Pick me a new pushbike

[mattSV]

I am getting the bug for cycling again - rode into work this morning, average 16mph, max 36.9 mph (limit is 30 all the way ) on a Scott Competition XC mountain bike.

Only problem is, I am spinning out on the downhill sections due to the low ratio - I would also like to get some slick tyres, and lighter rims, which got me thinking.............

Through work, I can get a new bike at a substantial discount through a government backed ride to work scheme. having looked in to it, I can get a voucher for £1000, and only get deducted £14.09 a month for 36 months - then the bike is mine! That works out that I will only pay a total of around £500 interest free for a £1000 bike (there are other value options however I think £1000 should get me something decent). The theory is that the bike is 'provided for riding to work' however...........

Seriously tempted by a Kona PhD:-



Easton ultralite tubes, carbon forks, 12-25 10sp with a 53t chainring on the front.

Any other ideas - the rules for me are:-

• Hybrid style with 700cc rims - have had road bikes before and prefer the MTB style position to dropped bars (never thought I would admit that when I was a roadie!)
• No suspension
• At least a 52t chainring

All I need to do is convince MrsMatt that I NEED a new bike however I think £14 a month is not bad - if I take the Scooby to work, it gets through that in about a week!

14 a month will add up to over 500....Over here $1000 will get you an extremely nice bike. Not sure what kind of money you are planning on spending on your bike, but it almost seems like you'd be better off just buying a bike. Unless of course you are planning on taking that voucher and only spending half and coming out even...

edit: And then I read the rest of your post and saw that your plan was exactly what I said. Good man. Go for it!

[fizzwheel]

I dont like hybrids, the two guys I cycle with regularly, both started out with hybrids that they've now converted to full road spec, they reckon its much nicer to ride on the road that the hybrid was. Also one guys is really limited in terms of what components it'll take, especially brake wise so he doesnt have many upgrade paths available to him now bits are starting to wear out on it. The seems to be limited on brake choice and also crank / chain ring size as well, they both found like you did on your MTB that they ran out of gears...

Having ridden non and half carbon bikes ( my current ped is Carbon rear set stays and carbon easton forks ) the carbon really does give smoother ride than the non.

Shop around see whats about, you can get some corking deals, £1000 should get you something pretty good.

This is mine

Full 105 group set ( including wheels )
10speed rear cassette, 52, 39 front chainrings, not sure about rear but has a good spread of ratios to.
Carbon forks
Carbon rear seat stay
Compact frame, its a bit twitchy but its super reponsive.

Cost me £825 notes, I got a good deal it should have been £1150



Wiggle do some good deals on bikes, as do the place I got mine from http://www.triuk.com/

Watch them though, I noticed on alot of the cheaper bikes they mix and match the group set, so you might get 105 on the cheap bits, but then on the more expensive parts is one of the lower group sets. I wanted something of a reasonable standard, which is why I wouldnt go any lower than 105.

HTH

i want that one............






..







.

Hey, so similar to what Fizz was saying, I would be less worried about the group set (brakes mechs, transmission, etc) and more worried about:
1) Frame,
2) Pedals
3) Wheels.

Carbon frames are now extremely stiff, very good, and ridable.
Pedals. Pedals. Pedals. A decent pair of clipless pedals will give you so much more power and efficiency.
Wheels, nothing too fancy, nice Mavic SUP (or other) rims with Ultegra hubs.

Everything else on the bike can just be made work. Dont freak out too much on the weight issue, just get a solid bike and get some miles in first.

These days for me, pound for pound it seems Giant are beating the competition. Dunno. Happy to be proved wrong one that one though.


Just a quick story on how much difference a decent bike can make : I was an amateur roadie for a while, 531 frame, grand enough bike, clipless pedals etc. Then my mates mate sold me his pro bike that he had only put a few miles into since his team were moving from Cannondale to Colnago, and everyone was given new bikes.

I took it out on my normal route, and cantered up the first hill. I had my eye on the rear sprockets as I was climbing, and while I noticed the bike was a bit quicker feeling, I wasn't really riding in different sprockets. Up at the top, I felt fine, but thought I might have noticed more of a change.
Then I realised I was riding in my big ring.

The bike was *so* much better, I was able to ride so much more efficiently, that I had forgotten to drop into the small chain ring to climb. And then I just climbed as normal... but in the big ring. 6 months later I out sprinted (a Dutch) junior champion of Ireland.
And, he was a better rider than me...

I wasn't even doping .

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by philipMac

These days for me, pound for pound it seems Giant are beating the competition. Dunno. Happy to be proved wrong one that one though.

I was recommended to buy a Giant by the bloke in the bike shop, you can get a really good bike for around the £500 - £600 mark, trouble is I'm good at spending money...

TBH though none of the Giants in the £500 had Carbon forks or anything like that and I'm a tart...

Do you not arrive at working smelling like bernard manning?

[Viney]

You want one of these my friend

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Viney

You want one of these my friend

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

I was recommended to buy a Giant by the bloke in the bike shop, you can get a really good bike for around the £500 - £600 mark, trouble is I'm good at spending money...

TBH though none of the Giants in the £500 had Carbon forks or anything like that and I'm a tart...

I had a Giant Boulder, nothing special - just a normal mountain bike cost about £200 7yrs ago. It is really well built and looks in better condition after 7 yrs than my 6 month old cheapo Probike. I only bought the Probike 'cos the Giant is now too small