Advice Wanted: Caught the cycling bug!

[abrooks100]

Hi all,
This is my first post after just recently getting the cycling bug.
I recently purchased a Specialized Sirrus Elite 09. I bought the bike from LBS on cycle2work scheme. The initial reason for buying the bike was for training to do C2C and End to End towards the end of 09. Being new to cycling and knowing very little about technicalities of bikes I just went along with the LBS choice of the Sirrus being my best alround option for long distances, carrying stuff and for training on.
After over a month of training now a really have to cycling bug and get out as much as possible 3 - 4 times a week.
I am already physically very fit and love to compete, I am now beginning to wonder if I should have purchased the Allez over the Sirrus as I would like to take part in local time trials, sportives and possible races in the future.

My main problems are that of funds, I cant afford to go out and buy to bikes and I am looking for advice on how I could possibly comprimise.

I believe have have the following options:

- Sell current bike and get an Allez? (not sure if possible with being bought on cycle2work & Allez may not be suitable for longer tour rides.)

- Upgarde my Sirrus Elite ? Currently standard 09 model with clipless pedals and clip on tri bars(trying to achieve a lower position than on flat bars).

- Should I covert Sirrus to Drop Bars although I believe this would be expensive.

- Could I just Upgrade to thinner tyers and put some bar ends on for extra hand placements and be ready to Timetrial/race?

Any advice would be greatly appriciated, many thanks.

Adam

P.S. also if anyone knows of any good Cycling Clubs in the North East near Hartlepool that would welcome a newcomer on a hybrid?

 

[HJ]

HLaB (of this forum) has coverted his Sirrus to Drop Bars, you could try asking him about it...

Clipless pedals and narrower tyres are cheap easy upgrades...

 

[palinurus]

I did my first few TTs on a flat-barred bike (an Airnimal Joey) my times didn't improve much when I got a road bike (although they did improve when I put tribars on the road bike)

Since you've already got some tribars on there then you're already ahead.

Faster tyres would help, you could use them for the summer and switch to something a bit tougher for the winter.

 

[g00se]

Hi,

Selling it might not be an option. With the cycle to work schemes - the company has bought it and you're leasing it off of them. If you want to sell it before the 3 years is up, you have to effectively pay off the remaining instalments without the tax saving - and the additional "fair market value" payment at the end might be higher too as it's not too old. So, if you've only just bought it, it might cost you more to buy it off of the firm early than it would to have bought it directly yourself.


This might not be the same scheme - but they all work in very similar ways as far as I can tell: http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/employee,faqs.htm

Of course, some might say "How could they tell that you've sold it?" - but I never said that.

 

[Garz]

Or try ask the LBS if they will part-ex your current one for a road bike they offer?

 

[SimonC]

If you are serious about racing, get an entry level road bike. If you get one with all the lugs and holes etc for mounting racks, so much the better and when you dont have all that gear on, it will be perfectly acceptable for trying out road racing/TT/sportives.

As to which entry level road bike, thats another matter and has been covered extensively without conclusion on this forum Whatever you buy, once you are hooked you will want something better!

Decent tyres and wheels, stiff frame and clipless pedals will make a huge difference to the feel of the bike. After that, its all down to your legs and lungs. You maybe think you are fit now, maybe approaching race fitness. Trust me, you arent, but the best way to find that out is to try it and see where you need to get to. Join a club first though, for group rides, getting help etc etc. Any decent club wont worry what bike you ride, and will help and advise. Not from Hartlepool way, so I dont know the clubs, so cant help with specifics. Google British Cycling and you can search on the BC website for clubs and contact details I think.

Google TLI - The League International for a cheap entry into road racing (is Croft circuit near you??), and for TT's join a club. Sportives - just google for UK Sportives, theres plenty of 'em.

Good luck!! It's a lot of fun, you meet all sorts of people and it costs loads!

 

[Sittingduck]

Have you considered looking for a reasonable second hand road bike? You should be able to pick something up for a couple of hundred quid and see how you get on with it. If the frame is decent you can just upgrade components when they wear out or you can afford to...

Cheers,
SD

 

[accountantpete]

Have you considered looking for a reasonable second hand road bike? You should be able to pick something up for a couple of hundred quid and see how you get on with it. If the frame is decent you can just upgrade components when they wear out or you can afford to...

Cheers,
SD

I think this is the best way to go. If you get serious with TT's etc you are going to want a more more specialised tool anyway and running both bikes will give you enough flexibility whilst you build up an idea of the bike that you want.

 

[Randochap]

+1 for second bike. As you are learning, one bike doesn't usually cover all the bases. It sounds like you have a decent commuter. Switching to drops will be an expensive option, as you'll have to change cables, shifters and brake levers.

 

[abrooks100]

Thanks for all the great suggestions, really good forum.

I have my first service with LBS tomorrow so may have a chat with them and see if there would be a chance of Part Ex-ing and what they have to offer.
Although like I said cash is tight, I think my best option may be just to train hard with what I have got maybe put some 23 tyers on (currently on 28's) and fit some bar ends to help on steep inclines. I already ahve Tri - bars fitted so I think im half way there.

Is it acceptable to enter Time Trials and Sportives on a flat bar bike then? Or is there rules against this? I know I wouldn't be able to enter a race on my bike, but I believe there is a club time trial one night a week near me, would I bike accepted on a flat bar bike?

Thanks

 

[SimonC]

Riding club TT's and any sportives will be fine on flat bars, especially with tri bars on - not too much different in style to normal TT bike bars.

I would get the 23mm tyres on though - presume rims are narrow enough on hybrids for narrow tyres?? - Michelin Pro 3 are v.good.

Definitely bar ends would be a big help climbing, just feels a more natural hand position when your out of the saddle.

 

[Sittingduck]

If money is scarce I would ride to an LBS and check with them that 23's will fit okay on the wheels. Wouldn't want to waste £'s on tyres you might not be able to use!

SD

 

[summerdays]

I have my first service with LBS tomorrow so may have a chat with them and see if there would be a chance of Part Ex-ing

You can't part exchange it - as it isn't yours to part exchange - if you have purchased under the Bike to Work scheme it won't become yours until after the 12 months are up if you purchase it off the company.

 

[Hugo15]

While we aren't an official club there is a group of guys on Teesside who hang out here http://www.mtbe.co.uk/ who ride together. The forum started off as a MTB forum but the road side has really picked up as a number of the MTB guys have bought road bikes and newbie roadies like me have joined. There are probably about ten of us who ride regularly on the road but we are always on the look out for new faces! The ethos of the forum is all about getting people out on their bikes and riding

Rides usually start from the Sporting Lodge (used to be the Posthouse) or from Yarm Station. There are a couple of guys from Hartlepool who ride with us. They either drive over to the start or drive to Wolviston and ride from there if they fancy a few extra miles. There is usually a Sunday morning ride of between 40 and 60 miles and a mid-week evening ride of around 30 miles.

There are a few of us who have ridden some sportives. I think there was 6 or 7 of us at Richmond and 3 or 4 of us did the Northern Rock Cyclone. The next one on the plan is The Ryedale Rumble on 9th August. None of us race at present, although there has been some talk of riding a time trial, but not from me!

Will you be OK on a flat bar bike?? Only one way to find out really... give it a go. The next mid week ride is on 2 July from Yarm Station. There is another new guy who is going to join us for the first time so we are planning to ease back on the pace of recent weeks so he can join us and so it is a bit more social. You will not be left in the middle of no-where. The plan is to average around 16 mph but don't worry if this looks fast as it is much easier in a group if you are capable of 14-15 mph average on your own you will be fine.

Hope to see you out soon. Any questions just reply or send me a PM.

 

[abrooks100]

Thanks all for the great advice, Hugo 15 really appriciated the invite and will check out your forum. Im off to the South of France next week and taking my bike with me for the first time so will be looking to get as much training done as possible out there to build up my fitness on the bike then maybe I can join you when I get back beginning of August.
Thans again.
Took my bike in for service at the weekend and decided to Flip the Stem and put some Bar Ends on. Looks much better now, more areo although still need to get some skinnier tyers on and my seat is feeling lower now although it hasnt been touched. Is this becasue of my Bars being dropped in height?