complete beginner

[craggyb]

Hello, as a mother of 2 young children I want to take up cycling!! Very daunting prospect as I am in my 40's and NEVER done any exercise since leaving school So advice needed please - the last bike I had didn't even have gears and I think I was about 9!

I live in the country, so no paths just country roads. I don't fancy mountain biking but I would like to improve my fitness and gain enough confidence to ride with my girls when they are old enough (currently 5 and 3). I don't know what sort of bike I need or what they are called. When I am confident I would like to go on rides with my girls possibly towing 1 of them on their bike attached to mine (don't know what that's called).

thanks Dawn

 

[sadjack]

Hi Dawn, welcome!

Do you have an LBS - Local Bike Shop? They vary in the quality of advice but a good one is worth their weight in gold. Nothing better in choosing a bike than looking at them close up, sitting on them and if possible having a test ride. A good LBS will let you do this.

My own suggestion for you would be a hybrid type bike which allows a more upright postion. There are loads of them out there. Again I would suggest looking at what your LBS has to offer in the first instance. Buying local and getting them to maintain it will reap its rewards. (No I dont own a bike shop)

 

[gbb]

Hi there Dawn...
As Sadjack suggests, you probably want a hybrid. Taller and easier to ride then a MTB, thinner tyres, bigger wheels, usually come with mudgards (and chainguard). They should cope quite easily with 99% of country roads.
Well done BTW for wanting to get out there, but beware, it can be addictive

Getting the right size is most important. Too small, your thighs will suffer, too large, you'll be teetering about on it.

There's a whole world of makes, cheap ones can be ok (my wife brought a £175 'cheapie'...it lasted fine), but inevitably, more expensive ones are better.

Gears ? dont worry, many hybrids have either gripshift changers (you just twist them to change gear) or trigger shifters, which i prefer. Finger and thumb operated, easy peasy.

All i can say is try to avoid the real cheap ones...money well spent on a bike is...good money spent. You'll reap the rewards.

 

[Globalti]

Seconded - don't fall into the trap of buying a cheapo £99 bike just to see what it's all about because you will hate it. Budget for some gloves, a helmet and some cycle shorts (dhb kit from Wiggle is good value) and spend as much as you can on the bike. Buying last year's model can sometimes get you a good deal because there's a direct relationship between the cost and the weight and the quality of the ride. Your best friend is your local bike shop so you need to find time to go and chat with the sales people, un-distracted by the munchkins and preferably during a quiet time of the week. After buying the bike keep the mechanics buttered up with biscuits, cakes etc to ensure good service.

Do not buy a "women's" bike with a step-through frame - the shape of the frame is weak in engineering terms (the classic two triangles frame is best) and so it has to be made with much stronger tubes to compensate, which means more weight and a stiffer ride.

 

[craggyb]

thanks for the great advice - right I am off to find a local bike shop. if anyone has any recommendations let me know I live on the border of lancs/w yorks between Keighley and Colne.

Thanks Dawn

 

[Globalti]

Isn't Chevin Cycles around there somewhere? Otley, I think?

 

[marinyork]

Yeap. http://www.chevincycles.com/

Monday to Wednesday 9:00am til 6:00pm
Thursdays 9.30am til 6.00pm
Fridays 9.00am til 6.00pm
Saturdays 9:00am til 5:30pm
Sundays 10:00am til 4:00pm

 

[Chris S]

My own suggestion for you would be a hybrid type bike which allows a more upright postion.

I'd second this - might riding improved considerably when I raised the handlebars to give a more upright positon. There's less weight on them so you can ride one-handed to give hand signals, etc.

 

[accountantpete]

What ever you get Dawn. don't expect too much too soon. Make sure that the range of gears on your bike will get you up the local hills and it will get easier with practice.

 

[BearPear]

Hi Dawn, welcome to the very friendly and helpful CC forums!

I am your age and also live in your neck of the woods and got my first bike last year from All Terrain Cycles at Saltaire. I got my road bike last week from the little bike shop in Skipton (not the one by House of Fraser). My hubby has had some servicing of his bike done by the guys at Aire Valley Cycles in Keighley.

I got a Trek ladies hybrid and it has been wonderful - I really can't fault it at all. The problem you will have is the hills - around our area there is practically nowhere you can go without encountering some serious climbs! Look out for the cycle equipment special deals in Aldi, good for basics like shorts & gloves etc.

Enjoy yourself, and your children will love it too!

 

[stevieboy378]

have a look at the Kona Dew - they go for £350 - £400, and are a helluva lot of bike for the money - I love mine . . . .

Oh, and happy cycling - once you get into it its a hobby that'll reap huge rewards, both in enjoyment and in your fitness . . . .

 

[Randochap]

Second the idea of consultation with LBS and a "hybrid."

 

[mrsbaggins]

Hi Dawn,
its never to late to learn. I am well older than you and have also just started. I dont have small children though so I can go out when I want. As the others have said dont get a cheap supermarket bike. I bought one for £99 and after a few weeks its sitting in the garage. Its just soooo heavy i thought i was seriously unfit. It wasnt till i tried a 'proper' bike that i realised it wasnt me it was the bike.

I opted for a moutain bike but whichever you choose I am sure you will have so much fun from it

 

[Paul_L]

Hi Dawn, welcome to the very friendly and helpful CC forums!

I am your age and also live in your neck of the woods and got my first bike last year from All Terrain Cycles at Saltaire. I got my road bike last week from the little bike shop in Skipton (not the one by House of Fraser). My hubby has had some servicing of his bike done by the guys at Aire Valley Cycles in Keighley.

I got a Trek ladies hybrid and it has been wonderful - I really can't fault it at all. The problem you will have is the hills - around our area there is practically nowhere you can go without encountering some serious climbs! Look out for the cycle equipment special deals in Aldi, good for basics like shorts & gloves etc.

Enjoy yourself, and your children will love it too!

can recommend them.

They look a bit daunting for a newbie, but don't be put off by the serious looking bikes, the i've always found the service to be very good.

mind you, i only live up the road, so it could just be i'm lazy!!!

 

[Dilbert]

Welcome

+1 to all the advice given so far.  All I can add is that it might be worth finding out if there is any Bikeability training in your area as this will probably help your confidence.  Our council does it for free (we are a cycling demonstration town) and I have spoken to a few of the trainers and they seemed very knowledgeable and helpful.

As you will discover there is loads of useful information and advice on here.

Good luck with the bike hunting, there are plenty of good ones to choose from.

Cheers

Alasdair