Carrera TDF Road Bike

[captainhastings]

Hi every one
I have been jogging for a few months now and on my rest day I was thinking of doing some cycling.
The knees are playing me up at the moment so I was hoping cycling would also strengthen the thighs and help them out too.
Also my work place is about 8 miles up the dual carrage way so that could be a possibility.
Any way I see halfords have some nice looking bikes for a little over £200
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchCmd?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&categoryId=165710&langId=-1&action=listrefine&constraints=sor||Price||1||pag||1

Just wondering on any ones thoughts.
I do intend to visit my local cycle shop too for a nose in the hope of a second hand bargain

 

[blazed]

I had to stop running due to recurrent shin injuries which is why i now cycle. But if you're having trouble with your knees you may find cycling causes them problems as well. I wouldnt bother with a new bike for £200 get a used one.

 

[captainhastings]

I had to stop running due to recurrent shin injuries which is why i now cycle. But if you're having trouble with your knees you may find cycling causes them problems as well. I wouldnt bother with a new bike for £200 get a used one.

I had the shin thing too but got over that with luck
Yea I know what you mean about the knees but I think its because i have upped my miles too quickly the last couple of weeks. It is just the one knee rather than both and my own fault for pushing it too hard
They dont give me problems as a rule
Think I will take your advice on the used bike route too

 

[simon_brooke]

Hi every one
I have been jogging for a few months now and on my rest day I was thinking of doing some cycling.
The knees are playing me up at the moment so I was hoping cycling would also strengthen the thighs and help them out too.
Also my work place is about 8 miles up the dual carrage way so that could be a possibility.
Any way I see halfords have some nice looking bikes for a little over £200
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchCmd?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&categoryId=165710&langId=-1&action=listrefine&constraints=sor||Price||1||pag||1

Just wondering on any ones thoughts.
I do intend to visit my local cycle shop too for a nose in the hope of a second hand bargain

When I was 16 I got the forty-years-ago equivalent of that bike from Halfords. I rode that bike from Edinburgh to Cheltenham, so it can't have been all that bad. Ten years later I got another cheap Halfords road bike, and I
rode about 25,000 miles on that one.

I wouldn't buy another now, but then these days I can afford to buy really good bikes. It won't be light, it won't be fast, the components will need a lot of maintenance... but it will get you places, and you'll have fun.

However, a second hand bike of better quality would probably be a better buy.

 

[BikeShapedObject]

Just for the hell of it, would somebody like to point to a second hand bike of similar value to that halfords one, on ebay or elsewhere? I'm intrested to see what perople think is better for the same money....

 

[The Jogger]

your knee problems when jogging , is probably over pronation. could be solved by correct shoes. have you been to a proper running shop, like sweatshop?

 

[Steve Austin]

for a start, its a £400 reduced to 259 so any alternative would have to be serious good value. is a steady looking beginners bike. its not the best bike ever, but for 259 i don't think you will find better. you'll find alternatives, but not better.
just make sure they get the forks the right way round.

 

[johnnyh]

it's very much the same as my Carrera Virtuoso, just in a paint job from what i can see.

for £250 it is a good buy, I paid £250 for my Carrera and it has performed without fault over 2000 miles since Feb, including 3 days at 120 miles a day.
(added bonus that it can take my rack and trunk bag/panniers). Yes I now have my Trek 1.7 too, but I still ride the Carrera half of the time.

 

[captainhastings]

your knee problems when jogging , is probably over pronation. could be solved by correct shoes. have you been to a proper running shop, like sweatshop?

You may be right but I have yet to find a shop that does gait analysis in my area or even close. It is some thing I want doing though
I live in Carmarthenshire west wales.
Thanks every one for the advice too much appreciated

 

[Downward]

Decathlon have the Sport 1 2009 for the same price and our local store has the Sport 2 2008 model in the sale for £259.99.

Both are better spec than the Halfords.
The Sport 2 in the sale is Shimano 2200 and the 2009 Sport 2 model is £499.00 so it's a cracking price.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

if it fits your budget, it should be a good bike. just allow a little extra in the budget to have a good local bike shop check it over if you're not satisfied that the halfords staff are very knowledgeable (which can vary enormously between stores).

you can always upgrade components on an as and when basis, as i did with my carrera virtuoso.

 

[captainhastings]

at 5 foot 8 and average build would I need the 54 or 58 inch reason I ask is they dont have the 54 inch in stock. Of course I will try it out any way.

 

[Ivan Ardon]

I'm around your height, and a 58 will be too big.

 

[aJohnson]

at 5 foot 8 and average build would I need the 54 or 58 inch reason I ask is they dont have the 54 inch in stock. Of course I will try it out any way.

What's your age? I'm 6'0" and I use a 58 inch which fits me perfectly so will probably be a bit big for you.

 

[captainhastings]

What's your age? I'm 6'0" and I use a 58 inch which fits me perfectly so will probably be a bit big for you.

cheers folks
I am 40 this year lol