Hi from Cardiff - I have done a bad thing!

[PBB]

Well Hi from Cardiff. Having cycled tosecondary school every day back in the 80’s I have not been on a bike since



Move forward 25 yearsand somehow I have got the bike bug back again. I did a bad thing though –bought a £70 supermarket bike. Purely based on cost, as with vouchers only £30of my actual cash needed.



Bike is OK-ish. Rearderailleur had been damaged in transit and selecting the lowest gear would pushthe bottom of the cage into the spokes. The mounting bracket had been bent intransit, fortunately now bent back into shape.



Would have liked to buysomething decent but simply don’t have the money.



At the moment I amshockingly unfit. Went out for a 25 minute run on the first day. Big mistake –when I got off I felt dreadful, thought I was going to be sick. Days 2 and 3only 15 minutes each, felt puffed out but still human.



Anyway Hi to you all,I’ve been reading a while and looking for the best site. Think I’ve found it.

 

[summerdays]

Well welcome ... and before we go any further ... I hate those type of bikes .. however if that is what you have got then so be it..... (but start saving for the next one ... if the adiction kicks in ).

You will feel it those first few times out on the bike ... but if you persevere then you will start to notice that you can go that little bit further or that little bit easier.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

+1

Well welcome ... and before we go any further ... I hate those type of bikes .. however if that is what you have got then so be it..... (but start saving for the next one ... if the adiction kicks in ).

You will feel it those first few times out on the bike ... but if you persevere then you will start to notice that you can go that little bit further or that little bit easier.

 

[edinburgh_col]

Hi, and welcome! OK, so your bike may not be the best, but at least it's a start - look on it as a transition, a stepping stone to something better once your fitness levels increase. And don't feel bad about only doing 15 minutes - it's important to realise that your stamina will increase very quickly, just keep going out when you can, don't over-stretch yourself, and rest when you're tired. I know this from experience - I was very unfit, barely able to manage 15 minutes!!

Keep on cycling!

 

[mcshroom]

Hey it's a bike, just get out and ride it

Well done for getting back on two wheels, and don't worry too much about it being hard work at the moment, a little riding and it will all start to feel easier again.

Make sure that the tyres are pumped up to the maximum rating on them if you are staying on roads, and it should make the bike easier to move, but just have fun with it

 

[Telemark]

Welcom PBB!

In my book, a cheap bike is better than no bike at all ... if it was me, I'd let a bike mechanic check it over though, just in case there are some bits that haven't been put together properly (there are plenty of stories of forks having been put on backwards).

Take it easy when you go out on the bike! You shouldn't be riding as fast as you possibly can, but get used to distance for a ew weeks (or months, depending on your fitness), before trying to improve speed . It's also more fun that way, and you'll be looking forward to the next ride, rather than thinking "oh no, I'll feel sick again" ...

And once the bug has bitten , you will have a much better idea of what sort of bike you might want for keeping, for the kind of riding you like to do (there are some good value 2nd hand bikes out there, if you can't afford a shiny new one).

Enjoy!

T

 

[BrumJim]

Welcome PBB!

And once the bug has bitten , you will have a much better idea of what sort of bike you might want for keeping, for the kind of riding you like to do (there are some good value 2nd hand bikes out there, if you can't afford a shiny new one).

Enjoy!

T

+1

 

[PBB]

Thanks all for your encouragement, much appreciated.

A big regret was taking my late father's bike to the dump a few years ago, following a request from my mother to get rid of it from her shed.

It wasn't a high-end bike, I think it was called a Raleigh Misty, very rusty, would have taken a lot of fixing I guess

Unfortunately I wasn't interested in bikes at the time, but I now regret not keeping it

Fortunately it was grabbed by the workers as soon as I opened the car at the dump, so hopefully someone may have found a use for it

Anyway I hope that my experiences with a cheap bike and overdoing it on my first trips out might help others!

 

[Muddy Fox]

Well Hi from Cardiff. Having cycled tosecondary school every day back in the 80’s I have not been on a bike since



Move forward 25 yearsand somehow I have got the bike bug back again. I did a bad thing though –bought a £70 supermarket bike. Purely based on cost, as with vouchers only £30of my actual cash needed.



Bike is OK-ish. Rearderailleur had been damaged in transit and selecting the lowest gear would pushthe bottom of the cage into the spokes. The mounting bracket had been bent intransit, fortunately now bent back into shape.



Would have liked to buysomething decent but simply don’t have the money.



At the moment I amshockingly unfit. Went out for a 25 minute run on the first day. Big mistake –when I got off I felt dreadful, thought I was going to be sick. Days 2 and 3only 15 minutes each, felt puffed out but still human.



Anyway Hi to you all,I’ve been reading a while and looking for the best site. Think I’ve found it.

If you want to get a decent bike and you work, try the cycle to work scheme its how i got my off road bike.

 

[Rebel Ian]

The good thing is your fitness will increase substantially trying to drag around one of those bikes that weighs as much as a small car! Keep doing that and you'lll really notice the difference when you can afford to buy something a little better.

 

[rowan 46]

welcome to you, enjoy your bike. Persevere with the fitness and it wont take long before you're having fun. There are plenty of online articles on maintaining your bike make use of them. if you are unsure of how to go about maintaining it get it profesionally serviced, and some local colleges and bike clubs may provide low cost cycling courses if you feel the need to boost your confidence. When you have a little experience under your belt you will be surprised how easy it is to spot a bargain in the 2nd hand pages and your second bike when you are ready will not cost you an awful lot more than this one. It may seem presumptious but anybody who gets into cycling wants to upgrade, there's always something a little better.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

and hello from Aberdare. My first thoughts were you should have had the bike replaced due to the damage. Anyhow, you are out and about and getting fitter, that is the most important thing. You may reach a point were the bike is holding you back that is when you will want another "better" bike. Enjoy your riding.

 

[tokwitney]

I bought a cheap nasty bike off e-bay to ride along with my daughter,caught the bug so got myself a spesh allez sport & a Dawes hybrid which are a lot better.I now keep the crap bike unlocked in the garden thinking that if a burgler comes a looking he will steal that one instead of breaking into my garage & taking my babies out of it...