bikes

[kams]

Who knows anything about bikes??

Work have just started the cycletowork scheme.. basically I can get a £600 new bike and pay it off through my wages sans tax.

I want gears and fastness.. and perhaps to not have to fix punctures every fortnight.

Any advice appreciated.

[Burnibus]

are you thinking road bike, or mountain bike so you can go on and off road?

Evans cycles have a sale on right now and for around £600 there are some really good cross country mountain bikes, with decent suspension, disk brakes and nice strong light frames. Im currently lusting after them myself.

check it http://www.evanscycles.com/categorie...e_to=&sort=asc

Also does anyone know any decent bike repair people, i have a bike which needs a spot of aluminium welding to prevent it disolving on me mid trip?

[Burnibus]

on that page, th Kona Blast is right up my street, would give me everything i need to go anywhere at high speed and to eat up lots of intense trail action.

Dont know too much about road bikes im afraid though.

[V Knid esq]

Olv is BIG into his bikes Kams, have you got his number?

[sniffio]

i was waiting for this thread

[sniffio]

Anti theft

pitlock = Better with rust or something
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/pitlock.asp

pinhead = cheaper
http://www.pinheadcomponents.com/


for US (maybe) = cheap deals
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/TopCate...nashbar%20bike

[kams]

I dont want a mountain bike.. I live in London.. I don't want a fixed gear bike either as I live in SE london with lots of hills.

The Evans sale was a good tip though cheers.

[dan gulberry]

I had a Giant before - city bike, three gears, luxury to ride compared to a mountain bike or racer.

This is the closest new model I could find: http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/...n7/7094/43405/

[sniffio]

Advice

Road Bike
= FAST
= Light
= So easy to get Flat Tire. Crazy.
= Might wanna change your tires to more city-prone.
= Flat equals new tubes around $4
= Always have portable air pump
= Bring extra tubes
= bring tools enought to fix tubes.

Pump your tires every week.
If possible every ride.

Sudden cold weather = bye bye air.

Buy good lock.
Not the round key type = youtube to shows easy way to unlock it with a pen
One lock for the frame, and other for the tires.

Buy lights.
Buy helmet.

Bike,
you may want to buy it local for this one
= Free Maintenance / Tune up
= I dropped my bike and made my handles bent. My local store fixed it for free.
= You can bring it in for like every 3 months for regular tune ups.


Watch out for Axxholes riding in the wrong lane/direction.
I just had my very first head to head colision today.
Minor scraches + Broken parts.

#1 Look short-hand area = To prevent Flat.
#2 middle area = to prevent flat + collision with pedestrian
#3 Long distance = Assholes Car/Bike/Pedistrian comming from wrong direction

I skipped #3 hence the result.


oh and when you change the tubes,
must buy the tubes with your tire's minimum is in the beginning of it's range.
Your Tire = 28
Tube = 28-32 = Good = Thick. more prone to flat.
Tube = 25-28 = not good = vulnerable to Flat


YEAH YEAH YAEH

[Burnibus]

i would assume £600 would get you alot of road bike for the money. something super quick and super light i hope, good luck with that

[Orang Utan]

i commute on a specialized allez elite - it's wicked for speed, though not great in winter if the roads are icy. i'd get some kevlar tyres too if you're worried about puncture.

[Orang Utan]

oops, that cost £750 though. you can get cheaper models though. don't spend less than 500 quid though as it would be a false economy.

[dirtyho]

Bit over your price point but if you like Mountain Bike riding position (more upright, sharper handling) but want road wheel speed.

Cotic Roadrat is a nice bike

If you're into racer geometry but want full guards, panniers etc for a commute this Kinesis Decade is also a nice bike

I know these are more, but hey the scheme goes up to £1000!

[Daddys Girl]

@ Kams - that's ace that your workplace is doing the cyclescheme!

That's how I got my bike - a Pashley Princess Classic... but I'm guessing that's not the kind of bike you're after

I rabbit on a lot about bikes on one of my blogs (see below) - can at least put a word out via other bike bloggers I know who may have some advice for you.

[love_tempo]

Maybe go for a hybrid. I like the Specialized Sirrius'.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/...ed%20s irrius

My tires have been grand, only problem is that it's a bit easier to crash or fall off a hybrid than a mountain bike. It's partly the speed, partly the tires, partly the racing stance and partly the lighter/smaller frames.

[love_tempo]

btw, I replaced the original tires with slightly thicker, tougher ones. It handles better and is a lot more sturdy.

[V Knid esq]

I don't know if the folding option is worth considering... I know a few people that swear by their Bromptons... More secure as you can just bring it indoors in most places rather than chaining it up, and if the weather gets impossible you can just fold it up and hop on public transport. They're pricy, mind, but do you have to buy the bike new, or could you go for a second hand one?

[Orang Utan]

Originally Posted by love_tempo

Maybe go for a hybrid. I like the Specialized Sirrius'.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/...ed%20s irrius

My tires have been grand, only problem is that it's a bit easier to crash or fall off a hybrid than a mountain bike. It's partly the speed, partly the tires, partly the racing stance and partly the lighter/smaller frames.

i used to have one of those - it's perfect for commuters, esp beginners. i wouldn't have been able to cope in london with a road bike, without getting used to the roads on the hybrid first.
it's a sturdy bike. i've never rode a mountain bike mind. they look hard work judging by my observation of users. they always seem to be standing up.
another good hybrid manufacturer are cannondale. i had a bad boy with hub gears but it was a bit heavy and creaky. try the bad boy with derailleur gears though, it might be perfect for you.
you should try as many bikes as you can - trek, bianchi and claud buter are other good manufacturers. you might want to try a tricross bike too as that suits many city riders, esp those who like riding on towpaths.

[Orang Utan]

Originally Posted by V Knid esq

I don't know if the folding option is worth considering... I know a few people that swear by their Bromptons... More secure as you can just bring it indoors in most places rather than chaining it up, and if the weather gets impossible you can just fold it up and hop on public transport. They're pricy, mind, but do you have to buy the bike new, or could you go for a second hand one?

i hate them, purely from an aesthetic point of view

[love_tempo]

the other handy thing about hybrids is that they're nice and light to pick up if you need to carry them up some stairs or anything. But that does make it easier to slide them under a bus going too fast in the rain

[Orang Utan]

what? hybrids are well heavy!

[love_tempo]

they're much heavier than racers but a lot lighter than mountain bikes (especially mtbs with suspension)

[Orang Utan]

ah right, makes sense since i haven't been on a mountain bike before. i can lift my bike with one finger, so most bikes feel heavy to me
if you get a handmade condor road bike (which i'm planning to do), the presence of a full water bottle doubles its weight.

[Hectic Cum Balthazar]

Originally Posted by Orang Utan

if you get a handmade condor road bike (which i'm planning to do), the presence of a full water bottle doubles its weight.

i just did a little sick in my mouth

[Orang Utan]

good for you

[V Knid esq]

Originally Posted by Hectic Cum Balthazar

i just did a little sick in my mouth

That stuff that comes out of your penis isn't sick.

[kams]

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/...-bike-ec020537

put a deposit on one of these.. thanks for advice

see you in casualty

[Spandex]

I don't think i'm an expert. cos my bike cost me about £120, second hand, from someone near mansfield... but the one thing I was gonna say was, if you're new to it (since being a kid) go somewhere safe and go mental.. i.e. fall off. Get to know what you can handle and how much it hurts when you get it wrong.

Maybe it's just me.. but I went from "terrified of the road" to "overconfident" then I fell off a couple of times going way too fast and settled down into "You're not 16 now, be careful you twat".

[kams]

Hehehe.. thanks Dad

I had a bike I used to commute on till last year when it got nicked. The 'decent lock' is the lesson I need to learn.

[Orang Utan]

Originally Posted by kams

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/...-bike-ec020537

put a deposit on one of these.. thanks for advice

see you in casualty

looks good! i want a road with bars like that too. i can't get with drops.