OMO: What (push)bike do I want?

[Brettus]

Alright, bit of an odd one, I'd had a thought rattling round in my head for almost a year now that I want a bike, about 18 months ago I got a mountain bike but I just don't get along with it as I used to when I was a kid, it feels awkward and cumbersome and in all honesty I'm just not going to do off road riding.

What got me started thinking the mountain bike wasn't best for me was I had a quick go on my stepsons vintage racing bike he assembled from classic parts and I felt supercharged! it just WENT, very cool.

The riding I WANT to do is explore the cycle trails that exist around me, I abhor the idea of riding with traffic and I live in a rural area (which may sound ideal but riding on roads that people drive every day and aren't often expecting bikes on a narrow lane is NOT good) so I want to ride dedicated trails and ideally without too much height change, a lot of these exist I've since found. :smt038

I don't like racing bikes as I'd like something more relaxed for just pottering round a (mostly paved from the looks of it) trail.
One of the routes I have in mind is the repurposed train route in Chester and coming back via the riverside path:
http://i.imgur.com/9BtFPwr.png
it looks to be paved all the way round:
http://i.imgur.com/nlc70Bh.jpg
There are some routes in my old hometown of Northwich around lime beds and such that aren't paved as such but are smooth dirt tracks, this is likely to be the most strenuous of terrain I'd like to tackle.


So, mountain bike seems overkill and the off road tyres are somehow annoying for vibration.

I have fond memories of riding my dads old green bike with sturmey archer 3 speed hub gears.
something like this:
http://i.imgur.com/Lu81zJh.png
I like the idea of hub gears because I can't mess them up. I have twist grip change on the mountain bike and they never seem to line up with the correct places and just seem to cause me more hassle than is necessary so I THINK I'm looking at a city bike but then there is mention of hybrid bikes and stuff and I'm all clueless.
http://i.imgur.com/lBxN1OJ.png

I'm also half tempted to find a frame I like and if necessary buy a gear hub and get Jon to work his cycle magic with it and make it into a working bike for me giving me the best of both worlds.

Any thoughts, suggestion or discussion welcome!

[pookie]

why not change your tyres for less rolling resistance. You could change the stem which would modify the riding position. I did the reverse and changed the tyres on my mtb this weekend from kenda small block eights to an off road set and the ride was hard work. At least I didnt get any punctures :) . Also the additional weight of front suspension is probably going to bog you down.

If you are intent on changing bikes maybe a hybrid could do

[NTECUK]

Special ones http://m.specialized.com/gb/gb/home

[ClunkintheUK]

How about this (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/On-one-il-pompino-/251516778383?pt=UK_Health_Beauty_Fragrances_Women_ s_Fragrances_PP&hash=item3a8f91778f)

With a riser stem and a pair of these (http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/HBOOMU/on-one-mungo-handlebar)

[Brettus]

why not change your tyres for less rolling resistance. You could change the stem which would modify the riding position. I did the reverse and changed the tyres on my mtb this weekend from kenda small block eights to an off road set and the ride was hard work. At least I didnt get any punctures :) . Also the additional weight of front suspension is probably going to bog you down.

If you are intent on changing bikes maybe a hybrid could do

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Retro-vintage-Raleigh-bike-/191144919450?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item2c8120019a
I keep finding myself drawn to these but I'm not sure if it is just because I remember them being better than they are or if I'm turning hipster ;)

Hmm good point, I could modify what I've got but what I have is big chunky rims etc which would also need swapping? I'm still liking the idea of hub gears too because of the lack of maintenance required and the simplicity.

Incidentally what I have is this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reebok-Mens-Solo-Mountain-Bike/dp/B007DQCRWI
The front feels too twitchy and the tyres annoy me. The 21 gears seemed like a great idea at the time but I'm all for simplicity now, 3-5 speed hub sounds like the ticket but I suspect I'm being idealistic.

Hmm, tyres for that bike then would be 26" 1.95 I guess is width? :smt102

[Luckypants]

Look at Pashley bikes, they are exactly what you looking for from what you say... http://www.pashley.co.uk

For Example.... http://www.pashley.co.uk/products/roadster-26.html

http://www.pashley.co.uk/cms/products/detail_0-63.jpeg

[ClunkintheUK]

26" is the diameter, and yes 1.95 is the width of the tyres, but you can take much narrower tyres on the same rims. Something like this http://www.evanscycles.com/products/schwalbe/marathon-26-wired-greenguard-commuter-tyre-ec046108. narrower then 1.25 you might have problems, but then narrower then 1.25 for a mountain bike wheel is unlikely.

Hub gears are great from the point of view of low maintenence, but even something like swapping a tube when you get a puncture becomes a major faff, particularly with the Sturmy Archer ones.

[Luckypants]

And if Pashley are too expensive, then look at a touring bike from somewhere like Decathlon or a commuter bike.

[pookie]

tyres should be ok as long as they are 26 inch and I guess 1.75 and wider based on the inners tubes already on the bike. There are tubes for narrower tyres.

Your bike is 17kg so worthwhile checking out the weight of any other prospective bike with less gears as its definitely going to make it a bit more heavy going.

I would have thought narrower tyres would make your current bike even more twitchy.. maybe worthwhile checking out the seat position and setup.

[Brettus]

LP, those pashley ones look ace. I should've prehaps prefaced the thread with "on a budget" I'm not at the point where I want to spend whatever necessary to get an ideal bike but I did realise it might be cheaper to buy a different bike from ebay rather than change mine.

That being said, how about these tyres? they are available in 1.5" width in stock:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/schwalbe-city-jet-mtb-tyre/ (mainly because they are cheap)
Ah, just seen your link, I'd also looked at these, a variant of the one you linked to.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/schwalbe-marathon-plus-tour-wired-mtb-tyre/
I'm assuming I'd need a new innertube too though as the current one would be too big?

hmm OK so assuming I get tyres sorted, the gears I can get over. Stem then, what should I be looking for? I guess it depends on measurements of column and bars? then a length of stem and angle perhaps.

[shiftin_gear98]

Both those tyres would work fine with your current tubes, just be careful if you use a tyre lever to put the tyre back on, you might pinch it. Be sure to pump a bit of air and then seat the tyre.


This is off a Spec tyre box.
Specialized Tube 26 x 1.5-2.3 Presta

They are all roughly the same.


You can get stem raisers to give more height, but be careful you don't go too high or you'll need to start changing cables too.


http://www.cyclesurgery.com/pws/UniqueProductKey.ice?ProductID=G905AXX


Blatant advert for my past life.


If you want to just get an angled stem remember the greater the angle the shorter your reach will be. It'll bring the bars nearer. So you may want to get a longer stem.

[shiftin_gear98]

Personally always loved Ridgeback hybrids - good value too.

[Dipper]

If you're not going off road then the City Jet will roll better.

[Dipper]

Oh and be warned, if you start cycling regularly it can become an addictive and wallet lightening experience...

[startrek.steve]

you might like a beack cruiser like the Electra, I've got one, very comfy and cool

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=-CuZ-mjv3RnVJM&tbnid=saN0g9ClYrZ2MM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbayoubicycles.com%2Fproduct%2Fele ctra-mulholland-3i-158722-1.htm&ei=ExliU9_jCYWd0AWhp4HgCA&bvm=bv.65636070,d.ZWU&psig=AFQjCNGV6U-wmXjnXZC1vf3MKj9NGLtRjQ&ust=1399024272834392

[Brettus]

you might like a beack cruiser like the Electra, I've got one, very comfy and cool

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=-CuZ-mjv3RnVJM&tbnid=saN0g9ClYrZ2MM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbayoubicycles.com%2Fproduct%2Fele ctra-mulholland-3i-158722-1.htm&ei=ExliU9_jCYWd0AWhp4HgCA&bvm=bv.65636070,d.ZWU&psig=AFQjCNGV6U-wmXjnXZC1vf3MKj9NGLtRjQ&ust=1399024272834392

Nice! I can imagine adapting to that pretty well oddly enough even though I don't like cruiser motorbikes.

OK update time:
On Tuesday night I decided I'd go and try one of these trails that I'd found, as I was going alone I opted to try the biggest one that I'd had my eye on (go big or go home was trundling round my head)
the track was LOVELY! barely any slope and smooth tarmac all the way around, enough differing scenery to keep it interesting though and the whole circuit was 13 miles.

I'd not been on a bike for almost a year and in the last 5 years I can count the number of times on both hands. Still, I managed the lap in 1 hr 9 mins, average speed was in double digits and I really enjoyed myself. I barely left top gear for most of it and I didn't stop (not even to take the pictures I got ;))
http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/331593497/1077982


So in light of this I've ordered a pair of City Jet tyres, I'm going to tweak my front dérailleur to not clank when I'm on the top cog (it was set up previously for local roads which were mostly in the low gears) and I'll give the circuit another try after that.

Might need to change the gearing as I think I can cope with more pace than the current gearing allows, anyone care to weigh in on how easy/difficult/stupid that might be?

Thanks for all the help and advice so far BTW

[Brettus]

Yay my tyres turned up today and after fixing a puncture in each tube (one definitely self inflicted the other I'm unsure about) I've got my bike ready. Gears are better aligned so will go see what it's like :-)

[Brettus]

Had hoped that the tyre change, the gears correction and generally knowing where I was going and what I was in for would let me complete the lap in under an hour but it wasn't to be, I'd worked out that it was almost a minute per mile I'd have to pull back and that wasn't too realistic so I followed advice not to try and race myself. I was more enthused though so that helped, final time 1 hr... And 7 seconds! :-)

Liking this route, just right length I think.

http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/333622056/1077982

[Dipper]

The org has a Strava group Brettus if you would like to share your rides... http://www.strava.com/clubs/sv650-org

[Brettus]

The org has a Strava group Brettus if you would like to share your rides... http://www.strava.com/clubs/sv650-org

Nice! I'm nowhere near being able to post on there but I may get there :-)
I'm currently allergic to hills, my total height change in 26km is a mere 43m and that suits me just fine right now. VERY impressive what you guys get up to though!

[Dipper]

Nice! I'm nowhere near being able to post on there but I may get there :-)
I'm currently allergic to hills, my total height change in 26km is a mere 43m and that suits me just fine right now. VERY impressive what you guys get up to though!

It's a great way to track your progress whatever level you cycle at, the encouragement you get from others is a great motivation too :)

[BanannaMan]

None.
Don't you remember growing up and getting rid of a push bike for someththing with a motor?