Cycle advice

Having noticed there are some cycle enthusiasts hanging around here I'm after a bit of advice.

I'm thinking of ditching the car and train and cycling to work. The journey is about 14 miles and would include a tiny amount of off-road but mostly road travelling.

I know pretty much nothing and have just started looking around for a bike. I'm only looking at spending about £300 on the bike at the moment bearing in mind I'll need some money for helmet, jackets and other bits and bobs.

Anyone out there got any recommendations or can tell me what to look out for ?

 

well, in my humble opion - you could buy a hybrid..? - that a combo of a mountain bike and a racer type...they can handle some off road, but not real rugged terrain...

and since I'm a fan of trek bikes, you could do a lot worse -
http://www.trekbike.co.uk/2006/?sec=maincat&MainCatID=3&SubCatID=

but it's best to have a test ride, or at least a sit on one, as I've been on an orange, a marin and a specialized mountain bike - but prefered the riding position of the trek...

 

Id go with Mr cat on that.

Points to add are that each year manufacturers sell off last years bikes cheap and launch the new range.

'05 bikes are now on sale and '06 bikes are slowly being seen in shops. In your budget, you could find a saving in the region of £50-£75 on a '05 bike.

Id pay some thought over what you may be wearing when you're cycling (are you going to get changed when you get to work?). If you intend NOT to get changed, take care to get mud guards, chain guards etc on your new bike.

Here is a Kona which is on sale at www.wiggle.co.uk (from £299 to £249) http://www.wiggle.co.uk/images/2K5_Smoke_Side_CMYK.jpg

A mountain bike would be an option too, if you bought a non-suspension one (front or rear) fitted mudguards of some type if necessary, and put on 1.5" tyres. This would make it a very similar bike to a hybrid.

 

yeah, if you buy a muntain bike mag (I haven't for ages tho) - they used to have adverts by a company called evans (I think!) and they would sell off last years models very cheap...tho, I think they'd post them and you would have to assemble certain parts like the pedals, and straighten the handlebars etc...

 

I've already been on Evans website and had a look - decent selection.

I paid a visit to the local bike shop here at lunch time and the only hybrid they had was a Saracen - no idea what this make is like. They had two, one for £250 and one for £300.

I will be getting changed at work and I've checked out the clothes and stuff. My mate has just started doing it today so I know eher he has got his stuff. He got his bike from ebay and is an old style racer but I'm not such a speed freak as him.

It also means I'll have a companion to support me when I make my first attempts not to get run over on the A13.

 

Saracen is a perfectly good make. They do bikes in the £200-£800 range (ish).

Kona and Trek cover a wider range, from about £200-£2000 (approx).

I wouldnt worry too much about the make, any good brand will do.

Skinny tyres and a light bike will make the journey a little quicker and less painfull for you!.

Im sure youve considered high visibility clothing and a helmet, but you may also want to think about lights. Very soon it will go dark about the time most people go home from work. I'd reccomend a light set with a rechargeable battery pack, its a bit dearer but will save you money on batteries.. its also about being seen of course, and a better light set is a good investment if you intend to do this over oct/nov/dec etc..

 

Wow, 14 miles to work that is each way I take it, about 1.5 hours (going slowish) that is a mission, 28 miles a day, heck I'm knackard after doing just 4 miles each way,

The other thing about a Hybrid is the gearing, a hybrid has higher gearing, where as the mountain bike is geared lower so its hard to get a decent flat road speed on them.

Please, please wear a helmet, speaking from personal experience, its just not worth the risk, I still see too many cyclist not wearing them, and it sends a shiver down my spine!

Yap hi vis clothing, this can be expensive for water proofs, Wiggle have a jacket for £20 and I got a pair of hi vis waterproof trousers off ebay for £5 (you'll pay over £35 everywhere I've seen and no one seems to sell hi vis water proof trousers???).

Lights very important, essential (actually compulsory) in the dark, but also for those misty, foggy days you need to make sure drivers can see you.

Good luck

 

just something Ive remembered - I was recently told that Aldi have launched a bike clothing range. The VFM looks excellent.

Im intending to check it out, and if its as good as it looks I'll be shopping there myself.

Jackets for 19.99, trousers for the same etc ..

 

This is almost as debatable as cables. As children did any of the posters here wear helmets? I believe this is an example pc correctness gone mad. Anaylisis of statistics can and do show that pedestrians and car drivers suffer more head injuries than cyclists. Even accidents in the home have more head injuries than cyclists. Helmets were made compulsory in Australia and the goverment claimed success citing reduced head injuries in A+E from cycling accidents. What they neglected to say was that cycling had decreased by an almost identical percentage following the legislation.

http://www.bikebiz.co.uk/daily-news/article.php?id=3946

And relax

 

If you're going to follow this practical line of thought for a while you could find the magazine "A to B" which is run by enthusiasts and regularly has reviews of machines such as folders and electrics for people wanting to use bikes as practical and commuting tools.

 

About as debatable as seat belts, IMHO. People just don't like to be told what to do, even if it is in their best interest.

Fine, whatever you do its up to you, I intend to keep my head intact !

From the BMA website

 

Finally got myself to ALDI.

If you cycle, get to ALDI FAST!! - they have some stock they are selling off when its gone its gone. It is a one-off promotion they are doing.

My local one had already run out of cycle socks, and certain popular colours and sizes with the rest of the range.

Heres some examples of crazy cheap stuff =

cycle socks = 1.99
cycle jersey = 5
waterproof/windproof jacket 9.99
winter cycle trousers with padded insert 7.99
SPD compatible, velcro fastening shoes 19.99

as you can see, thats 50% cheaper than what youd expect (at least)

Cheers
Chris

 

Did you not read the info from the link?

 

I would go secondhand - a decent bike only a few years old can be had for a song..& much cheaper than a retailer (even if old stock). e.g.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Marin-Mount-V...184353841QQcategoryZ27948QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Marin-Rift-Zo...184208353QQcategoryZ27948QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Marin-Nail-Trail_W0QQitemZ7182328758QQcategoryZ27947QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

(Not that Marin are the only alternative...just what I ride..after trying several - get to a shop & try a few if poss - different makes will ride very differently...)

should be pretty clear whether it has seen light use or been trashed...
avoid if it is a wreck...
If your ride is mainly road, get some 'hybrid' tyres.

IMHO I would suggest you wear a helmet ...WTF are people questioning otherwise...in my experience doing so has saved me from NASTY injuries on three occasions (hence gone through three helmets...but preferable to...!!! )

 

In the experience of many of the cycling forums, helmets is one of the most debated subjects. Please please please could I ask that you all use one of these places for your right to free exression. Or at least look up the issues and statistics there rather than reinvent the wheel here.

 

Thanks for the advice.

I'm tempted to buy the bike from new - there is a cycle shop 5 mins walk from the office and they are selling a decent looking Saracen for £250. If I have any problems with the bike I can just pop it in there during a lunch break.

I WILL be wearing a helmet - not going to risk it, and my mate has just got himself kitted out. Took him 48 mins (he lives a couple of miles nearer to work than me) on Friday but much longer on the way back due to a rather horrible hill.

It is 14 miles each way but currently I spend £7.20 a day on the train and on Friday when I drive it it costs £4 to park the car. Also doing this I reckon I can ditch the gym saving another £33 a month.

Won't take long before the bike and kit will have paid for itself.

 

thats great - at least you're sorted...

I remember saracen from around 1990 - they did some good (if expensive bikes) - but then they seemed to lose there way a bit and started to sell budget bikes towards the end of the decade.

 

Sorry if i sound all unnecessary but I getted Irked when those with little or no expirience say "WEAR A HELMET". Yes its actuaslly good advice but i want people to understand the issues so hence my previous link.

 

So do I when I get accused of "little of no expirience", got 20 years of cycling expeience, I dread to count how many 1000's of miles (and accidents). I only advised it would be best to wear one, but I never said it should be law, geezand andi goes off on one.

 

Lee, Sorry if i offended you