New bike help!

thescouselander

mystra wrote: »

thanks


well i've got a time before the Jan sales so time to take your advice and practice...then if its still not right its new bike time! Hopefully you're right - that'll save some pennies!

Have a look at this, it might help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sJxQrVS0KY

bigjl

I never paid much head to the more fancy bikes until I testrode one of the Hybrid bikes at Evans in Canary Wharf, can't remeber the name but i got a fair turn of speed up on it.

I have a Rockrider 5.1 from Decathlon and it is fine, not fast really but well built for the cost, at the end of the day you get what you pay for.

My Rockrider cost about £230 a couple of years ago.

The bike I testrode at Evans was £700.

Though you could feel the better quality, and I was going to get it on the ride2work scheme, but changed my mind.

Though when I increased the pressure in my bike to almost max then it rode a lot wuicker on tarmac, the tyres on mine aren't big and chunky, they are a compromise pattern for tracks and city streets, in fact they are getting a bit slick in the middle anyway, so I may get some better ones nearer the summer.

Or may just save up and get a bick in the sales next year.

Evans do have some good offers, but Decathloon are fine for my needs, I won't buy a bike from Halfords again though, the kids bikes are from them and they haven't lasted well, despite being stored in the dry.

Benzanna

Have you looked at Giant bikes? I got mine through the cycle to work scheme my company runs. It's RRP is £250 and it's a brilliant bike! Mine is a mountain bike but Giant do some great road bikes too and also hybrids. When I changed from my old bike to my Giant Boulder it was amazing, hills were no longer an issue!
Hope you find what you're looking for

bosseyed

mystra wrote: »

Hi everyone!

Now to be honest, the bloody thing is doing my head in!! It weighs 15kg, and despite cycling everyday (morning and evening) i REALLY struggle with it. Every one and their dog seems to cycle past me with ease - even an old lady the other day lol!
?

Pshaw, excuses! My Kona (mountain bike, knobbly tyres et al) weighs around the same at 32lbs and its not that much work to lug around.

One thing to check if its a lot of effort - make sure your saddle is the right height, if its too low a lot of your leg energy is heading in the wrong direction and its far more tiring to pedal than if you're sitting at the correct height.

And there will always be people who pass you, regardless of how fast or fit you are - its the law! On my way to work theres a tiny skinny bloke who cruises past on a battered old racer, even up the steepest of hills, apparently barely pedalling but every day he leaves me for dust.

mystra

PollyErrington wrote: »

Have you looked at Giant bikes? I got mine through the cycle to work scheme my company runs. It's RRP is £250 and it's a brilliant bike! Mine is a mountain bike but Giant do some great road bikes too and also hybrids. When I changed from my old bike to my Giant Boulder it was amazing, hills were no longer an issue!
Hope you find what you're looking for

i've looked at a few giant ones and a lot of the ones in the cycle parking area at work are Giant so that must be a good sign!

bosseyed

mystra wrote: »

i've looked at a few giant ones and a lot of the ones in the cycle parking area at work are Giant so that must be a good sign!

I'll add another vote for Giant - my old Giant XTCse was an awesome mountain bike, loved it. I'd still have it but some little b*****d stole it.

mystra

bosseyed wrote: »

Pshaw, excuses! My Kona (mountain bike, knobbly tyres et al) weighs around the same at 32lbs and its not that much work to lug around.

but i am a hapless weakling and pathetically unfit! haha :P :rotfl:

bosseyed

mystra wrote: »

but i am a hapless weakling and pathetically unfit! haha :P :rotfl:

And so am I!

Think of a heavy bike as getting you fitter quicker

All these fancy schmancy types on their waver thin rice cracker bikes whizzing about - not for me thank you, I favour something heavy and leaden to force up hills. You'll have thighs like a russian shotputter in a month on your old bike, grrrr feel the burn etc.

mystra

bosseyed wrote: »

And so am I!

Think of a heavy bike as getting you fitter quicker

lol i dunno about the quicker part...think it'll be years before i feel the benefit... i'm just not built for exercise!

Rotor

Before you go out and spend a lot of money let me just add that you're level of fitness makes much, much more difference to your speed ( and enjoyment). 15kg is on the heavy side but nothing unusual and I worry that you'll spend all this money expecting major speed improvement and you'll be disappointed.
Get out at the weekend for an hour a day ( 2 if you can do it without really hurting) for a month before you spend anything.
Can you briefly swap a bike from someone at work? give you an idea of where your bike is in relation to others