Decided to start cycling

[Sam Kennedy]

So it's the summer holidays(for me anyway, all my exams are done )

I was bored so my parents suggested I get a bike, I got a Silverfox Orb from Argos.

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/s...ngId=-1&searchTerms=silverfox+orb&Submit=GO+>

For my first ride I think I cycled around 10-11 miles (5 miles both ways)
For my second ride I cycled 8 miles in the rain (that was fun?)

I really loved cycling but after visiting a couple of bike shops I found out my bike really wasn't set up properly. (For people living in Newcastle, stay away from the Cycle Center on Shields Road, long story short: they are crap(I'm probably taking a big risk saying this on a cycle forum ))

Today me and my dad worked together and got the gears working properly, and I think the brakes are as well (there is a slight scraping noise, do I just need to let the brakes 'wear in'? They are disc brakes)

I was wondering whether or not there was a guide online on how to service a mountain bike. I know I can get it serviced for £30 but my Dad wont pay for something you can do yourself

Also one of the people at the cycle center said I had a bad quality bike, I thought as long as it had a seat, moves and stops it was a good bike?

Is there really much difference between a £100 mountain bike and a £800 mountain bike? They all look the same to me (apart from the colours)

Well thats basically all I have to ask for now, the main thing is I want to check everything is set up correctly on my bike, is there a checklist or some sort of guide?

Thanks for reading!

 

[summerdays]

Also one of the people at the cycle center said I had a bad quality bike, I thought as long as it had a seat, moves and stops it was a good bike?

Is there really much difference between a £100 mountain bike and a £800 mountain bike? They all look the same to me (apart from the colours)

Welcome

Now I hate to say it but the cycle centre are right - in this world you get what you pay for. That is why its difficult to adjust everything correctly (been there, done that with one of my kids bikes and learnt that all the components are made from cheaper material), so the brake adjustment screws will break/bend etc and it will be heavier.

That said you have it now and are enjoying yourself... so look on it as a learning experience, find out how to maintain it to make the best of what you've got and then hopefully having got the cycling bug you will start thinking about bike number 2 and what you would like it to be like instead.

And when you do get bike number 2 you will see what a difference spending the extra money can make to the weight, feel of the bike and how easy it is to maintain.

Park Tools website has good maintence sections http://www.parktool.com/repair/
and some good video's are on you tube - perhaps someone else will have a link for those.

 

[willem]

I am afraid I agree (and I really hate to say this because your parents's gesture was so nice): that bike is crap, as are all bikes at that price point. It is not worth spending expensive mechanic's time on. So do it yourself. The first thing you can do is try if you can stiffen the suspension, or lock it out altogether. That will at least stop you wasting too much energy. I hope it will not put you off cycling.
Willem

 

[jig-sore]

Is there really much difference between a £100 mountain bike and a £800 mountain bike? They all look the same to me (apart from the colours)

as people have already said, yes there is. now my bikes were not £800, both are in the £300-£400 range, and even in this area some of the components were junk and have been replaced.

my wife's bike was a £100 jobbie, and to be honest it suits her for the small amount of time she uses it BUT, it really is a pile of S##T, plastic brakes and levers that bend when you pull them !!!! rubbish grip-shoots that feel as though they are going to fall apart (all these have been changed already).

it's heavy, the stem is a joke and things are harder to set correctly

bikes at this price range are little more than toys, although my kids bikes have better spec parts than the wife's.

for some people they do the job just fine, short rides to the shops, cheap commuter bikes that you wont cry over too much if they get nicked etc. but if your going to be doing some serious miles, expect the bike to struggle

 

[Cubist]

Hi Sam

Before you condemn the bike remember that you weren't in a position to buy an £800 one. You haven't been cycling for very long, and I am sure you'll soon have clocked up mileage, got yourself fitter and I bet up until someone told you the bike was crap you loved it to bits. Stick with it, don't spend massive amounts having it serviced, but save up for a better model and by the time you can afford a decent secondhand bike you will have decided which bike will suit you best.

I love the bit about learning to service the bike yourself. There are many online guides, but this one seems a good start point http://bicycletutor.com/guide/

Don't give up on the bike you've got, well-maintained it'll still have plenty to offer, but most importantly don't leave it to rust in a shed because someone told you it was crap.

 

[willem]

The bicycle tutor site is real good.
Willem

 

[Garz]

Just posting to backup all what summerdays and anorak have said, sound experience from these people. Shame you didn't have this knowledge before you bought your first steed.

 

[Sittingduck]

+1 for biketutor. The geezer on the vids had a personality bypass @ birth but don't let that put you off

Hi & welcome by the way

 

[jig-sore]

but lets not forget that his bike should have been £200, so there is still hope that it's half decent.

however, if you had avoided full suspension you would have got more for your money.

as cubist said, get out and enjoy it all the same

 

[PpPete]

As others have said...get out there & ride it anyway.

But for an alternative: go to the local council dump (sorry - recycling centre) see if they have any old bikes that are approximately your size.
They'll often have old "10 speed racers" which at my local they sell for £10 or sometimes half decent MTBs. Take one home, take it apart, put it back together again, see if you can swap any components with your MTB.

You won't be bored, you'll learn a lot about how bikes work, and you may even get a second useable machine at the end of it. If you can get it rideable, but don't like it at the end, card in newsagent's window and ask £25 for it - accept £20.

Of course, you may have spent money on tools & things on the way.... but by then you'll be committted to cycling and need then for maintaining that expensive bike you might get one day.

 

[accountantpete]

A ton for that bike is really good value. The £800 jobbie would be easier on longer or rougher rides - that said,if you find yourself sticking mainly to roads you will be better off with a road bike.

 

[HJ]

Hi Sam, you've made the right decision, cycling is great fun. The best way to get a cheap bike is not to buy new but look for a Bike recycling scheme and get one from there.

 

[Randochap]

Are you riding this on the road, or trails?

 

[Sam Kennedy]

Are you riding this on the road, or trails?

Mainly paths, I'm not very comfortable cycling on the road, I stick to paths whenever I can.

 

[summerdays]

You could start on quiet roads and build up your confidence, and see if your local council offers any training for free or subsidised.