|
Author |
Message |
feef |
This post is not being displayed .
|
feef Energiser Bunny
Joined: 11 Feb 2002 Karma :
|
Posted: 12:03 - 08 Aug 2007 Post subject: road bike (bicycle) recommendations |
|
|
I've recently started cycling into work, 16 miles each way.
I'm riding my Kona Caldera mountain bike which I built up from a frameset and sourcing all the components myself. In it's road-trim (as it is now) it's about as ligh as a cheap road bike.
I Do like the riding position, but wonder if a road-bike would be more practical for the cycle into work. Riding that distance, I cycle like it's a time-trial and just dont stop for a breather, or even free-wheel much.
The bike is a 17" caldera frame, with a straight-thru (not lay-back) seat-post, which puts me much more over the bottom bracket than most people like. My stem choice also means I'm quite forward on the bike.
I've tried out a couple of road bikes, but find them too long and stretched out for what I'm used to.
I don't want to convert my mountain bike any further, as I do still use it off-road, and it's easy to swap wheels, compares to starting to play with different bars and the like.
I'm wondering if a tri-athlong bike would be suitable. Looking at them, they seem to have a shorter top-tube, have the saddle more over the bottom bracket, as I have, and are slightly more upright in riding position, once you have your arms in the tri-bar for streamlining.
Would getting a tri-bike be a step too far for someone who is new to road-bikes?
how does the frame sizing compare? I'm normally a 18" mtb frame (32" or 33" inside leg)? so what6 size of road-frame would I be looking at. Obviously, I'll be trying sizes before I chose, but it'd be nice to at least start asking for a frame that's around the correct size.
oh.. and I don't want to spend more than a grand. I would like a decent frame-set, that would let me upgrade the components in time.
tia
a ____________________ Mudskipper wrote: feef, that is such a beautiful post that it gave me a lady tingle
Windchill calculator - London Bike parking
Blog and stuff - PlentyMoreFish dating |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Cillit-BANG |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Cillit-BANG World Chat Champion
Joined: 05 Oct 2005 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
feef |
This post is not being displayed .
|
feef Energiser Bunny
Joined: 11 Feb 2002 Karma :
|
Posted: 00:51 - 09 Aug 2007 Post subject: |
|
|
Cillit-BANG wrote: | I'd certainly avoid tri-bars for day to day riding. It's far too extreme and for commuting you need to be in full control for cars etc. Plus, it's not the sort of bike you can really 'enjoy' so weekend/evening pleasure rides would be few and far between. |
I do very little in the way of pleasure riding, it's training for me, if I want to go for a pleasure-ride, I'll use the MTB. With the exception of the first few miles, it's all dedicated and straight cycle-path or deserted road, as the main-road now runs on a dual-carriageway bypass. until I get into town, I could count on one hand how many cars will pass me. I've only got couple of miles in town, and again, it's all cycle-path.
Living in and around Cambridge is great if you cycle
You say the tri-bike is too extreme, but as I said.. I find a regular road-bike too long and flat for me, and with not enough weight set forward for what I'm used to in terms of geometry.
a ____________________ Mudskipper wrote: feef, that is such a beautiful post that it gave me a lady tingle
Windchill calculator - London Bike parking
Blog and stuff - PlentyMoreFish dating |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
niceguyeduard... |
This post is not being displayed .
|
niceguyeduard... Borekit Bruiser
Joined: 04 Jan 2007 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
feef |
This post is not being displayed .
|
feef Energiser Bunny
Joined: 11 Feb 2002 Karma :
|
Posted: 14:56 - 09 Aug 2007 Post subject: |
|
|
niceguyeduardo wrote: | You want to look at racing style bikes, the ones with sloping geometry will be particularly short, and not be much if any longer to tri bikes. On the other hand there are touring road bikes which are longer, designed more for comfort and longer rides. |
Cool.. got any suggestions for models I can check out?
Quote: | You must be thinking on spending a bit then as tri bikes don't come cheap! |
I was orginally thinking about a grand.. as I was wanting a decent frame on which to build, but in having a look about, and bearing in mind my MTB is a custom build with XT and XTR kit on it, I'm looking to get something that's of a similar level of equipmet, so might stretch to £1500
Quote: | Hang down on the sloping bars on a racing style bike will be more than enough for your 16 mile ride, you should find it much quicker than the mtb, especially if you use the clipless pedals. |
I already use spuds.. have done for years.. they make more of a difference than people realise
a ____________________ Mudskipper wrote: feef, that is such a beautiful post that it gave me a lady tingle
Windchill calculator - London Bike parking
Blog and stuff - PlentyMoreFish dating |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Duckyboos |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Duckyboos Traffic Copper
Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Karma :
|
Posted: 17:46 - 09 Aug 2007 Post subject: |
|
|
Whilst we're on the subject... why not get a tax-free bike?
https://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/
The other-half is picking up a £865 Marin shortly. If you can get your employer to sign up to the scheme, they can purchase the bike (from selected retailers, and costing up to £1,000 max) and claim back the VAT. THEN they 'loan' it to you for a period of, say, 12 or 18 months, and then 'sell' it to you (if you choose) for a nominal sum (just for the sake of the books) which is suggested to be about 5% of the original price. Your monthly repayments are also at source, so you're not taxed on them, AND your employer doesn't pay tax or NI on these repayments either. All in all, you can save around 40-50% off the original cost. |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
EuropeanNC30R... |
This post is not being displayed .
|
EuropeanNC30R... Gay Hairdresser
Joined: 20 Jun 2002 Karma :
|
Posted: 19:31 - 09 Aug 2007 Post subject: |
|
|
Been trying to get my work on that scheme since November without any luck |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Duckyboos |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Duckyboos Traffic Copper
Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Irezumi aka Reuben |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Irezumi aka Reuben Carrot Top
Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Karma :
|
Posted: 03:14 - 10 Aug 2007 Post subject: |
|
|
So you are considering a triathlon bike with tri-bars as a road bike stretches you out too much?
Moving on from that slight contradiction perhaps consider getting a single speed bike. Most manufacturers now have road bikes with sloping top tubes as that's what the racers now prefer as well.
500 quid will get you a nice Specialized Allez or similar entry level road bike which will be far beyond 90% of the populations capabilities.
If you want to be flash and are comfortable on it then get a Focus Cayo. German carbon frames (frames laid up in Taiwan like most these days) with very good group sets.
As to frame sizing, I wouldn't bother going by it as all manufacturers come up differently. Also consider getting a longer fork stem to raise the bars if you want. ____________________ Pictorgraphicalfantastical |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Wafer_Thin_Ham |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Wafer_Thin_Ham Super Spammer
Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :
|
Posted: 11:12 - 10 Aug 2007 Post subject: |
|
|
I'm looking to get one of these in a few days instead of car insurance for my commute to work.
https://shop.devercycles.co.uk/images/prod_2035.jpg
It's a specialize Langster, £400, ideal for me, but way short of your budget. It's an alloy framed one, you should be able to get a mainly carbon one for your money. ____________________ My Flickr |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
niceguyeduard... |
This post is not being displayed .
|
niceguyeduard... Borekit Bruiser
Joined: 04 Jan 2007 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
feef |
This post is not being displayed .
|
feef Energiser Bunny
Joined: 11 Feb 2002 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
colin1 |
This post is not being displayed .
|
colin1 Captain Safety
Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :
|
Posted: 20:51 - 11 Aug 2007 Post subject: |
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 16 years, 234 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
|
|
|