Hello from (sometimes) sunny Peterborough

[bororider]

Hi, I'm Darren, 36, from Peterborough
I have recently, only last Wednesday in fact, taken to cycling.

I have a British Eagle Reflex twin suspension mountain bike which I won in a raffle about 10 years ago (I got 2 actually, for £1 raffle ticket) that I have used very rarely over those last 10 years or so mainly to nip to the shop.
It has an 18" frame and me being 6' it is bloody hard work

I have recently started to eat healthier and do more (well start to do) exercise.
I started running but my right calf was becoming more and more painful so I dragged my old bike out.

I rode 4.5 miles the first day and thought I was gonna die when I got back. Got to 6.5 the next day and 8 the next.
Went out yesterday and rode 13.6 miles in 1hr 2 mins and was well happy.

I think I've killed my bike and it will probably kill me if i persevere with it any longer, so I have come here for advice in choosing a new bike. I will post another thread later

Took a trip to a couple of bike shops yesterday and am going to a couple more today

This looks like a great forum and I hope to stick around as i get more into it

 

[SomethingLikeThat]

Welcome

 

[HLaB]

Hiya from town and it was sunny today at least

 

[bororider]

Hiya from town and it was sunny today at least

Hi there, do you use any of the local bike shops? Any one in particular you would recommend.

I was impressed with the guy at Bristows in Orton, think I will end up buying from there

 

[Pat "5mph"]

@bororider great progress in a short time, well done!

 

[paul04]

Hello Darren

 

[HLaB]

Hi there, do you use any of the local bike shops? Any one in particular you would recommend.

I was impressed with the guy at Bristows in Orton, think I will end up buying from there

I like Bristows and Green Wheels, of the two I probably prefer Green Wheels its bigger and better stocked (The owner is a great bloke too who Ive cycled with a bit); I've only ever bought one offs grease/brakes pads/repair kits at the others. Bristows recently replaced the chainset on my Bianchi. I was a bit worried about the length of time the order took but thats probably because being a small shop they operate a 'just in time' service; and when the parts came they turned it around very quickly and I was impressed too (just little things like he took the bike for a test ride to make sure it was shifting right under load).

 

[bororider]

I haven't looked in green wheels actually, although I've browsed their site. They seemed a bit too expensive for my budget or do they have cheaper bikes in.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Hi Darren and .

That's good progress on a very indifferent bike. Well done.

 

[Saluki]

Hi & Welcome.
Your frame sounds a tad small for you. I am 5'8" and have a 19" frame which fits perfectly. It sounds like you are making great progress on it though. Good luck choosing a new bike.

 

[biggs682]

hi from next county across .

what you going for bike wise ?

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Hello! I'm often in Peterborough and very occasionally organise bike rides in Peterborough. Usually on very windy day :/

 

[bororider]

hi from next county across .

what you going for bike wise ?

I was thinking a sporty hybrid, but entry level really for now. Got an annoying niggly voice in my head that keeps shouting road bike at me tho.
My missus thinks i'll kill myself if I had one!!!

 

[SomethingLikeThat]

Used is obviously always an option if you want a road bike for a more reasonable price.

 

[HLaB]

I haven't looked in green wheels actually, although I've browsed their site. They seemed a bit too expensive for my budget or do they have cheaper bikes in.

They do, do cheaper bikes but I've never bought one from either GW or Bristows