Complete novice...

[NJCR]

Hi all, hoping someone will be able to help me out a little!

I've recently taken up cycling again after an absence of about 20 years (i'm in my 30s now) with the view to hopefully doing a fairly long charity cycle later this year.

I've started off with my old teenage bike - a hawk trakatak, which going by the size of the tubes i bought is a childs (24 inch). I took it to Halfords to make sure it was roadworthy but during a 24 miles ride yesterday it was apparent the gears don't work properly. I had already been thinking about upgrading as I'm mostly wanting to do longer distance rides, so knackered gears have kind of sealed the bike's fate.

Unfortunately i don't have a huge budget - about £250. Mainly becaue i'm not sure if the novelty will wear off. I've done some reading and thing perhaps a hybrid would be best for me? I will be riding mostly on cycle paths but if they're all like i experienced yesterday then they are quite bumpy and uneven.

To make matters worse I'm a shorty! 5ft1ish and fairly short legs - which is why I've been fine with my old teenage bike still. Not sure if i should actually be looking at kid's bikes or adult ones. It's also put me off buying second hand as i doubt there will be many to fit me and i dont want to spend too long looing. Lightweight is also pretty important to me as i need to carry it up stairs to store it.

I am well aware i'm probably asking for the moon on a stick but any advice you can give would be great. I live in Glasgow so at least have access to a lot of cycle shops.

Thanks!

 

[dawn72]

Welcome to the forum. I'm slightly shorter than you and have a saracen urban myth hybrid which I like. I was also worried about the correct size when I bought it so I went to my local bike shop as I knew I'd get the chance to test ride. They're located on a canal path so I took four or five for a spin before making my decision. Halfords have the carrera subway which may suit your needs but you wouldn't get the chance of as proper test ride. Decathlons Btwin range gets positive comments here but I'm not sure whether or not they allow you to test ride them - I'm sure some forum members will be able to answer that point. Good luck - hope you get something you enjoy and that's fast enough to outrun the midgies!

 

[Elswick Cotterpin]

Hi there, my daughter has been looking at getting one of these;http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes-and-classic-bikes/carrera-subway-1-womens-hybrid-bike-2015
She hasn't yet, or been to the store to look at one, so I can't vouch for it personally, but it looks useful and has some positive reviews. You hear all kinds of reports about Halfords....
Size guide here; http://www.halfords.com/wcsstore/libraries/document/huide.pdf
5ft 1in, it says small frame, but you really need to go to Halfords and sit on one to try it and see.

Hope you find what you're looking for.

 

[Spike on a bike]

Bizarrely I got mine from halfords and they let me try it up the road
And of course they have some returns thing if you not happy which actually works as my daughters swapped hers twice and even got a cash refund for the difference

 

[cyberknight]

I have a subway , cracking bikes for the money .

 

[stoatsngroats]

I just bought a Subway 1....

Its a 22 inch frame, the smallest is 18", which might be a little big for you but well worth a try - it's light, and easy to get up to an enjoyable speed. Reasonable quality gears, and cable disc brakes (although still bedding-in) are good.
As for any new purchase, you have to get what suits you and your desires, road/trail etc, but you can get a decent bike for little money - but there is such a thing as too cheap - I oveheard a chap today saying, " wow, what a piece of crap, and it's only 6 weeks old" as he walked his squealy brake Apollo bike along the promenade.... Not my choice of words for Apollo, but not my choice of bike either...

 

[Hacienda71]

Decathlon are doing a flat bar roadbike for £260 gets a very good review in cycling active.

 

[Tojo]

I would say if you buy a cheap heavy lump of a bike the novelty will wear off.....quickly....save yourself the pain and wait a bit longer to get a bit money together and get something decent, instead of thinking I'll buy something cheaper and upgrade, its false economy, you will end up spending more on parts and bolting them onto a crap frame that will ultimately be worth nowt....

 

[cyberknight]

I just bought a Subway 1....

Its a 22 inch frame, the smallest is 18", which might be a little big for you but well worth a try - it's light, and easy to get up to an enjoyable speed. Reasonable quality gears, and cable disc brakes (although still bedding-in) are good.
As for any new purchase, you have to get what suits you and your desires, road/trail etc, but you can get a decent bike for little money - but there is such a thing as too cheap - I oveheard a chap today saying, " wow, what a piece of crap, and it's only 6 weeks old" as he walked his squealy brake Apollo bike along the promenade.... Not my choice of words for Apollo, but not my choice of bike either...

The 18 " would be too big , im 5 foot 7" and its right for me , the ladies size goes down to a 14 "

 

[NJCR]

Hi all, thanks for the input so far. I actually went to Halfords yesterday and had a look at the carrera subway 1. They only had the 18inch made up in the shop so i didn't get the chance to try it for size. I'm not at home this weekend but I'll order it in to my local store when i get back.

Also hoping to go to decathalon tomorrow to have a look at their hybrids. I had discounted their road bikes because i think i read that the wheels are a bit narrow for off road? Is this right or have i done so much reading I've confused myself?

I definitely understand the logic in paying more for a better piece of kit but ita not really an option for me. The charity bike ride is in September so i want to get a bike sooner rather than later to train on.

Thanks again for advice so far!

 

[stoatsngroats]

The 18 " would be too big , im 5 foot 7" and its right for me , the ladies size goes down to a 14 "

My OH bought the Subway 16", she's 5' 4" and the saddle is raised by a couple of inches, and again only £250 for a light framed, disc bike...
sorry to go on about carrera, but I'm (we are!) really impressed!

(sorry i didn't notice your gender on my earlier post!)

 

[Drago]

The Subway is a solid all round all weather interceptor. Those that own them tend to speak well of them.

 

[cyberknight]

sorry to go on about carrera, but I'm (we are!) really impressed!
!)

I have the same subway as you, a self build on a vanquish frame and a boardman , serial C2W buyer
Subway

Yesterday was the 1st time it was ridden to work , i had to adjust the seat set back and front mech high stop along with a longer stem but altogether satisfied ,in the future i will look at a full time disc rack. Here is a piccie in full commuter guise.
View attachment 37041

Vanquish

And heres the final picture , all commuterized !
View attachment 46495

Boardman

Latest upgrades
Changed the seatpost to a deda one that matches the bike more, shorter stem and some carbon spacers .
View attachment 90721

 

[jonny jeez]

Hi all, hoping someone will be able to help me out a little!

I've recently taken up cycling again after an absence of about 20 years (i'm in my 30s now) with the view to hopefully doing a fairly long charity cycle later this year.

I've started off with my old teenage bike - a hawk trakatak, which going by the size of the tubes i bought is a childs (24 inch). I took it to Halfords to make sure it was roadworthy but during a 24 miles ride yesterday it was apparent the gears don't work properly. I had already been thinking about upgrading as I'm mostly wanting to do longer distance rides, so knackered gears have kind of sealed the bike's fate.

Unfortunately i don't have a huge budget - about £250. Mainly becaue i'm not sure if the novelty will wear off. I've done some reading and thing perhaps a hybrid would be best for me? I will be riding mostly on cycle paths but if they're all like i experienced yesterday then they are quite bumpy and uneven.

To make matters worse I'm a shorty! 5ft1ish and fairly short legs - which is why I've been fine with my old teenage bike still. Not sure if i should actually be looking at kid's bikes or adult ones. It's also put me off buying second hand as i doubt there will be many to fit me and i dont want to spend too long looing. Lightweight is also pretty important to me as i need to carry it up stairs to store it.

I am well aware i'm probably asking for the moon on a stick but any advice you can give would be great. I live in Glasgow so at least have access to a lot of cycle shops.

Thanks!

Welcome and congrats on returning to cycling. I can't offer any more recomendatIons beyond those of the other members...which are all spot on in my view.

What the charity ride, how long are you aiming for, now that we've covered the bike, we may be able to help with training ideas and the like.

All the best

J

 

[NJCR]

Welcome and congrats on returning to cycling. I can't offer any more recomendatIons beyond those of the other members...which are all spot on in my view.

What the charity ride, how long are you aiming for, now that we've covered the bike, we may be able to help with training ideas and the like.

All the best

J

Hi, thanks for the welcome The charity ride is 125 miles over two days, although I'm undecided on whether to do both days or just one. I'd love to do the two but I'm not sure there's enough time to get my fitness where it needs to be.

24 miles is the most I've done so far and my plan is to do that once a week (lengthening it if i feel up to it) and do shorter rides on other days. I'm currently a very slow rider so need to improve my speed!