[Other Sport] Cycling geeks

[Stat Brother]

I was up in Halfords yesterday trying a few on.

It may well be sacrilege but I'm now veering towards a hybrid. The Halfords fella was pretty useless in giving advice (such gems as "it's up to you" and "whatever you feel most comfortable with") but I did feel the hybrid gave me a more comfortable position. As a 50+ this is likely to be mightily important!

I'm back home and contemplating

You were right about the price of the one I pm'd you about .... you need to scroll down a bit when it opens

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CANNONDALE-SYNAPSE-CARBON-fibre-105-TRIPLE-ROAD-BIKE-56cm-/281363468691?nma=true&si=lrVd2gVT1elmbBxtlidF39BuT7c%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Even a stopped clock is right twice.

My local Halfords has the bike I linked from £499 reduced to £399 in chrome.
It looks the business, is very well specced, and will be pretty rapid.

If you have £300 ish burning a hole in you're pocket, finding the extra £99 is a considerably better option than 'dumbing down' to a £250 Carerra or Real or whatever other generic brand they stock.


All that assumes you are actually comfortable and happy with the Boardman.
If you just don't like it, don't buy it on my say so.

You won't ride it if you're hearts not in it.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I was up in Halfords yesterday trying a few on.

It may well be sacrilege but I'm now veering towards a hybrid. The Halfords fella was pretty useless in giving advice (such gems as "it's up to you" and "whatever you feel most comfortable with") but I did feel the hybrid gave me a more comfortable position. As a 50+ this is likely to be mightily important!

I'm back home and contemplating

You were right about the price of the one I pm'd you about .... you need to scroll down a bit when it opens

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CANNONDALE-SYNAPSE-CARBON-fibre-105-TRIPLE-ROAD-BIKE-56cm-/281363468691?nma=true&si=lrVd2gVT1elmbBxtlidF39BuT7c%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

I am also 50+. Seriously, get a road bike. You have so many riding positions to choose from, and moving between them adds to your comfort. On a hybrid you are stuck in one riding position and this adds its own problems. Often, people complain of stiff backs, shoulders, forearms - things that could be avoided by moving about on your handlebars.

Also, if you get the cycling bug, you are more likely to enjoy longer rides on a good road bike than a hybrid.

For good advice, go to a Local Bike Shop rather than Halfords. Explain that you are buying from Halfords but will want to use the LBS for your service needs. Even buy the bike not made up and get the LBS to put it together.

 

[Rugrat]

Even a stopped clock is right twice.

My local Halfords has the bike I linked from £499 reduced to £399 in chrome.
It looks the business, is very well specced, and will be pretty rapid.

If you have £300 ish burning a hole in you're pocket, finding the extra £99 is a considerably better option than 'dumbing down' to a £250 Carerra or Real or whatever other generic brand they stock.


All that assumes you are actually comfortable and happy with the Boardman.
If you just don't like it, don't buy it on my say so.

You won't ride it if you're hearts not in it.

The link is taking me to a Boardman Hybrid ... is that right? (Edit: I think it's because it's just sending me to my recently viewed Halfords items). My site has Road Sport at £449 and Road Sport Ltd Edition at £499

 

[Rugrat]

I am also 50+. Seriously, get a road bike. You have so many riding positions to choose from, and moving between them adds to your comfort. On a hybrid you are stuck in one riding position and this adds its own problems. Often, people complain of stiff backs, shoulders, forearms - things that could be avoided by moving about on your handlebars.

Also, if you get the cycling bug, you are more likely to enjoy longer rides on a good road bike than a hybrid.

For good advice, go to a Local Bike Shop rather than Halfords. Explain that you are buying from Halfords but will want to use the LBS for your service needs. Even buy the bike not made up and get the LBS to put it together.

I'll take your word for it ... will go into local shop tomorrow. Back to Halfords this afternoon for a free play and look up [MENTION=435]Stat Brother[/MENTION] idea

 

[Stat Brother]

The link is taking me to a Boardman Hybrid ... is that right? (Edit: I think it's because it's just sending me to my recently viewed Halfords items). My site has Road Sport at £449 and Road Sport Ltd Edition at £499

Sorry I wasn't looking close enough to know which one it was, other than £499 down to £399.

You've got to ask yourself 'what do I want the bike for'?

As Pogue says hybrids aren't designed for out and out road riding, there are compromises.
They cover the spectrum of bikes from roadies through to full suspension mountain bikes.
The Boardman I saw is basically flat barred road bike, with touches of 'comfort'.

So are you pootling around, to the shops/pub/park with Mrs Rugrat, wishing you had a better quicker smoother bike.
Or are you looking at the possibility of exploring the roads of Sussex, jealously looking at the roadies out on a lovely day like today, clocking up some nice miles, just for the sake of it.

 

[Rugrat]

Sorry I wasn't looking close enough to know which one it was, other than £499 down to £399.

You've got to ask yourself 'what do I want the bike for'?

As Pogue says hybrids aren't designed for out and out road riding, there are compromises.
They cover the spectrum of bikes from roadies through to full suspension mountain bikes.
The Boardman I saw is basically flat barred road bike, with touches of 'comfort'.

So are you pootling around, to the shops/pub/park with Mrs Rugrat, wishing you had a better quicker smoother bike.
Or are you looking at the possibility of exploring the roads of Sussex, jealously looking at the roadies out on a lovely day like today, clocking up some nice miles, just for the sake of it.

Oh ... just back from my Halfords ... definitely nothing reduced from £499 to £399 so not sure. Assistant was per usual; vacant look before disappearing until I got fed up and went to check out the bike racks

As for what I want to do it will be more than the 1st option but not as much as the 2nd. I'd say something c10 miles would be about it. Veering back towards the road bike though and heading back to Gumtree/ebay for a recce

 

[perseus]

Filibus are the biz. Saving up. http://www.kemper-velo.de/fahrraeder/transportraeder/filibus/

 

[Stat Brother]

Oh ... just back from my Halfords ... definitely nothing reduced from £499 to £399 so not sure. Assistant was per usual; vacant look before disappearing until I got fed up and went to check out the bike racks

As for what I want to do it will be more than the 1st option but not as much as the 2nd. I'd say something c10 miles would be about it. Veering back towards the road bike though and heading back to Gumtree/ebay for a recce

Ok having popped back I am now stood in front of a white Boardman Hybrid Comp, 20% off £499 down to £399.

Disc brakes, sram gears, FSA crankset, E4P wheels.

 

[1066familyman]

Oh ... just back from my Halfords ... definitely nothing reduced from £499 to £399 so not sure. Assistant was per usual; vacant look before disappearing until I got fed up and went to check out the bike racks

As for what I want to do it will be more than the 1st option but not as much as the 2nd. I'd say something c10 miles would be about it. Veering back towards the road bike though and heading back to Gumtree/ebay for a recce

I'd go for a road bike for all the reasons Pogue Mahone said. I have a history of back trouble and yet I've settled back onto a road bike with ease quite late in life. Just so many options that a hybrid won't give you and future proof as your road miles up, as they inevitable will.

This looks like a nice bit of kit to me, and if it stays below £400 then it's a bargain considering the group set specs and wheels. Bit of a trek down to Cornwall though. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321434346785?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT


Meanwhile...poor Tony Martin without a team mate in sight as he tries to cling onto the leaders jersey in Tour de Suisse with Rui Costa, Mollema and Mathias Frank all up the road. I'll be willing the TT king on to limit his loses with his climbing skills.
http://www.frombar.com/20140614/vv539c4e45940d37.72204201-837467.html

 

[Rugrat]

Ok having popped back I am now stood in front of a white Boardman Hybrid Comp, 20% off £499 down to £399.

Disc brakes, sram gears, FSA crankset, E4P wheels.

Crikey ... cheers!

I'd have said yes ... x hours ago, now I'm quickly being talked out of a Hybrid

Still planning on bike shop tomorrow but I'm wondering if they will regard anything other than an out and out road bike as 2nd rate.

If (lb for lb) the road bike gives me the greatest comfort then that's where I go .... if not then I buy this (if that makes sense) ... or is it (as I suspect) just "playing" with the key components

Need a beer!

 

[strings]

Rear wheel has slightly buckled - Argh! It's slightly kissing the brake pad every revolution. Annoying! Looks like I'll be in the market for some replacement wheels soon.

 

[perseus]

Rear wheel has slightly buckled - Argh! It's slightly kissing the brake pad every revolution. Annoying! Looks like I'll be in the market for some replacement wheels soon.

What Bike? New wheel from Shoreham bike shop at £20. Bargain.

 

[Stat Brother]

This looks like a nice bit of kit to me, and if it stays below £400 then it's a bargain considering the group set specs and wheels. Bit of a trek down to Cornwall though. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321434346785?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

You've restored my faith in the ebay/second hand market, top spotting.

If that bike had Trek written on it, it would had sold for twice that.

 

[1066familyman]

You've restored my faith in the ebay/second hand market, top spotting.

If that bike had Trek written on it, it would had sold for twice that.

Yep.

Went for a cracking price in the end. Depending on the wear on the group set, that alone with those wheels was well worth the price. An unfamiliar name and it went for a song as a result.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Chapeau, Edna! Nearly the first half century.

Have you joined the NSC Geeks club on Strava yet?

I'm in

 

[Motogull]

I'm in

And straight into mid table respectability.

There is a privacy setting, so the roads closest to home are not visible.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

And straight into mid table respectability.

There is a privacy setting, so the roads closest to home are not visible.

I'll just have to trust you all for now, as I keep getting a 503 Service Unavailable error when I try to access that page

 

[Motogull]

I'll just have to trust you all for now, as I keep getting a 503 Service Unavailable error when I try to access that page

I didn't zoom in on any rides, just thought I'd mention it in case you missed it.

Refresh the page, I got same thing a few mins back.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I didn't zoom in on any rides, just thought I'd mention it in case you missed it.

Refresh the page, I got same thing a few mins back.

Honestly, I didn't give it a thought (as regards you). It's worth thinking about though, I've known work colleagues get stalked by people they've inadvertently upset (inevitable in my job that you piss people off sometimes), so best to keep a degree of privacy on it.

 

[Stat Brother]

Rear wheel has slightly buckled - Argh! It's slightly kissing the brake pad every revolution. Annoying! Looks like I'll be in the market for some replacement wheels soon.

I was hoping someone from the 'wheel expert' sub-section of Geeks would have popped up by now.

In their absence I'll say, I'd imagine your LBS will be able to true the wheel back to it's former glory, at a fraction of the cost.

Although if you have new wheel money, to hand, it is the very best upgrade you can perform on your bike.