Yes, it's another noob looking for advice...

[Arnolfini]

Thanks Fab!

The tri-cross does look nice, but I don't think I can stretch the budget that far... also at my (currently non-existent) fitness level, I have a feeling I'd give myself a heart attack going up any sort of incline on a bike like that!

Maybe once I get fit, and start doing the whole cycling thing a bit more seriously I could upgrade to something along those lines.

The Globe looks like the sort of thing I've got in mind though...

Knowing me, after getting all this great advice from you all, I'll still end up with something utterly different by the end of the weekend!

We will see!

 

[Fab Foodie]

Thanks Fab!

The tri-cross does look nice, but I don't think I can stretch the budget that far... also at my (currently non-existent) fitness level, I have a feeling I'd give myself a heart attack going up any sort of incline on a bike like that!

Maybe once I get fit, and start doing the whole cycling thing a bit more seriously I could upgrade to something along those lines.

The Globe looks like the sort of thing I've got in mind though...

Knowing me, after getting all this great advice from you all, I'll still end up with something utterly different by the end of the weekend!

We will see!

On the contrary...you'd fly uphill like a scalded cat!
I think as part of your testing, you should try something like a Sirrus just to get an idea of how a light road bike feels for commuting compared to a heavier fatter tyred disc braked "Soft-road" bike.

 

[Arnolfini]

I guess... as it happens I'll be trying a Sirrus on Saturday, so I can get a better idea. I've been speaking to the guys at Bike+ (as you recommended, Fab), and they certainly seem very knowledgeable and helpful.

I think I've *finally* been talked round from insisting on disc brakes (as so many people have said they'd be overkill for the sort of riding I'd be doing, and the money spent on them would detract from the rest of the bike), and reckon I've narrowed it down to either the Spesh Sirrus Elite or Globe Comp (neither of which were on my original list!)

I have to admit I still prefer the more mountain bike-y look of the Globe (it also looks more robust, and more likely to stand up to light off-road riding), but unfortunately Bike+ don't have any in stock at the moment.

Nonetheless I'll be going down there on Saturday morning to have a ride on the Sirrus, and may well end up going for it. Either that, or get them to order in the Globe, so I can have a try....

 

[got-to-get-fit]

Arnolfini

Screw the mountain type bikes...once you have that extra poundage of, you will be craving speed.
Go for something robust like a specialised alez and have some decent pun**ure resistent tyres fitted.
I commuted on a mountain bike for years and when i got my first road bike it was like the clouds parted and the sun came out.
Seriously if its mostly roads and bridleways then get a road bike. You will thank me in the long run.

 

[doyler78]

As someone who started looking for exactly the same bike as you are several years ago I ended up with a Sirrus Comp which I have to say I have loved however as everyone else has said you will get to the point where you have done as much as you can with that bike and the only extra speed you are going to get is from a proper road bike which is where I am now. I intended to go off road and all that however I've been off road twice in all that time and for the type of paths you are talking about a 28c tyre on a Sirrus would handle the routes perfectly adequately. Where a Sirrus falls down is on deep layers of very loose chippings as there is no grip to keep the bike from slidding away but that doesn't sound like the sort of surfaces you are talking about.

Personally I wish I had just gone down the road bike road then however that is just my experience.

 

[Renard]

Personally I wish I had just gone down the road bike road then however that is just my experience.

Ditto. I did the same. Started out on a hybrid which was good for a couple of years until I wanted 'more'.

If you are going down the hybrid line I've always thought the Genesis Day series of bikes are nice

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/index.php?bikeID=8&show_bike=TRUE

 

[Arnolfini]

Well I've ended up buying a bike... and am now the proud owner of a Specialized Globe Comp!

I took both the Globe and the Sirrus out for a test ride on Saturday morning, and immediately preferred the Globe. Whilst I can definitely see that the Sirrus is faster, it just felt too skittish for me to be comfortable on it.

I realise that most of that will just be down to the fact that it's been years since I last rode a bike, but the Globe just immediately felt much more comfortable, and a lot more 'me'.

One thing this has really brought home to me is just how incredibly unfit I am. I mean seriously, it's a miracle I'm alive at all. I didn't have a chance to ride the bike on Saturday after I bought it, but I took it round the block today (which is the best part of a mile). Dear lord, I thought I was going to die by the time I got home, and my legs had turned to jelly! Maybe I'm not ready for the full 4-5 mile commute quite yet... but if I do a circuit or 2 of the block every night, I reckon I'll be able to attempt it in a couple of weeks!

I also figure that if I start getting a bit more hardcore, I can always trade up to a road bike in future, but the Globe suits me just fine in the meantime!

Thanks to everyone for your help and advice, and thanks particularly to Fab for recommending Bike+. They were really great to deal with (especially Jeff and Paul S), and I'm sure I'll be back there in the future!

Arn

 

[Fab Foodie]

Welcome to the club Arn!

Glad you got a result and examined the options. The great thing about cycling is that it really doesn't take long to build a bit of fitness and see your mileage increase significantly. Don't kill yourself, just little and often to start with.
Read "Cycle-craft" by Franklin (HMSO BOOKS) to help stay safe. Most of all, just enjoy the unfettered freedom.

 

[got-to-get-fit]

Arn

Get a cycle computer ... they are great little motivators

 

[punkypossum]

Make sure your saddle is high enough, when I first got back into cycling I thought my legs were going to fall off just going round the carpark, till I took it to the bikeshop and they pointed out my saddle was about 3 inches too low - it transformed everything!!!!

 

[Arnolfini]

Arn

Get a cycle computer ... they are great little motivators

That's definitely one of the items on my shopping list!

Don't suppose you (or anyone else) have any recommendations? Preferably something wireless, and which won't cost the earth!

 

[Arnolfini]

Make sure your saddle is high enough, when I first got back into cycling I thought my legs were going to fall off just going round the carpark, till I took it to the bikeshop and they pointed out my saddle was about 3 inches too low - it transformed everything!!!!

Hmmm - my quads certainly started burning pretty quickly (causing the jelly legs as soon as I got off)... but i think the saddle is the right height....

When I'm sat on the stationary bike, i'm balancing on the balls of my feet - that means it's the right height, doesn't it? Or is there something else that I may need to adjust?

 

[punkypossum]

The usual rule of thumb is that your leg should be straight when your heel is is on the pedal at its lowest point, which means your leg will be slightly bend when you pedal normally with the ball of your foot...or you could go all technical and follow this:

"There are quite a few methods for setting saddle height but, to avoid confusion, I will give just the one that I have found most reliable. Measure your inside leg and multiply this by 1.09 for men 1.08 for women (if you have small feet multiply by 1.07) then with the cranks in line with the seat tube measure from the surface of the lowest pedal, along the line of the seat tube to the top of the saddle.

Knee pains usually mean that the saddle is too low, hamstring and groin pains usually mean it is too high.

If your saddle height is wrong adjust it by about 5mm per week until it is at the correct height. Too large an adjustment all at once can result in injury."

Worked for me, but despite having small feet, I felt most comfortable with the 1.09 suggested for men... However, it means my feet can't touch the floor at all when sitting on the bike, which felt a bit odd at first...

 

[Renard]

Good luck. Enjoy!

 

[HelenD123]

That's definitely one of the items on my shopping list!

Don't suppose you (or anyone else) have any recommendations? Preferably something wireless, and which won't cost the earth!

Aldi are doing one for £4.99 this Thursday but it's a wired one I think.