Big Bike Thread

Dup · 11 Sep 2009 at 15:03

remy87 said:
Well your best bet would probably go down there and try out both.
Just bring your wallet with drivers license/ID of some kind and they will let you ride it around the parking lot.

The disc breaks on the hybrid wasn't that great last time I checked.
It was like bending the disc instead of clamping it although it could be the demo bike was setup badly by Halfords.

I went from Hardtail MTB with front suspension(locked when not needed) so don't rule out hardtails they are extremely rugged with semi slick tyres
it runs pretty fast on all surfaces.

I run my mantra with the forks almost locked and tons of pressure in the tyres already.

Sadly the nearest bordman Halfords is in Halifax or Blackpool for me! (40 miles just to get there). I might just got for it anyway considering the savings that can be had.

I also have a mate who runs a bike servicing and repair place who's very good. Either way, I can't go too wrong compared to what I have now, it's just what style of bike. Lots of offroad action round here but I prefer the "ride out the front door" approach than transporting, riding then transporting home approach, so a hybrid/crosscyclo sounds like the ideal compromise.

Cheers for the feedback, getting excited about riding now.

Goldy · 11 Sep 2009 at 15:41

Remy, are those tyres 23mm? They look a bit fat.

Also, is the frame Alu? Nice bike.

remy87 · 11 Sep 2009 at 16:30

Goldy said:
Remy, are those tyres 23mm? They look a bit fat.

Also, is the frame Alu? Nice bike.

Yeah 23mm at 110 PSI gatorskins and yeah frame alu

and @Dup
wow that's far.
Yeah the first thing you will notice going from fat tyres to skinny is how fast you will accelerate and the ride will be a bit rougher with 700c tyres.
And the frame is so light.
Nonetheless it is very refershing to have a different style of bike to switch back and forth with.

ChrissyT88 · 11 Sep 2009 at 16:47

Not 100% cycling related, but has anyone got one of the Mobi power washers advertised in some of the MTB magazines?

I'm in a flat, so no access to a hose, so a self contained pressure washer seems like a really good idea, even if they are quite pricey... but i don't want to buy one if its terrible!

SoliD · 11 Sep 2009 at 16:50

ChrissyT88 said:
Not 100% cycling related, but has anyone got one of the Mobi power washers advertised in some of the MTB magazines?

I'm in a flat, so no access to a hose, so a self contained pressure washer seems like a really good idea, even if they are quite pricey... but i don't want to buy one if its terrible!

that was "reviewed" in this months evo mag (cars) technology section, can't see it being much cop, I would just get a bucket you dont want any pressure washing the grease out of your bike.

Genoma · 11 Sep 2009 at 19:15

A cheap alternative/compromise is garden sprayer with manual pump.

JKD · 12 Sep 2009 at 09:26

To the roadies with carbon frames: Is it true that if you crash them once you're pretty likely to completely fubar the frame? I ask as I'm currently rocking a Scott Speedster S40, which I'm loving - but I really fancy an ultralight carbon bike.

Is it worth me getting a completely new carbon framed push-iron with a decent groupset, or keeping my present bike and upgrading the wheelset & currently just about bearable Tiagra groupset? I fancy SRAM as I've had such good results with SRAM on my MTB?

Cheers.

ichabod crane · 12 Sep 2009 at 10:17

JKD said:
To the roadies with carbon frames: Is it true that if you crash them once you're pretty likely to completely fubar the frame? I ask as I'm currently rocking a Scott Speedster S40, which I'm loving - but I really fancy an ultralight carbon bike.

If you prang a carbon frame the manufacturer recommends you have it professional checked for any damage to the structure if you dont do this then your warranty is void. a lot of riders in our club are on carbon frames and a fair few have had collisions with cars and it seems that some of the bigger brands will replace you frame free of charge but if its a custom build you need insurance.

Another benefit is in a high speed collision the carbon frame flexes a fair bit and takes up some of the impact so you dont travel quite as far

Ti frames don't do this!

kieranv · 12 Sep 2009 at 10:25

Dup said:
Sadly the nearest bordman Halfords is in Halifax or Blackpool for me! (40 miles just to get there). I might just got for it anyway considering the savings that can be had.

phone around your more local stores, some stores arent boardman stores as such, but can still order the bikes in. Like in scotland there are 2 main stores in this area (dumfries and braehead) but smaller stores like east kilbride and cumbernauld can order them in. Worth a shot if its what you're after.

dante6491 · 12 Sep 2009 at 12:53

Hi everyone!

I am after a new bike after deciding the Apollo I was riding is a little old and worn. I got it about 10 years ago and has survived being hit with a car among other things. I am after a new bike for around £200 with at least front suspension. I don't intend to do any major off roading but I might do in the future. Also I really hate grip shifters so would prefer one of those systems with two buttons on each side, one above the bar one below which change the gears down and up respectively. Any recommendations?

Two I like the look of are the Raleigh Chinook DD and the Diamondback M05

shauncr91 · 12 Sep 2009 at 14:53

Had a play on my new toy today, picked it up yesterday

For £425 it's a great bike, can see me sticking with it for a long time. Even the forks which were my biggest concern are better than expected, after reading some reviews I was quite concerned

Btw what's the best way to get the reflectors off the spokes? I had a brief look at it when I got it but can't figure it out, and I'm scared to snap it off incase I damage the spoke :/

dante6491 · 12 Sep 2009 at 14:53

Sod it all, went and blew my budget and got a Specialised Hardrock Comp 2009. Picks to follow. I decided to shed my nerdy nature and get something physical instead of a 5870.

MrKnifey · 12 Sep 2009 at 15:04

shauncr91 said:
Had a play on my new toy today, picked it up yesterday
For £425 it's a great bike, can see me sticking with it for a long time. Even the forks which were my biggest concern are better than expected, going to be upgrading them soon though but still much better than the reviews would have you believe

Btw what's the best way to get the reflectors off the spokes? I had a brief look at it when I got it but can't figure it out, and I'm scared to snap it off incase I damage the spoke :/

Got the exact same forks on my cube and found they were fine. Even when hitting some big doubles and stuff on it! Dare i say better than the Marazocchis i got on my Giant Reign, which are CRAP

shauncr91 · 12 Sep 2009 at 15:07

crankbro said:
Got the exact same forks on my cube and found they were fine. Even when hitting some big doubles and stuff on it! Dare i say better than the Marazocchis i got on my Giant Reign, which are CRAP

Aye, I read up loads on them before buying it and lots of people said they found them to be fragile and breaking easy :confused:

Still, going to give them a few more sessions and make up my mind but atm they still seem fine (Re-read my post and realised I worded it wrong

)

You got any idea about removing the reflectors?

MrKnifey · 12 Sep 2009 at 15:30

shauncr91 said:
Aye, I read up loads on them before buying it and lots of people said they found them to be fragile and breaking easy
Still, going to give them a few more sessions and make up my mind but atm they still seem fine (Re-read my post and realised I worded it wrong )

You got any idea about removing the reflectors?

Think you just gotta twist them off tbh.

Draeger · 12 Sep 2009 at 16:01

Dup said:
Sadly the nearest bordman Halfords is in Halifax or Blackpool for me! (40 miles just to get there).

Worth travelling any amount of distance ( within reason

) to get the right bike m8. Even more so it is worth travelling any amount of distance to get the right customer service as far as frame fitment and sizing goes as well as after sales service.

I travelled from Falkirk to Edinburgh to get my Pinarello as it was a cracking deal at the time and the service was very good.

At one point I even considered driving from Scotland to Wiggle to grab a Focus Cayo. :eek:

Genoma · 12 Sep 2009 at 16:03

shauncr91 said:
You got any idea about removing the reflectors?

plastic screw IIRC

Reality|Bites · 12 Sep 2009 at 17:30

Can you not buy the bike online from Halfords?

Jonny ///M · 12 Sep 2009 at 17:58

You could but you won't know what it feels like to sit on and if it fits you well at all.

Can anyone give me some advice regarding being accused to damaging something that was already damaged but the customer claims otherwise? Shouting the usual I'm going CAB and local papers things. Got a very annoyed customer even though it was the way it was when he brought it in.

shauncr91 · 12 Sep 2009 at 18:01

Jonny ///M said:
You could but you won't know what it feels like to sit on and if it fits you well at all.

Can anyone give me some advice regarding being accused to damaging something that was already damaged but the customer claims otherwise? Shouting the usual I'm going CAB and local papers things. Got a very annoyed customer even though it was the way it was when he brought it in.

Gonna need more details tbh.