Hi From Herts

[Tenandra]

Hi
I am a new cyclist, looking for my first bike under the cycle to work scheme, i have read your beginners sticky so this won't be what shall i get i spoke to my local dealer and he has proposed the following bike for me.

Giant Roam XR2 Large
Helmet
Crud Urban racepack (Mudguards)
Abus Centuro 860/110 Quicksnap RBU (Lock)
Light Set 1w Front / 0.5 Rear (Lights)
Rack alloy Black
Bag Avenir Double Pannier Black

My route back and forwards to work is going to be a track from Welwyn Garden City to Hertford and back about 6 miles each way very little road but track is maintained as it used to be an old rail track.

I guess i just wanted reassurance that this looks like a good first setup for a slightly older type person, mid to late 40's, 6ft tall to get backwards and forwards to work on with some leisure riding thrown in? It seems to tick some of the boxes in the thread in the beginners section. However, looking at some of the reviews on the bike they are a little mixed, but they might be professional reviews taking the bike to extremes something i am unlikely to do..
What do you cyclists think generally, and should i consider anything else on the list i was thinking maybe a seat as the one on the bike did not feel too comfortable?

 

[madferret]

The seat you will get used to should think, can't comment much on the bike but I would recommend padded shorts and gloves. You will be saddle sore initially and the hands can get surprisingly sore also. Oh and some glasses (sunglasses with changeable lenses) as things in the eye hurt! Best of luck!

 

[The Horse's Mouth]

I always think, when you are a new "40 something" cyclist any bike will do. Just get on the road and see if you enjoy it. If you do, then over time you will update your equipment naturally. I started on an old (seize up) mountain bike and have moved on to a starter level hybrid, which i enjoy to take to pieces and put back together again. I know what I want now and will in time save up and get it. But in five years I have had 3 bikes one of which was ruined in an accident, but now i can service my own bike. Which is a skill i can now move onto better bikes.

Last thing you want to do is buy a dear bike use it once and then leave it in the shed.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Hi Tenandra and to CC.
I started commuting a couple of years ago at 48, on an old car boot sale find, distance similar to yours.
Your choice will do you for the time being, you might want to add a different one to the stable once you start riding longer distances for pleasure ... you will, really!
Give the saddle a month or so, wear padded shorts under your commuting gear, if after a couple of hundred miles the saddle is still uncomfortable change it. Try out other saddles if you can, maybe cycling friends will have spares.
You will need lights for winter commuting.

 

[Boon 51]

Hi Tenandra..
Welcome to the forum.. they are a good bunch on here and very helpful.

Buying your first bike is always hard so take a bit of time choosing, even go to a big bike shop and sit on a few bikes, you will soon get know what is the right bike for you.
Saddles are always a problem too and no right way to chose either other than test a few in the bike shops as with the bikes?
Do get a good pair of padded shorts as they will make your life a lot easier and less sore..

Good luck on your new venture I'm sure you will enjoy it..

 

[Tenandra]

Thanks for the comments, a good point on spending money on something that might end up in the garage, maybe look for a little second hand bike first spend about 50 odd quid on something and see how things go. If still riding next year take a look at the cycle to work scheme its been running at our place for a few years now can't see it finishing this year. I will take that point on board, thanks...

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Hi Tenandra and .

I think the comments above have already made some good points. Is the path you are planning to use lit? If not, you may find a single 1w light only just good enough to see by in pitch darkness at cycling speeds. These give good light for the money: Link

 

[paul04]

Welcome to the website

 

[Tenandra]

Thanks Rick

I purchased myself a Lincoln Conquest bike from a local notice board cost 40 quid, its got a little bit of rust on it, but frame looks like it will last me a year or two at least, its got more gears than you can shake a stick at too. I took the route to work for the first time today took me 40 minutes to do 5.25Miles according to runkeeper. I had to stop a few times and could only manage to push the bike up the hills. Last time i was on a bike was when i was a kid no way do i recall it being this difficult!! The route definitely does not have much lighting so will check out that link although my speed currently won't be an issue there were slugs on the path quicker than me

Many thanks for the welcome

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Not being familiar with a Lincoln Conquest I did a search which has showed me a pretty basic rigid frame mountain bike with either 15 or 18 speeds.

If it's one of these it won't be the greatest bike to ride but can be improved by putting on some road biased tyres such as Schwalbe CityJet or Road Cruiser, which aren't too expensive. Continental TourRide is the type I currently use on my knockabout bike and can recommend.

If you're not used to the number of gears, making sure you're using the appropriate one will also help: At the front, the small gear is low range and is meant for seriously steep hills. In this gear you should only use the 3 or 4 lowest (largest size) gears on the back.
The middle one is for your everyday cycling and you can safely use all the gears on the back.
The largest is the high range and meant for travelling fast on the flat or downhill. With this one only use the 3 or 4 highest (smallest size) gears on the back.
Do avoid "cross chaining", where you run from big on the front to big on the back and small front to small back as this will wear your chain prematurely.

I hope this makes sense and is of use.

 

[Tenandra]

Thanks for the information Phil, i took your advice on board and started to think about my gearing a little more on my morning ride today, it was very helpful..

Barry

 

[TheDoctor]

Hi Tenandra and
I know the route you refer to - used to walk the dog along it. For a converted railway it does have the odd hill - at the Hertford end as you drop down to the river, and where it crosses a road IIRC.
If you're still riding this route when the clocks change, then a better front light would be a good idea - I use one of these from a well-known auction site, but there's others too.