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Beginners bike buying advice please
Put this as a reply in classifieds before realising that it should probably go here. Apologies if inappropriate forum etiquette.
It's been a long time since I used a bike regularly. About 20 years ago I spent a lot of time on a mountain bike but children and age leave me pretty ignorant about current bikes. Reasonably fit but 105kg and 5'7", with short legs. Mainly for commute to and from work as it looks like I'm going to be avoiding public transport. About 40 minutes each way ... mostly downhill then uphill ... then back again at the end of the day.
This looks good to me. Saw it in a google search for something else. Haven't a clue if it's good value. Can't see any pictures for some reason. https://road.cc/content/forum/sale-massi-carbon-ultegra-size-small-2017-...
Also looking at new bike via cycle to work scheme:
Triban 520c disc £750 or
Specialised Allez Elite £1050 or
Cube Attain SL 2020 £1200
Any advice would be appreciated.
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
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13 comments
What’s your commute like? (aside from the elevation) is it urban or rural?
Urban. All road.
If you're only going to be doing a short-ish urban commute you may want to consider a hybrid. I much prefer cycling to work through central London on one than on my road bike. Plus they tend to be a bit cheaper - https://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/10-best-hybrid-bikes-218766
Thanks. My difficulty is with the cycle to work scheme. Go through the quote stage ... and then wait 5 to 14 days for it to process ... bikes no longer available. So I'm looking at bikes around the £1000 mark. The Merida Speeder 900 looks excellent. Can't find it to buy online unfortunately.
If you've got a good local bike shop that does Cyclescheme, have a chat with them about options for faster delivery. I'm sure mine is not the only one that'll let you take a new bike on a credit card authorisation in lieu of the voucher arriving. Do the transaction the day after your credit card statement date and the refund will be back on the card before your next statement. That Merida would be a good option, I've had Merida bikes in the past and would still have but for the fact they sponsor the Bahrain cycling team.
Thanks. Didn't occur to me to try that. As my granny used to say, "If you don't ask, you don't get." Nothing available though at the moment and as it's nearly 2 weeks since I applied, I think I'll chase up my employer again about the salary sacrifice agreement.
Sorry to hijack the thread. I am also looking for a bike. It will be my first bike and will use it mainly for casual rides and potentially the occasional commute to work which is about 5kms away.
came across the following two bikes. Would appreciate thoughts / recommendations.
Decathlon: Riverside 500
Go Outdoors: Calibre Stitch
The Calibre is hard to find new in my size although seen a couple of second hand ones though selling at full retail price.
The Allez Elite is a proper "fast" road bike, will be fun to ride and is a good option if you're also expecting to get bitten by the bug and start riding at weekends.
The Triban is a workhorse, pretty much the perfect commuter. It will get the job done and has space for mudguards and rack mounts which might be important if you end up commuting in the autumn. I ran an earlier model as a commuter for years - Decathlon make good bikes and they're a good basis for upgrading if you want to. It won't be as fun to ride but to be honest if you've not ridden much in 20 years you'll be blown away by almost any modern bike. Shifting, comfort, and braking have all improved massively over that time.
Thanks. Nothing is in stock with the retailers I can buy from anyway, It's why I was looking at the Massi I posted a link to.
I'd advise the Triban given that it's a great bike for beginners.
One thing though, I'd check to see if these bikes are rated for someone at your weight. Some components such as wheels have a weight limit and sometimes it can be as low as 85-90kg.
Excellent advice thanks. I checked that originally but have forgotten to recently as I've ploughed through many different bikes. Every day I learn something new.
You seem to have a reasonable budget - so that's a good start. There is another recent forum post on the subject of commuting - things mentioned included bike with rack and panniers, mudguards, puncture protection tyres; all of which can be fitted to the bikes you mention. If I was coming back to cycling after a while and mainly commuting I would go for a flat handle bar (Hybrid). The riding position is more upright and less 'aggresive' and you have a better view. Also a rack and pannier does not look 'great' on an Allez. Have you considered a Specialised Sirrus? (Word of warning, I have worked with yoofs in the past and 'species' are right up the list of desirable bikes for your local tea leaf) I have heard good things about the Triban (yoofs are not interested in them either) and they are a good bit cheaper - money you can spend of quality accessories.
Thanks Lukas. I'd definitely be getting the Triban if my cycle to work scheme had a link with Decathlon.
Just had a look at the Sirrus ... well worth investigating. Thanks for the suggestion.