Advice on getting into biking

[TorqueDirty]

Thinking of getting in to road biking and after some advice.

Sadly my running days are over after having been dogged by chronic Achilles tendon injuries for the last 15 years. I have basically given up hoping that I will ever be able to run properly again without then hobbling around in agony for weeks afterwards. So, if I can't run then I figured biking might be a good alternative.

Short (very short!) biking history. I did the odd bit of mountain biking up until several years ago (still have a Trek looking lonely in the garage) and over the last 18 months have had a road biased bike when working out in Belgium. Nothing fancy but I really enjoyed commuting to work each day and loved how easy it was to cover distance compared to my old beast of a mountain bike. In truth even when I was using the mountain bike I was largely riding on road so it was not a great fit for my needs.

I'm back in the UK now (based in Scotland) and would like get in to road riding. Took the old Treck MB out for a ride yesterday and it felt like an oil tanker compared to the road bike I had in Belgium.

Couple of things. I don't think I want an out and out racer but I do want something road focused that I can do a decent distance on (well decent to me! Say 50 miles tops to start with). I'd like disc brakes on the bike too. I'm not interested in entering events, just getting out on the bike on my own and enjoying the lovely scenery whilst getting a workout.

Seems that the Sportive bikes are a good option with less aggressive handling and more comfort. Cyclecross bikes look interesting too but I'm worried the wider tyyres will mean making progress on raod is much harder - but I really have nothing to base this on other than trying to cover miles on my MB with fat tyres!

Given the above are there any recommendations? I like to the look of the Specialized Roubaix range but only because they seem to fit the bill and I have found a few good deals on 2018 models. I'm really starting out from the position of ignorance but if I do get a bike I'd rather get a decent one instead of going budget and then upgrading.

So my budget is up to 2k I guess but if £1000 or £1500 gets a good bike than that's fine.

All advice welcome.

Thanks
TD

[martyn850]

I started out with the Specialized Sectur which was the aluminium framed version of the Roubaix. I’m now on my second Roubaix. I’m not by any means someone who’s built like a racing snake and has an average speed of 20+mph, I just like going out and enjoying the ride so prefer the more relaxed position. I bought my new Roubaix a couple of months ago. I bought it from Rutland Cycles and it’s the Roubaix Comp which with their current offer is about £1900. If you can stretch to that, I’d thoroughly recommend that bike. The riding position can be changed to make it more aggressive if you want later by means of adding/removing included shims and a different collar around the headstock and the future shock system works really well too.

[louiebaby]

You'll get a variety of advice...

- Buy second hand, you'll get a lot more for your money. (You will, but you need to know what you're looking for.)

- Wait until the sales in September, you'll get more for your money. (You will, but you'll miss most of the summer.)

- Buy from an internet only retailer, you'll get more for your money. (You will, but you'll not get a chance to try for shape.)

- Strike up a relationship with a good local bike shop, and spend time with them working out what you want. Try some for size, and importantly reward them for their time with a sale. (This would be my advice.)

Up to £2k can put you onto a really nice bike. All the manufacturers cater for this part of the market, so you'll be spoiled for choice. I would be looking to get on a carbon frame from a reputable company with a good warranty, running a Shimano 105 groupset with Hydraulic Discs for that sort of money.

Something along the lines of this would be tickling my fancy...

https://www.evanscycles.com/cannondale-synapse-car...

[daddy cool]

TorqueDirty said:

So my budget is up to 2k I guess but if £1000 or £1500 gets a good bike than that's fine.

If £2K is your max budget, remember you'll want to budget a few hundred quid out of that for:
Decent pedals
Shoes
Comfy bibshorts and jersey (embrace the lycra)
F & R flashing lights
Assorted tools - tyre levels/pump/patches
Maybe a cheaper garmin (~edge 820) with cadence sensor etc if you think you're going to want to take it reasonably seriously
Maybe ~£50 for some better tyres, as they often come with pretty basic ones
Oh, and my local bike shop does a decent 1hour full-body measurement/bike-fit session for £40 - people will get sniffy saying you need to spend £400 and a full day, but just that session cured a knee pain I had and improved my average speed, so if you have a local shop (even if not where you buy the bike) factor that in.

[louiebaby]

Worth considering what Cycle Scheme your employer offers, if they do. Buying a bike with your before-tax-income is somewhat satisfying.

Apparently, these guys mean that any employer can offer the increased limit, but I've not heard anything as to whether it works, or what kind of experience you'll have with them.

https://greencommuteinitiative.uk/

(No affiliation.)

[Freakuk]

I was in a similar position last year, I enjoy mountain biking but finding the time was the struggle (it's a good 3 hour round trip to some decent trails), so my rationale was that 3 hours I could utilise by literally riding from my front door.

Lots of country lanes, badly surfaced roads near me so I opted for a gravel bike - specifically a Genesis Datum 20, carbon frame, hydraulic disc's and if needed the ability to fit 40mm tyres. It came with pretty skinny tyres but slightly treaded.

Must say after a few settling in rides it's been a revelation. HTH

[deeen]

My 2p would be buy from a shop where you can get a decent bike fit first, the fit might influence which bike you actually buy, then they can set it up to match. I paid £150 for a dynamic fit, including the follow up a few weeks later.

[SVS]

deeen said:

My 2p would be buy from a shop where you can get a decent bike fit first, the fit might influence which bike you actually buy, then they can set it up to match. I paid £150 for a dynamic fit, including the follow up a few weeks later.

^ this

[ChrisMCoupe]

First things first... Start referring to it as 'cycling', not 'biking'

Secondly... £2k will get you a lot of bike for starting out, I'd budget around £1700 for the bike, and the rest for a fit, pedals, kit etc. something like the below would be my choice...

https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/115/products/cannond...

[Blink982]

I've recently beeng going through the same process but my local bike shops don't stock many road bikes so getting a test ride was nigh on impossible. If the Specialized Diverge models within my budget were fitted with hydraulic brakes, I would have probably bought one on the spot as the bike was a good fit and the dealer seemed genuinely helpful and knowledgable. They dissuaded me from upgrading the brakes as they said it wouldn't be financially viable. I then looked at getting a bike built up to my spec both online and at my local bike shop but the frame was out of stock for months. I gave up on that idea and found a Cannondale Topstone 105 available online which had a 3-4 month leadtime at my local bike shop when I enquired. I really envy those that have bike shops that actually have stuff in stock!!

[TorqueDirty]

Thanks guys,

Lots of very useful advice.

Will head out this weekend to see if I can find a local bike shop that has a bike I like at a sensible price compared to the big online folks.

Still need to get my head around the lycra - but secretly I think I'll like it! The clip on shoes worry me a bit. I can see a few paris of rather fetching lycra shorts getting damaged in the early days.

Oh and got it, Cycling NOT Biking. So when I go out on my my mountian bike am I actually "Mountain Cycling"?

TD

[Master Bean]

You want Shimano 105 R7000. Compact 50/34 chainset, 11-30 or 11-34 cassette. Aluminium or carbon frame. That's all the bike you'll ever need.

[bigdom]

TorqueDirty said:

The clip on shoes worry me a bit. I can see a few paris of rather fetching lycra shorts getting damaged in the early days.

MTB cleats allow shoes you can walk around in, even the fairly basic versions are plenty stiff enough for most riders. You'll get used to them very quickly, and you can slacken off the exit foot in the early days. My wife can use them - and she's quite possibly the clumsiest person I've ever met!

[smn159]

SVS said:

deeen said:

My 2p would be buy from a shop where you can get a decent bike fit first, the fit might influence which bike you actually buy, then they can set it up to match. I paid £150 for a dynamic fit, including the follow up a few weeks later.

^ this

+1. I did exactly this and was given some good advice on the required geometry of my first proper bike. Ended up on an Alu Canyon which has been fantastic.

Join a local cycling group and go on some group rides when you do get sorted - ideally one which factors in a cake and coffee stop. Far more sociable / enjoyable than just solo riding.

[Gareth79]

Definitely get proper shoes and clipless pedals. I used to MTB a lot, so when starting road riding I just got a pair of the Shimano "touring" SPD pedals and use my MTB shoes. It works perfectly fine for my needs, although my shoes are now 20 years old and could do with replacing... I haven't used a road pedal system, but I think SPD will be much easier to use.

For bikes - if you do consider 2nd hand then the Giant Defy bikes have had disc brakes for years so there are lots around, and the frame is fairly relaxed so it might be a good fit. I think you'll need to be looking at the top end of the range to get full hydraulic though - the lower end had a weird cable to hydraulic adapter on the stem.

[Daveyraveygravey]

bigdom said:

MTB cleats allow shoes you can walk around in, even the fairly basic versions are plenty stiff enough for most riders. You'll get used to them very quickly, and you can slacken off the exit foot in the early days. My wife can use them - and she's quite possibly the clumsiest person I've ever met!

I think Shimano make a pedal that is "normal" one side and clip in on the other. Not sure if it is MTB/SPD or road/SPD-SL (I think that is how the labelling works) though, but it means you can wear normal shoes some times, and then gradually get used to clipping in with the other side of the pedal. Most people get used to them, although it is possible to still mess it up after years of experience; usually when you are really tired and something unexpected happens.

[monty999]

TorqueDirty said:

Thanks guys,

Lots of very useful advice.

Will head out this weekend to see if I can find a local bike shop that has a bike I like at a sensible price compared to the big online folks.

Still need to get my head around the lycra - but secretly I think I'll like it! The clip on shoes worry me a bit. I can see a few paris of rather fetching lycra shorts getting damaged in the early days.

Oh and got it, Cycling NOT Biking. So when I go out on my my mountian bike am I actually "Mountain Cycling"?

TD

Sorry, but when you go out on your mountain bike you are still 'cycling', just like when you go out in a sports car you would be 'driving' not 'sportscar- ing'.

Do you have any mates that already have the type of thing that you're interested in , that would be a good starter point before you spend your hard earned. Also beware that the cycling fraternity is very, very snobbish in the fashion stakes, even down to colours being so 'last year'. Your main decision will be getting the size right. Remember also that most of the components (groups etc) are the same on different manufacturers bike so it is really the frame that you will be deciding on. Good luck in the minefield that is cycling and enjoy

[numtumfutunch]

Be careful with the Roubaix
The 30% deals caught my eye although I was a little bit put off by the fact that none of the local shops actually had any in stock

Turns out that theres a recall on the clever shock in the steerer thingy with reports of unexpected breakage and badness

Call me a luddite but I have never really felt the need for front suspension on a road/gravel/CX* bike and I personally think this is innovation for the sake of it. If I was racing Paris-Roubaix as a pro for a full works team I may appreciate the more compliant ride but I would have no need to worry about the longevity of the clever bits or cost and hassles of maintaining them properly

Cheers

• I regularly ride on road, gravel and muddy fields

[TorqueDirty]

numtumfutunch said:

Be careful with the Roubaix
The 30% deals caught my eye although I was a little bit put off by the fact that none of the local shops actually had any in stock

Turns out that theres a recall on the clever shock in the steerer thingy with reports of unexpected breakage and badness

Call me a luddite but I have never really felt the need for front suspension on a road/gravel/CX* bike and I personally think this is innovation for the sake of it. If I was racing Paris-Roubaix as a pro for a full works team I may appreciate the more compliant ride but I would have no need to worry about the longevity of the clever bits or cost and hassles of maintaining them properly

Cheers

• I regularly ride on road, gravel and muddy fields

Thanks for the heads up!

I was mighty cheesed off this morning when I noticed that the Roubaix Elite I had my eye on with the 30% discount had sold. Good thing I resisted the urge to press "Add to basket" for the other one in a different colour.

I'll research more and do the sensible thing of going to a local bike shop to see what's what.

I'd like to assume that all remaining stock will have been modified...but I won't!

TD

[henrycrun]

and check out any local cycle clubs