Im new here! Help with which bike to buy

[Lazlee]

Hi everyone! Thought I would join today need advice!
Abit about me im 40 yr old woman pretty fit ,have always in the past been into mountain biking and enjoyed going off road back home in New Zealand.

Havent really done any hard out biking for about 10 yrs. My situation has changed im now living in the Netherlands, would really like to get into biking again.
Now here is my dilemma, it will be mainly for fitness commuting would like to be getting into a 100/200kms a week eventually. I cant afford to buy a bike for every occasion or situation so it has to be a multipurpose bike. I dont think i ever want to get into a drop handle road bike somehow that doesnt appeal to me (maybe i change my mind it the future). I have been looking at some fitness bikes I quite like the Cannondale cx range and also Cube fitness bikes. I also like the Cannondale badboy 4 bike. My price range would be up to about 1200 euros, Holland being very flat i wont be doing alot of hill climbing.
But whats confused me is friends of mine who also are getting more into biking have just purchased some 29er mountain bikes they bike alot on the road but also would like to do some off roading some time. So im thinking maybe i should go down the same path then i have the flexibility of doing both.
But then im thinking do i need all that extra weight if i want to start biking for fitness?
Also i want to buy a bike with good components hard to find a bike with a good mix of frame and components in my price range or is that not true? Also I dont know if that is a factor im quite small im 160cm tall so maybe that also has a bearing on what bike?
Sorry for the really long post but i think im confusing myself more and more which way to go? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[BrumJim]

Too much analysis. Just get a bike and ride it!

29er sounds like a good idea if you've previously enjoyed moutain biking and your friend has one too. Weight can't be too much of a problem without any hills to slow you down. On the flat, weight - momentum (or inertia) rather than resistance.

However I know nothing. Except that I probably wouldn't have got the bike that I bought if I new then what I know now. But I still love it and it has taken me places that another bike wouldn't have done. So I don't regret the decision for a minute.

 

[Lazlee]

Hi thanks for the speedy reply and the advice. I should also say sorry to the mods
I realised I posted in the wrong section after I posted!

 

[PpPete]

For a "do everything" bike that's mostly used on the road, but can comfortably handle light off-road duties, I'd be looking at tourers. Mostly drop bars in the UK, but often butterfly bars in rest of Europe.

 

[Psyclist]

Cyclocross would be a good all round bike.

 

[boxer]

When i was buying my latest Road Bike, i read all the reviews online first ect, but when i actually got to the shop the bike that was rated highest didnt 'feel' right.

As im no expert, the only thing i would advise is to get down to the local Cycle shop and try a few out.

 

[Lazlee]

Hi thankyou all for your advice and comments. Ok I have defitnetly decided I would like a flat bar im not interested at the moment in a proper road bike with drop handlbars. I also like the sitting position of a mt bike hybrid and I also suffer from back problems so think that maybe be also better for me.
I have also decided that i will not get a 29er and stick to something more for the road, and if i decide i want to do offroading get a mountainbike later on. So I have a narrowed my choice down to a few bikes and now have to just decide which one plus I hope to be able to take them for a ride too! But purely on specs im not sure which is the better bike for the money.
http://www.bemibikes.nl/crosshybrid...s-x-shimano-slx-matt-black-2011-art-15424.htm
http://www.bemibikes.nl/fitness-bik...ess-bike-tempo-gents-white-2012-art-14476.htm
http://www.bike2build.nl/product/BK9181/cube/2012-hyde-sl/50cm-shadow-black#
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/bad-boy-fatty-r4-2012-hybrid-bike-ec032136#answers
They are all similar price range not sure I need disc brakes ? Does it make much difference to the weight? Carbon forks I would imagine would be nice to have.
Curious to know what you think of my choices

 

[thom]

They are all similar price range not sure I need disc brakes ? Does it make much difference to the weight? Carbon forks I would imagine would be nice to have.
Curious to know what you think of my choices

Disc brakes I reckon are great particularly in wetter conditions. They're just a bit stronger and safer and I think for your usage the weight difference won't be an issue - I have them on a cross/tourer bike and they give me a lot of confidence if I have a load on the bike.

2 things to maybe consider :

If you want to commute and put a rack on, then it is a bit easier if the bike has eyelets to attach the rack. It's not crucial but easier - you might be able to ask a bike shop to braze some on for you but it's true there are other ways to secure a rack.

Make sure you try it and get a reasonable fit, not only for frame but for seat position. If you have back problems, there are stretches and core strength exercises that can help a lot but you can avoid many issues by setting up the bike right.

Oh, make sure you get good locks too...