Need Advice

[PJC33]

My first post so 'Hi All'.

I am off to my local bike shop this afternoon to have a look for a suitable bike to buy on the 'Bike to Work' scheme. But I have a few questions as the last time I bought a bike was about 15-16yrs ago.

1. I am 6'3" and 15 stone and have been advised by several cycling colleagues that i should get a steel frame and not aluminium or carbon as they are not as robust (because I am a big guy)......is this true or are they all pretty good?

2. I mainly want to use the bike on roads and eventually to and fro work when my fitness has improved, although I would like to go on some cycle tracks which arent off road tracks but are not tarmac either. Therefore should I buy a hybrid or a road bike and use my 15yr old £199 halfords special for the cycle tracks?

3. My LBS specialize in 'specialized' and am worried that they may try to force a specialized on me without it being suitable just because they get a higher 'mark up' and due to the fact I am a noob! Can anyone give me a idea of what to look at for about £500 budget.

 

[gbb]

What do you fancy PJC ?...road bike or hybrid ? Do you lean one way or the other, or are you open minded at the mo. How many miles do you see yourself doing ?.
You (probably) wont get a carbon frame bike for £500, but you'll struggle to find a steel frame as well, without going to a more specialised outlet.

At £500, there's plenty of choice out there.
Perhaps a tourer... like a 'racer', but with the ability to fit racks and mudguards, and it has slightly wider tyres, (more comfortable ride, slightly more able to soak up vibration etc).

 

[PJC33]

Thanks for the reply gbb.
I am open minded at the mo with regards to hybrid or road, although a lot of people I have spoken to that have hybrids wish they had gone for a road bike. I cant see myself doing lots of miles but eventually I would like to be able to ride to work everyday, approx 16 miles and possible recreational riding at the weekends which as I have already said, I might use my old bike for that.

 

[mickle]

Steel stronger than aloonyman or carbon? Guff. Cycle frames are built to withstand forces far in excess of the loads they might experience simply being ridden. The use of exotic materials allows for a reduction in frame weight, not strength.

 

[PJC33]

Thanks Mickle. TBH thats what I thought. I have been looking in the Endinburgh bicycle cooperative 2008 catalogue and quite like the look of the Giant SCR1.5 whats your thoughts?

 

[Tynan]

I was over 17st when I started riding last year, on an alu hybrid and it was just fine, until it ran into the side of a Discovery anyway

alu will be fine, and £500 will buy you something decent

if you're brave get a road bike, I did after the hybrid, it's faster and more fun to ride, if you already have a bike for off road there's no need to compromise the road bike unless a hybrid does suit you better

and go to more than one shop regardless, see what they have to offer

 

[mickle]

You can't go far wrong with a Giant. They're the largest 'quality' manufacturer in the world, they sell through their own distribution network whereas companies like Spesh, Dawes, Kona, Marin et al purchase their bikes from a manufacturer. So, because Giant have vast economies of scale and eliminate the middle men from the supply chain their bikes are hard to beat for sheer VFM. They plow a lot of dosh into R&D and are the market leaders in carbon fibre manufacture. So accomplished are they that around 20% of their production is for other bike companies including Spesh, Trek, Univega and even Colnago.

I don't work for Giant BTW!

 

[PJC33]

Well I have been, I have looked and I am slightly less confused than before. I also feel as though the sales guy didnt really want me to even look at the Giant. But I think it is between the Giant SCR2 and the Specialized Allez Sport. I have yet to ride the SCR2 as they didnt have one big enough for me, so I have asked them to get one in for me to try. Once I have decided I think I will shop around for the bes deal as I think the LBS mark ups are a bit 'hefty'. Anyone like to comment or give me an opinion on either bikes, or both, I would appreciate it.

 

[punkypossum]

Is there no other shop you could go to? One that might have different brands and is not pushing one in particular?