Should I buy this bike?

[ColinJ]

What a lovely bunch you are! Thank you. All I have to do now is try and survive without a granny ring. I hear they do a Veloce cassette with 29 teeth

Yes - it's a 13-29.

I have one on my Cannondale, so 39/29 is my lowest gear on that bike. It isn't quite low enough for some of the hills round here, but now that I am getting slimmer and fitter, it is much more usable than it used to be.

 

[totallyfixed]

You do realise it has something odd hanging down below the cassette...................

 

[slowmotion]

You do realise it has something odd hanging down below the cassette...................

Very good!

Yes - it's a 13-29.

I have one on my Cannondale, so 39/29 is my lowest gear on that bike. It isn't quite low enough for some of the hills round here, but now that I am getting slimmer and fitter, it is much more usable than it used to be.

Colin, you are a greyhound compared to me. I should be 34/29, and even that is going to be a challenge, I have no doubt.

 

[ColinJ]

Colin, you are a greyhound compared to me. I should be 34/29, and even that is going to be a challenge, I have no doubt.

My bottom gear on my Basso is 26/28!

I went to go out on that bike today and found that the back tyre was flat so I used the higher-geared Cannondale instead. I was quite pleased with how much easier it felt going uphill than it used to. I still wouldn't fancy doing long stretches above 10% on it though. A few hundred metres of 15%, or maybe a few scores of metres at 20%, that would currently be my comfortable limit.

 

[slowmotion]

My bottom gear on my Basso is 26/28!

I went to go out on that bike today and found that the back tyre was flat so I used the higher-geared Cannondale instead. I was quite pleased with how much easier it felt going uphill than it used to. I still wouldn't fancy doing long stretches above 10% on it though. A few hundred metres of 15%, or maybe a few scores of metres at 20%, that would currently be my comfortable limit.

Like I said, a greyhound!

 

[thebigcountry]

I always think you get what you pay for with bikes, I would be inclined to save a little more and get something decent. Or go for the 105 experience at least.

 

[vickster]

He already bought it

 

[slowmotion]

He already bought it

You bet!

 

[mustang1]

You have two choices for"middle age man" and only one for "buy this bike". I'm sure you like the bike or you wouldn't have posted, but how about another bike choice is finding something really beautiful?

 

[Dismount]

I always prefer to buy a bike with pedals makes it far easier to ride, well or so I find

 

[vickster]

Oooh it matches the skirting board, super choice, fabulous colour co-ordination

 

[themosquitoking]

In January we're painting the living room to match the bikes.

 

[Andrew_P]

View attachment 33551
You bet!

I think I know your favourite colour!

Ride it!!

 

[slowmotion]

The blue skirting board is in the corridor at work. I don't run to that at home! I'm waiting for the pedals from ChainReaction. Spa Cycles were very impressive. The bike was ordered from them shortly before midnight on Saturday and it turned up this morning at the office, beautifully packaged too. Bravo!

You have two choices for"middle age man" and only one for "buy this bike". I'm sure you like the bike or you wouldn't have posted, but how about another bike choice is finding something really beautiful?

There was one "Old Git" option. That's me. I might as well be realistic.

 

[slowmotion]

The not delivered to home option

Absolutely!
The "discrete plain packaging" option too. I've been rumbled again.
I will pick the moment to break the news of my "essential health aid" very carefully.