Bike type help

[jules_s]

Seeking some advice if I may?

Some history the boring bit:-

Born bi-patella (both knees) flat knees, stretched cruciates much kneecap dislocations and physio etc (no operations)

Cycling was suggested for quad strengthening so...

Rode BMX in my teens to a fairly high level, always enjoyed freestyle more than track. Enjoyed it thoroughly but it came at a cost

Pretty much took a break in my twenties

30's got a mountain bike....around 100km a week mainly cyclepaths etc

40 got diagnosed with ankylosing sponylitis ...bugger...BMX made it worse ...so nothing until now (49 years)

...............................

I now really need to get some fitness back, So I need another bike. Problem is what type? Road bikes are out (too much lean forwards) mountain biking is out (too much jarring) so I'm looking at something in between (ish)

I've got some lovely routes locally, but It will be 50:50 on/off road. So I need to sit uprightish with flat bars and off road tyres. I've looked at hybrids but they dont seem to fit the bill

So what do i need? googling hasn't helped (hence the post) I'm thinking I'm going to end up with some sort of custom hybrid/mountain bike affair but any help would be appreciated...links?

Apologies for the long post TL:DR etc but i can't sum it up

Cheers for any responses

[Bobley]

How about a gravel/cross bike with flat bars? Maybe play about with a 17° stem flipped up and a riser to get the position you need?

[lufbramatt]

what about a short travel full suspension mountain bike? Will take most of the jarring out of your back and make life much more comfortable, even if your only doing gravel trails a couple of pounds extra weight wont make any difference if you're not having to stop through pain.

Or a 29" hardtail mtb. the big wheels will roll more smoothly. Can run a semi slick high volume tyre to reduce rolling resistance but keep the comfort.

Whats your budget?

[jules_s]

Cheers guys - food for thought and helped a lot!

Terminology and names have certainly moved on a bit....

Not really sure on budget, probably around £1k.

Led me to something like this--



not sure about the price of that though!!

[Bobley]

Well this looks similar?!

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXFMAPEX1FLAT/plan...

I built something similar for my mrs a couple of months ago using a new Boardman road frame and it's a great little rig.

You could use a Bish Bash Bosh frame (carbon, in orange for £500) and some modest wheels and create something 95% of your photo for £1200

Or the Space Chicken frame is £800 but it'll take 47mm tyres (looks mental too)

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FROOSPCKN/on-one-spa...

Edited by Bobley on Friday 2nd March 00:20

[Barchettaman]

Nice budget to have for a flat-bar hybrid, which it what it sounds like you need.

Have a look at the Pinnacle range at Evans Cycles, they also stock the Specialized Sirrus.

I would go for a rigid fork, big tyre clearance and hydraulic disc brakes.

Don't get too hung up about drivetrains - 3x8 is fine (and cheaper) as long as it's nicely set up.

Likewise weight - a couple of KGs won't make a massive difference.

Budget a few quid in reserve for a set of Ergon Grips or similer. They'll give your hands plenty of different positions for longer rides and I strongly recommend them for a flat bar bike.

[Bobley]

Hybrid wouldn't cut it. We need a bit more volume in the tyres occasionally. I missed out on a Trek X01 CX frame tuther day on ebay for £22.

Okay. I've got a set of 3x8 shifter/brakes, flat bars, a rear mech, some avid cantis, an 8spd cassette an old crank and some nice CX tubs with Rhinos on (maybe okay overkill on the wheels). We've nearly got it nailed !

[jules_s]

Bloody brilliant 😊

You’ve now got me considering a build but the Planet X looks like it will tick 90% of my boxes

[SniktySnikty]

http://www.cotic.co.uk/product/roadrat

I would consider one of these. Steel gives a smooth ride. Will take 37mm tires on 700c or 47mm tires on 650b. I ride a much older version of these, wonderful do everything bikes with a pretty relaxed geometry.

Great thing about Cotic is their demo fleet go all over so you can actually have a proper ride on them instead of a spin in the carpark.

[jules_s]

Goddamit

Was seriously tempted by the full Monty only to find they only come in the most boring colours ever

Back to square one. The one above is nice but the top tube is too narrow (pet hate of mine)

[SniktySnikty]

Fair enough, but I’d definitely consider riding something steel before making a decision. Aluminium can be pretty harsh, steel is more comfortable.

Unfortunately all steel bikes will have a skinny top tube though.

[Bobley]

Well I suppose we could buy a cheap carbon frame and just fill the tubes with epoxy until it has the same moment of inertia as a steel frame so then it would have fat tubes and feel the same as steel?

[jules_s]

Cheers guys

I've been searching all day and my head hurts

The full monty really did float my boat apart from the gash colours!

More research needed I think, problem being is my only frame of reference is my crappy old silverfox 26" mountainbike which I will have to drag out and see if it still 'fits'

I'm not averse to building one but I have no tools whatsoever so that will need to be factored in.

I guess i need to test ride a few which will be my first task finding (Bristol)

[Bobley]

Well dont panic . The weathers still crappy so plenty of time to think.

I saw this too which looks like fun

https://www.bike-treks.co.uk/content/kinesis-trips...

Meanwhile, if you want a bike building up or some silly light cheap wheels then drop me a note. I just build bikes for a lark for mates

https://www.facebook.com/bikesonabudget/

Edited by Bobley on Friday 2nd March 22:08

[jules_s]

That's a very kind offer which I will bear in mind

It's certainly looking like I will have to flex the budget and get one built (I built all my bmx's so that concept doesn't faze me)

Early days though