Please help me find a suitable Bicycle

pfpf

hello.

i honestly couldnt see a more relevant board for this post, so here goes.

total 100% newbie on the subject so please, no techie jargon without an explanation of what you're on about

having not ridden a bike for maybe 20 years, last week we went to Centre Parcs and i hired a bike. having thoroughly enjoyed my few days of riding i have decided to look into getting myself a bike mainly for excercise but also for fun and local commuting.

the model i used last week was a Mongoose Rockadile and i found it totally enjoyable to ride/use.

i think it may have been this one: http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=86628 or possibly the 2007 version that Evans have at £159

i spoke to a "sales advisor" today and he suggested that a "specialised - Hardrock" model may be a good choice.

he thought i would need a "large" frame based on my height/leg.

heres some info:

i am just under 6' tall
carrying a fair amount of weight which is the main reason for buying a bike.
will be riding mainly on normal roads but also some light offroad, tracks etc.
have no knowledge of bikes.
have a budget of £300 which ideally will include the extras i know i will need (lights/helmet etc).

having done a small amount of reading so far i have found as an alternative to mountian bikes there are also hybrids so am also trying to find if a mountain bike type hybrid would be more suitable/comfortable for my needs.

i am looking for any advice/suggestions/recomendations at this stage, basically any info to get me started - i am quite happy to then read up/research for myself - i just need a starting point and some tips.

thanks in advance and if anyone can help or needs additional info to help further just post up.

thank you.

pfpf.

Quasar

pfpf why not post your request also on the "I wanna do it or buy it thread"? Not that it's not right here, but if you post it there as well you may stand a better chance of a reply.

For what it's worth, I have a Ridgeback mountan bike, cost me £200 but I've had it 10 years now. Strong and pleasant to ride. I don't know what new models and prices there are nowadays, or if hybrid are better, but I'll swear by my bike. I carry weight on it such as shopping etc, which sometimes is heavy. But then I myself am a 5'3 woman, so I don't weigh as much as yourself.

Good luck

chaddy7604

Specialized Hardrock is an excellent choice for your needs

I ride one myself

Quasar

Aww chaddy, FM is just joking..... :A

Well, you are aren't you FM

chaddy7604

FunkiMunki wrote: »

Is it true that scousers don't have a sense of humour?

If you wanna believe it then yes

just thought your post was off topic for the OP's needs :rolleyes:

Riq

My only adice is this...

If you are mainly onroad then don't get one with suspension at the back.

FunkiMunki_3

chaddy7604 wrote: »

If you wanna believe it then yes

just thought your post was off topic for the OP's needs :rolleyes:

Can you find a thread where all the posts are on topic? :rolleyes:

pfpf

also posted over in the Arms but the mighty Quasar suggested i could post here too.


hello.

i honestly couldnt see a more relevant board for this post, so here goes.

total 100% newbie on the subject so please, no techie jargon without an explanation of what you're on about

having not ridden a bike for maybe 20 years, last week we went to Centre Parcs and i hired a bike. having thoroughly enjoyed my few days of riding i have decided to look into getting myself a bike mainly for excercise but also for fun and local commuting.

the model i used last week was a Mongoose Rockadile and i found it totally enjoyable to ride/use.

i think it may have been this one: http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=86628 or possibly the 2007 version that Evans have at £159

i spoke to a "sales advisor" today and he suggested that a "specialised - Hardrock" model may be a good choice.

he thought i would need a "large" frame based on my height/leg.

heres some info:

i am just under 6' tall
carrying a fair amount of weight which is the main reason for buying a bike.
will be riding mainly on normal roads but also some light offroad, tracks etc.
have no knowledge of bikes.
have a budget of £300 which ideally will include the extras i know i will need (lights/helmet etc).

having done a small amount of reading so far i have found as an alternative to mountian bikes there are also hybrids so am also trying to find if a mountain bike type hybrid would be more suitable/comfortable for my needs.

i am looking for any advice/suggestions/recomendations at this stage, basically any info to get me started - i am quite happy to then read up/research for myself - i just need a starting point and some tips.

thanks in advance and if anyone can help or needs additional info to help further just post up.

thank you.

pfpf.

pfpf

Riq wrote: »

My only adice is this...

If you are mainly onroad then don't get one with suspension at the back.

chaddy7604 wrote: »

Specialized Hardrock is an excellent choice for your needs

I ride one myself

just refering back to my OP, i am a 100% bike noob. could you explain your comments? anything i can pickup here can only help me understand bikes more.

thank you.

Riq

If you get suspension on the back of the bike and you are not using it for downhill riding to absorb the shocks then it's pointless.

On a road it makes it so much harder to pedal as the frame is constantly moving.

If you are going to get suspension on your bike then just get the front forks with suspension. It's just absorb the shock of the stones and bumps on the road or offroad on a track.

I hope that makes sense.

I would suggest buying a magazine or two as they often have reviews and buyers guides in them.

I'm buying a bike this year but a road bike so I shall be investigating soon.

chaddy7604

pfpf wrote: »

just refering back to my OP, i am a 100% bike noob. could you explain your comment? anything i can pickup here can only help me understand bikes more.

thank you.

pfpf

bikes come in three types

solid fames, with no form of shock absorbment (suspension)

hardtails, shock absorbing on the front forks only

Full suspension, shock absorbing on the forks and the rear of the frame

This is the Specialized Hardrock Sport