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.
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!
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.
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...
Mr Will said:
In my eyes what they are is the resurgence of the old fashioned do-it-all road bike.
Basically this - I'm after a 'do it all' bike that can cope with roads, tow / canal paths and the odd jaunt through a woodland trail too. Plus we can only really store two bikes at the moment, so the idea of an MTB, Road and CX bike is definitely out.
Steve Evil said:
I would add that disc brakes are so much better that I won't be buying another bike unless it has them fitted, thankfully they're cropping up on lots of road bikes now too and shouldn't be long before the UCI allows them.
Just thought it odd that you said you weren't fussed that's all.
The reason I'm not too fussed at the moment is that this will be my first bike in years, so I doubt I'll notice a measurable difference with the type of riding I'll do. The canti's on my OH's (2011) Spec Tricross feel fine to me. Also, a couple of the regular cyclists at work said that, at this price point, the mechanical disc brakes aren't all they are cracked up to be, and the real benefit is in hydraulics. No idea if that's true, and always happy to be corrected. Just thought it odd that you said you weren't fussed that's all.
I'll see what I think to the Cannondale tomorrow and if the 105 gearing really is that much smoother than the Sora stuff I've ridden. Keen to buy something ASAP though as I want to get some good mileage in over the next month before we take the bikes for a week's break in Pembrokeshire.
MadDad said:
I would tend to agree with the first point, I replaced mechanical discs with hydraulic on an old MTB and the difference was night and day. I have canti brakes on my CX and they are fine, never had any issues with them even in the dirtiest of conditions.
So, I think you have settled on a CX, question is now - what one???
Edinburgh Bike Coop are bringing a 2013 Cannondale CAADX 105 2013 in to their Leeds store for me to test ride tomorrow. Just a store bike they haven't sold that's been used for the odd demo apparently. Originally £1,100 and now £800, they've said they'll do it for £720 if I want it. So, I think you have settled on a CX, question is now - what one???
There may be a new post in the 'Show Us Your Bike' thread tomorrow afternoon...
Took it for a test ride and I was hooked.
I know I don't have any kind of real benchmark or comparison, but the gearing is much smoother than the OH's Sora based bike, and the geometry just felt right as soon as they'd set the bike up for me.
Result; I've parted with my cash and the CAADX is now secured in my shed.
I'd pre-ordered a few bits from Wiggle; bottles and cages, loaded saddle bag and puncture patches (kudos to 'Some Gump' on another thread). They arrived this afternoon, will go on tomorrow morning then we're off for a ride down the canal for a few hours so I can really find out how it handles.
Pic to follow when I'm on the PC. Thanks again everyone who gave me their opinion. Now I can get bitten by the bug and wait for the real expense to begin...
I know I don't have any kind of real benchmark or comparison, but the gearing is much smoother than the OH's Sora based bike, and the geometry just felt right as soon as they'd set the bike up for me.
Result; I've parted with my cash and the CAADX is now secured in my shed.
I'd pre-ordered a few bits from Wiggle; bottles and cages, loaded saddle bag and puncture patches (kudos to 'Some Gump' on another thread). They arrived this afternoon, will go on tomorrow morning then we're off for a ride down the canal for a few hours so I can really find out how it handles.
Pic to follow when I'm on the PC. Thanks again everyone who gave me their opinion. Now I can get bitten by the bug and wait for the real expense to begin...
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