Hello from Huddersfield

[SamN]

Hi All,

I'm new to the hobby for road cycling, well actually... I haven't even begun!

I've been doing one hour+ on the bike at the gym during my cardio days and am planning to use a bike to commute to work in the new year/do some long distance rides for charity (and just general riding on evenings/weekends).

So, a good place to start would be a bike! I don't mind whether it's brand new, second hand, as long as it works! Where's a good place to shop for a bargin?

Cheers,
Sam

 

[Dave7]

Hi and Welcome. I used to go through Huddersfield every day on the way to Wakefield.......quite hilly area from memory.
This forum has a 'for sale/wanted' section and ebay can have some good bargains but I would recommend knowing what you want & the frame size so as to jump in for the right bike.

 

[Blue]

 

[ColinJ]

Hi Sam.

How much do you want to spend and how much are you willing to spend if you have to?

Living in this hilly Pennine area, I'd suggest that you make sure that you buy a bike with a wide range of gears to make the hills more bearable. At least a compact chainset or maybe even a triple. I prefer the triple option, though compacts are becoming very popular.

 

[DCLane]

Hi Sam,

Locally I'd suggest the forum here, eBay or Gumtree - I've picked up bikes from both eBay and Gumtree this year.

 

[Cubist]

Hi from Scape Sam

What sort of budget do you have? If you want reasonably friendly advice and a decent LBS try Velocity at Lindley.

 

[ColinJ]

Hi Sam,

I'd suggest ... eBay or Gumtree - I've picked up bikes from both eBay and Gumtree this year.

If buying a secondhand bike, make sure that it isn't stolen - ask for proof of ownership!

 

[DCLane]

If buying a secondhand bike, make sure that it isn't stolen - ask for proof of ownership!

True - both the Carrera and the Python MTB had evidence of proof of ownership. For eBay I'd accept a decent feedback rating as some form of proof.

It's not always available though. My ancient Peugoet didn't have any proof (it'd been in the shed for 15 years!) and the Raleigh I've got on there is the same. Although that's only a £10 start price.

 

[ColinJ]

I'm sure that Merlin Cycles could verify that I bought my MTB from them 10 years ago.

I bought my Cannondale frame and forks from a LBS and a mate built it up for me so I could get proof from them.

My Basso would be harder to prove ownership of since its frame and forks were bought online from someone in Cornwall about 8 years ago and the parts on it came off other bikes that I owned, but I could probably account for those parts since they came from the same LBS and mate!

 

[SamN]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the comments.

What measurements do I need to get to make sure the bike's a perfect 'fit'? Inner leg length? Height etc.

My upper budget is £250 but would prefer not to spend over £200 unless it was worth the extra money.

Cheers again,
Sam

 

[ColinJ]

What measurements do I need to get to make sure the bike's a perfect 'fit'? Inner leg length? Height etc.

I'd base the frame size on your height and tune the saddle position and height, and the handlebar stem length and rise to suit.

To give you an example, I'm 6' 1" tall and ride 58 cm bikes with 110 mm stems, but have also ridden a 60 cm bike with a 90 mm stem. Someone 3 or 4 inches taller than me would probably go for a 60 or 61 cm frame with a stem of 110 - 130 mm. Someone 5' 10" tall would probably suit a 56 cm frame and so on.

The bike manufacturers have charts that show which size frame suits different heights. You'll have to optimise the setup to suit things like your arm length. (For example, if you were quite tall but had short arms, you might need a big frame, but a short stem.)

My upper budget is £250 but would prefer not to spend over £200 unless it was worth the extra money.

If you were spending £1,000+, then there would be no particular justification to spend £50 more, but you are at the lower end of the price range where that extra £50 could make a big difference. Having said that, you might well end up getting so hooked on cycling that you'll want to replace the bike within a year anyway so if that's the case then you could buy a £200 bike, put the extra £50 away and start saving now for the next one!

 

[numbnuts]

to CC

 

[SamN]

Hi Collin,

Thank you very much for the info. I'm 5'10" so with the following bike (for example) would I be better getting a 55 or 59? (Sorry I'm a noob to riding!)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2012-COYO...es_GL&var=&hash=item80117fca27#ht_2188wt_1195

Would the above be a good purchase?

Cheers,
Sam

 

[Pennine-Paul]

You'd need the 55 I'd say

a 59 is really for 6 foot +
If you can afford another £50, people seem to rate the btwin triban 3 from Decathlon

 

[ColinJ]

Yes, the 55 would be more your size.

And I agree with Paul about the Decathlon bike too, even though that is £50 above your limit. The cheaper bike has hi-ten forks. Hi-ten is high tensile steel and it is heavy! The Decathlon bike weighs 10.5 kg which is not exactly light by modern standards but it is okay, about the same as my first adult bike and I did thousands of happy miles on that. If you decided that you could stretch to £300 for that, I think the 57 cm size would suit you better than the 54 cm.

This bike might suit you if it is still available?

If not, why not post an ad in the Wanted forum and see if any CycleChatters have anything suitable in your price range? (Ask for a 56 cm frame, that being about the perfect size for you.)