Ok here goes !

[TickettyBoo]

I`ve looked and looked , not sure if i`m any less confused but I`m off today to (hopefully) buy a bike.

I think I have narrowed it down to these
http://www.nicholsons-cycles.co.uk/productdetails.asp?productid=45488
http://www.nicholsons-cycles.co.uk/productdetails.asp?productid=45503
http://www.nicholsons-cycles.co.uk/productdetails.asp?productid=42912
http://www.nicholsons-cycles.co.uk/productdetails.asp?productid=41764

My Halfords choice would be a Pendleton Dalby

I did go to a more local bike shop but to be honest they were not very helpful and although they accept cycle to work they didn`t seem keen (another workmate got the same impression with a different staff member)

I`m still not sure about the whole gear thing but maybe this other shop can help. I mentioned in my intro thread that I get around on my work bike with 3 gears and 20+ kilos of mail , It`s not the easiest to cycle but that`s what I`m used to. I really don`t know if I would use 21 gears or not.

I won`t just be using my bike for journeys to the shops but neither do I plan on cycling from one end of the country to the other
When it comes to bike specifications I really, really have no idea what I am looking at. All I have narrowed it down to is I seem to prefer a more upright cycling position so have really only been looking at hybrid cycles. Hopefully I won`t be coming home with a bucket of bolts I`m going to be putting a lot of trust in whoever is unlucky enough to deal with me in that shop today so wish me luck

 

[Peteaud]

good luck.

 

[TickettyBoo]

good luck.

Thank you

 

[Mo1959]

Slightly more expensive but very nice is the Specialized Vita range. I think the 2013 bikes should be coming in soon and you may get a bargain on a 2012 bike. Dawes Discovery is a reasonable bike too.

 

[annedonnelly]

I`ve looked and looked , not sure if i`m any less confused but I`m off today to (hopefully) buy a bike.


I`m still not sure about the whole gear thing but maybe this other shop can help. I mentioned in my intro thread that I get around on my work bike with 3 gears and 20+ kilos of mail , It`s not the easiest to cycle but that`s what I`m used to. I really don`t know if I would use 21 gears or not.

I can't help with your bike choice but when they say 21 gears you don't actually get 21 that you can use - there's a lot of overlap in the 21 combinations. Basically you have 3 rings at the front and 7 at the back. When on each ring at the front you'd probably use only 3 or 4 of the ones at the back - so realistically you've only about 10-12 different gear choices. Don't worry about that.

Better to get something that feels comfortable. Are you going to be able to try out these bikes before you choose?

Good luck!

 

[vickster]

Ridgebacks are good solid bikes and you tend to get more bang for your buck I believe than with Specialized or Trek. Try to get a test ride of the options before buying

 

[TickettyBoo]

I can't help with your bike choice but when they say 21 gears you don't actually get 21 that you can use - there's a lot of overlap in the 21 combinations. Basically you have 3 rings at the front and 7 at the back. When on each ring at the front you'd probably use only 3 or 4 of the ones at the back - so realistically you've only about 10-12 different gear choices. Don't worry about that.

Better to get something that feels comfortable. Are you going to be able to try out these bikes before you choose?

Good luck!

Hopefully I can try them out , the shop I am off to do test rides so I`m hoping they actually have them in stock.

The other shop I was at didn`t have much in stock and I told them I wasn`t keen on buying a bike based on a photograph on their website since the specs really meant not a lot to me. I would have to try it first. They did offer to order one in but I had more than one I wanted to see.
I`m quite small but am used to riding a medium sized bike (Royal Mail`s one size fits all policy lol ) so really I want to see the difference with a bike that fits

 

[annedonnelly]

Those Royal Mail bikes look really heavy and sturdy - anything you get is going to be light compared with that! I bet you'll be flying about on your new bike!

 

[TickettyBoo]

Got one !!

I went for this one
http://www.nicholsons-cycles.co.uk/productdetails.asp?productid=45488
but it will be the 2013 version and apparently it`s lime green but it looked lighter I like it and the lady in the shop was very helpful with everything. I`ll get a phone call in a week to pick it up so can`t wait now New lights all fitted as well and sized properly for a helmet . . . . . which is not lime green. . . .

And yes Anne it did feel light as a feather lol

 

[vickster]

Excellent - I like lime green

 

[annedonnelly]

That's great news - very exciting! If you like that is the most important thing - I like green too, tho' my bike is blue.

Don't forget to tell us all about it when it arrives!

 

[Part time cyclist]

Glad you got your bike, you'll be flying around on that! keep us posted when it arrives.

 

[citybabe]

Slightly more expensive but very nice is the Specialized Vita range. I think the 2013 bikes should be coming in soon and you may get a bargain on a 2012 bike. Dawes Discovery is a reasonable bike too.

I'll certainly recommend the Vita's . I have the Sport model and love every ride on it

 

[TickettyBoo]

I will keep you all posted I`m already thinking about where my "training run" will be

 

[Mo1959]

I will keep you all posted I`m already thinking about where my "training run" will be

As a newbie cyclist myself I look forward to hearing how you get on. Only managing around 14 miles myself so far but enjoying it. Planning on getting up early tomorrow morning and getting a ride before the traffic picks up. I'm still very slow at the moment. Last ride only averaged 12.1mph but I was warm and out of breath on the hills so it must be doing me some good.........should start getting easier I hope. Even recorded my ride on this Strava thingy so will be able to compare it with later rides to see if I make some progress.

http://app.strava.com/rides/19223965