Looking for advice please.

[Hingle]

Hello everyone – new poster here looking for some advice/input please.

I want to get back into cycling having not done much for a few years. One of the reasons being that I get bad aches/pains in my shoulders and neck after a couple of hours. I am looking to get a new bike that will be okay for commuting (about 6 miles each way) and some longer rides for exercise/pleasure at the weekends, which may include some light offroad. The main thing I am looking for is something with a reasonably upright position to give me more comfort.

Two bikes I have been looking at are the Specialized Sirrus X 4.0 and Trek Dualsport 3.

Specialized Sirrus X 4.0

Trek Dual Sport 3 Gen 5

Can anyone tell me which one of these will have a more upright riding position?

Any other thoughts on these bikes or alternatives would be most welcome.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Grant Fondo]

Hello everyone – new poster here looking for some advice/input please.

I want to get back into cycling having not done much for a few years. One of the reasons being that I get bad aches/pains in my shoulders and neck after a couple of hours. I am looking to get a new bike that will be okay for commuting (about 6 miles each way) and some longer rides for exercise/pleasure at the weekends, which may include some light offroad. The main thing I am looking for is something with a reasonably upright position to give me more comfort.

Two bikes I have been looking at are the Specialized Sirrus X 4.0 and Trek Dualsport 3.

Specialized Sirrus X 4.0

Trek Dual Sport 3 Gen 5

Can anyone tell me which one of these will have a more upright riding position?

Any other thoughts on these bikes or alternatives would be most welcome.

Thanks in advance!

Hi there! you need to try them both out if possible, a good fit probably more important than a very upright position, particularly if you are planning longer rides. I get way more shoulder/neck/lower back discomfort on upright flat bar bikes than drop bar bikes, i guess the load is spread more evenly? So bar width, stem reach and overall geometry come into play, but not sure which of your two options would be best, possibly neither but lots more options to look at in that sort of budget. Good luck with finding a comfy one.

 

[fossyant]

Both very similar, although the TREK is leaning more to 'off road' with the chunkier tyres. Try and get a fit some where.

 

[PaulSB]

Hello everyone – new poster here looking for some advice/input please.

I want to get back into cycling having not done much for a few years. One of the reasons being that I get bad aches/pains in my shoulders and neck after a couple of hours. I am looking to get a new bike that will be okay for commuting (about 6 miles each way) and some longer rides for exercise/pleasure at the weekends, which may include some light offroad. The main thing I am looking for is something with a reasonably upright position to give me more comfort.

Two bikes I have been looking at are the Specialized Sirrus X 4.0 and Trek Dualsport 3.

Specialized Sirrus X 4.0

Trek Dual Sport 3 Gen 5

Can anyone tell me which one of these will have a more upright riding position?

Any other thoughts on these bikes or alternatives would be most welcome.

Thanks in advance!

I can't comment on those bikes but can say the discomfort you're experiencing is due to a poor position on the bike.

You will solve the problem with the right size bike correctly set up for you.

 

[All uphill]

Welcome!

If you have not been cycling much for a while it will take time to rebuild your core strength.

As others have said a good fit is the place to start. Better a £500 bike that fits and is comfortable than a £1500 one that isn't.

 

[Hingle]

Thanks everyone for the replies-your help is much appreciated.
I was intending to try both if I can and also get a professional fit. I realise that getting one that fits properly is likely to be more than half the battle.
I have a Trek dealer just down the road from me but I will need to find the local Specialized one.
Do bike shops usually allow a test ride?

I also realise there are many bikes available - too many actually! The reason I looked at these two is that I know someone with a Specialized and recommends them highly and I bought my son (9) a Trek which seems a really well made bike.
I might have a closer look at drop bar bikes too.

it is a pleasure looking for new bikes but the more I look the more complicated it seems.

 

[All uphill]

Of course you could just buy a cheap used bike, ride it to rebuild your strength and work out the ideal fit.

Then copy the set up to the bike you really want

 

[Gillstay]

Have a good look at second hand bikes as there is some terrific bargin's out there at the moment as its a buyers market.
You can buy a £1000 plus bike and get it checked over by a local bike shop for less than £400.

 

[Punkawallah]

I’d also recommend a second hand bike to start off with. Something with a steel frame will do the job you are describing, a 90’s ATB without suspension perhaps, and not overly hard on the wallet.

 

[biggs682]

I’d also recommend a second hand bike to start off with. Something with a steel frame will do the job you are describing, a 90’s ATB without suspension perhaps, and not overly hard on the wallet.

Same here

 

[richardfm]

If you are going to use the bike primarily for commuting then consider whether or not it has fittings for mudguards and a luggage rack.

 

[Punkawallah]

If you are going to use the bike primarily for commuting then consider whether or not it has fittings for mudguards and a luggage rack.

If it proves lacking, there are offerings in the market for a seat post rack, of obviously limited weight capacity.