For newbies... idea for entry level road bike

[jimboalee]

What do people mean by entry level?

An "Entry level" road bike is a bike that wouldn't cause embarrassment in a BCF Category four race.

I have seen a Trex 1000 ridden in a Cat 4. I've also seen an ancient Holdsworth in a Cat 4.

My 23lb Pug 531 would fair quite well in a Cat 4. Mind you, a 50 year old veteran who's been riding for forty years would probably do better than an eighteen year old on a 23lb bike.

Before you shout, if the eighteen year old had been riding since he was ten, he should be in Cat 2, not with the beginners and oldies in Cat 4.

Unfortunately, there are very few piccies on the net showing category four racers, so here's a link to SCC's gallery. These are as 'Entry level' as you can get.

Sorry, no Solihull CC photos.
Oops, there copyrighted.

 

[Garz]

IIRC they wont take paniers, so it'd have to be very light touring.

Is this true, I thought they would? Im interested in these range of bikes, but wouldnt mind panniers in case I try out a mini tour.

 

[scottyD]

Thanks sitting duck. about 3 times so far. gears on the brake levers take some getting used to, but a bit improvement.

I'm very impressed with the Raleigh for the price. My old Raleigh Equipe is looking very sad next to it. But i'll keep that for pub crawls and a bit of off road exploring.

 

[Maz]

An "Entry level" road bike is a bike that wouldn't cause embarrassment in a BCF Category four race.

I have seen a Trex 1000 ridden in a Cat 4. I've also seen an ancient Holdsworth in a Cat 4.

My 23lb Pug 531 would fair quite well in a Cat 4. Mind you, a 50 year old veteran who's been riding for forty years would probably do better than an eighteen year old on a 23lb bike.

Before you shout, if the eighteen year old had been riding since he was ten, he should be in Cat 2, not with the beginners and oldies in Cat 4.

Unfortunately, there are very few piccies on the net showing category four racers, so here's a link to SCC's gallery. These are as 'Entry level' as you can get.

Sorry, no Solihull CC photos.
Oops, there copyrighted.

You lost me after you mentioned Cat 4.

 

[jimboalee]

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/roa/road_categories_explained.asp

There are some events which allow any cyclist to buy a 'Day pass' to enter the Catagory 4 race on that day.

I have seen some junk at these events.

 

[jimboalee]

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/roa/road_event_classification.asp

Refer to C, C+ and 'Go race' events.

I went to a C event and nearly got talked into entering the Cat 4 race on my SWorks.

I watched for a while until a chap from Kenilworth Wheelers crashed and was taken away in a Paramedic Unit.

The circuit was bumpy and narrow so I declined the invitation

 

[Sittingduck]

Are you part of Solihull CC jimboalee? I was checking out their website Yesterday or the day before (been slack in the office this week).

Regards,
SD

 

[jimboalee]

Are you part of Solihull CC jimboalee? I was checking out their website Yesterday or the day before (been slack in the office this week).

Regards,
SD

Yup.