Thinking about getting a road bike...
Discussion
Hi. This is my first post in Pedal Powered, so i'll give you some of my biking background...
I started off riding "properly" at a relatively young age of around 10 ish. On a Dawes Durango. I decided that this bike needed some top notch suspension as I was starting to get into dirt jumps. So I put a pair of RST 281 TL's on it! These promptly bent.
Soon after I moved onto my first proper jump bike. A specialised P3. I loved this bike, and IMO is a part of biking history and if I see an original red and black one with a pair of the original Z3.5 forks on them it brings a lot of nostalgia!
This bike ran it's course for a while but it was soon time for an upgrade after a few years. The next bike was a 24seven V4 frame with 24 seven components (wheels, pedals, stem etc), Marzocchi bomber DJ forks, single speed, hope moni mini brakes. It was a gold/black coloured bike, similar to this one (but not this one). I loved this bike and had it for around 7 years when it was nicked from outside university.
During my time with the 24 seven I had a got a specialized big hit, bought from a friend of a friend called brendan fairclough who I hear is doing pretty well on the DH scene these days. It had hope discs, Juniour T forks and a reasonable set up that I can't remember off the top of my head. I did a few DH series for a couple of years and loved it. Did pretty well actually considering I never really took it too seriously (I'd be the one pulling tricks off the jumps rather than staying low and fast). After 2 years or so this had to go as I was skint and could no longer afford 2 bikes!
Back to the theft of the V4. This was around 2/2.5 years ago. Luckily it was insured for £1400 of which I got all of to spend on a new toy. So I decided to go for a Orange p7 Pro as I wasnt really dirt jumping much anymore and I thought this would be more practical and fun for a bit of XC. However, contray to the trend I didn't really get on with this bike. Two things I learnt is that 130mm of travel was too much for me, and I don't like gears! I did a bit of everything on this bike but eventually sold it as I just didn't really enjoy rising it. This was around a year ago and signified a bit of an end of an era as it was the first time for me without a bike for a long time! My actual p7 below.
Today a friend at work asked me to have a look over her bike as it was misbehaving (I used to be a bike mechanic whilst at college). It was only a bottom spec Trek MTB but I had a blast around on it and remember what I was missing.
Now, on to the question. I have never owned a road bike but I fancy a dabble. Mainly becuase I have an 8-10 mile commute and a lot of time would be spent commuting, as well as a few fun rides. This also intrests me because fitness is a massive part of my life and road cycling seems like a good idea, on top of the fact that I am too scared too take up dirt jumping or DH racing again! Three things I need this bike to be are cheap, signle speed and solidly built. I'm not fussed for fancies like lightweight etc, just want a nice, simple singlespeed road bike. Not really sure what to look at as I've never owned a road bike. I found a Kona earlier which I think looks pretty good, but typically I'm not a fan of Konas.
Thoughts if you will, and sorry for the life story!
I started off riding "properly" at a relatively young age of around 10 ish. On a Dawes Durango. I decided that this bike needed some top notch suspension as I was starting to get into dirt jumps. So I put a pair of RST 281 TL's on it! These promptly bent.
Soon after I moved onto my first proper jump bike. A specialised P3. I loved this bike, and IMO is a part of biking history and if I see an original red and black one with a pair of the original Z3.5 forks on them it brings a lot of nostalgia!
This bike ran it's course for a while but it was soon time for an upgrade after a few years. The next bike was a 24seven V4 frame with 24 seven components (wheels, pedals, stem etc), Marzocchi bomber DJ forks, single speed, hope moni mini brakes. It was a gold/black coloured bike, similar to this one (but not this one). I loved this bike and had it for around 7 years when it was nicked from outside university.
During my time with the 24 seven I had a got a specialized big hit, bought from a friend of a friend called brendan fairclough who I hear is doing pretty well on the DH scene these days. It had hope discs, Juniour T forks and a reasonable set up that I can't remember off the top of my head. I did a few DH series for a couple of years and loved it. Did pretty well actually considering I never really took it too seriously (I'd be the one pulling tricks off the jumps rather than staying low and fast). After 2 years or so this had to go as I was skint and could no longer afford 2 bikes!
Back to the theft of the V4. This was around 2/2.5 years ago. Luckily it was insured for £1400 of which I got all of to spend on a new toy. So I decided to go for a Orange p7 Pro as I wasnt really dirt jumping much anymore and I thought this would be more practical and fun for a bit of XC. However, contray to the trend I didn't really get on with this bike. Two things I learnt is that 130mm of travel was too much for me, and I don't like gears! I did a bit of everything on this bike but eventually sold it as I just didn't really enjoy rising it. This was around a year ago and signified a bit of an end of an era as it was the first time for me without a bike for a long time! My actual p7 below.
Today a friend at work asked me to have a look over her bike as it was misbehaving (I used to be a bike mechanic whilst at college). It was only a bottom spec Trek MTB but I had a blast around on it and remember what I was missing.
Now, on to the question. I have never owned a road bike but I fancy a dabble. Mainly becuase I have an 8-10 mile commute and a lot of time would be spent commuting, as well as a few fun rides. This also intrests me because fitness is a massive part of my life and road cycling seems like a good idea, on top of the fact that I am too scared too take up dirt jumping or DH racing again! Three things I need this bike to be are cheap, signle speed and solidly built. I'm not fussed for fancies like lightweight etc, just want a nice, simple singlespeed road bike. Not really sure what to look at as I've never owned a road bike. I found a Kona earlier which I think looks pretty good, but typically I'm not a fan of Konas.
Thoughts if you will, and sorry for the life story!
Coming from an MTB background you must have heard of OnOne and have an opinion
If its a good opinion they are twinned with Planet X who as far as Im concerned make pretty good road bikes at great prices
Here:
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/bikes
I do know OnOne and Planet X, they were the "cool" alternative dirt jump frames to have IIRC. Their single speed road bike does look pretty good! Not a bad price either. Definately a contender. I like that you can change a lot of the spec as well to customise a lot of it at no extra cost.
If you want a retro-style single-speed road bike, have a look at the Charge Plug. 2010 models are the best looking IMO. If I had space in the garage for one, I'd buy this in an instant: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/charge/plug-20...
dubbs said:
SINGLESPEED - Wash your mouth out.... that's not a ROAD bike, it's a poncey city bike 
As long as you avoid hills it'll be fun - include hills and you may as well get on the NHS waiting list for new knees now as you'll need them in a few years time
After going from a singlespeed dirt jump bike with a 14 inch frame, 24 inch wheels and 2.2 inch tyres to a properly fitted MTB with gears and skinnier tyres that should have been more comfortable and easy to ride on the road and finding it considerably less so becuase the gears just got in the way. I love the simplicity, the fact that you just need to charge around everywhere in the same gear, if you reach the top speed just sit back and cruise, less maintinence, less noice, less wasted energy, less to go wrong, less to spend in the first place etc etc. If your fit and can cope with the hills, and don't need to rush down them IMO gears just get in the way.As long as you avoid hills it'll be fun - include hills and you may as well get on the NHS waiting list for new knees now as you'll need them in a few years time
I think my training I do in the gym will mean a bit of single speed cycling won't have any effect on my knees! It'll be the squats that get me
Edit: I had spelt "cruise" like this "cruze". oh dear.
Edit for a seconds time: Just to be clear I'm after single speed with a freewheel. Not up for any of that fixie business!
Edited by balders118 on Thursday 16th June 17:20
I've known more than one person who, 1-2 years after getting a singlespeed has had to give up months of cycling due to knee problems - and these guys were proficient cyclists and more than fit enough.
If it's flat I think they're fine as long as you can cope with being dropped 10m after every set of lights (have to admit the demon in me still can't let that go!) and as you say are happy to stick to a 16-18mph top speed.
Make sure you get a leather "record" bag, green woollen jumper and Philip Starck Glasses to wear with the peaked cap...
If it's flat I think they're fine as long as you can cope with being dropped 10m after every set of lights (have to admit the demon in me still can't let that go!) and as you say are happy to stick to a 16-18mph top speed.
Make sure you get a leather "record" bag, green woollen jumper and Philip Starck Glasses to wear with the peaked cap...
I cycle around 3 miles to work, I have a scabby old Raleigh MTB which has seen better days.
I am tempted just to buy a cheap single speed from sports direct which would be adequate for the commute but then part of me thinks if i spent a little more i may put more miles in?
Could £300 get me a decent road bike?
I am tempted just to buy a cheap single speed from sports direct which would be adequate for the commute but then part of me thinks if i spent a little more i may put more miles in?
Could £300 get me a decent road bike?
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