Simon22598
New Member
- Location
- halifax
Hi there. This forum seems more friendly and active than other ones I've visited with some good advice.
I thought I would tell you my story - I'm 39 yr old bloke who wanted to get back into cycling to get some fitness and be more green for local commutes to the railway station (4 miles). I haven't ridden a bike for 20 years.
About four month ago I bought an Apollo CX 10 Hybrid from Halfords (it was on special offer at £89) and have pottered about a bit but it doesn't seem that enjoyable to ride. It has those shift grip gears that always seem to be rattling and slipping. Also it has a steel frame - I weighed it using the bathroom scales and did some calculations and it's 17kg - is that heavy?
It has a 21 inch frame but I think it may be too big as my arms are straight out when riding and hands get numb after a few miles with the jarring. I end up slowing right down on hills and it's no fun to ride.
I noticed for example the Dawes mountain bikes start at 13kg with aluminium frame. Would it make a big difference? If I had a 19 inch frame it would be more compact and less 'stretched'.
I then bought an old mountain bike off Ebay as an alternative as I think they are more compact and easy to ride with smaller wheels. This is a 'Thompson' bike that needed new tyres that were perished which I replaced with narrower slick tyres but I've now run into problems with the back axle being bent. I put a new one on and the wheel now keeps moving when I refit it, slipping on it's bolts and rubbing on the frame. I think the spaces are wrong and the wheel is not aligned properly. Plus the front forks are loose and move backwards and forwards - head bearing?
I am now fed up with that and thinking of getting a third bike instead of these two that will be a) more reliable and less worn and
better quality.
I think £200 is the basic amount to spend for something that will last and not be awful to ride - I saw a Giant Rock Mtb for £185 in the local shop which is aluminium and looked OK. Would this be a good buy? It should last 10 years if looked after I hope. Dawes do a bike caled the Saratoga that looks compact and easy to ride at a similar price.
Thanks for any suggestions.
I thought I would tell you my story - I'm 39 yr old bloke who wanted to get back into cycling to get some fitness and be more green for local commutes to the railway station (4 miles). I haven't ridden a bike for 20 years.
About four month ago I bought an Apollo CX 10 Hybrid from Halfords (it was on special offer at £89) and have pottered about a bit but it doesn't seem that enjoyable to ride. It has those shift grip gears that always seem to be rattling and slipping. Also it has a steel frame - I weighed it using the bathroom scales and did some calculations and it's 17kg - is that heavy?
It has a 21 inch frame but I think it may be too big as my arms are straight out when riding and hands get numb after a few miles with the jarring. I end up slowing right down on hills and it's no fun to ride.
I noticed for example the Dawes mountain bikes start at 13kg with aluminium frame. Would it make a big difference? If I had a 19 inch frame it would be more compact and less 'stretched'.
I then bought an old mountain bike off Ebay as an alternative as I think they are more compact and easy to ride with smaller wheels. This is a 'Thompson' bike that needed new tyres that were perished which I replaced with narrower slick tyres but I've now run into problems with the back axle being bent. I put a new one on and the wheel now keeps moving when I refit it, slipping on it's bolts and rubbing on the frame. I think the spaces are wrong and the wheel is not aligned properly. Plus the front forks are loose and move backwards and forwards - head bearing?
I am now fed up with that and thinking of getting a third bike instead of these two that will be a) more reliable and less worn and
better quality. I think £200 is the basic amount to spend for something that will last and not be awful to ride - I saw a Giant Rock Mtb for £185 in the local shop which is aluminium and looked OK. Would this be a good buy? It should last 10 years if looked after I hope. Dawes do a bike caled the Saratoga that looks compact and easy to ride at a similar price.
Thanks for any suggestions.
