OK, back into the saddle - getting into cycling

[Dr_Rick]

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?

[Dr_Rick]

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]

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.

[Dr_Rick]

Think I'm going to have have a mooch around Evans for a bit this weekend, if I can fit it in.

[Dr_Rick]

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.

[Dr_Rick]

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.

[Dr_Rick]

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

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?

[Dr_Rick]

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.

[Dr_Rick]

Can't do Halfords as they're not in CycleScheme.co.uk

[Dr_Rick]

So a little more education down the line, and I'm getting there (I think).

Is it better, under C2W scheme, to go for max bang for the buck on the bike? Or should I go sensible for the complete package within the voucher?

Examples being:

All the voucher on the bike: https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-arkose-4-2016...
Space for extras: [url]

Some spare for accessories: https://www.evanscycles.com/cannondale-caadx-105-d...

[Dr_Rick]

So my voucher is being worked up. Max spend on the bike. Accessories will come from Decathlon and eBay.

Think I've managed to swing the 2016 Pinnacle Arkose 4 in Medium for the £1k. According to The System, there are only 8 left in Evans.

So, I need pedals, mudguards, shoes, helmet and some bike clothes and I'm sorted.

Then the fun/pain starts.

[Dr_Rick]

So the bike is at Evans, in its box.

Just the slooooow wait for the CycleScheme paperwork / certificate to sort itself out.

[Dr_Rick]

Collection day ......