New and needing help

[Scar70]

Hi all,

I am new to biking and started last year with a Cape Wrath D24. Very pleased with the bike until it was stolen (from Centre Parcs)

I am looking at replacing it and would like another cape wrath but cannot seem to find the 2007 model that I originally bought. Does anyone know if the 2008 model is as good. I have also been looking at a Diamondback Response.

I live in Norfolk and as most people know Norfolk is very flat that is why I went for a Hardtail.

Am I choosing the correct bikes or can someone advise any better choses.

 

[betty swollocks]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

There are loads of bikes out there and loads of folk here happy to offer advice.
To narrow things down a bit, may I ask what type of cycling are you hoping to do?
For instance:-
Utilitarian - commuting/shopping?
Fitness/weight loss?
Touring?
Mountainbiking?
Recreation?
Combinations of any of the above?

 

[Angelfishsolo]

+1.

Hi and welcome to the forum.

There are loads of bikes out there and loads of folk here happy to offer advice.
To narrow things down a bit, may I ask what type of cycling are you hoping to do?
For instance:-
Utilitarian - commuting/shopping?
Fitness/weight loss?
Touring?
Mountainbiking?
Recreation?
Combinations of any of the above?

 

[Scar70]

Thanks for the welcome.

I will be split between road and light offroad (dirt tracks mostly level) I dont intend doing any heavy offroad yet.

Mainly for fitness

 

[betty swollocks]

Thanks for the welcome.

I will be split between road and light offroad (dirt tracks mostly level) I dont intend doing any heavy offroad yet.

Mainly for fitness

And your budget for the bike please?

 

[Angelfishsolo]

You don't technically need a hardtail then. You could look at a hybrid such as this Dawes Saratoga Gents. If you do pick a hardtail, the one piece of advice I would give you is make shure you can lock out the shocks. If you can not you will waste a huge amount of energy when riding on roads.

Thanks for the welcome.

I will be split between road and light offroad (dirt tracks mostly level) I dont intend doing any heavy offroad yet.

Mainly for fitness

 

[Mike Rudkin]

+1

If you do pick a hardtail, the one piece of advice I would give you is make shure you can lock out the shocks. If you can not you will waste a huge amount of energy when riding on roads.

Just returned from ride on tarmac coastal trail with some inclines,on my Giant Terrago-every time I put some effort into getting up an incline without changing gear I could feel the shocks absorbing all my power! Most disheartening when riding into a gale force wind :-)

 

[colinr]

In my youth I did Peddars way on a hybrid with no problems, as far as I know that's about as off-road as Norfolk gets

Are you definitely hitting trails for light offroad? Or could you stick to roads and consider a road bike? I was convinced to take that option and it's way more fun IMO, especially as there's plenty of country roads to negate any desire for trails.

 

[Black Sheep]

instead of a lock out I just use air forks and pump them up a little bit more for on road

even when i've lowered the pressure for off roading there is little movement from my pedaling, its down to technique - you learn quickly when one gear is all you have and so wasted effort is not good

i'd stick with the hardtail tho.

to answer your original question, the 08 or even 09 model of the bike will just be a different paint scheme and one or two parts slightly different, most likely the fork is a different make or model if anything has changed.

it most likely is just as good, the question is, will it feel the same when riding it. i had two nearly identical specialized hardrocks, the second being an insurance replacement and although they were the same frame the second one was never as nice to ride as the first had been.

 

[Scar70]

Thanks for all the replys they are very much appreciated. I think i will make sure i get lockable shocks. I would rather go for a Hardtail with hyd discs also as I am sure I will be enjoying the riding and dont want to have to upgrade later. Is this good thinking?

 

[Cubist]

Thanks for all the replys they are very much appreciated. I think i will make sure i get lockable shocks. I would rather go for a Hardtail with hyd discs also as I am sure I will be enjoying the riding and dont want to have to upgrade later. Is this good thinking?

Yes, good thinking. You need to do some homework though, and set yourself a budget. Be realistic about the budget, and whatever you want to spend today, by the time you've looked round the shops and searched the web, the one you really want will be £100 more. Be careful though. There is an awful lot of stuff out there that appears to fit the bill, and you could get hooked on riding off-road!

 

[Scar70]

Ok thanks for the advise.
I think i have narrowed it down to 3 in budget.
CAn anyone advise wish is the best.

1iamondback Response 20
2:Claud Butler Cape Wrath D24 2008
3:Raleigh Freeride AT30

The freeride is a little cheaper but has cable disc brakes. Is it better to pay that little more for Hyd Disc brakes?

 

[Black Sheep]

The freeride is a little cheaper but has cable disc brakes. Is it better to pay that little more for Hyd Disc brakes?

yes,

but you could upgrade them to hydro disk brakes in the future,

the main cost in upgrading is getting the wheels to be disk compatible, if you get cable disks then the wheels will be disk compatible.

your only expense then is to buy the brakes, fit them and fit the new disk.

i recommend the deore hydro disks, they were about £70 an end.

basically, if you like the freeride then don't be put off by the cable disks, run them until the pads wear out and then upgrade, or upgrade straight off and stick the cable disks on e-bay to recover some of the upgrade cost.

 

[Scar70]

yes,

but you could upgrade them to hydro disk brakes in the future,

the main cost in upgrading is getting the wheels to be disk compatible, if you get cable disks then the wheels will be disk compatible.

your only expense then is to buy the brakes, fit them and fit the new disk.

i recommend the deore hydro disks, they were about £70 an end.

basically, if you like the freeride then don't be put off by the cable disks, run them until the pads wear out and then upgrade, or upgrade straight off and stick the cable disks on e-bay to recover some of the upgrade cost.

Ok What about the other 2 bikes? Should I consider them?

Also what frame size would you recommend. I am 5 ft 9 - 10 ! Would a 18" frame be ok or should I go for a 20" frame?

 

[Black Sheep]

Ok What about the other 2 bikes? Should I consider them?

Also what frame size would you recommend. I am 5 ft 9 - 10 ! Would a 18" frame be ok or should I go for a 20" frame?

re frame size,

i'm 6ft 2-4ish, I tend to ride an 18 inch frame.

it depends partly on your riding style, i like a frame with a bit of space under me but with a bit of length in the top tube because thats how mountain bikes were when i started riding.

out of the two sizes you've surgested i'd say an 18 but look at 16 inch frames too, sizes differ between manufacturers, specialized for example do 17, 19 and 21 inch frames instead of even numbers.

the best way of choosing the size is to test ride.

the best way to choose from the three bikes you're looking at is to test ride
the one you feel most comfortable and confident on is the one to get.