new bike questions

[Jake]

Well as the title thread goes, im thinking of a new bike. Something fast which will get me to work, and also use on the odd triathlon i do. In the magazine "Triahtlon plus" there is an amazing looking machine, "focus culebro tria" link. even the older one looks amazing, link. ps I know very little about bikes hence the post. I can get a bike to work scheme bike through partners workplace, mine wont do it for so many crap reasons. so even though i've seen some lovely ones here, again Focus make, link, i am going to be stuck with Evans. SOOOOOoooooo, lets say i want to spend around a grand, what are the top10? Of course some will be down to personal taste.

Other issues are, i've not used clipons, i ride a mountain bike and not had a racer since i was 12! Also i am slightly put off racers due to the slim wheels. The roads between brixton and angel are not the best and i fear that even one of the smaller craters will buckle me and send me flying. plus increas in punctures. Also there is the maintenance of the thing, the mountinan bike has seen a squirt of oil once in a year lol. So any advice until i go into a shop would be helpfull. Thanks Ps did not know which part of teh forum to post this one in, ie racing? Thanks in advance

 

[BentMikey]

I'm not sure I'd use a tri bike to get me to work, that said my lowracer recumbent isn't too far different in principle. I'd go to a number of bike shops and ride a whole lot of different bikes until you find one that feels right, suits your purpose, budget and style.

I wouldn't worry about skinny road bike wheels and potholes. You can ride around the worst of them, but road bikes are plenty tough enough to take some pounding from London streets.

 

[Jake]

thanks. i was reading that you get a better position and less back issues when your on a tri back as your body and bike kinda fit perfectly - or something like that. Going to pop to Evans at weekend and see what they have and take a ride if i can. weather is looking shitty though. Not sure how good Evans are, only reason i have to go there is for hte bike2work malarky, i can save a few quid which is great.

hope so, nearly disappeared down some holes lol, guess it will make me take a bettter safer line too.

thanks

 

[rog]

I ride a road bike from Stockwell to north London every day and I've not had any problems with the frame or wheels due to the crappy state of the roads. As BM said, you do need to avoid the worst of it if you can!

Just checked the Wiggle site and they are part of the gov's Cycle to Work scheme so could still be an option?
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/h/option/cycletowork#1

Not sure how much benefit you'll get out of a tri-specific bike for everyday commuting as you wont be able to use the tri-bars / flat-out riding position when riding through town or negotiating heavy traffic. That said, you could always get a road bike and then add a set of clip on tri-bars later?

best advice is to get a frame that fits your size / shape. each of the different bike brands have different frame sizes and geometries which effect your riding position and so the feel of the bike. a retailer that provides a fitting service is a good place to start...

 

[wafflycat]

Tribars - depends what you're used to. When WCMnr was into time trials, he had no difficulty cycling in traffic on his timetrial bike using tribars (he used his TT bike for training) as he just wasn't in the 'tuck' all the time. But a time trial bike wouldn't be first choice as a commute bike for any means. Especially when you get to having carbon tribars, carbon wheels, carbon frame....

 

[Jake]

ooo are they? i thoguht it was just Evans, so i could get that dream bike! Thanks for advice. Have to get it by end of Feb as think thats when the scheme breaks until August. cheers

 

[Wigsie]

If you talk to the right guys at evans they should be able to set a bike up for you so you are very comfortable on it. Road bike tyres although slim are suprisingly strong (for up/down forces, just weaker when getting stick from sideways forces, which shouldnt happen that much).

For a grand I cant see past the Specialized Allez Elite (I may have mentioned in previous posts, I have just bought one), I am 6ft 4in and have the 61cm frame and it is awesome, I had not ridden a road bike for 20 years and after a mile or two it felt so natural. But there are loads of bikes out there that are great you just have to try a few, one will really stand out, its just down to personal choice. Then go for it. I looked at the Trek 1.7, Specialized Tricross, Cannondale CAAD9 and six, Similar Scott and Giants also tickled my fancy for a while, but the Spesh really stood out for me.

Good Luck!

 

[Jake]

Tribars - depends what you're used to. When WCMnr was into time trials, he had no difficulty cycling in traffic on his timetrial bike using tribars (he used his TT bike for training) as he just wasn't in the 'tuck' all the time. But a time trial bike wouldn't be first choice as a commute bike for any means. Especially when you get to having carbon tribars, carbon wheels, carbon frame....

not used to a racing bike, clips, let alone tri bars. guess i just need to pop into a shop and try it all out and not be rushed. Good that wiggle do bike2work too then

 

[Jake]

If you talk to the right guys at evans they should be able to set a bike up for you so you are very comfortable on it. Road bike tyres although slim are suprisingly strong (for up/down forces, just weaker when getting stick from sideways forces, which shouldnt happen that much).

For a grand I cant see past the Specialized Allez Elite (I may have mentioned in previous posts, I have just bought one), I am 6ft 4in and have the 61cm frame and it is awesome, I had not ridden a road bike for 20 years and after a mile or two it felt so natural. But there are loads of bikes out there that are great you just have to try a few, one will really stand out, its just down to personal choice. Then go for it. I looked at the Trek 1.7, Specialized Tricross, Cannondale CAAD9 and six, Similar Scott and Giants also tickled my fancy for a while, but the Spesh really stood out for me.

Good Luck!

6.2 here myself. did a search for "Specialized Allez Elite " on wiggle but came back blank. anything/brands i should avoid? thanks guys

 

[Wigsie]

6.2 here myself. did a search for "Specialized Allez Elite " on wiggle but came back blank. anything/brands i should avoid? thanks guys

Here you go - http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/allez-elite-2009-road-bike-ec016880

On the cycle scheme website there will be a list of cycle shops that are on the scheem, although a few employers restrict it to one chain like Evans or Halfords but if you have the flexibility to buy online from wiggle sure you can look elswhere.

another option if your looking at buying online is

http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/acatalog/C18_Offer_SL_Pro_Carbon_-_Medium.html

or

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/acatalog/C18_Offer_SL_Pro_Carbon_-_Medium.html

 

[Jake]

hmmm sexy looking bikes! good stuff. will have to read the print out tonight from teh company, to see if i am limite dto shops.

 

[Andy Pandy]

If I could afford it, I would go for the planet x pro carbon TT with the bling wheels.

http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/acatalog/Custom_Stealth_Pro_Carbon_700C_TUBULAR_WHEELS.html

 

[Wigsie]

If I could afford it, I would go for the planet x pro carbon TT with the bling wheels.

http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/acatalog/Custom_Stealth_Pro_Carbon_700C_TUBULAR_WHEELS.html

That is a great looking bike, but would you not look like a bit of a Div riding that to work? ha ha

 

[Andy Pandy]

I wouldn't care to be quite honest. As long as you were in full lycra and not your shirt and tie you'd be alright. You would have to be careful no one passed you, that would be embarrassing!

 

[Wigsie]

I wouldn't care to be quite honest. As long as you were in full lycra and not your shirt and tie you'd be alright. You would have to be careful no one passed you, that would be embarrassing!

Ha ha yeah, some 17 year old courier on a £200 single speeder or worse, a postman!