My advice to newbies.

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I thought wiggins only offers drop handle road bikes

I have both the drop bar road bike and the flat bar / hybrid.

Love both, but for long distance comfort the hybrid gets my vote.

It's heavier than the road bike - but not by that much in the scheme of things - but the much lower gearing more than makes up for it. I tend to trundle along at around 10 mph, but then again, I'm not the world's strongest cyclist.
 
I am less than 5 feet :sad:
Thus it is even more important to get the right bike. Also, the cheaper bike isn't faster, or slower, just...cheaper. The lower gearing on the more expensive bike doesn't mean slower, it means more breadth of choice. I'm personally firmly in the camp of 'plenty of low gearing, please'! For example, I have a full-on older road bike. But now it has flat bars and gearing like a mountain bike. The bike was a freebie, so conversion cost wasn't an issue, but I wanted a light bike with wide gears, so built one, as buying one was a non-starter. The Intermediate is much like that for you, right kit in, hopefully, the right size.
 
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CXRAndy

Guru
Location
Lincs
I wish you well in your quest to find the right bike.

Final comment if its not significantly different from your current bike, there is no point in swapping, it will not give you the speed you require.
 

Mart44

Über Member
Location
South of England
I've got a couple of spare mountain bikes for family to ride when they are staying with us. A Claud Butler and a Trek. Both bikes are fairly old but in good condition. Some don't ride very often and I find the main comments after a day out are not so much aching muscles or about the bikes. It's to do with saddle-soreness. The bikes have got what I'd call comfortable saddles but I suppose there's no such thing as a really comfortable saddle for a beginner.

All I can offer are comforting words saying that if riding is persisted with, this problem seems to magically just stop. I don't know what happens in that area to make it stop ..but it does,
 

Donn

New Member
Wondering what sort of bike to buy? Start here.

pretty much everyday there is a post on this forum saying,

'hi newbie, which bike?'

This is good, the people on this forum are passionate about helping people begin cycling.

Unfortunately there are so many, that the responses can be somewhat sporadic. It's not that people dont want to help but it really does get asked an awful lot. These are my views, there are a lot of people with more experience than me on here, but i have been in the same position as most people asking this question as i only got back into cycling over the last couple of years. i have included a lot of generalisaton but these tend to be comonly expressed views on this forum.

So what have you got?
First things first, i'm fairly sure that most people on here have, in a deep dark corner of the garage 'an old bike'. Well thats good, drag it out hose it off and assess the beast. Put some air in the tyres (i KNOW that theyre flat!). My guess is that this bike will do 90% of people who are getting back into cycling, at least for the first couple of months. If it has been in there, unused for a good while, say 4 years plus treat it to a service at your local bike shop (LBS). This should cost you about £60. Use it, enjoy it and if you are lucky you will have no need of new bikes.
If however there is no 'old bike' in the garage or it is completely inappropriate or unsafe then read on.

Firstly a bit of background
You can buy bikes EVERYWHERE nowadays. so lets have a look at the options.

Internet - Great deals - Little service, problems with sizing, not for the uninitiated
Discount suppliers - Motorworld and the like - Very Cheap, Bikes from about £80. The reason theyre cheap is because they're crap. Avoid at all costs.
Specialist bike chains - Buy a bike mag, the big swanky adds will be bike chains, Evans, Edinburgh Cycle co-op. and the like. They offer great choice, decent service and keen pricing. - A bit too corporate for some tastes (not edinburgh cycle co-op which i beleive is a proper co-operative)
Local Bike Shop-Every town has at least one, they dont always have the greatest choice but they do have almost without exception a passion for cycling, and a desire to see you leave on the right bike for you. Fnd a good one and you will treasure it like your firstborn child. These men and women know their stuff.

All things being equal - use your LBS, you wont regret it.

Halfords-One of britains biggest bike retailers, tens of thousands ride happiy on bikes from halfords. They are selling some pretty nice looking Chris Boardman bikes right now. But it is fair to say that they have earned a poor reputation on cycling forums like this. So use with trepidation.

You want a bike? WHAT FOR?
What sort of journeys do you have in mind? This is THE crucial question to deciding what bike you chould buy. I reckon the easiest way to adress this is to look generally at what each type of bike does, then match it to your needs.

ROAD BIKE - A racer as most of us used to call them when we were kids. If you are of a certain vintage then you will find things have changed... A LOT! They are as light as a feather and very quick. But by far the biggest change is that there are no more levers to change gear any more, they are incorporated into the brake levers and it was an invention bordering on genuis!! Dropped handle bars, thin wheels and tyres, anywhere between 10 and 27 gears. These are light fast, used for commuting where your journey is by road (or very good quality cycle tow path). Used for keeping fit, club and sportive (long timed rides). Not great for hooking up child seats trailers etc. If it was a car it would be a Ferrari.
View attachment 162108


HYBRID - pretty much designed to be fast commuters. They have 'flat' handlebars, (more comfortable/better view) Good brakes and bits that commuters need such as screws for mudgaurds and panniers etc, Use on road and good quality cycle paths. not ideal for the 'sportier' side of cycling. If it was a car it would be a Golf GTI

View attachment 162109



TOURER - a sort of relaxed road bike, will do everything that the bikes above will and a hole lot more, if a tad slower. Comes with holes and screws for lots of panniers and racks in case you fancy going to Bolivia. A comfortable ride. If it was a car it would be a Volvo Estate.

View attachment 162110



MOUNTAIN BIKES

Heavyier and sturdier than the bikes listed above. They have different gearing too, which means it's much easier to get up hills on them but not quite so easy to tear along on the flat. Not my area of expertise but they generally fall into three catagories

Rigid - Similar to a Hybrid but a bit slower. Big fat tyres = comfy ride. great for tarmac and rougher trails and cycle ways. Ideal for fitting kids seats to it. A great all rounder used by lots of commuters. If it was a car it would be a Ford Mondeo.

View attachment 162111



Frount suspension - Great for rough x country rides and a little tarmac based riding. Quite slow as theyre heavy and 'bouncing up and down is an in efficient use of energy. If it was a car it would be a RAV 4.

View attachment 162112

Full Suspension - usually identified by a metal spring or similar connected to the back of the bike - these are really specialist sports bikes for full on mountain biking. If it was a car it would be a Land Rover.

View attachment 162113

Specialist bikes - recumbent, trikes, folders, bmx...... the list is endless but most people returning to cycling pass these by. No matter what you are interested in someone on these forums will have one or have ridden one so ask away


Now consider the original question, what journeys will you be using the bike for? Once you have an idea of which bike is for you then get on the internet and get out to the shops. The staff will help you and when you have narrowed it down to two or three models post here and people will find it much easier to advise you on specific bikes. Your big limiting factor is budget but there is something out there for everyone, even if youre skint the second hand market can usually turn something suitable up.

There you go, thats my advice i hope you find it useful. This should with luck enable you to begin making sense of the bike market today. Any feedback welcome.

Andy
Great article Andy, thanks.
 

Punkawallah

Über Member
Sound advice - might want to add a word or two on sizing/fitting? E.g. modern, ‘compact’ frames are more forgiving in sizing than older styles.
Thanks for the time & trouble, in any event :-)
 

bullyg777

New Member
Wondering what sort of bike to buy? Start here.

pretty much everyday there is a post on this forum saying,

'hi newbie, which bike?'

This is good, the people on this forum are passionate about helping people begin cycling.

Unfortunately there are so many, that the responses can be somewhat sporadic. It's not that people dont want to help but it really does get asked an awful lot. These are my views, there are a lot of people with more experience than me on here, but i have been in the same position as most people asking this question as i only got back into cycling over the last couple of years. i have included a lot of generalisaton but these tend to be comonly expressed views on this forum.

So what have you got?
First things first, i'm fairly sure that most people on here have, in a deep dark corner of the garage 'an old bike'. Well thats good, drag it out hose it off and assess the beast. Put some air in the tyres (i KNOW that theyre flat!). My guess is that this bike will do 90% of people who are getting back into cycling, at least for the first couple of months. If it has been in there, unused for a good while, say 4 years plus treat it to a service at your local bike shop (LBS). This should cost you about £60. Use it, enjoy it and if you are lucky you will have no need of new bikes.
If however there is no 'old bike' in the garage or it is completely inappropriate or unsafe then read on.

Firstly a bit of background
You can buy bikes EVERYWHERE nowadays. so lets have a look at the options.

Internet - Great deals - Little service, problems with sizing, not for the uninitiated
Discount suppliers - Motorworld and the like - Very Cheap, Bikes from about £80. The reason theyre cheap is because they're crap. Avoid at all costs.
Specialist bike chains - Buy a bike mag, the big swanky adds will be bike chains, Evans, Edinburgh Cycle co-op. and the like. They offer great choice, decent service and keen pricing. - A bit too corporate for some tastes (not edinburgh cycle co-op which i beleive is a proper co-operative)
Local Bike Shop-Every town has at least one, they dont always have the greatest choice but they do have almost without exception a passion for cycling, and a desire to see you leave on the right bike for you. Fnd a good one and you will treasure it like your firstborn child. These men and women know their stuff.

All things being equal - use your LBS, you wont regret it.

Halfords-One of britains biggest bike retailers, tens of thousands ride happiy on bikes from halfords. They are selling some pretty nice looking Chris Boardman bikes right now. But it is fair to say that they have earned a poor reputation on cycling forums like this. So use with trepidation.

You want a bike? WHAT FOR?
What sort of journeys do you have in mind? This is THE crucial question to deciding what bike you chould buy. I reckon the easiest way to adress this is to look generally at what each type of bike does, then match it to your needs.

ROAD BIKE - A racer as most of us used to call them when we were kids. If you are of a certain vintage then you will find things have changed... A LOT! They are as light as a feather and very quick. But by far the biggest change is that there are no more levers to change gear any more, they are incorporated into the brake levers and it was an invention bordering on genuis!! Dropped handle bars, thin wheels and tyres, anywhere between 10 and 27 gears. These are light fast, used for commuting where your journey is by road (or very good quality cycle tow path). Used for keeping fit, club and sportive (long timed rides). Not great for hooking up child seats trailers etc. If it was a car it would be a Ferrari.
View attachment 162108


HYBRID - pretty much designed to be fast commuters. They have 'flat' handlebars, (more comfortable/better view) Good brakes and bits that commuters need such as screws for mudgaurds and panniers etc, Use on road and good quality cycle paths. not ideal for the 'sportier' side of cycling. If it was a car it would be a Golf GTI

View attachment 162109



TOURER - a sort of relaxed road bike, will do everything that the bikes above will and a hole lot more, if a tad slower. Comes with holes and screws for lots of panniers and racks in case you fancy going to Bolivia. A comfortable ride. If it was a car it would be a Volvo Estate.

View attachment 162110



MOUNTAIN BIKES

Heavyier and sturdier than the bikes listed above. They have different gearing too, which means it's much easier to get up hills on them but not quite so easy to tear along on the flat. Not my area of expertise but they generally fall into three catagories

Rigid - Similar to a Hybrid but a bit slower. Big fat tyres = comfy ride. great for tarmac and rougher trails and cycle ways. Ideal for fitting kids seats to it. A great all rounder used by lots of commuters. If it was a car it would be a Ford Mondeo.

View attachment 162111



Frount suspension - Great for rough x country rides and a little tarmac based riding. Quite slow as theyre heavy and 'bouncing up and down is an in efficient use of energy. If it was a car it would be a RAV 4.

View attachment 162112

Full Suspension - usually identified by a metal spring or similar connected to the back of the bike - these are really specialist sports bikes for full on mountain biking. If it was a car it would be a Land Rover.

View attachment 162113

Specialist bikes - recumbent, trikes, folders, bmx...... the list is endless but most people returning to cycling pass these by. No matter what you are interested in someone on these forums will have one or have ridden one so ask away


Now consider the original question, what journeys will you be using the bike for? Once you have an idea of which bike is for you then get on the internet and get out to the shops. The staff will help you and when you have narrowed it down to two or three models post here and people will find it much easier to advise you on specific bikes. Your big limiting factor is budget but there is something out there for everyone, even if youre skint the second hand market can usually turn something suitable up.

There you go, thats my advice i hope you find it useful. This should with luck enable you to begin making sense of the bike market today. Any feedback welcome.

Andy
Great post Andy, thanks. The first part of your advice fits me to a 't'. I have two very old racing bikes in the rafters of my garage. One is a Claud Butler from the 60's I think was my older brothers and if memory serves me well it was expensive when my parents bought it. I cannot remember the make of the other. As a Newbie on here as of 20 minutes ago I will start digging them out for a dusting down to see what I have and what servicing/parts are needed to get them along the road.
 

bullyg777

New Member
Be nice to see some pics when you get sorted... 📸
Had a look there is the CB. There is no badge or transfer on the head tube but a CB transfer on the seat tube. Under the bottom bracket is a NERVEX stamp and a 14 digit number ending E38???? The other is a larger frame very light Elswick Mistral. They are pretty original as best I can tell, but I do not pretend to know anything about them. The CB has Rigida stickers on the rims and Crimeca hubs?? I can't post photos at the moment until I meet the forum rules regarding newbies/posts. But when I can I will and I would welcome any views. I think the Elswick looks the better size for me but at 92Kgs it does look a little slender^_^
 
I agree with most of your post AFO but am mildly concerned about your classifications. Don't get me wrong, you're definitions are right and I haven't yet formulated an alternative but I am coming to the conclusion that this whole field needs an even simpler approach. If the aim is to enable beginners to establish the right kind of bike for their needs perhaps we need a flow chart of some kind.
Or a matrixy thing.
I just think that the use of words like Hybrid are misleading for beginners. As manufacturers strive to fill every perceived gap in the market we end up with a range of bikes, from Roadbikes with flat bars at one end to chunky hub-geared 26" wheeled tanks at the other, all called hybrids. And what is a hybrid anyway? Historically, there were racers and tourers and town bikes. Then the mountain bike came along and nicked all the sales. As the mountain bike boom plateaued, and fearing a repeat of the eighties BMX nose-dive, manufacturers came up with the spiffy idea of putting flat bars and components on touring frames. For want of a better name they called them Hybrids. The name was appropriate for that particular point in time but what was a tiny sector of the market has moved on so much that the word has become meaningless. They're City bikes, Town bikes, Commuter bikes. Choice of wheel size and tyre cross-section is merely a trade off of speed over comfort. As is riding position. Trouble is, all the bike shops still call them Hybrids so maybe I'm fighting a losing battle.
My tuppence worth anyhoo.
 
What happened to "Sit Up and Beg"? this is not a joke. I live in Deal - the completely flat bit. That's about all I can manage. I am preparing to go shopping with a basket on the front and a rucksack on my back. but only when I have sorted tyre pressures....and getting my very basic rear-view mirror to stay at the right (at any!) angle.
As a confirmed motorist since August 1961, , and a very amateur biker in the 1960s - I trial rode a Vincent for twenty minutes, suggesting that I might buy it, but no use in London and heavy as an elephant.....- I can see both or all sides of the tensions between two wheels of several types, four wheels and even pedestrians. Oh, and the increasingly prevalent and sophisticated invalid trolleys - quiet as an unmodified leccy car and even more self-righteous...
 
What happened to "Sit Up and Beg"? this is not a joke. I live in Deal - the completely flat bit. That's about all I can manage. I am preparing to go shopping with a basket on the front and a rucksack on my back. but only when I have sorted tyre pressures....and getting my very basic rear-view mirror to stay at the right (at any!) angle.
As a confirmed motorist since August 1961, , and a very amateur biker in the 1960s - I trial rode a Vincent for twenty minutes, suggesting that I might buy it, but no use in London and heavy as an elephant.....- I can see both or all sides of the tensions between two wheels of several types, four wheels and even pedestrians. Oh, and the increasingly prevalent and sophisticated invalid trolleys - quiet as an unmodified leccy car and even more self-righteous...
 
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