what's with new bikes?

sequence

It's because bikes are treated more as toys than practical transport in this country.

So we get a lot of bikes that are made to look cool rather than be practical*.

*There are of course exceptions, somewhere.

Also, most modern bikes are aluminium which is harsher than steel.

Strider590

sequence wrote: »

It's because bikes are treated more as toys than practical transport in this country.

So we get a lot of bikes that are made to look cool rather than be practical*.

*There are of course exceptions, somewhere.

Also, most modern bikes are aluminium which is harsher than steel

Like kids cheap full-suspension mountain bikes?

Most other bikes look exactly the same to the untrained eye, so im not sure if "looking cool" is the main criteria for adult bikes.

Granted aluminium is harder than steel, but it's also a lot lighter. Which means alloy bikes require much less effort to move around on.
To an extent an lightweight frame also raises the aforementioned centre of gravity, but the trade-off is well worth it

u751904

strider so you are saying that If I get a bike where the saddle height is lower I won't wobble so much. I just feel as if on my bike I am jutted too far forward and it feels a bit wobbly. I thought this was inexperience but still seem to have this.

Strider590

No, having the saddle too low can/will cause knee injury with long term use.
The saddle should be set such that your knee is slightly bent with the pedal at it's lowest point. Regardless of whether you can put two feet down when your bums on the saddle.

Are you quite short/small?

If your genuinely too far forward, your top tube could be too long (the length of the frame from saddle post to handle bar). Your bike may have been set up badly, for example if the brake levers are angled wrongly it'll feel like your stretching (they should be set in line with your arms once the saddle has been set). If the handle bar is bent like this:



And has been set at the wrong angle, it will feel pretty uncomfortable too.

Your saddle might slide forward on it's rails, this will give you a few more inches. You could also get a shorter or more angle handle bar stem fitted or raise the one you have to give you a more upright position.

Angling the saddle to lean slightly forward (adjusted where the rails adjust) will also help to straighten up your lower body so that your lower half isn't leaning back while your top half trying to lean forward. If you experience any back pain or feel like your excessively hunched up when riding, then be sure to look at this point.

gingerdad

I would think the issue is more rider and the bike set up rather than the bike. My wife has a ladies trek bike which has been set up correctly and the right size for her and she loves it's. It is a hybrid type as she didn't want a full mountain bike.

SailorSam

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

, they'd rather look cool in the eyes of the impressionable and hobble on some fashion statement with more gears than you can shake a stick at, weird.

I've always wondered about that, how does shaking a stick at something make it better ?

I bought my mountain bike from Makro about 10yrs ago for less than £100, i'd not ridden one for many many years, looked at this and thought well a bike is a bike, what's the difference.
I must admit although it only goes out on sunny days, and after reading the different threads on here i've wondered should i splash out. I only want to get to Asda and stop myself becoming a big-fat-pig.

u751904

thanks for the detailed post on bike set up, I'll go through this. This was the bike I got. http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/road/fitness/fx/7_5_fx/# not this exact version one two / three years older. (when I earnt some money...lol) It was an ex demo model then got in on the bike scheme. It is the most beautiful bike I have ever owned, breaks fantastic, gears a dream. So hopefully with a bit of adjustment I should be able to sort this. I remember looking at those low step over bikes and thinking they weighed a tonne so I was obviously right then in not going for one.

I am about 5'5" average build,

I am going to get a more cushioned saddle though. The reviews for this bike all seem to say as I do it's not that comfortable a sadle.


thanks