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New (sort of) here - is there a faq ??
Im sure there must be but after downloading several hundred old messages
can't find the link to one :-( Used to be on here about a decade ago on and off, but since spraining my ankle, fathering a few kids, leaving a crap job, now working for myself etc ad nauseum, im getting a hankering for a bike again to get fit before im 40 and to encourage the kids (10 and 8) out on their bikes. So: 1. Is there a FAQ somewhere I can read anyway? 2. Does it cover some recommendations for bikes? 3. Should i just start a new thread i wonder looking for recommendations? Donnie |
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#2
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New (sort of) here - is there a faq ??
Donnie writtificated
Used to be on here about a decade ago on and off, but since spraining my ankle, fathering a few kids, leaving a crap job, now working for myself etc ad nauseum, im getting a hankering for a bike again to get fit before im 40 and to encourage the kids (10 and 8) out on their bikes. 3. Should i just start a new thread i wonder looking for recommendations? S'pose this thread'll do. You didn't mention budget, but the standard advice is look to spend at least £200 for something half decent. If you're going to be riding a lot then £300 or so is the sweet point. You might want to raise that a bit if you're after a drop bar bike. For road-only use the Specialized Sirrus range is excellent. Their Sirrus Sport range is good if you want to do Sustrans type tracks as well (wider tyres). |
#3
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New (sort of) here - is there a faq ??
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#5
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New (sort of) here - is there a faq ??
Donnie wrote:
I dont want a pure road going bike, i think to cover my bases a comfortable, fairly sit up and beg, hybrid would be my bag? There are some very good prices just now on 2007 Claude Butler bikes, like the Classic or the Odyssey (I have an older model of the Odyssey and am happy to recommend it for the kind of uses you describe). Find a bike shop which sells bikes like these and ask to test ride the one you like the look of. Make sure you get the right size for you; the bike shop staff should be able to advise. -- Brian G www.wetwo.co.uk |
#6
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New (sort of) here - is there a faq ??
Well, im really after something about the £200 £250 mark.
Not planning to go off road as such, just some light public cycle trails in the summer, the rest will realistically be road cycling. It'll be a case of using it on a regular basis to help me get fit, also to get the kids out locally too. I dont want a pure road going bike, i think to cover my bases a comfortable, fairly sit up and beg, hybrid would be my bag? In an earlier post I mentioned a Specialized Sirrus Sport. What I meant was the Globe Sport. It's a well made bike, fairly light with decent components. Room for mudguards, has fittings for a rear rack, tyres perfect for combined road/light trail use. The suspension seatpost gives a little bit of comfort without the disadvantages of 'proper' suspension[1] What is wheely good about it is the adjustable stem - the bike does both sit-up-and-beg for slow rides with the kids and a lower, more aggressive/sporty for your faster fitness rides. Searching out a 2007 bike should bring it in budget. The cheapest is the one to go for - the more expensive ones had carbon forks etc, but lost useful things like the suspension seatpost, adjustable stem whilst still not being light enough to give that gorgeous, responsive feeling of a true light road bike. [1] rant At this price point, 'proper' suspension is too heavy, lacks the means to adjust it to suit your weight, has ****e damping and crap sealing. It destroys the ride of the bike instead of adding to it. It never quite works well when new and seizes up after a year. Oh, and servicing it costs more than replacing it./rant |
#7
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New (sort of) here - is there a faq ??
On 29 Jan, 09:53, Donnie wrote:
Not planning to go off road as such, just some light public cycle trails in the summer, the rest will realistically be road cycling. It'll be a case of using it on a regular basis to help me get fit, also to get the kids out locally too. I dont want a pure road going bike, i think to cover my bases a comfortable, fairly sit up and beg, hybrid would be my bag? Ah, but the benefit of drop bars is that you can cover your bases... Ride on the tops or the hoods for a sit-up and look round, or switch to the drops when pressing on. The trick is to avoid a race (or time-trial) orientated bike with a committed head-down position. A "touring" (or maybe "audax") type bike should give you choice of comfortable positions, sturdy wheels with capacity for tyres that will cope comfortably with the odd path, mudguards etc. IMHO, this gives you a better bike for road use than a sit-up-and-beg hybrid... Your mileage, as they say, may vary... :-) Cheers, W. |
#8
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New (sort of) here - is there a faq ??
wrote:
IMHO, this gives you a better bike for road use than a sit-up-and-beg hybrid... Your mileage, as they say, may vary... :-) And indeed what bars are good will vary with mileage too. if you're not doing serious outings (by which I'd say day rides of over 30 miles or so or maximising speed) then there's not actually that much to gain from drop bars unless you've already developed a preference for them. They allow you to select a good compromise point between aerodynamic efficiency and comfort, but unless you're covering the miles then most people will want comfort: note how the Dutch are known for using bikes for transport but tend to use roadsters with a bolt-upright seating position. And on the downside, drops take a bit of getting used to (the forward crouch makes one handed riding much more awkward than an upright position because you push on one side by the simple act of taking one hand off) where an upright posture gives a better view of where you're going and doesn't place any unfamiliar loads on the steering. Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/ |
#9
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New (sort of) here - is there a faq ??
On 29 Jan, 11:51, Peter Clinch wrote:
wrote: *IMHO, this gives you a better bike for road use than a sit-up-and-beg hybrid... Your mileage, as they say, may vary... :-) And indeed what bars are good will vary with mileage too. *if you're not doing serious outings (by which I'd say day rides of over 30 miles or so or maximising speed) then there's not actually that much to gain from drop bars unless you've already developed a preference for them. ? Any time there's a headwind, or your speed gets much over about 12mph there's benefit to be had from drops, if you choose to use them. ...*They allow you to select a good compromise point between aerodynamic efficiency and comfort, but unless you're covering the miles then most people will want comfort: note how the Dutch are known for using bikes for transport but tend to use roadsters with a bolt-upright seating position. There's no reason why drop bars shouldn't be comfortable... Set up for a relatively upright position on the tops, rather than for a full- on racing tuck on the drops they arn't much different from flat bars, but still give you the option of tucking down a bit if you want to do so. A bolt upright position puts all your weight onto the saddle, all the bumps up your spine and all the wind in your chest! And on the downside, drops take a bit of getting used to (the forward crouch makes one handed riding much more awkward than an upright position because you push on one side by the simple act of taking one hand off) where an upright posture gives a better view of where you're going and doesn't place any unfamiliar loads on the steering. Again- you can adopt an upright position (albeit not bolt upright!) on the tops (or even the hoods) of drops and largely alleviate this issue. For road use, drops are rightly popular (again, IMHO... if the original poster doesn't fancy them that's fair enough... it seems to me that they limit your options without any clear benefit). Cheers, |
#10
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New (sort of) here - is there a faq ??
On 29 Jan 2008 00:48:16 GMT, Mark T
pleasegivegenerously@warmail*turn_up_the_heat_to_ reply*.com.invalid wrote: Donnie writtificated Used to be on here about a decade ago on and off, but since spraining my ankle, fathering a few kids, leaving a crap job, now working for myself etc ad nauseum, im getting a hankering for a bike again to get fit before im 40 and to encourage the kids (10 and 8) out on their bikes. 3. Should i just start a new thread i wonder looking for recommendations? S'pose this thread'll do. You didn't mention budget, but the standard advice is look to spend at least £200 for something half decent. If you're going to be riding a lot then £300 or so is the sweet point. You might want to raise that a bit if you're after a drop bar bike. For road-only use the Specialized Sirrus range is excellent. Their Sirrus Sport range is good if you want to do Sustrans type tracks as well (wider tyres). A while back I had a look at a Sirrus. The wheel bearings had loads of drag so I avoided them. M. |
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