new rider

[kaptainmarc]

I have recently got into cycling, going out every weekend with the friends for a 20-30 mile ride, and trying to go out at least once in the week before work to do 8-9 miles

Currently using the father in-laws bike which is too small for me and has clipless pedals even though I dont have the shoes -_-

now we cycle on roads and canal paths/mud paths(hard mud) so I have ruled out a road bike

however I am now torn between getting a cyclocross bike or a hybrid. what would everyone recommend?

I was looking at this which I can get for £500 through my brothers staff discount.
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/calibre-dark-peak-adventure-bike-p347153

 

[kaptainmarc]

ended up buying this:

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/kona-rove-al-bike-road-bike-p399869

not as well specced, however I got it for £400 so I can't complain for a first bike! did a 14 mile ride this morning and it was lovely.

 

[kaptainmarc]

Commuted for the first time today

need to take my bike for a service the guy who set it up did an absolutely shocking job.

 

[kaptainmarc]

Not that I'm especially confident in Go Outdoors' bike mechanic skills, but this can happen with newer bikes - as all the parts break in and the cables "stretch" it can require some readjustment after a couple of weeks. Most shops will offer to do this for free. That said, mechanical discs like those are notoriously difficult to set up well. You need the stationary pad to be practically whistling the rotor and enough cable tension that the caliper is already partly engaged in the resting position.

Not just the brakes and gearing that the problem though.

My front wheel nearly came off on a ride. The cable came sliding out of the front derailleur where he hadn't done the bolt up. Handle bars were not lined up correctly. the list goes on and on. the rear derailleur works like a dream though so one things right

 

[kaptainmarc]

Yeah that's almost criminally bad. Will have to think twice about recommending Go Outdoors again. But in terms of wheels, the rule for quick releases that almost nobody seems to know is that they should be tightened to the point where the lever starts to feel resistance at about the half way point, perpendicular to the bike.

I have to be fair to the store though, I walked in at 6:30 decided on my bike at 7:30 and they closed at 9.

so he only had an hour and a half to build my bike and was being hounded by other customers/staff. so in reality I should have just said I will pick it up the next day. But i wanted my shiny new toy!