OK, back into the saddle - getting into cycling

OK, back into the saddle - getting into cycling

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Dr_Rick

Original Poster:

1,592 posts

247 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
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Right, this is a rare venture for me into the world of pedal power, so play nice.

I'm 38 with two kids under 7 so I'm feeling the need to lose a few pounds given generously to me by my desk job. I drive to work as I live in Edinburgh and work just outside Glasgow (no, cycling to work is not on the cards yet). I'm planning on using my lunch hour to get me up and about, just to raise the heart rate a bit and start to knock the middle age spread on the head. My knees are fecked so running is out (plus I hate it). On the weekends I'll be planning on getting out and about with my daughter who's just got her confidence level up to match her cycling ability so I don't need to run alongside her and can take my bike instead.

My thoughts:
- I don't think a mountain bike is going to be explicitly needed.
- I just don't like the look / idea of a hybrid.
- I do like the look / idea of a cyclocross bike.
- Our roads are in such a poor condition, plus in Edinburgh there's the trams that means I'm unsure of the benefits of a roadbike.
- There appears to be a change of bike season, which means a bunch of bikes are on Sale at the moment, which could be financially beneficial.
- I'd be purchasing via our company which uses CycleScheme

I'm think I'll be heading down to someone like Evans Cycles, unless someone knows a better place in Edinburgh.

So, anyone got any pointers for me?

AC43

11,435 posts

207 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
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Many many years ago I used to crash around Edinburgh's roads head down, ares up on a spindly-framed racer with wheels made of cheese. It was a challenging way of navigating the roads.

Then someone invented the MTB and all was good in the world.

I now commute in London on a rigid 29er and thinks it's a great way to batter the shocking roads into submission.

Failing that I'd suggest a hybrid with carbon forks as they take a lot of the chatter out.

I#d avoid bikes with very narrow tyres/rims. Mine in running fairly fat kevler-lined slicks and they offer some devent absorbtion and are seemingly-puncture proof.

If you're worried about having a bike that's a few lbs heavier just remember it's pretty indestructable and it gives you more exercise.


Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
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CX bike and some 32mm tyres would be ok. Make sure you are comfortable on it. The broad range of bikes that get labelled CX means you might have to look at quite a few. How much do you expect to spend?


Dr_Rick

Original Poster:

1,592 posts

247 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
AC43 said:
Many many years ago I used to crash around Edinburgh's roads head down, ares up on a spindly-framed racer with wheels made of cheese. It was a challenging way of navigating the roads.

Then someone invented the MTB and all was good in the world.

I now commute in London on a rigid 29er and thinks it's a great way to batter the shocking roads into submission.

Failing that I'd suggest a hybrid with carbon forks as they take a lot of the chatter out.

I#d avoid bikes with very narrow tyres/rims. Mine in running fairly fat kevler-lined slicks and they offer some devent absorbtion and are seemingly-puncture proof.

If you're worried about having a bike that's a few lbs heavier just remember it's pretty indestructable and it gives you more exercise.
So would you suggest an MTB then?

In my naive way, I was looking at the CycloCross as a best-of-both worlds of being able to do the distance work and be light, but not being 'spindly-framed' as you put it. I'm just seeing that as a recipe for breaking bits.

Dr_Rick

Original Poster:

1,592 posts

247 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
Magic919 said:
CX bike and some 32mm tyres would be ok. Make sure you are comfortable on it. The broad range of bikes that get labelled CX means you might have to look at quite a few. How much do you expect to spend?
Ta.

The CycleScheme has a ceiling of £1k, which works out at about £55pcm. I'm OK with that, but of course it depends what's the most sensible bit of kit that I feel comfortable on.

loudlashadjuster

5,082 posts

183 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
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You seem to have the right idea, a CX bike can do pretty much everything and is nowhere near as compromised as a MTB or hybrid is. If your riding is all on roads though you might as well go for a road bike. With the ability to take 28mm tyres it wold be every bit as flexible as a CX bike, unless you were really planning a lot of gravel, tow paths, trails etc.

Even then, you could keep a set of knobbly tyres/wheels for that.

Don't be fooled by 'end of season' sales; there are always bargains to be had, although having to use a C2W voucher can stifle your choice somewhat.

Definitely try and ride (more than just a 30 second tootle round a car park) any bikes you're thinking of buying, AFAIK Evans are pretty good for that kind of thing. There's no point in buying a "better" bike if you are uncomfortable riding it.

As for the bike itself, there are two schools of thought:

Buy the best bike you can afford, even if you're not sure how much you'll use it. You're more likely to ride a 'good' bike.

...or...

You don't know what your needs/preferences are yet. Buy a decent but low-end bike and ride that until you figure out what you really want from a bike in terms of useage, geometry etc.

It's tempting to go for the first option but I lean towards the second nowadays. I spent £500 on my first road bike and only after about 2,000 miles was I beginning to understand what I might want from a "better" bike at some point in the future. That's s-1 territory though <shudder> biggrin

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
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Evans will do the Cannondale, Genesis and Specialized, all within budget. I quite like the look of the Genesis CdF 20. If you could get hydraulic brakes for that price, then do it. The Hy/Rd on the CdF are the closest I could quickly see.

AC43

11,435 posts

207 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
Dr_Rick said:
So would you suggest an MTB then?
For me, personally, it would have to be something with flat bars and a relaxed geometry.

I tried a Hoy, for example, and although it was sold as an "urban bike" it had the hunched up feel of a road bike which I didn't like.

I happen to have a Trek Cobia but would be happy with the Specialized equivalent.

For a hybrid I'd go for a Spesh Elite with a decent groupset, disks and carbon forks or something like this;

https://www.evanscycles.com/specialized-crosstrail...

It's all very personal, though, and you just have to try a few things out for yourself. Some people love drops, some love aggressive hybrids, others like me prefer something different.

Also certain frames will suit you better that others - the reach can vary quite a lot. i need frames with a long top tube, for example. You may not.

Dr_Rick

Original Poster:

1,592 posts

247 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
Think I'm going to have have a mooch around Evans for a bit this weekend, if I can fit it in.

BoRED S2upid

19,643 posts

239 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
MTB with road tyres on it I'd say. It's going to give you a better workout in a brief lunchtime ride and you can take your daughter off road at the weekend without being in that race position of a cx bike.

NatAsp

175 posts

127 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
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Based on your level of fitness and planned usage I think you'd be much better off with a Gravel/Adventure bike than a CX bike.

What's the difference?

CX bikes are designed to be able to race on, so have a much more aggressive position. A gravel/adventure bike will provide a very similar solution but with a more relaxed position. I.e. more comfortable. For someone like you this is perfect.

If you're going to Evans - https://www.evanscycles.com/bikes/road-bikes_c/adv...

Dr_Rick

Original Poster:

1,592 posts

247 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
NatAsp said:
Based on your level of fitness and planned usage I think you'd be much better off with a Gravel/Adventure bike than a CX bike.

What's the difference?

CX bikes are designed to be able to race on, so have a much more aggressive position. A gravel/adventure bike will provide a very similar solution but with a more relaxed position. I.e. more comfortable. For someone like you this is perfect.

If you're going to Evans - https://www.evanscycles.com/bikes/road-bikes_c/adv...
From someone like me, thank you. That's the sort of advice that I'm after. Last time I bought a bike it was a holiday thing and the choices were road bike (i.e. racer) or mountain bike. I'd never heard of half of the types of bike that are around now.

Daveyraveygravey

2,018 posts

183 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
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I'd second Evans, if you really want to try one or two, you can book it with them, give them your bank details so they know you're not going to ride round the corner never to be seen again and you can try anything they have for as long as you like. It helped me rule out a couple of possibilities when I was looking.

I would not rule out a road bike. They are plenty strong enough for the roads, so long as you don't crash up and down kerbs or actively look for potholes to ride into. A cx or adventure bike will cover some off roading though, towpaths and trails that aren't too flinty etc.

I would rule out a flat bar bike. If you ride for more than half an hour your hands and arms will get bored and you'll be looking for anywhere else you can put them. A flat bar bike rarely has more than two positions, but dropped bars you have three or four positions across the tops, and two on the drops. I bought bar ends for my mtb because it drove me mad only having one hand position.

Hybrids to me are just the industry suckering people into a jack of all trades bike. If you get into cycling at all, you will want a proper road bike and an off road bike pretty quickly. You may then want a couple of variations on top, but that's just how it goes! If you don't enjoy it, it will end up in the shed gathering dust.

I normally recommend people look at secondhand. There are hundreds of really good hardly used bikes bought by people for a variety of reasons and they then don't like it, so get rid and you can pick up something really good for around £200 to £300.

NatAsp

175 posts

127 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
Dr_Rick said:
From someone like me, thank you. That's the sort of advice that I'm after. Last time I bought a bike it was a holiday thing and the choices were road bike (i.e. racer) or mountain bike. I'd never heard of half of the types of bike that are around now.
NP smile It's an absolute minefield and took me months to properly understand it. If you want a drop bar bike you are faced with a choice of endurance/classic race/aero/CX/adventure, and probably more I haven't thought of.. Very easy to end up with something less than ideal!

Dr_Rick

Original Poster:

1,592 posts

247 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
Yeah, the best I could come up with was that wasn't needing a Time Trial machine. I think if I rock up to work with a solid disc rear wheel and aero kit on my head, I may get laughed at rather a lot.

bakerstreet

4,755 posts

164 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
'The roads are shocking round here' This is a great cliche. Used by lots of road riders who need a reason to buy a CX bike wink

CX bike does sound like a good option. Have a look at the Cannondale CaadX. Good looking bike and riding position is racey, but not too racey if that makes any sense.

Your C2W restriction will limit you in where you can buy and that can be a real pain.

Don't forget you will need clothing, helmets, ligts etc etc. That can be a couple of hundred quid easily. I don't want top add up how much I have spennt on accessories over the last five years. Probabaly a bike's worth at least...

Whilst there are always bargains to be had, overall this time of year is a good time to get a decent deal as 2017 bikes will have been released last month and retailers will want to get rid of the 2016 bikes.

Dr_Rick

Original Poster:

1,592 posts

247 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
bakerstreet said:
'The roads are shocking round here' This is a great cliche. Used by lots of road riders who need a reason to buy a CX bike wink

CX bike does sound like a good option. Have a look at the Cannondale CaadX. Good looking bike and riding position is racey, but not too racey if that makes any sense.

Your C2W restriction will limit you in where you can buy and that can be a real pain.

Don't forget you will need clothing, helmets, ligts etc etc. That can be a couple of hundred quid easily. I don't want top add up how much I have spennt on accessories over the last five years. Probabaly a bike's worth at least...

Whilst there are always bargains to be had, overall this time of year is a good time to get a decent deal as 2017 bikes will have been released last month and retailers will want to get rid of the 2016 bikes.
OK, I'm sure there are worse / better roads than round my way and I'm sure there are people that can cope with things. Yes, it's not Basra or anything. I just don't think I'm going to help myself by going for a skinny wheel road bike on roads that have granite cobbles with limited grout between them, roads that have broken anti-roll bars off my car and the option of cycling on the tow path along the Water of Leith and out along the Forth and Clyde Canal.

Fair point on the accessories thing. What if the bundle is more than the C2W limit. Is it simply a case that I pay the difference?

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
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You are not meant to pay more than the voucher amount for the bike. Safety equipment to take you up to the voucher amount is ok. Separate bill and payment over that is fine.

WinstonWolf

72,857 posts

238 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
Dr_Rick said:
bakerstreet said:
'The roads are shocking round here' This is a great cliche. Used by lots of road riders who need a reason to buy a CX bike wink

CX bike does sound like a good option. Have a look at the Cannondale CaadX. Good looking bike and riding position is racey, but not too racey if that makes any sense.

Your C2W restriction will limit you in where you can buy and that can be a real pain.

Don't forget you will need clothing, helmets, ligts etc etc. That can be a couple of hundred quid easily. I don't want top add up how much I have spennt on accessories over the last five years. Probabaly a bike's worth at least...

Whilst there are always bargains to be had, overall this time of year is a good time to get a decent deal as 2017 bikes will have been released last month and retailers will want to get rid of the 2016 bikes.
OK, I'm sure there are worse / better roads than round my way and I'm sure there are people that can cope with things. Yes, it's not Basra or anything. I just don't think I'm going to help myself by going for a skinny wheel road bike on roads that have granite cobbles with limited grout between them, roads that have broken anti-roll bars off my car and the option of cycling on the tow path along the Water of Leith and out along the Forth and Clyde Canal.

Fair point on the accessories thing. What if the bundle is more than the C2W limit. Is it simply a case that I pay the difference?
The nice thing about a CX bike is you'll have wet weather brakes assuming you go for discs and you can pop skinny tyres on it if you want to go a bit faster.

Dr_Rick

Original Poster:

1,592 posts

247 months

Tuesday 20th September 2016
quotequote all
Voucher for the bike, separate purchase and cash for anything else if it's over the limit. Fair enough.

Ideally I'd like to get everything inside the voucher. I just like to know the limits / systems before making the jump.