New to cycling need help choosing road bike

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daz2daz2

New Member
Hi to you all!

I am new to cycling, well not ridded one properly for about 30 years!, i am 42 and need to get fit, I have been out on a borrowed Mountain bike this morning for an hour and loved it, however I think a road bike for me would be the way forward as would cycle to work and I think it would be easier on a road bike. I am 42, 13 stone and 6ft 2".

Could someone please help me out and give me some advice on a road bike, I don't want to become Chris Froome overnight just want it to get fit and to get me out of tho house for a couple of hours at the weekend away from the wife and kids!

I have seen this below and it looks good value to me any opinions would be gratefully appreciated:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-f95-sora-wiggle-exclusive/
 

the_mikey

Legendary Member
Hello, welcome to CycleChat :welcome:


The Felt F95 looks like a bargain, great value for money, but if it's possible, make sure it's going to fit. Bike fit is much more important than brand or looks, a bike that fits is one that you will enjoy riding. :thumbsup:
 

Kevoffthetee

On the road to nowhere
I'd say either buy second hand from a trusted seller or buy a entry level bike like the felt f95 or triban 3 to see if you stick with it.

I was lucky enough to be given a Peugeot Optimum Reynolds 531 and have got into cycling to the point where it is time to upgrade. I still don't want to spend a fortune but in the sales you don't have to in order to get a good spec bike

I'm 32 and 5'9" and was 13st10lbs and am now down to 12st6 with a little adjustment to the diet.
 
OP
OP
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daz2daz2

New Member
Hello, welcome to CycleChat :welcome:


The Felt F95 looks like a bargain, great value for money, but if it's possible, make sure it's going to fit. Bike fit is much more important than brand or looks, a bike that fits is one that you will enjoy riding. :thumbsup:
Cheers for the replies so far, how do I make sure its the perfect fit, are they not guided of the size guide the manufacturer gives, or is a bit more complex than that?
 

nirurin

Regular
Also new and in the same boat as you pretty much :smile: heard only good things about the Triban 3 and the Triban 500se, might be worth a look.

As far as fitting goes... I dunno. It seems to be a 2 hour process that will cost you over £100 (much more at some places I've looked at) where they measure every part of you, your flexibility, your posture etc.

But then most of the budget-end bikes only come in 3 standard sizes., maybe 5 if you're luckgy, but a lot of those are likely to be out of stock lol. So I'm not sold on it myself. If I was spending £1000+ on a bike I planned to ride in marathon sportives with, then yes definitly. For something to do half an hour a day on round the local bike path....

Definitly worth going out and sitting on a few bikes in person, and finding out if you prefer the more relaxed "upright" position or the hunkered down "race" posture though, as wlel as seeing which of the basic sizes is closest to comfortable (before you then start fiddling with seat heights and handlebar positioning).

This is just my opinion though, I'm sure the experts on here will say you need you spine measured and your hamstrings flexed by a professional. :smile:
 

Justinslow

Lovely jubbly
Location
Suffolk
I had the f95 on my short list aswell as the Vitus Razor, but finally plumped for the carbon cp50 from Argos. Just try to get as much info about the bikes and sizing on line if ordering that way or go to your local shop even Halfords and sit on a few to get an idea of sizes. Oh and race position will feel completely alien if you've been riding mtb's so you have to give it time so that your body adjusts to it.
 

jnrmczip

Senior Member
Location
glasgow
Cheers for the replies so far, how do I make sure its the perfect fit, are they not guided of the size guide the manufacturer gives, or is a bit more complex than that?

go to your local bike shop and try some out see what size bike you feel comfy on. I am new to cycling and got an entry level road bike which was the giant defy 5 and so far have no faults to report I am 5'9 and got the medium/large option as it was far more comfy to ride for me compared to the medium. Don't buy blind though go and try the make and model out first see how it feels .
 

Justinslow

Lovely jubbly
Location
Suffolk
go to your local bike shop and try some out see what size bike you feel comfy on. I am new to cycling and got an entry level road bike which was the giant defy 5 and so far have no faults to report I am 5'9 and got the medium/large option as it was far more comfy to ride for me compared to the medium. Don't buy blind though go and try the make and model out first see how it feels .
That's all very well but if the bike you want is only available online and you can't get to a store (if they have one to try one out) then you have no choice but to buy blind, I guess you could always send it back and ask for a different size? But I would definitely try other brands at a local shop to get an "idea" of size required. Before I bought my bike I tried a different one for size in Halfords so I had a rough idea.
Yes in an ideal world we would all get a bike fit done by our LBS and buy a bike from them but life is not so simple if your on a budget and you find a great deal online!
 

beardy01

Well-Known Member
Location
edenbridge
would recommend having a look at Giant bikes ( i ride a trek and am seriously considering a change in 2015 ), my lbs owner went to there launch show last week to look at the new bikes and he was telling me that they have taken out one of there lines and as a result prices have come down on there new lines have got a better spec . they look very nice indeed. giant make bikes for a lot of other companies , trek, merida etc . there £1300+ full carbon range road bikes come out after xmas so the missus might not be too happy come boxing day!!!!
 

jnrmczip

Senior Member
Location
glasgow
^_^^_^
That's all very well but if the bike you want is only available online and you can't get to a store (if they have one to try one out) then you have no choice but to buy blind, I guess you could always send it back and ask for a different size? But I would definitely try other brands at a local shop to get an "idea" of size required. Before I bought my bike I tried a different one for size in Halfords so I had a rough idea.
Yes in an ideal world we would all get a bike fit done by our LBS and buy a bike from them but life is not so simple if your on a budget and you find a great deal online!

Chances are a local bike shop would have this model as it's a popular bike brand. Anyhow it was a mere suggestion to help the guy out not a specific I instruction that he must do. Only trying g to save him the hassle of having to send the bike back and fourth
 

Justinslow

Lovely jubbly
Location
Suffolk
Fair play, wasn't knocking your advice just throwing another piece of advice out there as that was what I've just done. At the end of the day it's up to the individual if they want to take a chance by buying blind, I did and it was ok. Sorry if my post came across as critical of yours.
 

KennaughKickIt

Active Member
Thanks so far guys. looking like the Felt then, no one seems to call it, so must be a good buy!

Hold up before you buy on Wiggle! Save yourself £35 at http://www.merlincycles.com/felt-f95-road-bike-2014-boxed-72331.html and buy a decent saddle with it. It's also the 2014 bike. Oh and the pictures don't do the black one justice!

You're exactly the same height and weight as me (not that weight's got bugger all to do with it). I plugged for the 58cm frame and it's great.
 
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