Beginner bike (Again)
Discussion
Lurker of the Pedal Powered thread here.
Background is, 24 years old. 6ft 2. 178 lb. Run fairly regularly, 10-15 miles per week but wanting to get in to cycling. I’m telling you height and weight not because I’m a powerfully built director, but as the sizing is confusing to me.
I read a lot about Di2 groupsets and 52/36 chains(?) and have no idea what you’re all on about - I’m looking for some recommendations on a first bike, mainly road but capable of cycle paths also.
Very much open to 2nd hand bikes as can get more for my money obviously. But want to know what to look for/what not to look for. Budget is £350 (+£100).
TIA.
Background is, 24 years old. 6ft 2. 178 lb. Run fairly regularly, 10-15 miles per week but wanting to get in to cycling. I’m telling you height and weight not because I’m a powerfully built director, but as the sizing is confusing to me.
I read a lot about Di2 groupsets and 52/36 chains(?) and have no idea what you’re all on about - I’m looking for some recommendations on a first bike, mainly road but capable of cycle paths also.
Very much open to 2nd hand bikes as can get more for my money obviously. But want to know what to look for/what not to look for. Budget is £350 (+£100).
TIA.
Edited by Abc321 on Thursday 20th June 16:20
Gosh.
Everyone here will chip in their 2p and I'm sure there'll be people who will say that what I'm about to write is rubbish!
Bikes consist of a frame, wheels, the gears and chain, brakes, handlebars etc.
The three main manufacturers of equipment are Shimano (by far the biggest), Campagnolo and Sram. A collection of brake levers and integrated gear levers, front and rear derailleur gears, cranks, chain wheels and cassette of little gears at the back wheel designed to work together is called a groupset. In terms of Shimano the cheapest is Claris (8 gears at the back, 2 at the front, Sora (9 gears) or is it the other way around?, Tiagra (10 gears), 105 (11 gears), Ultegra and Dura-Ace (11 or 12 gears). Electronically controlled shifting is called the Di2 system. As you go up the group sets they get lighter, faster shifting and much more expensive. 105 is good enough for most of us.
53/36 is shorthand for saying there are 53 teeth on the biggest chainwheel at the front (near the pedals) and 36 on the smaller chain wheel. 11/27 will mean that there are 11 teeth on the smallest cog at the back and 27 on the biggest. The other cogs will have somewhere between 12 and 26 teeth.
If you are into racing then a lot of teeth at the front and a small cog at the rear will get you moving fast, but you'd better have strong legs. If you want to go touring or up steep hills look for a rear cassette with 32 or more teeth on the biggest cog or a smaller inner chain wheel.
In terms of bike fit, it really depends on whether you are short in the legs or body. I'm 6'4", ride a 61 cm frame and find it a bit of stretch to the handlebars because I'm quite short in the body, and not very flexible. I bought my bike second hand. If I had the money at the time I'd have tried out more bikes at my local bike shop (LBS).
The next can of worms is wheel width, rim or disk brakes (rim at your budget) and road or "gravel/adventure" bike.
At your budget try Decathlon, Go Outdoors, Argos (believe it or not) or Halfords or look on the second hand market and buy something like a Specialized Allez. If your employer offers the Bike to Work scheme you'll be able to spend more and pay it monthly.
Everyone here will chip in their 2p and I'm sure there'll be people who will say that what I'm about to write is rubbish!
Bikes consist of a frame, wheels, the gears and chain, brakes, handlebars etc.
The three main manufacturers of equipment are Shimano (by far the biggest), Campagnolo and Sram. A collection of brake levers and integrated gear levers, front and rear derailleur gears, cranks, chain wheels and cassette of little gears at the back wheel designed to work together is called a groupset. In terms of Shimano the cheapest is Claris (8 gears at the back, 2 at the front, Sora (9 gears) or is it the other way around?, Tiagra (10 gears), 105 (11 gears), Ultegra and Dura-Ace (11 or 12 gears). Electronically controlled shifting is called the Di2 system. As you go up the group sets they get lighter, faster shifting and much more expensive. 105 is good enough for most of us.
53/36 is shorthand for saying there are 53 teeth on the biggest chainwheel at the front (near the pedals) and 36 on the smaller chain wheel. 11/27 will mean that there are 11 teeth on the smallest cog at the back and 27 on the biggest. The other cogs will have somewhere between 12 and 26 teeth.
If you are into racing then a lot of teeth at the front and a small cog at the rear will get you moving fast, but you'd better have strong legs. If you want to go touring or up steep hills look for a rear cassette with 32 or more teeth on the biggest cog or a smaller inner chain wheel.
In terms of bike fit, it really depends on whether you are short in the legs or body. I'm 6'4", ride a 61 cm frame and find it a bit of stretch to the handlebars because I'm quite short in the body, and not very flexible. I bought my bike second hand. If I had the money at the time I'd have tried out more bikes at my local bike shop (LBS).
The next can of worms is wheel width, rim or disk brakes (rim at your budget) and road or "gravel/adventure" bike.
At your budget try Decathlon, Go Outdoors, Argos (believe it or not) or Halfords or look on the second hand market and buy something like a Specialized Allez. If your employer offers the Bike to Work scheme you'll be able to spend more and pay it monthly.
At £250-350, I would go to Decathlon or Halfords for that money. Stop reading about Di2 for a start.
If you want to mess about with second hand bikes, then maybe look at stuff like the Specialized Allez or Giant Defy.Try Facecbook Market Place and keep the search local so its easy to go and see them.
If you want to mess about with second hand bikes, then maybe look at stuff like the Specialized Allez or Giant Defy.Try Facecbook Market Place and keep the search local so its easy to go and see them.
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