The Cycling Thread

[punyXpress]

Are you fit enough?
Skoda are hosting 10 lucky riders to go with Rapha Condor pros 30 to 35 miles based in Sheffield.
This > > > http://www.raphacondor.cc/home MIGHT work or can forward email

Originally Posted by Luckypants

No it is not you cheeky ****! That was a stinging climb but short, I nearly stalled out when the rear spun up on sheep-poo just before that bend. I didn't stop on any climb but was forced to walk the last 50 meters of the climb to Cwm Ystradlyn - that was better than my last attempt where I walked most of the first 500 meters!

lol, I just saw the black and red jersey and thought it might have been you. Some of those climbs look impossible.

[maviczap]

Its ready for the mountains, but is its owner

[Dipper]

Bon Voyage Mav, can't wait to see the photo's...

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Is the £600 budget to include helmet, shorts et all ?

My advice would be, to go into your local bike shop and see what they have on offer and see what you like the look of. Talk to one of the sales people and start from there.

Dont rush into it, take your time. Have you ridden a road bike before ? Are you coming from a MTB onto a road bike, if so the road bike is going to feel very strange for the first time you sit on it.

First thing is fit, is the bike the right size for you, get this bit wrong and it'll never ever feel right, hence why I suggested you go to a local bike shop, a proper shop not a Halfords, they'll give you some options an also advise you on what size frame you need.

At the price point you are looking at everything is going to be roughly the same in terms of spec etc etc.

You wont go wrong with a trek or specialised, Giant would be the other manufacturer's bikes I'd recommend you look at to.

This fits your buget and leaves you a bit left over to spend on helmet and shorts

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/giant...FVMPtAodvgoARA

Originally Posted by maviczap

As all the above

Although I'd go for something like this, as its 10 speed, and one groupset above Shimano 2300. Nothing wrong with 2300 mind

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sed/ro...&sub=conf_SERA

But its coming to the end of the season, so the dealers will be looking to offload 2013 bikes fairly soon, so it may pay to wait.

Once you know your frame size, then you can pick up some bloomin bargains on Bike Radar classifieds , but you need to know what you're buying, and there's no after sales service or returns.

Originally Posted by Owenski

That ribble is a hell of a lot bike for the money, Tiagra doesn't generally come in until around the £800 marker.
Or that's certainly what I found at least when I shopped about earlier this year so it may well have changed a little by now.

Si are you still living up Gomersal? If so there is a bike shop on Bradford Road just before you get into Dewsbury (about half mile after Padgets) on your right called Bill Hargreaves, get in there and have a chat. You cant go far wrong in there pal...

Take a print out of that ribble though, present that and ask if they can better it.

Thanks for all the advice guys, i'm coming straight from riding no bikes at all really, not ridden in years besides doing spinning a few times not that that counts i know.

The £600 was purely for the bike, from what people have said on here I am guessing padded shorts are a must. Sat on a trek and jamis in evans in leeds and i had a sore **** after about 4 minutes! Been told i would need a 54cm top tube from someone and a 56 by someone else so I guess like you all said its a matter of trial and error.

Matt i'm not in gomersal anymore, went to Woodrups bike shop on Kirkgate rd in Leeds yesterday, nearly ended up walking away with a £750 Cube peloton but managed to find some self control from somewhere, it looks AWESOME! It came with Soarer gearset, am I right in thinking it goes soarer then tiagra in terms of quality?

In ascending order its:
Claris, Sora, Tiagra, 105, Ultegra, Dura Ace

Have a mooch on here: http://cycle.shimano-eu.com/

Cheers Matt that's a big help. Didn't realise there was so much bloody choice!

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by Dipper

Bon Voyage Mav, can't wait to see the photo's...

Thanks mate, too late for anymore training.

I think we'll start off with some mid sized ones before the Giant of Provence

Just need the weather to be ok for the day we do that

[Dipper]

Originally Posted by maviczap

Thanks mate, too late for anymore training.

I think we'll start off with some mid sized ones before the Giant of Provence

Just need the weather to be ok for the day we do that

Looks like you've got a triple and a 28 on the back, that'll get you up anything, you'll be fine once the legs get into the zone - enjoy

[maviczap]

Spot on, although I did try and fit the Tiagra 30t cassette, but the rear mech didn't like it, even though I used it on the compact set up last year?

I suspect its too many teeth difference, as I would need an MTB mech to make it all work smoothly.

Still like you say I should get up pretty much anything, just need a easyish climbing day to remind my legs how to do it.