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Road Cycling Essentials
- Thread starter Matutu
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[Damien];22897130 said:
It's about 5 miles from my house to my place of work. I'd also like to cycle during my time off and can't put a number on how many miles I'd clock. I would definitely be interested in taking it off road, I actually asked about that in the other thread.
Is a budget of up to £200 doable?
well £300 gets you this
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-id_8167038.html
£400 gets you not much more.
does your employer run a cycle scheme?
this is if you don't want to go 2nd hand.
should be able to pickup a nice steel roadie for £60 or so.
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-id_8167038.html
£400 gets you not much more.
does your employer run a cycle scheme?
this is if you don't want to go 2nd hand.
should be able to pickup a nice steel roadie for £60 or so.
Oooft, that's mental. Time to stop being a cheapskate.Alright, what if I double it? Up to £400?
If you want to take it off road too, then get a hardtail MTB. I rode one for years and as long as you stick some decent slicks on and keep the pressure up they're pretty nimble. One with a lockout on the front fork is best so you can stop it sapping your power when on the road. Don't bother with full suspension whatsoever.
My last one was a Giant XTC and I can't complain. I never maintained it apart from replacing the chain/cassette every year or so and it held up fine. To be honest looking for a second hand bike might be more suited. You'll get a far better bit of kit than buying new.
Edit: To be perfectly honest, for 5 miles it really doesn't matter. Any decent bike will get you there, despite what some people will say. A £100 cash converter jobbie will fall apart pretty quickly but a cheap hardtail from any decent bike shop will be fine.
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That looks well smart! I'm not sure if we have a cycle scheme, I'll ask tonight. I'm 6'2", what sort of size of bike should I be looking at? Sorry for all the noob questions.
edit @Damien: I'd like to cycle during my time off as well and plan to put a good bit of effort into it which is why I thought I'd ask you guys first rather than buying an £80 Halfords job.
edit @Damien: I'd like to cycle during my time off as well and plan to put a good bit of effort into it which is why I thought I'd ask you guys first rather than buying an £80 Halfords job.
Yeah that's understandable. If it was me and I was definitely going to be going offroad as well, I'd get a hardtail and £300-400 would be a good starting budget. You won't get the best kit but it'll do until you have the desire or funds to get something a bit more specialised. Getting 2nd hand would get you a lot better spec for the same budget though, so is definitely worth considering.
Haha, you guys know way more than me, it's pretty overwhelming tbh! I'm just trying to come to terms with the different types of bikes and all the terms, etc.
I think I will just focus on a road bike for now, sorry for the indecisiveness! I'll focus on zipping about town/back and fourth to work and if I feel like it, look into off road stuff at a later date.
I'm pretty much ready to order. Would you guys agree on the Triban 3 linked earlier? (eek, they only have 1 size available!)
I think I will just focus on a road bike for now, sorry for the indecisiveness! I'll focus on zipping about town/back and fourth to work and if I feel like it, look into off road stuff at a later date.
I'm pretty much ready to order. Would you guys agree on the Triban 3 linked earlier? (eek, they only have 1 size available!)
I'll let some people more knowledgeable than me help you on that one. I only retired my last hardtail MTB a matter of weeks ago, and I've bought a cyclocross bike (this one), rather than a proper road bike.
That Triban looks good for the price though, especially having a carbon fork too.
Edit: Just noticed the bit about them only having one size. You're really best off trying a bike instead of buying blind. I bought mine online but only after a load of measuring myself and checking geometry measurements. Even then I wasn't 100% sure the size would be right. I'm 5'9 (probably closer to 5'8 if I'm honest) and the 54cm version of mine is slightly too big on the standover, and slightly too small on the reach. Nothing I can't live with but you'd definitely need bigger.
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Quite a few of us on here have the Triban3, and it's a fantastic road bike for the money. It's not the latest or greatest, but you're not going to get any better/lighter for £300 for a new road bike.
Regarding sizes, do you have a local Decathlon you can nip into? My local had the Triban3 in loads of sizes available last time I was there.
For £300, it's all about the Triban 3. Unless you go second hand, in which case you could probably pick up something like a Specialized Allez.
I have been seriously neglecting my cycling lately, so I will be out on the bike Saturday, come rain or shine!
I have been seriously neglecting my cycling lately, so I will be out on the bike Saturday, come rain or shine!
If you're really limited to £200, go second hand, and ignore people who say you can't get a good bike. I got my Carrera TDF with a few upgrades, including a carbon fork, and a pair of shoes for £200, and it's doing me just fine. With the carbon fork it's comparable to the Triban 3. You'll need to hunt a bit to find something decent second hand, but it can be done.
If you want to get something new, up your budget and get the Decathlon Triban 3. It's better than anything Halfords have at that price.
If you want to get something new, up your budget and get the Decathlon Triban 3. It's better than anything Halfords have at that price.
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W00t! Freecycle scores again! I put a 'wanted' out for some wheels and pedals for the Equipe frame. The guy wanted me to take a nice set of classic alloy drop bars with brakes, a saddle and seatpost, flat alloy pedals with chrome toeclips and a selection of straps, two wheels, a barely used 5 speed block and some quick-release skewers. Result! 10 speed Raleigh Equipe will soon hit the road for next to nothing!
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