Reborn cyclist needing club bike advice

[middleagecyclist]

Hi all

Would appreciate some advice please.

I've gone from just managing a 4 mile commute on an old mountain bike in 2008 while weighing 21 stone to becoming a committed all weather cycle commuter, multi day tourer and occasional MTBr. I now have a lovely Santos Travelmaster 2.6 Alu which I use for commuting and fully loaded cycle touring and have picked up a great secondhand Marin Rocky Ridge for messing about on local trails. In this time I have dropped 4 stone, lowered my BP and now have a resting heart rate of 50. I feel great and what's more the missus fully supports my cycling habit.

I have decided to treat myself to a road bike when I reach 15 stone. At 43 and a stocky build I am never going to hit lightning speeds but would like to join a local cycling club and be able to hold my own on club rides. I do not need/want a road bike that can necassarily double up as a winter trainer or commuter but purely one to ride for fun when the weather is good.

Road bikes are something I know little about. While I will not make a final decision without actually riding a few bikes, I would appreciate advice about what to look for with regard to frame geometry and material, components, gearing, etc considering my age, weight and aspirations. I'll have a budget of about £1500.00. My normal average return commute speed is around 14 mph over 8 miles with a couple of moderate climbs thrown in. The bike weighs about 19kg with a pannier or two attached if that is helpful.

Many thanks for any replies.

 

[billy1561]

Why wait until you reach 15st? If you enjoy cycling half as much as it sounds then treat yourself now if it's affordable. They can take a load of weight despite looking fragile. I have just purchased a Cannondale Synapse and i weigh around 17 st + a few pounds. It's a pleasure to ride and very comfortable. Geometry wise it is quite relaxed but still has plenty of pace. Components are quite subjective but the 105's on it are extremely smooth and quick. Your fitness sounds similar to mine and love my bike already.

As you have said yourself try out a few different bikes and get one that feels good for you. Oh and well done for the improvements you have already made

 

[Cosmicned]

I've had much the same experience as you starting off with a right dodgy BSO for commuting- now got myself a Boardman hybrid Comp for commutes & recently treated myself to another Boardman Comp Road bike this time when I got down to 15 stone- I bought them both off eBay essentially for the cost of one bike- and apart from having my local bike shop ' true' the front wheel & service the Hybrids disc brakes they're virtually as new- why not pick up a used road bike first to see if you get on with it- I absolutely love both my Boardmans but each is a very different riding experience- the road bike was especially weird for a while! The road bike is amazing value for money & good enough until I get down (hopefully) to 13 stone - whereby a particularly blingtastic carbon based life form road bike will be in order! Try cheap first!

 

[middleagecyclist]

Why wait until you reach 15st?

1. Coz I look bloody daft riding a road bike at my current weight.
2. The bike will be a nice present when I hit 15 stone.
3. Storage will be easier in a few months.

I could buy a bike tomorrow for cash but really want to work hard losing weight over the next few months and get the bike for next spring. Plus the choosing, deciding and anticipation is half the fun!

 

[zexel]

Nice one keep up the good work.

For £1500 you can't get a 'bad' bike, just a bad fit.

Regarding advice on "geometry and material, components, gearing" you will get seventy two 'opinions' on what 'they' think is the best. Most of them opinions will be subjective anyway.

The best advice is for you to go visit a few bike shops and have a touch/feel and try a few out.

Apologies for not being more help but not much point in telling you what 'I' want in a bike for me.

Let us know how you get on.

Edit:Whatever you do don't get a Specialized, they are aesthetically displeasing with that awful top tube and they are sooooo DULL.

 

[middleagecyclist]

Nice one keep up the good work.

Regarding advice on "geometry and material, components, gearing" you will get seventy two 'opinions' on what 'they' think is the best. Most of them opinions will be subjective anyway.

I don't mind that. I don't know much about road bikes and am happy to hear different/conflicting opinions before I make my mind up.

 

[middleagecyclist]

I bought them both off eBay essentially for the cost of one bike...Try cheap first!

I will certainly consider secondhand. My Marin Rocky Ridge was an eBay bargain for £500.00 - one year old and in perfect nick. New price was £1100.00!!

I am happy to spend the £1500.00 for a good road bike. It's no flash in the pan fitness kick and I want to get the best spec components I can and savour it rather than be thinking I should have spent more when I could. The wife is happy for me to get it but would not understand trading it in after a year or so. And 3 bikes will be the absolute limit me thinks!

 

[Cyclist33]

Hi

Can't offer much advice with a budget of £1500, I'm buying a Felt Z100 tomorrow which is less than half that. I would say go to the shops and try before you buy, saying that I test rode a few road bikes in Evans in the Spring and they were all "ok", fit can be adjusted as long as you get roughly the right size, like it was said above you won't be able to get a bad bike for £1500 as long as you talk to the right shop staff.

Staying with the Felts, how about this? http://www.feltbicycles.com/United-Kingdom/2011/Road/Z-Series/Z6.aspx

 

[brockers]

edit:Whatever you do don't get a Specialized, they are aesthetically displeasing with that awful top tube and they are sooooo DULL.

I don't know if you're being ironic, but that's what I've always thought.

to the OP. If you wait a couple of months, you'll find a lot of retailers starting to clear 2011 stock to make way for 2012's blingtastic lovelyness. So you'll have a choice of more bargains, and won't have to limit your search to Evans.

 

[WychwoodTrev]

Thetes a cracking little bike shop near me Performance cycles who build some lovely bikes, One brand of frame the use is Kuota. They had a full carbon one just built up for a customer to a high spec for £1759 It had me drooling. Just google Performance cycles they are at poulton near cirencester you can have a bike built to your own spec plus the will do a custom bike fit for you too.

 

[middleagecyclist]

...you'll find a lot of retailers starting to clear 2011 stock to make way for 2012's blingtastic lovelyness. So you'll have a choice of more bargains...

Oh no! Now you have given me a perfectly valid reason not to wait until I hit 15 stone.

Difficult to resist a bargain and I'm sure a 2011 model will do me just fine

 

[middleagecyclist]

...can have a bike built to your own spec plus the will do a custom bike fit for you too.

Please don't send me down the custom build route just yet. I don't know my SRAM from Ultegra and whether I should go compact or triple just stumps me!!

This is what I need advice on.

 

[middleagecyclist]

how about this? http://www.feltbicyc...-Series/Z6.aspx

Looks very nice. An unknown make to me and now one for the list. Cheers.

 

[fimm]

There was a thread not so long ago about standard, compact and triple chainrings which generated "some debate" so that might be worth locating and plowing through...

Edit: this one https://www.cyclechat.net/

 

[zexel]

I don't know if you're being ironic, but that's what I've always thought.

to the OP. If you wait a couple of months, you'll find a lot of retailers starting to clear 2011 stock to make way for 2012's blingtastic lovelyness. So you'll have a choice of more bargains, and won't have to limit your search to Evans.

No irony intended, just my humble opinion of Specialized bikes. I thought I was the only member of the 'non-Specialized' club.


middleagecylist you may want to do a search on:

carbon vs aluminium
shimano vs SRAM
compact vs double/triple

This will answer all your questions......or not!

I will say, you should be able to get (minimum) carbon/full 105/part Ultegra for £1,500, if you so choose of course