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Bike for unfit middle-aged me.

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Ribenapigeon
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PostPosted: 12:09 - 07 Sep 2016    Post subject: Bike for unfit middle-aged me. Reply with quote

Im wanting to get a bike to up my physical activity levels a bit. I tried a number of years ago but the bike I got was too heavy had too many gears and was cheap and I kept having to adjust the derailer and brakes and it was a pain so I gave up and sold it on. I dont want to make the same mistake so based on that experience ive decided I want something with no more than 5 gears and is light and of a decent quality but not specialist or mega bucks. It doesent need fancy suspension or disc brakes just good for around town. Any advice on good makes and where to buy appreciated.

Cheers.
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recman
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PostPosted: 13:02 - 07 Sep 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

Don't go for a mountain bike type, go road bike style with larger diameter wheels with thinner tyres for a better roll with less resistance.
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Ste
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PostPosted: 13:15 - 07 Sep 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

What's your budget?
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P.
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PostPosted: 14:39 - 07 Sep 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

Unsure if they have bicycle parking at J&S
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kawashima
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PostPosted: 14:50 - 08 Sep 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bianchi PRIMAVERA-M
This has 5 speed hub gear. Chain drive. Mud guards and chain cover and small rear carrier. Weight is about 13kg.
https://www.cycleurope.co.jp/bianchi/bikes/urban/viaggio/primavera-m.html

There's staggered type too. PRIMAVERA-L
https://www.cycleurope.co.jp/bianchi/bikes/urban/viaggio/primavera-l.html
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edit
These models weren't sold in uk. Doh!

vanmoof was sold in uk. Stylish but a bit expensive.
https://www.vanmoof.com/en_gb/
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2020 Touring Serow 250
,past 2012 YB125SP, 2008 TDM900 2005 W650, [url=d], 2002 LS125R, 2002 CB400SF, NS50F, C50 / Trip to UK(2009), Hokkaido touring(2013)
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stinkwheel
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PostPosted: 15:29 - 08 Sep 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

As with motorcycles, second hand can be best.

Try a cycle recycling place as well as the usual suspects online (go in, they are usually shit at keeping their inventory up to date online).

In terms of cheap bikes. Decathlon do some pretty well specced cheaper road bikes but are conventional multiple gear ones.

You thinking hub gears?

If you want light and simple for urban use, you could go single speed. I'm a big fucker and my road bike is single speed and I do some pretty decent hills with it. Everyone wh rides it is surprised at how easy it is to ride (it's a 1976 Puch alpine racer bike converted to single speed).

If you're a big guy, look for a frame where the pedals are landing up underneath the saddle rather than behind it. You want to be stomping up and down on them using your weight, not pushing back against them using your muscles.

This is a lovely bike:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genesis-Day-One-single-speed-road-bike-Flip-Flop-Hub-/322251729430?hash=item4b07b32a16:g:WywAAOSwkl5Xf8Zk

Would look and ride well with some comfy handlebars. I've got North Road bars on my bike.

Another thing is that you now get 10 and 11 speed rear cassettes that cover a range of gears greater than a cheap 21 speed bike from 10 years ago. You genuinely don't need to have multiple chainrings on a geared bike these days.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.
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Pjay
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PostPosted: 15:39 - 08 Sep 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd buy a lovely On-One Pompino or a more common Specialized Langster.

Both relatively cheap for the specs, when second hand and both cool and great for getting you fit as fk in a matter of weeks.

There are obviously loads of single speeds out there, but I've owned a few Langsters and a couple of Pompinos and they really are a cut above the usual suspects.

https://d2plslj6xljffa.cloudfront.net/files/oo/rides/900x650_constW/1ACVBE0S-pomp1.jpg
https://www.stocksy.co.uk/images/langster/langster.jpg
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Derivative
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PostPosted: 16:05 - 08 Sep 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

Given "of decent quality and not specialist or big bucks"...

I'd go for a second hand bike as others have said. Otherwise it sounds like you're heading for a BSO.

An entry level road bike should be doable for a few hundred quid, or something a bit more vintage for less.

That said, WRT 'getting fit', a better bike means less work to do! My Trek 1.1 would roll about for days without pedaling.

If you're in London or somewhere else that has them, https://www.bromptonbikehire.com is good for hiring a bike to get a taste for it.

You can get a foldy bike for 20 initial + 2.50 a day (yes 24 hours) or 1 initial + 5 quid a day and keep it in the house for as long as you want.

At the 2.50 rate even miserly me thinks it's decent, count it against bus/fuel cost and it pays for itself pretty quickly. As far as I can tell it's subsidised to market the bikes, they'd need to rent for a year with no other costs to make up the purchase price.

There might be other hire schemes about for 'standard' bikes, this is just one I know of.
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recman
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PostPosted: 23:19 - 08 Sep 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was in my local second hand (nicked) bike shop a few weeks ago.
Bloke wanted £150 for a really good nick 80's Peugeot racer, I was tempted.
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bamt
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PostPosted: 23:53 - 08 Sep 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pjay wrote:
I'd buy a lovely On-One Pompino or a more common Specialized Langster.


I use an old Raleigh Pursuit as my fixed hack; cost me £15 as a bike with knackered gears, then built a fixed wheel using an on-one hub and an old rim. With mudguards it came to under £50 - less that I spend on tyres for my better bikes, and definitely more fun per pound.

I'm always up for a good Pompino though (not sure how on-one decided to call it that - or how well it sells in Italy).
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spnorm
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PostPosted: 06:45 - 09 Sep 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

Surely a single speed bike is only any use if you live somewhere flat? It'd be no use whatsoever where I live in the Pennines with 500ft of climbing in a 4 miles commute, including some pretty steep hills.

I'd agree with the suggestion of something with hub gears or alternatively a SRAM 1x11 derailleur or similar as it'd simplify gear changing
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bamt
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PostPosted: 07:14 - 09 Sep 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

Fixies are surprisingly good on hills. On a geared bike you keep clicking down a gear until you are spinning and getting nowhere. On a fixie you stand up and grind away, or get off and walk. That makes it mentally much easier, so you just get on with it (and it the aim is to get stronger and fitter, it works!). The hard part is going downhill on a fixie - I can spin at 200rpm, but look enviously at those with freewheels relaxing as they go.
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stinkwheel
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PostPosted: 09:49 - 09 Sep 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

spnorm wrote:
Surely a single speed bike is only any use if you live somewhere flat? It'd be no use whatsoever where I live in the Pennines with 500ft of climbing in a 4 miles commute, including some pretty steep hills.

I'd agree with the suggestion of something with hub gears or alternatively a SRAM 1x11 derailleur or similar as it'd simplify gear changing


You'd be surprised. It's a case of having the right gear and varying your cadence.

I even do mild offroading on my road bike. I took it round the perimeter road at Keilder water and on the blue route at Coed-y-Brennin. Same gearing.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.
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Pjay
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PostPosted: 09:50 - 09 Sep 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

Fixies are pretty good for places like London, with minor ups and downs. Of course the more hilly it gets the less fun it is, but they are unrivalled for getting you fit as hell. Pretty much why spinning classes are so popular.

To battle the downhill speed thing, I have sometimes been guilty of flipping the back wheel round onto a freewheel hub.
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stinkwheel
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PostPosted: 12:45 - 09 Sep 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

Meh.

I'm not peddaling fixed and I wouldn't recommend the OP does either.

I'm a big fan of the lightness, efficiency and directness of single speed though. Get a nice noisy Halo/White Industries freewheel.

Although my latest wheel has a totally silent coaster brake hub.

Fixed has a lot to be said for it but could definately put someone off cycling too. I find the SS option makes cycling easy and stress free.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.
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bamt
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PostPosted: 16:29 - 09 Sep 2016    Post subject: Reply with quote

I agree that fixed is probably a step too far for someone coming into cycling. Single speed or fixed have the absolutely massive advantage that there are no gears to mess with and have to tweak. Even hub gears need setting up right. I'm sure many of us remember Sturmey Archer 3 speed hubs where 2nd could very easily suddenly turn into neutral when you were pushing hard up hill unless it was set up perfectly - not great if you were out of the saddle at the time.

A single speed drive train just needs the same maintenance as a motorbike's; show it a bit of oil occasionally and check it's not too slack. Perfect for an about town beater.
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