Complete and utter newbie - road or cyclocross?
Discussion
Hiya,
Short-term lurker in this part of PH.
In a nutshell, I never cycled much as a kid, my fiancée has gotten back into it over the last couple of years and now covers 100 - 200 miles per month on her two year old Specialized tricross.
So, I want to get into it and even had an adult cycling lesson last night which I properly enjoyed; still need to learn to control the bike a bit better but overall I'm safe to ride one. Good news!
I'm looking at my first bike purchase as a result. I will be riding on quiet roads and tow / cycle paths to start with, then getting into longer countryside rides across a range of terrain, but I'd guess probably 80% road or towpath still.
Would the PH collective recommend a specific style of road bike, or going down the cyclocross route so I know it can cope with the off-road stuff I may throw at it now and then?
Budget is £800 max for the bike and I've read lots of other helpful threads on here about useful ancillary equipment - bib shorts, maintenance gear etc - which I'll also be getting from the off. Par tof me says I don't need to shell out that much for a first bike, the other part says if I want something that can last a few years and will adapt as I get better it's easier to shell out now. My base fitness is good from running, general gym work and spin classes. I've always had good leg strength so don't anticipate too many problems there as I tackle longer routes.
Recommendations appreciated. Cheers.
Short-term lurker in this part of PH.
In a nutshell, I never cycled much as a kid, my fiancée has gotten back into it over the last couple of years and now covers 100 - 200 miles per month on her two year old Specialized tricross.
So, I want to get into it and even had an adult cycling lesson last night which I properly enjoyed; still need to learn to control the bike a bit better but overall I'm safe to ride one. Good news!
I'm looking at my first bike purchase as a result. I will be riding on quiet roads and tow / cycle paths to start with, then getting into longer countryside rides across a range of terrain, but I'd guess probably 80% road or towpath still.
Would the PH collective recommend a specific style of road bike, or going down the cyclocross route so I know it can cope with the off-road stuff I may throw at it now and then?
Budget is £800 max for the bike and I've read lots of other helpful threads on here about useful ancillary equipment - bib shorts, maintenance gear etc - which I'll also be getting from the off. Par tof me says I don't need to shell out that much for a first bike, the other part says if I want something that can last a few years and will adapt as I get better it's easier to shell out now. My base fitness is good from running, general gym work and spin classes. I've always had good leg strength so don't anticipate too many problems there as I tackle longer routes.
Recommendations appreciated. Cheers.
Cyclocross is the MX5 suggestion at the moment, as in you'll hear it offered as your best bet for everything. I've just got one for my commute and can't fault it, rugged, not too heavy (lighter than my old hybrid anyway), fantastic brakes and not that much slower than my road bike.
I'd start there if I were you, and if you really enjoy the road side of things you could look into getting one later, but you'll really not be noticeably slower on a cyclocross bike.
I'd feel happy taking my cyclocross bike on a miserable winter ride or down a canal path where I might baulk at doing so on my road bike.
I'd start there if I were you, and if you really enjoy the road side of things you could look into getting one later, but you'll really not be noticeably slower on a cyclocross bike.
I'd feel happy taking my cyclocross bike on a miserable winter ride or down a canal path where I might baulk at doing so on my road bike.
IMHO the CX bracket is a bit of a grey area as it now means that some bikes are marketed as CX bikes when they’re probably not suitable for CX racing which is where this all came from.
Essentially though if you’re just looking for a drop bar bike with discs or cantis and space for bigger tyres and racks and stuff then there’s loads of stuff around that fits the bill.
Planet X do a good carbon CX bike and the drop bar kaffenback
Evans have the Pinnacle Arkose range.
The Boardman CX bikes are great by all accounts and can be had for some good discounts.
In fact pretty much every manufacturer has something similar in the £1,000 range which on 2014 bikes should be dropping to £800 soon.
I’ve just bought a Whyte Dorset with £200 off that I’d say is more of sturdy road bike or drop bar hybrid that has discs and mounting points for guards & racks than a proper CX bike. I’m not sure why I went for it over a Boardman other than I was being impatient and one popped up just round the corner.
I’ve nothing to reference it with in CX terms but it’s a hell of a lot happier on my commute than my old aluminium road bike – and it stops in the wet.
Essentially though if you’re just looking for a drop bar bike with discs or cantis and space for bigger tyres and racks and stuff then there’s loads of stuff around that fits the bill.
Planet X do a good carbon CX bike and the drop bar kaffenback
Evans have the Pinnacle Arkose range.
The Boardman CX bikes are great by all accounts and can be had for some good discounts.
In fact pretty much every manufacturer has something similar in the £1,000 range which on 2014 bikes should be dropping to £800 soon.
I’ve just bought a Whyte Dorset with £200 off that I’d say is more of sturdy road bike or drop bar hybrid that has discs and mounting points for guards & racks than a proper CX bike. I’m not sure why I went for it over a Boardman other than I was being impatient and one popped up just round the corner.
I’ve nothing to reference it with in CX terms but it’s a hell of a lot happier on my commute than my old aluminium road bike – and it stops in the wet.
Thanks all, good to know people rate Cyclocross bikes as I was actually veering towards road, so I'll do some further investigation
Where did you get the Whyte at £200 off? LBS or a nationwide offer? Like the look of their bikes, and also Cannondales - no specific reason I can put my finger on, just generally like their appearance and style!
donfisher said:
Essentially though if you’re just looking for a drop bar bike with discs or cantis and space for bigger tyres and racks and stuff then there’s loads of stuff around that fits the bill.
Planet X do a good carbon CX bike and the drop bar kaffenback
Evans have the Pinnacle Arkose range.
The Boardman CX bikes are great by all accounts and can be had for some good discounts.
In fact pretty much every manufacturer has something similar in the £1,000 range which on 2014 bikes should be dropping to £800 soon.
I’ve just bought a Whyte Dorset with £200 off that I’d say is more of sturdy road bike or drop bar hybrid that has discs and mounting points for guards & racks than a proper CX bike. I’m not sure why I went for it over a Boardman other than I was being impatient and one popped up just round the corner.
Good knoweldge, cheers. Yep, a drop bar that can cope with racks / guards and some off road stuff is basically what I need.Planet X do a good carbon CX bike and the drop bar kaffenback
Evans have the Pinnacle Arkose range.
The Boardman CX bikes are great by all accounts and can be had for some good discounts.
In fact pretty much every manufacturer has something similar in the £1,000 range which on 2014 bikes should be dropping to £800 soon.
I’ve just bought a Whyte Dorset with £200 off that I’d say is more of sturdy road bike or drop bar hybrid that has discs and mounting points for guards & racks than a proper CX bike. I’m not sure why I went for it over a Boardman other than I was being impatient and one popped up just round the corner.
Where did you get the Whyte at £200 off? LBS or a nationwide offer? Like the look of their bikes, and also Cannondales - no specific reason I can put my finger on, just generally like their appearance and style!
From here - bought on line, collected in store:
http://www.cyclesurgery.com/whyte-dorset-2014/whyt...
I'm probably being one of those buy my bike as well internet bores and I'm sure there are other bikes that have a better spec or are more suitable for something else and so on. Out of all the ones avaiable at the time for that money it was one of the few I could find phsically that didn't need £1-200 spent straight away to replace something that wasn't in my ideal spec if that makes sense.
http://www.cyclesurgery.com/whyte-dorset-2014/whyt...
I'm probably being one of those buy my bike as well internet bores and I'm sure there are other bikes that have a better spec or are more suitable for something else and so on. Out of all the ones avaiable at the time for that money it was one of the few I could find phsically that didn't need £1-200 spent straight away to replace something that wasn't in my ideal spec if that makes sense.
I consider myself a jammy git as one of my best mates works at Madison and gets all sorts of goodies at a discounted rate, he e-mailed me last week to say they had a few ex-demo models of these in:
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/bikes/...
And would I like one for £200+vat. I bit his arm off and the hybrid went on eBay shortly after. It's one of those grey-area bikes though, the tyres don't have anywhere near enough grip to take part in a proper cyclocross race, but it's perfect as my commuter, a roughty-toughty road bike basically.
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/bikes/...
And would I like one for £200+vat. I bit his arm off and the hybrid went on eBay shortly after. It's one of those grey-area bikes though, the tyres don't have anywhere near enough grip to take part in a proper cyclocross race, but it's perfect as my commuter, a roughty-toughty road bike basically.
donfisher said:
IMHO the CX bracket is a bit of a grey area as it now means that some bikes are marketed as CX bikes when they’re probably not suitable for CX racing which is where this all came from.
Like my CX bike, which hasn't even got bottle cage bosses, let alone anything like rack or mudguard mounts? Barchettaman said:
Boardman CX Comp looms into view at 599.
I believe there are a couple of ways of getting even more money off - Halfords 10% off everything wekends, and the British Cycling membership gets another 10% off. Others will know for sure.
That bike at 480 quid looks unstoppable.
Thats what I'd be pointing you towards.I believe there are a couple of ways of getting even more money off - Halfords 10% off everything wekends, and the British Cycling membership gets another 10% off. Others will know for sure.
That bike at 480 quid looks unstoppable.
When the winter hits properly I'll be back to the winter bike - a Boardman CX team I put nearly 3000 miles on over the course of the winter last year.
Disc brakes stop no matter what the conditions and massive tyre clearance let's you run the appropriate rubber for any terrain. Its great offroad, its great on road on slicks, and the end of September I'll be racing it.
Jimboka said:
Hybrid
Nearly as fast on the road. Better visibility.
A bit more robust so ok down tracks.
More comfortable & you can look around & enjoy the journey
On the flip-side:Nearly as fast on the road. Better visibility.
A bit more robust so ok down tracks.
More comfortable & you can look around & enjoy the journey
Hybrid
Nearly as slow as a mountain bike. Terrible wind resistance.
No more robust than a road-bike.
Less comfortable as you are stuck in one position all the time.
TheInternet said:
donfisher said:
IMHO the CX bracket is a bit of a grey area as it now means that some bikes are marketed as CX bikes when they’re probably not suitable for CX racing which is where this all came from.
It's very much the current fad.Even more useful opinion, cheers all.
In true PH style I've decided disc brakes are a must. Trying not to allow any budget creep above £800 though. I'm quite liking the look of the Boardman and also this:
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cannondale-CaadX-Sora-Disc...
Think I'll pay a visit to Halfords and a couple of LBS this weekend.
In true PH style I've decided disc brakes are a must. Trying not to allow any budget creep above £800 though. I'm quite liking the look of the Boardman and also this:
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cannondale-CaadX-Sora-Disc...
Think I'll pay a visit to Halfords and a couple of LBS this weekend.
I was in a very similar position OP, and I took delivery of a Norco Threshold A3 cyclocross bike about 3 weeks ago - and I love it! Capability to fit racks and guards if needed (I haven't yet), and proving very comfortable and way quicker than the hybrids of some of the guys I ride with - even when on towpaths and gravel tracks etc. Bought from Evans - great service and a good deal, so could be worth a look?
Bit of an update after I've spent the last couple of weekends perusing a few LBS'.
My local Edinburgh Bike Coop are getting the last they have of this model in for me on Saturday:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/caa...
2013MY, but at the price they are offering (£720) I've pretty much decided I'm not too fussed about disc brakes, and the 105 gearing plus overall quality of the Cannondale frames I've already sat on has impressed me. Much deliberating suggests the 54cm size this comes in should be perfect too.
I'll update the 'Show Us Your Bike' thread when I've hopefully pulled the trigger this weekend . Thoughts welcomed meanwhile though...
My local Edinburgh Bike Coop are getting the last they have of this model in for me on Saturday:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/caa...
2013MY, but at the price they are offering (£720) I've pretty much decided I'm not too fussed about disc brakes, and the 105 gearing plus overall quality of the Cannondale frames I've already sat on has impressed me. Much deliberating suggests the 54cm size this comes in should be perfect too.
I'll update the 'Show Us Your Bike' thread when I've hopefully pulled the trigger this weekend . Thoughts welcomed meanwhile though...
ShortShift811 said:
Bit of an update after I've spent the last couple of weekends perusing a few LBS'.
My local Edinburgh Bike Coop are getting the last they have of this model in for me on Saturday:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/caa...
2013MY, but at the price they are offering (£720) I've pretty much decided I'm not too fussed about disc brakes, and the 105 gearing plus overall quality of the Cannondale frames I've already sat on has impressed me. Much deliberating suggests the 54cm size this comes in should be perfect too.
I'll update the 'Show Us Your Bike' thread when I've hopefully pulled the trigger this weekend . Thoughts welcomed meanwhile though...
You can get the disc equipped Boardman CX Team for a similar priceMy local Edinburgh Bike Coop are getting the last they have of this model in for me on Saturday:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/caa...
2013MY, but at the price they are offering (£720) I've pretty much decided I'm not too fussed about disc brakes, and the 105 gearing plus overall quality of the Cannondale frames I've already sat on has impressed me. Much deliberating suggests the 54cm size this comes in should be perfect too.
I'll update the 'Show Us Your Bike' thread when I've hopefully pulled the trigger this weekend . Thoughts welcomed meanwhile though...
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