Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Off Topic => Topic started by: mushRTID on July 29, 2012, 04:09:12 pm
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No, im not jumping on the olympic bandwagon, been thinking about this for a while...just the olympics have made me decide to do something about it.
Basically I fancy getting into cycling to help get fit but absolutely no idea what type of bike etc.
Im not really interested in going fast as possible so racing bikes I doubt i should be looking at. More road bike rides etc.
is anybody into cycling? What should i be looking for/avoiding etc, so many bikes to choose from I havent got a clue!!
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well what's your budget?
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I would be willing to pay upto 4 or 500 for the right one.
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If you can find anything from Ribble or Raleigh (http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/raleigh-airlite-200-road-bike-id64270.html this is a pretty good machine) then you're well set on that kind of money. What you want to find is a frame where the seat is just a few inches above your waist line and where you can sit comfortably while being able to lean forward for the handles. Sounds basic but it's unbelievable how often people don't do this and end up doing themselves harm. Try and go for a gel seat if you can, trust me you'll know why if you compare the two after a decent ride..
My best advice would be pop down to JE James', there's a branch in Rovrum. They're not in any way patronising and they'll give you all the help you need. I can get the SatNav address if you want/need it.
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Thanks for that redJ, looks pretty smart that does.
I will call in sometime.
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I just bought a VooDoo bike. Excellent it is.
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Is that a road bike mr frost? Do you have a link?
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Does your employer participate in the cycle to work scheme?
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Cycling/DG_190101 (http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Cycling/DG_190101)
Significant savings to be had if they do.
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I know that its a fair way to go but the lakeland peddler at Keswick in the lakes is excellent.
They stock predominantly Specialize cycles which are very good. They always seem to have a good stock of brand new last seasons models at a fraction of the original cost and a bike that could have cost £700-800 last year can often be picked up for half of that cost.
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Just back from marshalling at the Olympic road races, what a thrill that was, and if you have the opportunity to go see a professional race go past you at 50 mph, wow.
Well done Mush, I would agree with everything everyone else has said, particuarly the going to a bike shop to try what they have and and see what size fits you best. Dont be suprised that different models are a slightly different fit, so the more you try, the more you are likely to get one that suits you. Dont forget Halfords too, the Boardmans are an excellent bike and very good value. Trek, Giant, Cannondale, Orbea, are others you could add.
Be warned though cycling does get addictive. I have a Mekk Potenza carbon, Bianchi Via Nirone with Campy Chorus upgrade, and Merlin Malt3 + Giant Anthem mtbs. I now require a larger shed.
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Something you might enjoy in the future if you get chance/time is building up your own bike, can sometimes work out cheaper too and it's very satisfying when you finally roll out onto the road with it.
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Get yersen a Raleigh Chopper, go all retro! :lol:
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Is that a road bike mr frost? Do you have a link?
No, mountain bike.
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When I decided I wanted to try cycling (I'm more into my running but I want to do a triathlon one day) I just bought a second hand one (a Giant Defy) off a mate who had started out a few months earlier but decided he wanted a better bike. I do quite enjoy it but to be honest it frightens me more than anything and there's no way I'm wearing lycra! I go out on it occasionally but much prefer my running.
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Something you might enjoy in the future if you get chance/time is building up your own bike, can sometimes work out cheaper too and it's very satisfying when you finally roll out onto the road with it.
I did that - after a series of Treks and Giants I cannibalised them and built up an old-skool steel hardtail: On-One Inbred frame, Hope/Giant brakes, fit-and-forget Octalink Deore/LX drivetrain and (slightly) overkill 130mm Manitou forks. Weighs a ton but climbs like hell.
Have to agree with JE James in Rotherham as well - very knowledgeable and helpful. May be a bit out of your price range, but On-One's road brand Planet X (http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/) do some very good bikes, and they're a Doncaster company (although they're based out near Magna these days)
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Does your employer participate in the cycle to work scheme?
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Cycling/DG_190101 (http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Cycling/DG_190101)
Significant savings to be had if they do.
I think they do but unfortunately I don't work from the main office so not sure I could claim.
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This is a topic I'm interested in too but don't know much about, can you get something like a mountain bike but with regular tyres and a set up for the road ?
I'd also want something as lightweight as possible but not too expensive, is that asking for the world? Perhaps second hand is the way to go, anyone got any ideas?
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What you need Don is called a hybrid (mtb set up for the road) They come with both sprung forks (as you would get on a mtb) & rigid forks (as on a road bike) - and if weight is an issue then go for the rigid - the forks are the single heaviest piece of kit on a mtb.
Similar advice to Mush - go to a bike shop and try some out - then you will know your ideal size & maybe find a brand you like. Then have a look on ebay to see whats going sh.
Evans is another good retailer (but expensive) and they have a good website so you can see whats out there and what a new one would cost.
http://www.evanscycles.com/search?query=hybrid&x=0&y=0
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yes you can get a mountain bike with road wheels these tend to be called a hybrid. As for the original poster, welcome back, and yes i would also recommend JE James at Rotherham, cyclists advising cyclists. Oh and be prepared it hurts at first you cant ride like you did as a kid when bike was a 5th limb, On another note Doncaster is a massive cycling town, yet nobody realizes we are producing British champions, and top level riders in our midst.
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chain reaction is also a good web based supplier. see what you like then check the a fore mentioned net sites.
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Or get a decent mtb and have 2 sets of wheels (which you change with ease for the proposed ride). I have off and on road tyres and it makes a difference. There are some cracking bike rides around this area and you rarely touch the roads.
I tend to do more roads/endurance now, so I'm after a racer (something I've never owned). Any advice/tips/offers much appreciated.
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cusworth rover i am after a racer lol. not heard that in years. As always get the best you can afford. if you can hang out a little longer this years bikes will start to drop in price. i did this a few years ago and got a built bike with good components for far less than the frame and fork would have cost me alone 6 month earlier. Ribble cycles are worth a look they offer build to budget (i am currently toying with there Aero time trial frame and forks)
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Does your employer participate in the cycle to work scheme?
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Cycling/DG_190101 (http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Cycling/DG_190101)
Significant savings to be had if they do.
It is an excellent scheme, makes me laugh how many people take advantage of it though and then don't use the bike or don't use it to go to work. Same people who usually bang on about the likes of Jimmy Carr being morally bankrupt....
I have a hybrid bike (Carerra) that cost a couple of hundred and it does the job, its nothing too fancy but decent enough to take off roading when I get the opportunity. At the minute my bike of 'choice' is a bloody Borris bike, which are god awful things. Sooner I get mine down to London the better!
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Does your employer participate in the cycle to work scheme?
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Cycling/DG_190101 (http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Cycling/DG_190101)
Significant savings to be had if they do.
It is an excellent scheme, makes me laugh how many people take advantage of it though and then don't use the bike or don't use it to go to work. Same people who usually bang on about the likes of Jimmy Carr being morally bankrupt....
I have a hybrid bike (Carerra) that cost a couple of hundred and it does the job, its nothing too fancy but decent enough to take off roading when I get the opportunity. At the minute my bike of 'choice' is a bloody Borris bike, which are god awful things. Sooner I get mine down to London the better!
I know. It pisses me right off.
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Not sure how it works with this scheme, but a lad at our place said he only got £20 off his boardman
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Not sure how it works with this scheme, but a lad at our place said he only got £20 off his boardman
I saved about £200 I think.
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I would definitely advise going to an independent shop. Shop around, test drive a few, dont worry about the name/brand just have the one that fits you best for your budget.
I have a specialised secteur which i loved. Loved cycling from guiseley to leeds centre and back for work when i lived there.
Been off it for a while but cant wait to get back on it :)
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I'm a keen cyclist and bought a Dawes Kalahari Hybrid about 3 years ago. It has been a superb purchase and I have done some serious mileage on it and it has performed well with no mechanical problems at all. It retails for £399 but can be picked up on the internet for £318.
It is mainly for road use but it tackled the Trans Pennine Trail with ease.
For the price it's a bargain.
I tried to post a photo but failed (sorry) It's easy to find with a Google search.
Our price: £318.99
Dawes Kalahari gents
Key features include:
Lightweight aluminium 6061 series trekking frame
RST Sofi suspension forks
Shimano Altus 24 speed STI gears
Full mudguards
Alloy rear carrier with luggage elastic
Full alloy wheels with Kenda K-197 trekking tyres
Shimano FC-M191 chainset & sealed cartridge B/B
The Kalahari breathes quality with its lighweight aluminium
frame, RST Sofi suspension forks and 24 speed Shimano Altus
EZ-Fire gears. It is fully equipped with a Shimano chainwheel,
fully adjustable handlebar stem, alloy V brakes, alloy luggage
rack and full length mudguards.
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So a year after starting this thread iv finally bought a bike (hybrid).
Just wondering if anyone knows any websites or apps that give you cycling routes etc?
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http://www.mapmyride.com/
http://www.cycle-route.com/
are the two I use Mush - there is also a cycle route facility on Google maps which is handy. Strava is the main app.
Get out and ride!
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Buy yourself a pair of good walking boots and walk its a lot safer and cheaper - and just as good exercise
COYR
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Free App I also use is Strava. Very good. I just use my Garmin for running now (although I could use Strava for that, but don't like running with my phone).
Bought a Giant Hybrid on the cycle to work scheme about 3 months ago. Excellent bike and does everything
Also I've now got a Racer (note to self, need to start calling them road bikes). I say got, a friend of mine is bike mad and has them made to order/fit/customised and spends 3-4k on the things (nutter). He's GIVEN me a Giant carbon framed...turbo nutter bas**rd type. The trouble is, he's given me the frame, a set of handlebars, the cogs, 2 wheels and 2 tyres. I need to fit it all together, buy gears, a seat, a chain, pedals and other bits. As this is a very expensive bike, I'm guessing it's going to cost a few conkers to get this all together and get the bits it needs to re-assemble it. I say I need to fit it together, I haven't the time or knowledge, so will pay somebody....Any offers or advice on that front.
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Cheers lads, will check those out.
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Strava is the main app. Its quality i use if for my bike and running it maps via GPS your route and it compares your times over sections of your route. Hyde park corner to Marble Arch im 900 and something fastest but Oxford street to Tottenham court road im in the top 30. and its free.
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Strava is the main app. Its quality i use if for my bike and running it maps via GPS your route and it compares your times over sections of your route. Hyde park corner to Marble Arch im 900 and something fastest but Oxford street to Tottenham court road im in the top 30. and its free.
Err my geography of London isn't that great as its a while since I lived there - but isn't Oxford Street to Tottenham Court Road about 3 feet?
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Strava is the main app. Its quality i use if for my bike and running it maps via GPS your route and it compares your times over sections of your route. Hyde park corner to Marble Arch im 900 and something fastest but Oxford street to Tottenham court road im in the top 30. and its free.
Err my geography of London isn't that great as its a while since I lived there - but isn't Oxford Street to Tottenham Court Road about 3 feet?
yeh just about but im fast at it.
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So a year after starting this thread iv finally bought a bike (hybrid).
Just wondering if anyone knows any websites or apps that give you cycling routes etc?
I use Strava to record my rides but if I'm planning a route or browsing someone else's routes I use www.ridewithgps.com (http://www.ridewithgps.com)
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Sustrans website has all the National Cycle Routes on here
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map
It's not very smart phone friendly though, i use the site to plan a trip then use the "Bike Hub" app when i'm out & about.
How's it going so far?
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Doncaster cycling map here , you can get the hardcopy from Doncaster Council:
doncaster.gov.uk/Images/Doncaster_web 37-104534.pdf
http://www.doncaster.gov.uk/sections/transportstreetsandparking/transportation/cycling_in_doncaster.aspx
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Doncaster cycling map here , you can get the hardcopy from Doncaster Council:
doncaster.gov.uk/Images/Doncaster_web 37-104534.pdf
http://www.doncaster.gov.uk/sections/transportstreetsandparking/transportation/cycling_in_doncaster.aspx
Great thanks for that, i will pick up a copy.
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Free App I also use is Strava. Very good. I just use my Garmin for running now (although I could use Strava for that, but don't like running with my phone).
Bought a Giant Hybrid on the cycle to work scheme about 3 months ago. Excellent bike and does everything
Also I've now got a Racer (note to self, need to start calling them road bikes). I say got, a friend of mine is bike mad and has them made to order/fit/customised and spends 3-4k on the things (nutter). He's GIVEN me a Giant carbon framed...turbo nutter b*****d type. The trouble is, he's given me the frame, a set of handlebars, the cogs, 2 wheels and 2 tyres. I need to fit it all together, buy gears, a seat, a chain, pedals and other bits. As this is a very expensive bike, I'm guessing it's going to cost a few conkers to get this all together and get the bits it needs to re-assemble it. I say I need to fit it together, I haven't the time or knowledge, so will pay somebody....Any offers or advice on that front.
I have lived out of area now for a long time so I may be out of touch with local specialists but you could try Dave Marsh at Maltby. They have some experienced mechanics and they build from new and renovate older bikes and I know from a chat I had a while back that they're helpful. If it's not their cup of tea they'll know which direction to point you in. This is their site...
http://www.universalcyclecentre.co.uk
The rest of your kit shouldn't be too expensive. They always say spend as much as you can on your frame and wheels as the rest of the kit you can upgrade as you need to.
Or you could try the guys at Planet X at Barnsley &/or Sheffield. I'm 99% sure they won't do the bike for you but they'll definitely be able to tell you who might finish the job for you.
Take plenty of advice on the pedals. If you want to ride the bike with cleats, there's a range of different styles and it'll affect which pedals you can use. One manufacturers cleats generally can't be used with other manufacturer's pedals, so it can be an expensive job if you don't get along with your first choice of pedal/cleat.
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Thanks matey
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My question to you all is this.... are all you cycling newbies going to join us in cycling to Leicester at the end of the season? I should be getting to work on organising this soon.
Seriously cannot recommend cycling enough. Although its hard and can be difficult getting motivated when its wet and windy, its a great sport. I'm sure there are probably lots of cycling clubs around Doncaster too. Its nice and flat your way too, Over here in Manchester I have had to learn to like hills haha.
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If any of you would like to join a cycling club or at least have a look at one, Doncaster Wheelers are your best bet round here.
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I'm potentially interested in the ride to Leicester, depends what my situation is in May as we're expecting our first baby in October so things like that may have to take a back seat for a while!
I have only really started biking more seriously fairly recently, I'm more of a runner but have got bitten by the triathlon bug so need to get my biking up to scratch. Find the swim and run fairly easy but biking is hard work! The other week I biked from our place in Thurcroft to the in-laws in Boston, 74 miles in just over 4 hours so was fairly happy with that. It was pretty damn flat though, only really one major hill to speak of!
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Thats really good, abpit 18mph average right?
I managed 50 in just under 2 and a half recently after not training for a couple of months was very happy with that.
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Don`t know how you cyclists get comfy on those saddles, it`s like sitting on razor blades to me, or is it that I`m a bit cuddly thats the problem? :)
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Don`t know how you cyclists get comfy on those saddles, it`s like sitting on razor blades to me, or is it that I`m a bit cuddly thats the problem? :)
No its cos you don't do enough of it! Being cuddly you should spread the weight better.....
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get padded shorts
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+1 for padded shorts, you look a bit daft but it's well worth it! Although after 74 miles even with the padding I couldn't feel much down there...
My Garmin said 17.6mph average so I was really happy with it, especially as it's only the third time I've biked over 25 miles! Previous furthest were 47 and 40 I think.
Not sure how I'm going to feel next week running a half marathon after a 56 mile bike (and 1.2 mile swim!) but I do insist on doing these things to myself.
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Gets addictive doesnt it. All I wanna do is get out and train all the time. ive started circuit training too which is lots of fun
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Got a bike FOR SALE now winters on its way out time lose those christmas pounds (stones) Quality bike, not a £99 bone shaker from halfords.
Specialized status fsr 2012
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Specialized-status-fsr-2012-/281245249939
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Cheap and cheerful does for me. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Viking-Kendal-21-Speed-Gents-Trekking-Bike-Mens-Bicycle-Blue-Cycle-/370979971385?_trksid=p2054897.l4275
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I finally started cycling just before Christmas.
I did it very cheaply, my mate was getting rid of an old mountain bike, it just needing cleaning up and a set of new tyres.
It's a heavy old thing but I don't mind that I just see it as added resistance which can't be a bad thing since I'm only just getting used to doing it again after decades.
I've been doing a six mile off road route four mornings a week, it includes a steep hill climb so my legs are feeling it but I'm really enjoying it so far.
Not sure I'll be up to cycling to Leicester though.