Beginners Road Bike

[MaxInc]

Cheers MaxInc. Just clicked the link but I haven't got "permission to view this page". Maybe that's why I can't find it anywhere. Do you have to post x amount of times before you can see the buying and selling forum?

Hmm could be, I see you have 9 so far, maybe 10 posts will do it?

 

[Ness]

 

[Ness]

No.

I'll have to wait. At least it stops idiots advertising something stolen or dodgy on their first post!!

 

[MaxInc]

Stick around then, it will unlock at some point

 

[HLaB]

Sorry if its been answered above, its been a long day! but Ness why are you so set against a tripple; my bikes are doubles and compacts but thats only because thats is what was fitted to frame I liked I wouldn't rule out a frame that felt good because of its groupset.

 

[vickster]

I kind of meant proper sites for buying s/h bikes. Ebay and Gumtree are a joke.
?

How so, I have sold bikes on eBay and also bought a bike on eBay (my fantastic Whyte was an eBay bargain). Yes, as a seller you get hit for fees, but I got no interest on here and wanted a new bike so went for fleabay and got what I wanted with no hassle at all

Similarly, in the past, I have sold via Gumtree

You just have to exercise common sense that you don't buy something hooky - ask for receipts, collect from house, pay cash on collection not Paypal etc

Or you can pay rather more new - my ridden once Whyte was half the RRP

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I can't interest any of you in this can I? :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130929971095?_trksid=p5197.c0.m619

 

[Ness]

Sorry if its been answered above, its been a long day! but Ness why are you so set against a tripple; my bikes are doubles and compacts but thats only because thats is what was fitted to frame I liked I wouldn't rule out a frame that felt good because of its groupset.

I'm not against them, each to their own. I just don't see the point in buying something I don't want. If I wanted a singlespeed, I wouldn't buy a bike with gears just because it had a nice frame.
There's more than enough gears on a compact double and by having that set up, there's less weight and less to go wrong. Also, it's just going to be a starter bike and winter hack. If I like road riding, I'll be saving up for a better bike, so won't want the expense of converting/upgrading a triple to a double.



I also hate front mechs. It's going to be bad enough going from my 1X10 MTB to a 2X9/10 roadie!!! One of the first upgrades I made to my Whyte was to bin half a ton of pointless metal from near the cranks. I had to make room for the dropper remote anyway.

 

[Ness]

How so, I have sold bikes on eBay and also bought a bike on eBay (my fantastic Whyte was an eBay bargain). Yes, as a seller you get hit for fees, but I got no interest on here and wanted a new bike so went for fleabay and got what I wanted with no hassle at all

Similarly, in the past, I have sold via Gumtree

Fair play if you've had good luck using them. I'm just a bit too long in the tooth (or grumpy) to deal with all the muppets that you have to wade through to find something and someone decent. At least buying through a forum or specific cycling website, there's a good chance that that the seller will be as passionate and knowledgeable about their hobby as you are.

 

[HLaB]

I'm not against them, each to their own. I just don't see the point in buying something I don't want. If I wanted a singlespeed, I wouldn't buy a bike with gears just because it had a nice frame.
There's more than enough gears on a compact double and by having that set up, there's less weight and less to go wrong. Also, it's just going to be a starter bike and winter hack. If I like road riding, I'll be saving up for a better bike, so won't want the expense of converting/upgrading a triple to a double.



I also hate front mechs. It's going to be bad enough going from my 1X10 MTB to a 2X9/10 roadie!!! One of the first upgrades I made to my Whyte was to bin half a ton of pointless metal from near the cranks. I had to make room for the dropper remote anyway.

LOL, the weight saving is minimal and the jump between gears (big ring to wee ring) can be too large (I dont find that with my higher gear double but do with the cyclocross ). The mech is the exact same for double/tripple so theres the same amount to go wrong, in fact IME the bigger jump between a compact (or double) is more likely to cause a chain to come off. A tripple usually offers the better range of gears (high end and low end, unless its set up weird) compared to a compact and a standard double so there's no need other than vanity or an upgrade. The fit/comfort of the bike is far more important but at the end of the day its your money, good luck

 

[Ness]

Hadn't considered the mechanical issues of jumping from 34 to 50 tbh, good point though. Anything more than a single ring gives me panic attacks though.

If that's the case, then why is the double/compact double so popular? I was also under the impression that with a triple chainset, you only end up with a couple of extra gears due to the ratio duplication? (Cba to get my calculator out and actually work it out).
Is it just another manufacturers gimmick like 29ers?

 

[uphillstruggler]

I can't interest any of you in this can I? :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130929971095?_trksid=p5197.c0.m619

very nice

 

[Rivenpunk]

If you want an upright bike for fitness and sportives, than a cyclocross bike is more versatile and probably just better - especially for winter riding - than a mamil bike. I'd look for something like a used Kona Jake.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Hadn't considered the mechanical issues of jumping from 34 to 50 tbh, good point though. Anything more than a single ring gives me panic attacks though.

If that's the case, then why is the double/compact double so popular? I was also under the impression that with a triple chainset, you only end up with a couple of extra gears due to the ratio duplication? (Cba to get my calculator out and actually work it out).
Is it just another manufacturers gimmick like 29ers?

Sometimes it's a bit more than just about a few more extra gears.

Sometimes it is nicer/easier/kinder to the front mech' to stay in a range of gears ie on one chainring eg when slogging away up a series of hills.

i have a 46/36 chainset and use the 46 most of the time. But when I get to long-ish hilly (often twisty) sections I just drop it onto the 36 and leave it there using the whole range of gears rather than flitting back and forth on the front mech' which potentially could cause me to enter stall mode.

I know all about cross-chaining but tbh when slogging up a long steepy it is the least of my problems.

Triple also gives you some nice low gears to boot. Handy if you are not endowed with Oak Tree Trunk Legs, are touring with heavy panniers or trying to shift your bike and your carcass up Wrynose Pass or similar.

Much like the unslammed stem, flat pedals and dork rings the triple is an oft-maligned piece of kit in certain circles. Tis a funny old world to be sure!

 

[Ness]

If you want an upright bike for fitness and sportives, than a cyclocross bike is more versatile and probably just better - especially for winter riding - than a mamil bike. I'd look for something like a used Kona Jake.

Maybe at some point using n+1, but for now I want a road bike. Something that's the complete opposite of my mountain bikes if you know what I mean.