Need Advice

[Peter10]

Hello all,

Firstly, I would like to introduce myself. I have been into sports since I was a kid (mainly contact sports) however over the last few years I have stopped playing due to work commitments. It is now time to start getting fit again, I'm not much of a fan of running or swimming and have always enjoyed cycling, so here I am.

I have always ridden mediocre mountain bikes and I cycle a lot for work (work provide us bikes to get around on when needed) but they are the most basic Specialized mountain bikes which weigh a lot.

I plan to start cycling to/from work daily (about 12 miles each way), cycling to the gym and back (about 15 miles each way) and when I find time, do some recreational cycling. I am fortunate to live in an area which has some great, fast roads which vary in incline/decline and relatively traffic free on Sundays.

So I'm all ready to go except for one thing. I have no bike (unless you count the 10 year old bike I have in the shed which weighs more than I do ). I need some advice from people who will know a hell of a lot more than I do.

I have been looking at a few websites, I have a Specialized bike shop near me and checked eBay. To be honest I don't know what I am looking for specifically other than a road bike. I think I need a 56cm frame (I'm 5'10ish) but if that doesn't sound right let me know. I have a budget of £600 but will push it a little if it means getting a better bike for an extra £50.

I want something light so I can keep it in my office at work (which is upstairs) but obviously I am not going to be competing so don't need an all singing all dancing bike, but would like something fairly decent.

I have been looking at a second hand Specialized Tarmac 2010 bike which was only used for a few miles before the owner broke his leg at work and had to get rid of it. The main reason for only looking at Specialized is I guess it is the most well know brand amongst non-cyclists. I have also seen a Planet X SL Carbon bike second hand, but it is only advertised as "Large" size.

Any advice on where to look, what to look for would be great. I have no idea of what makes of bike are out there other than 1 or 2 of the more well known ones. Someone said I could buy the component parts from people on eBay and build my own but that seems just as, if not more expensive than buying one new (but again, one frame looks like any other to me), but it sounds like fun if it is.

So, any help will be great .

 

[hotmetal]

Sounds like you're in the right ballpark size-wise. I'm about 5'9" and ride a 54 compact but a 56 wouldn't be out of the question. Not everyone has the same proportions though. A bigger frame has a longer top tube but also a higher head tube so may not be too "bum-up head-down" for what you want. Go to a few bike shops and see what size they recommend, and what feels comfortable to you. Minor adjustments can be made by changing stems and seat posts but don't try to get the wrong size frame to fit. If your mate's Tarmac is the right size that would be a great bike, but it's an expensive bike (base model is £1600) so would it be in your budget even 2nd hand? You do get good spec for the money with Specialized even at new price. Norm'll be along in a minute recommending the Secteur which Evans are doing for £650. I bought my Giant second hand and got a great specced bike for a great price, but you have to know it's going to fit and that it's not been abused.

I wouldn't necessarily bother with building up your own bike from bits off ebay - it's too easy to overpay and/or order the wrong stuff that might not work with the other components/frame, depends how much you know about bike building, and it also might take so long that you lose the enthusiasm!

OR there's this which looks good for the dosh but again you need to be sure what size to order if you go the internet route.

 

[accountantpete]

I'd look at 52 or 54 for your size - although as Hotmetal says it depends on the geometry. Basically for the hands on the drops and flat back approach you would want a 52 - but for a more comfy position which is easier on the hands/arms go up a bit.

Putting a bike together can be a bit of a nightmare - there are a lot of fiddly bits and you would also need to invest in a few tools.

Would recommend a major frame(Specialized,Cannondale,Scott or Trek) and a good entry level groupset (Shimano Sora and above).

 

[BrumJim]

Try a few out. Although without much experience, finding the better bike for you might be a bit difficult.

As a first bike, I'd go for one of the major names from an LBS, rather than build it yourself.

 

[Peter10]

Thanks for the replies, it's a great help.

I will start looking at 54cm frames also. I see a lot of advertisements where one says a 52cm frame will fit someone of 5'11" and another saying a 58cm is perfect for the same height, so I may have to start trying some out. For example, the seller of the Specialized Tarmac says that the 56cm frame is for 5'5"-5'10" height ranges.

I looked at that Focus bike http://www.wiggle.co...010/5360045297/ from another thread. How good is that one?

I'm not in a massive rush to buy, so I am willing to wait for the right bargain to come along on eBay.

 

[Norm]

Norm'll be along in a minute recommending the Secteur which Evans are doing for £650.

Oh.... ok then.

Peter, you need to find a good bike shop who will let you try different bikes. If you aren't sure what style you want, then asking on a forum like this will mainly result in people recommending what they have in their own sheds. What you need to do is find someone relatively (commission aside) unbiased to talk through what you want, what you don't want and then let you have a ride.

IMO, if most of your riding has been on MTBs, you could look a flat-barred road bike. You'll be used to the riding position and controls, but the reduced weight and increased speed from the road tyres will make a significant difference compared to the MTBs you are used to riding. As an example, have a look at Specialized Sirrus.

Alternatively, and in line with Hottie's comment above, have a look at a road bike with drop bars. Whilst you might not spend much time on the drops (someone on here wrote earlier today that they use the drops once every 3 months, to remind themselves how uncomfortable they are ) they do give new hand positions and they can be more comfortable. As an example, have a look at a Specialized Secteur or Allez.

Once you've looked at / tried those, you'll have a better idea of exactly what you want... and then you'll buy the Secteur.

Oh, and ignore the frame sizes, you cannot use them for useful comparisons between brands, you cannot even use it to gauge whether you need the same frame as someone who is the same height as you. There are too many variables (inside leg, weight, age, fitness, suppleness etc). You need to get a ride on the bike you want to buy.

You get a preview before you spend 79p on a single from itunes, you need at least the same before you blow £600 on a bike you don't like.

 

[Peter10]

Thanks for the reply Norm. I haven't used a bike with dropped handles before, but I definitely want a light bike so I may look into what you have recommended there. I have remembered there are a few other bike shops near me so I may go and have a look and see what they have tomorrow before work and then see if I can get one on eBay for less.

 

[accountantpete]

Thanks for the reply Norm. I haven't used a bike with dropped handles before, but I definitely want a light bike so I may look into what you have recommended there. I have remembered there are a few other bike shops near me so I may go and have a look and see what they have tomorrow before work and then see if I can get one on eBay for less.

Drops are an acquired taste and take some getting used to especially on busy roads. But they do save an awful lot of energy into a headwind.

 

[Peter10]

Something not working here...

Hi again .

After 3 weeks of being sniped on eBay I have decided to bite the bullet and buy brand new...

Looking around, Wiggle seems to have the most competitive prices (but if you know somewhere else good do tell).

My budget is £650, I will go higher the difference is a far better bike. Can someone recommend me the best bike in that price range (road bike).

I have found a few others on Evans website, one a Fuji Roubaix 2.0 and one a Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Sora 2010 for the same(ish) money.

I know very little about the technical aspects of bikes (I am trying to learn). So I really want to throw my options open to those who know what they are talking about. Visually, the Tifosi looks great, but I wouldn't buy an Aston Martin with a Robin Reliant engine. I know it is a generalisation about frame size to height, but if you do recommend one, a rough idea of which frame is best for a 5'9"-5'10" guy would be awesome.

Again, these are what I know of, if you know of a better one for the money, please recommend!

Pete

 

[Norm]

A predictable response from me, but £650 is the list price of a Secteur Sport. It's a tad less focussed than the bikes you mention, and comes with a Sora / Tiagra mix rather than the full Tiagra on the Fuji Roubaix 2.0, but I've found it a lot more comfortable than the racier cousins.

As for size, that's a very personal thing. Martok on these forums is about the same height as me, and you, but he needs a 58cm frame whereas mine is a 54cm.

 

[Martok]

A predictable response from me, but £650 is the list price of a Secteur Sport. It's a tad less focussed than the bikes you mention, and comes with a Sora / Tiagra mix rather than the full Tiagra on the Fuji Roubaix 2.0, but I've found it a lot more comfortable than the racier cousins.

I'd agree with Norm on this, the Secteur is a great bike, it's indeed more comfortable than an out-and-out racer and it's definitely worth considering. My other half on these forums, HaloJ, has a Secteur Sport and she loves it. I've got the next model up, the Secteur Elite, though that's £1000.

As for size, that's a very personal thing. Martok on these forums is about the same height as me, and you, but he needs a 58cm frame whereas mine is a 54cm.

I'm actually 6'1" so a little taller than you both, hence the larger frame size. It is a personal thing though and you must try out the bike before you buy it. For the Secteur you may be a 54cm or 56cm. Inside leg measurement and arm span are factors that make it different for different people (I've got arm span greater than my height with helped push me to a 58cm frame). For other bikes, the frame size you need will likely be different due to the different shape of the bike frame.

When I went to buy my bike I asked the store to get in a couple of frame sizes for me to try out. They did this and the bikes were in turn put onto a trainer where I then tried them out and found the frame that fitted me. So do the same in the bike shop you intend to buy from, ask advice from them on size, get s couple of frame sizes to try out and do so in store before you buy.