m one day).

Its all go and im loving it, very excited.

TKF

VTech wrote:

Sports Direct Wind Cheater Waterproof Jacket

I hope you like a good sweat. Honestly I bet you don't wear it twice.

I bought a lot of SD stuff when I began cycling last year. It was fine but I've since replace every single item. Clothing doesn't have to be hugely expensive if you look out for sale bargains and I can tell you a Gore jacket costing 5x as much as a SD jacket is far, far better than 5x the quality.

VTech

TKF wrote:

VTech wrote:

Sports Direct Wind Cheater Waterproof Jacket

I hope you like a good sweat. Honestly I bet you don't wear it twice.

I bought a lot of SD stuff when I began cycling last year. It was fine but I've since replace every single item. Clothing doesn't have to be hugely expensive if you look out for sale bargains and I can tell you a Gore jacket costing 5x as much as a SD jacket is far, far better than 5x the quality.

It was mainly gore that i was looking at initially.

1_reaper

I used to use expensive stuff but now use Polaris stuff. Can't fault it for the price. If you want to pay over the odds for a certain name tag then crack on

ricey155

had no issue with Chinese stuff but not on eBaY

aldi stuff is cheap and pretty average, floorpump was rubbish, jacket not bad, shorts terrible, leg warmers awesome etc

not bought expensive but i guess most are to pay for team riders wages rather than being superior in quality everything is made in china and mostly in the same factory

if you have money give it away get the economy working again, i'll save mine :roll:

cougie

What if you don't like cycling ?

flasher

VTech wrote:

Having purchased my turbo trainer, my trainer bike, my road bike I had almost £5k of kit and still needed clothes, a helmet, gloves and shoes so I set about buying them online.

You bought 2 bikes and a turbo trainer, have you ridden them yet?

walney

I am just trying to get to gris with where you are with your cycling at the moment?

How much cycling have you done?

Your priorites seem slightly adrift.

Good (not necessarily expensive) cycling kit is among the first things I would buy.

1. Bike, one will suffice to start with.
2.Shorts ( lusso, endura, altura for me.)
3. Shoes ( I use shimano mtb for road, MTB and racing)
4.Cycling Gloves.(fingerless, again mid quality £20, ALDI winter gloves going strong here.)
5> Jersey/tights(Long/Short sleeve) mid range great stuff. e.g.http://www.evanscycles.com/products/alt ... y-ec025056

Reckon you could get all that for less than 1K. I manage 8k miles a year with that and a few small additions. Time to re think what you need vs want. And read less magazines.

ShutUpLegs

Flasher wrote:

VTech wrote:

Having purchased my turbo trainer, my trainer bike, my road bike I had almost £5k of kit and still needed clothes, a helmet, gloves and shoes so I set about buying them online.

You bought 2 bikes and a turbo trainer, have you ridden them yet?

He seems to have got to grips with the willy waving though

He'll be starting a 'how's my average speed looking' thread next...

RubbishCyclist

ShutUpLegs wrote:

Flasher wrote:

VTech wrote:

Having purchased my turbo trainer, my trainer bike, my road bike I had almost £5k of kit and still needed clothes, a helmet, gloves and shoes so I set about buying them online.

You bought 2 bikes and a turbo trainer, have you ridden them yet?

He seems to have got to grips with the willy waving though

He'll be starting a 'how's my average speed looking' thread next...

Surely not.....

VTech wrote:

eBay can also work out some times.
The Pininfarina badge on my car broke in 2 and a new one was £240 from the dealer, I looked on eBay and got one off a fiat for £11 inc delivery, it even came in a Ferrari cover too

MattC59

Would you not have been better spending £89 on perfectly adequate shoes and spending the additional £200 on some reasonable kit, rather than the poor value kit that you bought ?

You appear to be talking about money saving, but have bought a 'trainer bike', I can only assume that this is for the Turbo trainer ? What's wrong with putting the Felt on there ?

MattC59

Seems you're keen to burn your money !
In this post, at 16.56 on 26th Jan, you ask about buying mudguards or a trainer bike:
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40013&t=12902045
And then get some for your bike and your Mrs' bike.

Yet you state in this thread, only 4hrs later, that you have bought a trainer bike.

That's pretty good going !

GGBiker

My opinion would be that your allocation of cash is all wrong.

As a beginner you needn't have spent more than a grand on a nice bike that would have served you well. The carbon SIDIs are likewise excessive, a pair of £60 Shimanos would have been perfect.

So after spending all that you then go to Sports direct for a load of Muddy Fox junk? Doesn't add up, in fact my bullshit detector just went to red alert!

p1tse

Did you buy your bike(s) online or instore?

Surely would have gone back to lbs to see what dedicated clothing they had?

VTech, out of interest what car do you have a Honda?

VTech

You guys are sceptical and may I say "a tad unfriendly" at times.

I have made myself very clear, I purchased a bike for the road , a felt ar4 and then one for the trainer which is actually a bmx hence the reason for looking for a new trainer bike.
The reason for mudguards is from advice from the secretary of the redditch cycle club telling me people will be upset if I spray them from not using guards.
The reason for not putting the felt on the trainer is twofold.

1) everyone worth their salt has said don't do it.
2) there is no warranty for carbon bikes used on a trainer.

I have asked questions hoping for honest opinions from people I thought would be willing to help, for those that have helped, I thank you, for those who feel the need to be either rude or idiotic, I pity you.

That said, you won't be getting rid of me, I came here for advice and info on my new hobby and that won't change from reading daft replies.

p1tse

That's very true that clubs will frown without mudguards
Some bikes it's hard and not worth putting on so rather than just trainer bike you need it for winter use

Make sure its got eyelets for mudguards to be on safe side

Hey it's a good forum but I'm sure as in life with any big group comes jealousy
Enjoy the forum as it is good. Being a relative newbie myself there's been some very good replies but always some who likes to remark more.

Going back intopic I guess the clothing choice will do but if you rack up miles and time like many on here you might see it wear thin, not as comfortable but you might find it suits your needs

I wanted nice bib shorts but low on budget didn't want to get cheap cheap, just because. Decathlon sell btwin, no experience with them sure they are fine for recreational but decided to go for dhb at wiggle. Have you looked at dhb wiggle stuff?

VTech

I haven't no. But I'll take a look.
To be honest, the price isn't the issue, I just wanted to know if the prices (often 5x the cost) were justified in the products.
Also, I don't drive, have never owned and possibly never will own a Honda. (Not that there is anything negative about them)

p1tse

Ah right I just thought as per your user name lol

Check out wiggle website as you can sort on price and see how things compare also has good reviews by consumers

They do a free click+ return service too

VTech

Ill keep that in mins, thanks.
I see your point now about the Vtec, there is a lot of sherlocks here

p1tse

I only ask as my interest are with cars more

VTech

Ohh, I work in the car industry myself.
What do you drive and whats your interest ? modified, sports, super car, road etc ?

nickyboy zz

Markjaspi wrote:

I've bought quiet a lot of my winter gear from decathlon, the Btwin stuff seems reasonable for its cost. I haven't really got any summer gear so I'll have to decide what I buy then. My friends and brother in law buy more expensive gear than me, they don't go any quicker or keep any warmer but they are happy and so am I.

I suppose it depends on what your happy to spend and whether you feel it's value for money, and as long as you are happy that's all that matters IMO.

Wot he said

Expensive gear won't make you faster. Will be better quality than cheaper stuff but law of diminishing returns applies here. If you are happy to pay double for 20% better then go for it, if not then don't

FWIW this buy cheap buy twice idea is claptrap. It won't last as long but you will definitely spend less replacing cheap stuff when it wears out rather than expensive stuff

VTech

nickyboy zz wrote:

Markjaspi wrote:

I've bought quiet a lot of my winter gear from decathlon, the Btwin stuff seems reasonable for its cost. I haven't really got any summer gear so I'll have to decide what I buy then. My friends and brother in law buy more expensive gear than me, they don't go any quicker or keep any warmer but they are happy and so am I.

I suppose it depends on what your happy to spend and whether you feel it's value for money, and as long as you are happy that's all that matters IMO.

Wot he said

Expensive gear won't make you faster. Will be better quality than cheaper stuff but law of diminishing returns applies here. If you are happy to pay double for 20% better then go for it, if not then don't

FWIW this buy cheap buy twice idea is claptrap. It won't last as long but you will definitely spend less replacing cheap stuff when it wears out rather than expensive stuff

Thanks for the answer.
The issue isnt about "twice the cost"
What I have found is items costing 3, 4 and 5x the price :shock:

GGBiker

Why didn't you apply the same logic when buying your bike and shoes? You could have got a bike for £300 from halfords or decathlon and saved 2k!

Seriously, a bike at £700-800 or even less will ride nicely, it will be a long time before you find it's limits. On the other hand comfortable, well fitting and properly functioning clothing will make you happier every minute you are on the bike and will encourage you to get out more. It doesn't need to be expensive, Wiggle have loads of stuff cheap, eg £25-30 for decent jersey, shorts/bib knickers for £30 or less. A lot of the heavily discounted but high quality stuff is in large sizes as well.

For the price of your SIDIs you could have a nice pair of Shimano R087 shoes and a full winter wardrobe of kit. If you wash stuff as soon as you're home you only need one of each item.

Did somebody advise you to buy a BMX for the turbo trainer??

VTech

No, I had that in the garage.
As I said, money wasn't the issue, the felt was a similar look to a project car I'm working on (silly I know) so I purchased it. The sidi as I read a review on the best shoes and the gore clothing due to another mag although at that point I simply questioned the thought of costings.

p1tse

VTech wrote:

Ohh, I work in the car industry myself.
What do you drive and whats your interest ? modified, sports, super car, road etc ?

Off topic, but I've had sporty coupes, hatchbacks, mods and now have a family wagon

GGBiker

Well best of luck, hopefully you stick at it and get some enjoyment out of it, I know most of us do!

If the money is no object then buy yourself some high quality gear, you'll be much more comfortable. Avoid yellow jerseys, polka dots and Team Sky kit and you'll be fine.

migrantwing

Rolf F wrote:

For cheap stuff it's hard to beat Aldi - at least for the top half. I've got expensive stuff and the expensive stuff is nicer to hold in your hand but I'm never really aware of the difference once I'm on the bike!

+1

VTech

p1tse wrote:

VTech wrote:

Ohh, I work in the car industry myself.
What do you drive and whats your interest ? modified, sports, super car, road etc ?

Off topic, but I've had sporty coupes, hatchbacks, mods and now have a family wagon

Can't beat the family wagon. A chariot for multi use, carrying people of different ages and sizes
In a former life I've wasted vast amounts on hot hatches, modifying, upgrading and keeping up with developments and now I find myself here doing a similar thing :shock: