What first bike thread
Discussion
I'm interested in buying a pushbike to get me fit.
Road use only and I have a budget of £1000 or so.
Any advice greatly appreciated as the last bike i bought was a Raliegh Chopper.
I like the look of http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/ro...
but know nothing, so not sure if this is the Hyundia of the bike world or the Porsche.
Road use only and I have a budget of £1000 or so.
Any advice greatly appreciated as the last bike i bought was a Raliegh Chopper.
I like the look of http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/ro...
but know nothing, so not sure if this is the Hyundia of the bike world or the Porsche.
First of all, do not buy it off of the Internet without having tried the exact bike in the exact size that you want. Nothing worse than ordering a bike and finding it doesn't fit...
IMO, you should get yourself to a big Evans shop or somewhere, and try as many bikes as you can in your price range... There's no brand (at the level you're talking about) which is better than another, they just make different bikes. Find one that you like and is comfortable and I guarantee you'll enjoy it. Don't just buy it because it's Specialized or Giant or Trek or whatever.
Good luck.
IMO, you should get yourself to a big Evans shop or somewhere, and try as many bikes as you can in your price range... There's no brand (at the level you're talking about) which is better than another, they just make different bikes. Find one that you like and is comfortable and I guarantee you'll enjoy it. Don't just buy it because it's Specialized or Giant or Trek or whatever.
Good luck.
rhinochopig said:
If your willing to take a small risk re: fit. ChainReactionCycyels.com have a sale on at the moment, or 1k will buy you a very very planet x full carbon framed road bike.
I'm looking at their site, but the discounts aren't that impressive. what does "1k will buy you a very very planet x full carbon framed road bike" mean.
I would like a carbon frame bike, just for pub rights!
Simond001 said:
rhinochopig said:
If your willing to take a small risk re: fit. ChainReactionCycyels.com have a sale on at the moment, or 1k will buy you a very very planet x full carbon framed road bike.
I'm looking at their site, but the discounts aren't that impressive. what does "1k will buy you a very very planet x full carbon framed road bike" mean.
I would like a carbon frame bike, just for pub rights!
Bikes here, but just checked and they've gone up in price. No longer a grand.
Simond001 said:
I'm going to Evans in crawley tomorrow. My fear is buying a bike that won't last, or isnt fit for my purpose.
From £500 to £5000 they all look the same to me!
At 1k, any bike should last a good few years so long as it's maintained properly. What do you actually want it for?From £500 to £5000 they all look the same to me!
Do you want it to get fit? Or to maybe race in the future? Or to pootle along canal paths? Or do you a bit of road and canal paths? Or go to the velodrome?
EDIT: Okay I've re-read your original post. I was in a similar position to you (albeit on half your budget) and I got a fixed wheel bike (so you cannot stop pedalling at all until you stop - i.e. you cannot coast) which I think will get oyu fitter in a shorter amount of time. However, unless you're an experience cyclist I wouldn't recommend it as they are tough to ride and you don't have any gears so you have to power up hills.
TBH, if you're just doing road riding you just need a road bike. Try and get an assistant in the shop who's not a teenager because they'll probably know more than a teenager would.
Edited by Henry Hawthorne on Saturday 23 May 18:40
Simond001 said:
I want to get fit. a couple of friends ride every week, so it would be good to get fit enough to join them.
Sorry didn't check the bike in your post. Planet X do a Ultegra build for £1200, which is cheaper than the bike you linked to. Plus if your company is in the cycle2work scheme you'd save a chunk of money off the purchase price.If you have friends who are regular cyclists then get one of them to go with you. If you are serious about cycling to get you fit then i'd allow some budget to get some proper cycling shoes and shorts and go for clipless pedals - you'll soon get used to clipping in and out of them.
As mentioned, you really want a bike that fits properly so take advice of someone who really knows what they are doing. Well worth asking the bike shop about fitting, and if they are happy to fit the bike to you. Even a 1cm different stem length can have a big difference on comfort after a couple of hours in the saddle. In my experience, a decent bike shop will swap stems, saddles etc - especially when you are looking to spend into 4 figures with them.
As mentioned, you really want a bike that fits properly so take advice of someone who really knows what they are doing. Well worth asking the bike shop about fitting, and if they are happy to fit the bike to you. Even a 1cm different stem length can have a big difference on comfort after a couple of hours in the saddle. In my experience, a decent bike shop will swap stems, saddles etc - especially when you are looking to spend into 4 figures with them.
Edited by Paul1972 on Saturday 23 May 20:40
ribble do some good sub 1k builds
ideally you should be looking for 105 groupset, carbon forks and a reliable set of wheels. most people opt for an allez from specialized and they are hard to fault if very common now.
i bought a boardman, accepting that many refer to them as a halfords specials but ultegra groupset, carbon forks and under £700 it was a steal...
ideally you should be looking for 105 groupset, carbon forks and a reliable set of wheels. most people opt for an allez from specialized and they are hard to fault if very common now.
i bought a boardman, accepting that many refer to them as a halfords specials but ultegra groupset, carbon forks and under £700 it was a steal...
Ok, update. Firstly, i dont have a bike.
I went with a friend to Evans in Crawley. We had a list of potential bikes to look at, Bianchi Pinnacle and Specialized were the favoured three.
We asked for a measure to ensure we were looking at the correct bike for me. "That's £50"
Also asked if we could have the bike fitted. "No!"
Really dissapointed. We told them straight off that I was willing to buy today. The initial salesman went to get someone senior, who, having told me that the Specialized Roubaix was ideal went off to fiond one. None in stock, unwilling ot get in from another branch. Unwilling to measure me and set the bike up at alternate store for delivery to my home (which is Free).
Totally pissed off with the service, and annoyed that I wasted half a day trying to buy a bike that they couldnt be bothered to sell me.
I went with a friend to Evans in Crawley. We had a list of potential bikes to look at, Bianchi Pinnacle and Specialized were the favoured three.
We asked for a measure to ensure we were looking at the correct bike for me. "That's £50"
Also asked if we could have the bike fitted. "No!"
Really dissapointed. We told them straight off that I was willing to buy today. The initial salesman went to get someone senior, who, having told me that the Specialized Roubaix was ideal went off to fiond one. None in stock, unwilling ot get in from another branch. Unwilling to measure me and set the bike up at alternate store for delivery to my home (which is Free).
Totally pissed off with the service, and annoyed that I wasted half a day trying to buy a bike that they couldnt be bothered to sell me.
That attitude is totally disgraceful - they simply dont deserve your business in that case. The last complete bike i bought was for an ex GF and that was only in the £350 region. The sales guy (at Rutland Cycling nr Oakham) set the bike up with her (while i held her up) including swapping the stem for a slightly longer one, and leaving me with the original one for her to try if she found it too stretched out on the understanding I returned the one she didnt want later that week.
So you now want some recommendations for Local Bike Shops then hey.
Here's one i've dealt with down your way. Good by mail order when i used them and have the Specialized Allez listed, as well as a few options from Giant and Trek
http://www.southdownsbikes.com/
So you now want some recommendations for Local Bike Shops then hey.
Here's one i've dealt with down your way. Good by mail order when i used them and have the Specialized Allez listed, as well as a few options from Giant and Trek
http://www.southdownsbikes.com/
Edited by Paul1972 on Monday 25th May 15:58
Paul1972 said:
So you now want some recommendations for Local Bike Shops then hey.
Here's one i've dealt with down your way. Good by mail order when i used them and have the Specialized Allez listed, as well as a few options from Giant and Trek
http://www.southdownsbikes.com/
Appreciate that link. Nice to see a website that actually has prices as well!. Most seem to just linkt o the manufacturers site.Here's one i've dealt with down your way. Good by mail order when i used them and have the Specialized Allez listed, as well as a few options from Giant and Trek
http://www.southdownsbikes.com/
What is the difference between the Allez and the Roubaix?
I have a good reason to go to Storrington, so will call them tomorrow.
arryb said:
I know it's halfords but is it worth looking at the Boardman range - isn't their top of the range full carbon bike £1k and it does get some very good reviews.....
This one(with the huge long linky)....http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Paul1972 said:
arryb said:
I know it's halfords but is it worth looking at the Boardman range - isn't their top of the range full carbon bike £1k and it does get some very good reviews.....
This one(with the huge long linky)....http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Paul1972 said:
arryb said:
I know it's halfords but is it worth looking at the Boardman range - isn't their top of the range full carbon bike £1k and it does get some very good reviews.....
This one(with the huge long linky)....http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
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