What road bike...

[civicduty]

And clothing, shoes, helmet, goggles, lights and everything else?

Basically I need to get fit and due to a medical condition I can only do this as a non-weight bearing activity/impact activity. I know cycling should be okay because I have done some pottering around work and done some biking in the gym. But I dislike the gym and also paying for it.

So I am after everything basically but I don't want to spend alot of money. Infact I have no idea what I should be spending really so I thought I would ask everyones opinion. My total budget probably would be much more than £800 but I have no idea if that is enough anyway.

Thanks for your collective help in this matter.

[civicduty]

Thanks for the help so far, I was half expecting 'you will need this carbon super doo-dah bike' and '£800, you must be joking my pedals cost that much'.

Will have a look at the two bikes mentioned, guess I should be able to do it all for a lot less than £800 which is good.

As for clothing, I already have walking shoe/trainers so that should do for footwear for now. I guess I need to spend a decent amount on shorts, (padded, lycra?), not sure what to do about tops as I am not wearing lycra tops (too fat).

Lights, a majority of my riding will be after dark as the days get shorter due to me only having time after work, so I will need something to actually see and be seen.

Thanks Pablo and Vocal Minority for your help so far.

[civicduty]

Wow, thanks everyone for the really helpful comments and ideas. Looks like I might have a busy weekend.

As I work for a big company I am looking into the bike2work scheme. What does everyone think of this. Is it a viable way of picking up a better bike cheaper? Are there lots of pitfalls?

[civicduty]

Some Gump said:

Lots of really useful amazing stuff,

You Sir are amazing thank you for your input, especially will take on board the bit about wearing bright clothing (why do cyclists wear black-black-black, maybe a discussion for another thread).

I think I have the start of a list now of everything that I need to buy. Everyone has been brilliant will try and keep you updated on it all goes, will definitely look into the bike2work scheme as I can't resist getting something a bit blingy if I can afford it.

So thanks for all the hints and tips see you out on the roads soon.

[civicduty]

Thanks for that Project C, I am mapping routes out in my head, but everything from where I live is uphill. So I am limited to one starting point until I am a bit fitter (though that is probably missing the point, guess I should be tackling hills as quickly as possible to get fitter quicker!!!).

Will have a look if there are any clubs by me that have some local routes too.

On the plus side I am gearing up to go to decathlon on Saturday.

[civicduty]

As promised here is my mighty steed.



Will get cracking on the interweb armed with my long list of recommendations as above and on the previous page. Bike helmet and gloves from a physical actual shop hopefully tomorrow.

And then the first ride.

Possibly after my trip to Spa next weekend though.

[civicduty]

One more thing for now, what bugger has nicked the tread from my tyres?

[civicduty]

Usget said:

Like! That's a good purchase.

Thanks, and thanks again for your offer.

[civicduty]

Helmet, Gloves and other bits and pieces bought from Hargroves on Sunday. Order just placed with Wiggle for clothing and lights. Hope to be on the road soon.

[civicduty]

Right after a weekend spent at Spa for the Grand Prix, I had my first ride last night, all 11 miles of it. Good fun.

Couple of questions.

1. Do my tyres really need to be at 100psi? I have put them to this as it is the reccomened pressure for my tyres, but it seems to change even the smoothest looking bit of tarmac into a washboard. (I am about [cough]96 kg[/cough], would this have any bearing on the pressures?).

2. Considering no setup of the bike has been carried out bar the bloke at Decatholon settting up the saddle, I had a pretty ache free ride, the only thing that did hurt was back of my neck and occasionally between the shoulder blades. I am putting this down to the fact that my glasses kept sliding down my nose so had to crane my neck further to look where I was going, but is this likely to be the only reason?

3. Bike came with this,

Decathlon said:

8-speed MICROSHIFT shifters. Very precise, rapid and robust design. Very comfortable ergonomics, levers suit all hand sizes. Very precise front and rear MICROSHIFT derailleurs enabling amazingly-smooth chain crossovers.

But on the ride I was finding a lot of false gears, finding that shifting the rear mech didn't do anything and have to hunt around for gears. The bike was put on a stand when I bought it, and the bloke was going through all the gears and adjusting it, but perhaps not perfectly. With this mech set is it something I will have to put up with, or should they be able to sort it at the free three month service?

Think that is about it for now as far as update goes. Thanks everyone for there words of advice so far.

[civicduty]

okgo said:

1 - yes, at that weight 100psi is about the least I'd want much less than that and the bike will feel wallowy and pinch flats would be much more likely. What tyres are you using?

Hutchinson Equinox (23 mm wide), the ones that came with the bike. Fair enough will stick with 100psi (to be fair all my previous riding has been done on a MTB where 40psi felt hard enough!!).

[civicduty]

okgo said:

2. Quite possibly.

Guess I will be looking for some sort of elastic strap thing to help hold my glasses up my nose then, laser surgery looking more attractive all the time, just need the fund sto be able to do it.

[civicduty]

okgo said:

3. No that is not right, quite possible though that the adjustment was not done correctly, OR the cables have already stretched, though unlikely in one ride. That is the issue with using cheap non recognised brand gearing, its usually quite poor vs Shimano equivalentY

I knew the gearing was one of the weakest components of this bike, but still the overall bike was good value for money. I will give them another attempt to fiddle with the gearing at the free service, failing that I can see upgrade-itus kicking in. What would be the best value for money gearing to upgrade to?

[civicduty]

TwistingMyMelon said:

Gearing should work, it might not be the best or lightest, but you should get a few years of no nonsense shifting

WHat model bike is it, where in UK are you OP?

Triban 500SE and Swindon area.

[civicduty]

TwistingMyMelon said:

Thought something rang a bell, I'm in Wroughton and ride round Swindon most days

I find Mitchells the best shop, down by the Magic Roundabout best for no nonsense repairs

Thanks for that, will give Decathlon a chance to sort it out at the free service after that will try Mitchells. Do you ever cycle the main road between Lyneham and Royal Wootton Bassett? If so do you ever notice the washboard effect on the road between the two, it seems to start at the golf course/hotel all the way to the fifty sign near Bassett. If not what could be creating the issue, any ideas?