New to cycling and need advice!

[holdo1]

Hi

I want to start cycling to work in London and need advice for a good road bike. I dont need anything special, just something reliable and good value.

Could anyone help?

(need a female bike :-) )

 

[Cycleops]

Hello and welcome. Bit of a how long is a piece of string question. How long is your commute? What is your budget? Above all you need to buy something comfortable which entails getting the right size. Best to find a good bike shop and try a few out. Look for something like this: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/lithium-four-2015-womens-hybrid-bike-ec071287
Halfords have some good value hybrid bikes which should suit you: http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bik...s/carrera-crossfire-2-womens-hybrid-bike-2015
Don't be tempted to buy anything with suspension, it won't give you much added comfort and just add weight. Remember to budget for a good lock, pump, puncture repair kit and helmet. Good luck.

 

[summerdays]

Hello and welcome. Bit of a how long is a piece of string question. How long is your commute? What is your budget? Above all you need to buy something comfortable which entails getting the right size. Best to find a good bike shop and try a few out. Look for something like this: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/lithium-four-2015-womens-hybrid-bike-ec071287
Halfords have some good value hybrid bikes which should suit you: http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bik...s/carrera-crossfire-2-womens-hybrid-bike-2015
Don't be tempted to buy anything with suspension, it won't give you much added comfort and just add weight. Remember to budget for a good lock, pump, puncture repair kit and helmet. Good luck.

You forgot lights in that list, even if holdo1 isn't expecting to commute at night time it's worth having some for wintery days.

 

[Arrowfoot]

Go to Decathlon and you will see a wide variety of bikes for all things at pretty much at entry level to some high end one. Female range is also good. You can try cycling around the store aisle using the various bikes to get a feel. Good value for money for someone starting new. You are not pressured by anyone and you don;t have the pressure of picking from a limited range.

Overtime when you are comfortable, you will be a lot more comfortable picking up something more specialised and high end.

 

[User16625]

Never buy anything from Halfords, they are truly terrible IME.

 

[vickster]

Do you want a roadbike with dropped bars or a bike with flatbars that is suited to the road?

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Is your commute flat? Do you need gears?
Would you like a rack and panniers for caring stuff? Some bikes don't have fittings for those.
Or would you like a basket?

 

[Dogtrousers]

Does your workplace have secure bike parking?

 

[jefmcg]

This is weird. When a guy comes here and asks for a road bike, people recommend road bikes. When it's a woman, they recommend hybrids. I'd like to believe this isn't sexism, but I had the same weird experience of going into bike shops and asking for "drop bar commuters" and at two shops they immediately steered me towards flat bars.

Anyway, you want a bike that can take a rack, and mudguards. Probably a more relaxed geometry, as you are not going to get your arse in the air much in a London commute, and you'll need your head up a lot.

Have a look at Giant Avails. Very happy with buying one a couple of years ago. I think the Evans Fuji is highly regarded at the budget end, and search this forum for Triban (from Decathlon) that gets rave reviews.

Definitely get the mudguards when you buy the bike, and make sure the shop fits them for you.

 

[vickster]

Where are you going from and to? Might determine what sort of bike would suit

Giant avail is a good call, takes a pannier rack and mudguards for commuting. Not sure what your budget is but they start around £500, Ash cycles have good deals on o.der models. You could also try the Giant stores which in the London area are at St. Paul's, twickenham, Bromley, crystal palace, Camden. They might have offers on the outgoing 2014 models

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/stores/

 

[Boon 51]

Don't know where you live but you must have a big cycle shop near you so go in and ask some questions and perhaps sit on a few and even a test ride, it all helps you choose the right bike.

 

[vickster]

But go in with an idea of what you want or you'll be advised on what the salesman reckons you should have, which was @jefmcg 's experience when she definitively wanted a roadbike with dropbars

 

[biggs682]

@holdo1 welcome aboard .

go and try a few bikes before you buy 1 .

even ask on here and see if anybody else is local to you that are happy to let you try there bike to get some ideas

if ever you are passing through or by Wellingborough you are more tahn welcome to come and throw a leg over a retro racer to see what you think , they make great affordable commuters

 

[sreten]

This is weird. When a guy comes here and asks for a road bike, people recommend road bikes.
.

Hi,

I don't, if clearly what they really need is a day in day out proper commuter.
For the weekend warrior a second MTB or proper road bike will then
not affect the sensible commuting choice by clouding judgement.

It may be sexism (or not) that assumes females don't get the rather
particular meaning of "road bike" as much as male beginners.

Still its a very confusing term for any beginner to use, its most
likely to mean a bike for road use more than anything else,
and not refer to the specific "road bike" species.

rgds, sreten.

 

[mjr]

I'd like to recommend a steel roadster with hub gears, guards, fixed lights and maybe hub brakes. Should be fairly fast and shouldn't go wrong often.

But I don't know if there are many female-specific roadsters out there, besides the Raleigh Pioneer 3, which is 6061 aluminium, and the Dawes Countess which looks pretty upright. Does anyone?