Cycling: fitness, racing or leisure rides..

[pig_skin]

I couldn't get out to watch tonight, would be shattering smashing the bike up... almost be worth getting a cheaper aluminum frame to race... would have been great conditions tonight, no wind to deal with...

missed a cracker of a night.. apart from E grade there was exciting racing in all grades.. only one more event this sunday at vic park then out to regency for the rest.. im spewing a little as i enjoyed the events at vic park..

who is looking forward to doing the TDU ride... are you all going to have a crack at the full distance..
interesting reading the team rabobank is brining over here.. quite a lot of stars..

[Dutchy]

Where abouts at Regency do they do the racing?

Planning on the TDU, mate wants me to do the RLC as well but only being 6 days before the TDU Im not sure I want to risk it.

Going to have to improve further and hopefully drop some weight to make the 130 kms OK.

Has anyone done Menglers Hill before, how does it compare to Willunga?

[mickey]

Will be trying for the full TDU distance, riding Amys Ride has shown myself I can do the distance, especially with getting more km in the legs.

Racing at Regency Park is sort of the traditional home for it, not sure of the exact route, but I know they use narweena road (sp?) Which runs parallel to the new road made for the superway, basically as far in from south road as u can get. Which ia good for me, as it is literally walking distance from home

[gadj1976]

Guys, new to buying a bike so please bear with me.

I'm looking for something to ride to and from work - approx 15km one way. It's not a flat ride but not mountainous hills as I live Modbury area.

I'm not after anything ridiculously expensive but I've been told about these bikes that are hybrids of mountain bikes and road bikes.

The one I got told about in particular was this one;

http://www.activcyclecoaching.com/shop/ ... -bikes.php

The bike I looked at is grey with red wheel inserts. Looks kinda retro. The other option is to buy a Giant, which is about 250 extra but it does have a name in Adelaide. From what I can see, there isn't much difference but then I really don't know if I'm being sold a pup or not.

I like the style and look of the Orbea better but am interested in the 'disc brakes'. Are they a fad, or are they actually any good? I've had a heap of bikes before, and the caliper breaks drove me nuts. I was forever adjusting them, they squealed etc, etc. Mind you, my most recent bike was circa 1996. So my question is two fold. 1. Are the disc brakes worthwhile, or 2. has the caliper technology come that far that it's not worth worrying about the disc brakes?

Any help would be great.

Cheers

Gadj

[mickey]

What's the budget gadj?

Have you been into your local bike shop(lbs) yet?

If your only going to use it as a work vehicle then a flat handle road bike is what id think of getting. All the benifits of a road bike with the mountain bike handle bars.

Also invest in the clipless pedals, the ones where u clip into the pedal.. will make riding easier once u get used to them.


Can't help with the brakes part, never used the disc ones, but from what I've read in bike reviews, they go alright.

[pig_skin]

Guys, new to buying a bike so please bear with me.

I'm looking for something to ride to and from work - approx 15km one way. It's not a flat ride but not mountainous hills as I live Modbury area.

I'm not after anything ridiculously expensive but I've been told about these bikes that are hybrids of mountain bikes and road bikes.

The one I got told about in particular was this one;

http://www.activcyclecoaching.com/shop/ ... -bikes.php

The bike I looked at is grey with red wheel inserts. Looks kinda retro. The other option is to buy a Giant, which is about 250 extra but it does have a name in Adelaide. From what I can see, there isn't much difference but then I really don't know if I'm being sold a pup or not.

I like the style and look of the Orbea better but am interested in the 'disc brakes'. Are they a fad, or are they actually any good? I've had a heap of bikes before, and the caliper breaks drove me nuts. I was forever adjusting them, they squealed etc, etc. Mind you, my most recent bike was circa 1996. So my question is two fold. 1. Are the disc brakes worthwhile, or 2. has the caliper technology come that far that it's not worth worrying about the disc brakes?

Any help would be great.

Cheers

Gadj

the caliper brakes these days are pretty damn good, seem to stop me on the roadie at 60+ km/h pretty quickly.. i havent had to replace or adjust in over 1000km on the new bike.. never ridden disc brakes so cant really give you an opinion on those...
orbeas make good road bikes so i cant see why the technology wouldnt drift down into their hybrids. the bike does look pretty good as well.
if you have the specs or a link of the giant bike and i can take a look at the components on it i can give you an idea of why it might cost a bit more...

whats the main reason for going for a bike like this and not a full roadie? looks like a roadie frame just with flat bars. its not going to be as comfortable to ride as a mountain bike,will still be riding in what looks to be a road bike sitting position, when im commuting on city roads i usualy ride my roadie with my hands on the flat of the bars anyway, then just drop to brakes when i need too..
also if you end up riding a bit more than just communting you might want more of a road bike...

[gadj1976]

Guys, new to buying a bike so please bear with me.

I'm looking for something to ride to and from work - approx 15km one way. It's not a flat ride but not mountainous hills as I live Modbury area.

I'm not after anything ridiculously expensive but I've been told about these bikes that are hybrids of mountain bikes and road bikes.

The one I got told about in particular was this one;

http://www.activcyclecoaching.com/shop/ ... -bikes.php

The bike I looked at is grey with red wheel inserts. Looks kinda retro. The other option is to buy a Giant, which is about 250 extra but it does have a name in Adelaide. From what I can see, there isn't much difference but then I really don't know if I'm being sold a pup or not.

I like the style and look of the Orbea better but am interested in the 'disc brakes'. Are they a fad, or are they actually any good? I've had a heap of bikes before, and the caliper breaks drove me nuts. I was forever adjusting them, they squealed etc, etc. Mind you, my most recent bike was circa 1996. So my question is two fold. 1. Are the disc brakes worthwhile, or 2. has the caliper technology come that far that it's not worth worrying about the disc brakes?

Any help would be great.

Cheers

Gadj

the caliper brakes these days are pretty damn good, seem to stop me on the roadie at 60+ km/h pretty quickly.. i havent had to replace or adjust in over 1000km on the new bike.. never ridden disc brakes so cant really give you an opinion on those...
orbeas make good road bikes so i cant see why the technology wouldnt drift down into their hybrids. the bike does look pretty good as well.
if you have the specs or a link of the giant bike and i can take a look at the components on it i can give you an idea of why it might cost a bit more...

whats the main reason for going for a bike like this and not a full roadie? looks like a roadie frame just with flat bars. its not going to be as comfortable to ride as a mountain bike,will still be riding in what looks to be a road bike sitting position, when im commuting on city roads i usualy ride my roadie with my hands on the flat of the bars anyway, then just drop to brakes when i need too..
also if you end up riding a bit more than just communting you might want more of a road bike...

What's the budget gadj?

Have you been into your local bike shop(lbs) yet?

If your only going to use it as a work vehicle then a flat handle road bike is what id think of getting. All the benifits of a road bike with the mountain bike handle bars.

Also invest in the clipless pedals, the ones where u clip into the pedal.. will make riding easier once u get used to them.


Can't help with the brakes part, never used the disc ones, but from what I've read in bike reviews, they go alright.

Hey folks, thanks for the heads up. Firstly, the budget is about a grand. The Orbea seems to suit budget wise. I could even go the model up and still get change from a grand by the looks. The bike(s) I'm comparing it to are the Giant Cross City 2 or 3.....

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-au/bik ... 271/44179/ - Cross City 2
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-au/bik ... 271/44180/ - Cross City 3

The reason I chose these types of bikes is really basic/introductory discussions with the shop assistants. I said I'd be riding from Modbury and they told me that I'd "need gears" otherwise they would've pointed me in the direction of a one gear ride. I told them I preferred something hybrid, only because I used to get buckles in wheels (from my old road bike) AND didn't want a mountain bike. But I'm happy to be swayed by independent thoughts.

Just in question about the wheels, they are slightly wider than a full road bike. I'd be concerned I'd pop em! I'm 95kgs on a good hair day, so want something with a bit of comfort.

The pedal clips concern me.... I can see myself going ar$e up!

Thanks for the advice, it's greatly appreciated.

[heater31]

The pedal clips concern me.... I can see myself going ar$e up!

Until you do you are not a real bike rider

[mickey]

A good bike shop makes sure you can use the shoes and pedals properly before they send you off into to sunset... using 'proper' pedals is more efficient, so you don't get as tired and go faster

From personal experience, visit more than 1 LBS, check out a few different brands and compare what's out there. A good shop won't try and sell you something in the 1st 5 minutes. I ended up buying through Cycleworx woodville. If you want to pick someone's brain for half hour, go there and see Craig, tallish with shaved bald head.

[Dutchy]

Gadj, Im 117 kgs and riding a roadie with the thinest wheels around!

One thing I will say bike riding gets addictive and I know a heap of people that went the hybrid only to upgrade to a roadie within months.

[pig_skin]

One of The main difference I can see is the drive train the city cross 2, has better drivetrain, gears, derailed etc... That's where usually prices in bikes go up... Most frames wheels etc will be around the same quality in lower end bikes, and the price will vary with what gearing it is running...

Like Mickey said get into the bike shop take em for a ride and see how they feel comfort is important...
Also GET CLIP IN PEDALS.. No question about it.. I still come ass up every now and then, just last week I was being a smart a$$ and track standing (balancing at the lights) on the corner of pirie and king William st, pver balanced and ended up lying on the bitumen.... Half the fun...

[gadj1976]

hehehe, I dunno whether this 'clip in pedals' thing is a stitch up. I'll be the one going ar$e up at the lights and you blokes will sit there giggling to yourselves!!!

That's interesting Dutchy. I'll have to consider the road bike then. I must admit, I hadn't because of what I'd already said. Can you get a 'good' road bike for a grand? How does it compare quality wise with the hybrids?

The crux of it all is that I've got a dodgy knee and my fitness regime currently consists of running. And that's just not sustainable. I need to change it up, hence I was thinking of riding the bike for fitness - and better still, to run my life other than by a bus timetable. So I spose I'm using this bike as a reintroduction to the sport, and the addictivity(?) will depend on whether my knee holds up to the riding.

There was a comment earlier about going to more than 1 bike shop - and I certainly have done that. Most point me in the direction of the hybrids based on what I've told them. As stated, I got pointed in the direction of the Giant (Giant and JT cycles), and the Orbea (Megabike).

So now I'm a bit more confused;

Road bike vs hybrid..... I'm still thinking of hybrid but I'll go and check out the road bikes tomorrow at lunch.

[mickey]

The main trouble with bike shops is that they are like car yards, will only recommend what they sell. Cycleworx sell Avanti and Scott, you won't find them at JT cycles, but at JTs u will find specialized and giant.

Personally I'd steer well clear of Standish cycles esp the west lakes shop...

For about a grand you will get an aluminium frame and some reasonable components.

Be warned though, like dutchy said it gets addictive, and its super common to start with an entry level bike and get upgradeitis very quick. I tried to counter that by getting a good bike early, so will see how that goes.

Haggle on the price of the bike, don't pay the ticket price, even if its on sale..

Also allow an extra $300 for extras... helmet, bike shorts, drink bottles, basic tool kit etc. Try and get these when you get the bike, u should be able to get 10-15% discount on the extras

[Dutchy]

Im no expert as Ive relied on my cousin to steer me into my 2nd hand bike but for $1k you would get a pretty nice entry level roadie.

Ive got terrible knees also, hence the weigh, but this year since Ive started riding its the best my knees have felt for years. And the best bit that even after riding 100kms last weekend my knees wernt sore at all.

I stacked it on the corner of Franklin St and KWS in March in peak hour traffic, was pretty embarressing, and cause of it I cchanged my pedals to normal ones but switched back within days cause of the lack of power I was giving up, now Im just more careful!

[gadj1976]

Thanks folks, I'm now armed with a lot more info than I did previously.

I'll take my new knowledge to the bike shop tomorrow and see how I go.

[mickey]

So we will see u on the tour down under ride gadj

[gadj1976]

eccch, Mickey, lets see how I go just getting to and from work first hey?

[mickey]

Haha, don't let little things like that get in the way... 15km each way 5 times a week is a great training starting point...

[gadj1976]

Ok, so a visit to JT Cycles has given me the following info;

For a grand, it's better to get an up-spec'd hybrid rather than a road bike. The road bike (for a grand) will be the very basic entry level bike.

The specific bike the salesman told me about was this one:

http://specialized.com/au/gb/bc/SBCProd ... spid=53257

Any thoughts?

[Booney]

Hey gadj,

Might be able to help a bit here.

I spent about $500 on an pretty much entry level hybrid ( see page 1 of this thread ) to get some of my arse off of my arse...

The plan was to do two or three rides a week, 40-60 minutes a time. Thats pretty much what I have been doing over the last 4 or 5 weeks and this is mainly after work as weekends are full of sport for me and both the kids.

In all honesty, I'm happy enough with what I have, for now. As the guys have mentioned when you get a little more serious about it all you may want to get more road than hybrid, but me, being a bigger bloke I prefer the hybrid style bars and riding position. I had a road bike as my main form of transportation from about 88-94 when I rode 200+ks a week but in my late 30's now and looking more for comfort than speed, with speed a consideration, I like the hybrid.

The one you have detailed above looks better than mine. I think for what you're using it for, you'll be fine.

I was also mindful that my son, 15, will use mine from time to time so I was never going to go and spend a $1000 or more.