In at the deep end...

[Zstar]

Hi folks

I am new to cycling, all of my other sports having been either locked down (BJJ) or becoming too time intensive with an 18 month old baby at home (golf, cricket)

I am fortunate enough to be staying in Singapore for the next few years, and whilst the roads may be congested, the weather is at least good for cycling, especially in the mornings.

I have never owned a road bike before, and am finding myself eying up Bianchi Sprints and Wilier Cento10s - are these too much bike for a beginner? The sensible part of me says get a Giant Defy or similar. But then being sensible is boring, and Italian carbon fibre is nice.....

Has anyone else done this, or would anyone strongly discourage this kind of madness and start off with cheaper or second hand bikes?

Budget is only a problem if my wife sees the credit card bill....

Thanks!

[gangzoom]

Am amazed you can stand to do any kind of aerobic exercise out doors in Singapore, I found the humidity just as intolerable as the heat, not to forget the daily thunderstorms. Bizzarly it was the weather that put us off working there longterm, much perfer what we get here in the UK. The roads are also hardly cycling friendly, I can barely remember seeing any cyclists there on the roads apart from a few odd tourists.

Before splashing out on something you might never use, why not get something cheap and see if its something you will actually enjoy.

This is what I enjoy about road cycling, crisp fresh air, quite empty roads, and just the general calm of the country side....Not sure how much of that you get in Singapore? Maybe just save up the cash and get a £10k bike (or even a £20k one) when you get back.

Edited by gangzoom on Tuesday 19th January 07:03

[Zstar]

I agree Singapore is not a cyclists paradise, however we live on Sentosa so the roads are quiet, and we have some scenery and hills, albeit teeny tiny ones. I don’t mind the weather, especially for cycling as you get some breeze, especially by the coast.

Cycling has taken off here as a sport recently, with most other sports closed due to COVID and high levels of disposable income looking for toys...

My original question was really meant to be about the pros and cons of going straight to a better spec bike and keeping it longer, vs working your way up through the ranks so to speak, and if I’d be more likely to crash/ruin it (not unlike sports cars I would suspect...)

This is my current run about...

Edited by Zstar on Tuesday 19th January 07:59

[blippo1984]

My thoughts ?

Get the best frame you can afford. It’s inevitable you will end up changing the components on the bike as the bug hits you. And there is always a more expensive purchase around the corner.

There will probably be a point where you buy a cheaper bike as a ‘run-around’...

[Bathroom_Security]

Yeah, just do it now. Get the bike you want, not what you think is right in the interim

[Mastodon2]

Buy whatever you want, if you can afford it comfortably and if you won't mind taking a hit on depreciation if it turns out you don't like it and decide to sell it on.

If you're spending any significant amount of money, get a bike fit from a reputable bike fitter before you make any purchases.

[gangzoom]

Zstar said:

My original question was really meant to be about the pros and cons of going straight to a better spec bike and keeping it longer, vs working your way up through the ranks so to speak, and if I’d be more likely to crash/ruin it (not unlike sports cars I would suspect...)

The is a £10k roadbike 'worth it' discussion has been done many times, the reality of pedal bikes is over the last few decades nothing much have change with them. A really expensive road bike isn't going to make you any faster than a mid-range or even entry level carbon framed one.

My current road bike is 10 year old, cheapest Trek carbon frame available at the time and when am out on it I always think just how much quicker the bike could go if I was younger/fitter etc. A more expensive bike would feel nicer when really pushing on for the last 5% of effort, but in a place like Singapore I just cannot see the benefit. It'll be a bit like buying some thing like a 911 turbo in Singapore, unless you just want to show off its just wasted when you cannot actually use it.

If you want a nice expensive bike go for it, but if you are going to buy a really nice bike save it for when you are back in the UK where you can actually enjoy using it rather than just look at it.

Edited by gangzoom on Tuesday 19th January 08:52

[Barchettaman]

That looks a nice hardtail.

I´d get some skinny slicks for it, a bike seat for the nipper and start on that. Get some family time in too.

[snotrag]

Is there any kind of MTB scene in Singapore?

Local clubs, trails, riders etc? Much more fun!

[rastapasta]

snotrag said:

Is there any kind of MTB scene in Singapore?

Local clubs, trails, riders etc? Much more fun!

no

[Hugo Stiglitz]

I agree to buy good. Pay once rather than buy cheap end up paying more and the hassle long term.

When and if ever BJJ comes back, sorry but I'm already resigned to Judo being gone for at least another year+ after all vaccine cover only lasts circa 5months so we will see a rolling log of reinventions steadily of vaccinated people leading to ongoing combat sport restrictions. Chose a alternative replacement hobby now. Cycling is a good thing to dive into as it benefits fitness wise alot of sports.

[anonymous-user]

Buy the bike you like the look of and will make you want to get out and ride, the rest is all just marketing bks really.

[Kes Arevo]

It depends what sort of cycling you want to do. Just buy the bike you want, to do what you want to do.

Jealous of the weather. We get crappy winters here, but the summers are great. Nothing better than a high 30's day, sun blazing, and the open road. Can't wait for summer.

[oddball1313]

Go for as nice a bike as money allows and dont believe the nonense about how £1500 bikes are as good as £6000 bikes, they arent - plus the nicer and sexier the bike looks to you the more likely you are going to ride it. Get something that doesnt light your fire and you’ll just be pissed off every time you see someone on the bike you really wanted

[jontymo]

Giant Defy is a great bike and good for long days in the saddle, for something else good have a look at Canyon, if they supply out there - that is where my money would go and probably on the Endurace.

[Johno]

I lived and rode in Singapore for 2yrs, even commuted by bike many days.

I started with a lot of MTB as there used to be lots of available trails, green corridor etc. especially if you’re Bukit Timah area. I also did quite a bit on the road, but of course it’s limited. There are two main loops the roadies ride, Changhi and the one to the north west which escapes my memory for a name. Both were identified and signed for traffic.

There are a lot of quiet roads once you’re out of the main city and I rarely had issues with drivers etc.

Leaving the island I did a century ride to visit everywhere, I remember drinking 6ltrs of fluids on the way round and still being 2kg lighter when I got home, it’s brutal, but the thunderstorms are refreshing and you get used to the heat quick enough.

As for a bike, buy something that makes you want to ride it, whilst appreciating it shouldn’t be crippling you to do so.

[Zigster]

I’m going to be different and say buy a cheaper bike. If you get in to cycling, you can always buy another bike once you have a better feel for what you really want.

If you get in to cycling, it’s always helpful to have (at least) two bikes anyway. The cheaper one can always be used as:
A Winter bike (if you come back to the UK)
A bike for rougher rides, or maybe more relaxed geometry for longer and slower rides
A bike for locking up somewhere if you intend to stop en route
A spare for when the best bike is being serviced or has a mechanical (say an unexpected slow puncture and no time to fix before you should be at the meet point with your cycling buddies)

[okgo]

I know a few decent cyclists who've gone to Sing in recent years, they go out before 6am in most cases, there's a fairly big scene there though the standard of rider is generally lower than anywhere in Europe (most of the KOM's be by ex pats I'd imagine).

If you have money, buy a decent bike. Then ride it, easy.

[rastapasta]

okgo said:

I know a few decent cyclists who've gone to Sing in recent years, they go out before 6am in most cases, there's a fairly big scene there though the standard of rider is generally lower than anywhere in Europe (most of the KOM's be by ex pats I'd imagine).

If you have money, buy a decent bike. Then ride it, easy.

Yeah the nationalities tend to cycle together to form their own clubs with a set of jerseys etc. we have a manager in spore who is an avid cyclist so i can ask him if you like??

[Zstar]

rastapasta said:

okgo said:

I know a few decent cyclists who've gone to Sing in recent years, they go out before 6am in most cases, there's a fairly big scene there though the standard of rider is generally lower than anywhere in Europe (most of the KOM's be by ex pats I'd imagine).

If you have money, buy a decent bike. Then ride it, easy.

Yeah the nationalities tend to cycle together to form their own clubs with a set of jerseys etc. we have a manager in spore who is an avid cyclist so i can ask him if you like??

Thanks both - I already have a few friends in the bike scene - what I don't have is the bike

I am fairly fixed on a Bianchi Sprint now - not super expensive (maybe GBP3k after shipping) but it sounds like a bike I can grow into and upgrade later if needed, as well as being a great bike to ride.

I was thinking about an endurance style bike, like a Defy, but I know I am only going to have 1-2 hours per ride due to family and work, so comfort on long rides is less of an issue.

What I am worried about is whether it's going to be too much bike for someone who has only ridden MTB - luckily the roads here are well maintained, but still have some imperfections, and I occasionally need to ride on some cobbles and other uneven surfaces (only for 100 meters) so i don't want something so hard core it will spit me off...