Please help a useless newbie!

[sammy]

Hi, I have only just joined as I have been looking for a bicycle for the past 3-4 months but am quite confused with where to start!

I live on Exmoor = hills! + would like a ladies road bike, but I am 5ft7 with long legs (35") and shorter body I also have some problems with lower back, winging scapula + r.knee so need to get this right! I always aim high with whatever I do so would like to participate in some sort of rides once I get to a good fitness. I am also at university and have a very limited budget so am going to have to go for second hand.

Where do I start?!

Thanks if you can help

 

[Cyclist33]

What is your budget?

 

[Mandragora]

Get advice here for some good pointers and advice, then go to a good local bike shop - Crediton Bike Shed were really very helpful and patient when I was buying my first 'real' bike last year, and local cycling-nut friends have also said the same of both the Barnstaple and Exeter Bike Sheds. There's no substitute for a good local shop and the chance to try out and have a go on lots of bikes - until you try the bikes yourself, you really won't know. You might get somewhat cheaper prices online once you've narrowed it down to the make/model you like, but when it comes to the servicing, advice and support once the bike arrives, that local bike shop will be your first port of call - so at least give them the chance to compete on price.

ETA - sorry - just seen you're after a second-hand bike - I don't know if they carry used bikes, as that doesn't show on their website, but I have a feeling they did at the Crediton store

 

[vickster]

I wouldn't get hung up on women's bikes especially if on a budget. Hilly you would be better with a triple chainring. A red triban 3 would be perfect, lots on eBay usually. Probably a 57" frame with a shorter flipped stem and maybe narrower bars. A new bike properly fitted would be best but you'd be looking £500 up for a women's model with a triple. Otherwise look perhaps for a second hand specialized dolce but they start expensive and hold their value

Or perhaps @biggs682 can help with something retro

 

[Saluki]

You sound like you are my height and leg length. I ride a man's bike as the female specifics really didn't suit. As @vickster said, look at a Triban 3. Great bikes for the money but try and find a red one rather than a white one. The red ones have carbon forks, the white one's don't. Is there a Decathlon in your neck of the woods?

 

[biggs682]

@sammy if looking 2ng hand try local gumtree site and go and sit on as many bikes as poss to see which one fits/suits best .

at 5ft 7" i would suggest trying a 21" or there abouts for size on a retro style bike , if you were more local to me i would suggest popping in and trying a couple for size etc etc , at this moment of time i only have a large sized Charge Juicer and a couple of older retro rides in build

thanks @vickster will be paying you commission soon

 

[Wafer]

No decathlon stores in this part of the country! Not even an Evans without travelling to Bristol! Not sure about exmoor are but there's a few places in Taunton that might help, trying to remember the name of the one near asda that generally has a good selection of 2nd hand stuff, Paul's cycles I think!

 

[sammy]

Thanks everyone you have been very helpful budget is about £400 ....so, forget a women's bike, try a Triban 3 red, I shall also try to find a good shop + try lots.

Is there any suggestion on brakes - they will get heavy use with our steep hills so is it more just about regular checks rather than different make/ model?

Also, anyone know of any Cycle clubs / where I can find events for the area? There always seems to be some sort of event on - i drive past everyone usually! but would be nice to know start + end points to have a chance to chat to people.

p.s - what are peoples thoughts on Triathlon bikes v road bike?

 

[RebornBumbler]

I reckon @vickster's spot-on with the size you should be looking for (56-57cm frame).
Bike Shed (certainly the Barnstaple outlet) are good, as suggested - and when you need a bike shop, definitely worth checking-out.

As mentioned, you'll need gears to cope with the sometimes rather severe hills, so either a triple chainset with fairly standard gears on the back, or mountain bike (MTB) type gears with a wide low-high range (the problem there being that you'll always want a gear between the two nearest you have available...)

I'd go with @biggs682 on the gumtree suggestion, though their idea of local to Minehead (for example) seems to include most of South Wales - handy if you've got a boat, I suppose...
You might find you need to get to larger towns to buy or try, and the same will probably be true for local clubs to ride with.
(The club I'm in rode to Simonsbath a couple of weeks ago, but you probably wouldn't want to join a Barnstaple club!)

This outfit seem to be based around Taunton area, and happen to have a women's (sorry ladies - really? - tiara helmets presumably ) section:
http://www.cyclesomerset.org.uk/pages/ladies-rides
or there are a few near Minehead - Team Zoyland, Tanks Direct Cycling, and Minehead Cycling Club - Check out British Cycling's Club Finder page: http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/clubfinder

Failing that, stick an ad in the local rag, and start your own!

 

[vickster]

56-57cm for the triban as they come up small, I'd say 53-54 in most other brands though (I am a little under 5'10, 34" inside leg and ride 54cm frames with 100mm stem)

 

[RebornBumbler]

56-57cm for the triban as they come up small, I'd say 53-54 in most other brands though (I am a little under 5'10, 34" inside leg and ride 54cm frames with 100mm stem)

You're right of course - I factored-in leg length, but missed the height.
A very short stem might work (I've used a Vavert previously only about an inch long) but it can make for odd steering/handling.

 

[vickster]

Most blokes with a 35" inside leg would be about 6 ft 2+

 

[sammy]

lol @vickster i suppose i should consider myself lucky really but it does cause issues - try finding trousers that fit length ways but then finding tops that aren't too long, i often end up in kids tops (but then the arms are too short!)

Is the idea of a short stem to prevent over stretching + getting good angle for my back?

i shall head out to some local bike shops tomorrow to get started

 

[Cycleops]

We need to know your budget and narrow down what type you would prefer. Do you like drop or straight bars? Is 35" your inseam measurement? If you are talking road bike that means a frame about 60cm or about 52cm for a MTB.I take it you are on a very limited budget.

 

[ColinJ]

Most blokes with a 35" inside leg would be about 6 ft 2+

Probably true - I am 6' 1" and have only a 32-33" leg measurement!

Very long legs and a shortish torso ... tricky!

Very long legs, shortish torso AND physical problems - even trickier!

We need to know your budget and narrow down what type you would prefer. Do you like drop or straight bars? Is 35" your inseam measurement? If you are talking road bike that means a frame about 60cm or about 52cm for a MTB.I take it you are on a very limited budget.

A 60 cm frame is going to be way too long for somebody who is only 5' 7" tall. I am 6 inches taller, with a longer upper body and I only ride 58 cm!