New Bike at Wrong Side of 40..

[BGD]

Hello all!

I would be grateful if I could get some advice on a bike from the collective experience of forum members.

I am in a slightly odd and no doubt laughable situation... I have been persuaded by a few old, fit friends to join them on a sponsored bike ride for Asthma UK: Beach to Beach in May (!)

I do not own a bike and haven't for over 20 years! But I therefore need to purchase a racing/road bike for the purpose and hopefully to develop a longer love of riding afterwards to keep me fit more generally. I need this soon so I can start to awaken muscles that haven't been put through their paces in many a year.

As I have just purchased a doer-upper house my budget is quite limited so I am hoping around.. £200 might get me a sufficient used bicycle from likes of eBay or Gumtree. I can of course trade up later.

As you'll be aware, bike components have changed over the last 20 years. The course is 140 miles over two days and includes hills! Therefore I am assuming a lighter bike with sufficient gears is a good starting point.

Please take pity on me and try to offer some suggestions without laughing too hard.

Thanks

 

[jowwy]

Will see you at the Beach to Beach - as i'm doing it too

 

[BGD]

I'll be the one crying by the side of the road Jowwy.

 

[accountantpete]

TBH it takes a while to build up muscle and you are going to go on pretty much what you have now.

With this in mind you should be looking at a triple chainset ( the one with granny ring to get you up the hills) or a compact ( they now do a smaller double chainset with 50t and 34t).

You can also look at hybrids -essentially road bikes bit with flat bars - if you prefer a more upright position.

Other than that you will need some decent gear that won't chaff or make your feet uncomfortable.

Best of luck.

 

[jowwy]

I'll be the one crying by the side of the road Jowwy.

next to me then lol

if you could stretch to £300 - you could get a brand new decathlon with carbon folks - folks on here swear by them

decathlon

 

[Fab Foodie]

Welcome
For your budget I'd also recommend looking for a narrow tyred flat-bar hybrid, either a triple or compact double. They're generally much cheaper than a road-bike (much cheaper gear shifters) and very versitile. Most will easily accomodate mudguards and a rack for luggage if required. When you've been bitten by the bug, it'll be the utility/pub bike when you get your super-slick roadie!
Important is good bike fit and decent shorts and gloves. After a while, move-up to clipless pedals and shoes.
Build-up fitness from a gentle start, it happens quick, so no worries.

FF

 

[dellzeqq]

a lot has changed in twenty years. Gear changers have improved out of sight. Carbon forks have removed a lot of tarmac generated vibration. Clothing has got better. Clipless pedals, a novelty twenty years ago, are commonplace.

Your priorities should be
1. weight - yours, not the bike. Attend to your diet and cut down on the booze (and I'm not the kind of chap to suggest that lightly)
2. comfort (1). I'm afraid to say that I disagree with FF about the type of bike because I think that keeping your arms in the same position for seventy miles is terribly wearing. If somebody offers you a hybrid that is an absolute bargain, give it thought, but my advice is that bar-ends are a must on a flat bar bike.
3. comfort (2) your sit-upon will need toughening up if you are going to ride for two days in succession. This happens over time. There's no shortcut
4. comfort (3) get in to the habit of distributing your weight between saddle, handlebars and legs. Let each take a share of the strain. Clipless pedals will enable you to roll your weight around a bit to take the load of arms and bottom (see comfort (1) and (2)) and put more weight on your feet.

If you do get the bug then whatever you buy for £200 or even £300 will become a utility bike in fairly short order, but this ride matters, and I'd spend a bit of effort chasing down the bike best suited to the job. Your nearest Decathlon branch is in Reading, but if you can get over there then the Triban 3 is a fantastic bike for the money, and well worth considering. I don't know of anything for that kind of dosh that comes close.

 

[postman]

Have you thought about asking around if one of your mates can loan you a bike for the ride.Maybe one mate might not be able to do it and hey presto one loaned bike.Ask around where you work.Just a thought and no big cash layout.You could offer to give them a bit of cash for a meal and a couple of pints.Just a thought.

 

[I like Skol]

Welcome
For your budget I'd also recommend looking for a narrow tyred flat-bar hybrid, either a triple or compact double.
FF

What he said.

Don't be pushed into getting a racer by 'friends' that are keen cyclists. You also have to live with this bike after the event and as a seasoned life long cyclist who has ridden drop bar bikes as a teenager and recently purchased one again I am still not convinced of the advantages of the drop handle bar for normal, non-performance use.

I like my MTB, I like my nice drop bar road bike for those sunny day rides (kind of like the classic convertible car that comes out of the garage a few times a year) but I LOVE my flat bar hybrid for everything else and that includes commuting, shopping, forum rides, family rides and nipping out for a ride rides.

I have fitted mudguards and rear panniers and I don't think it slows me down much, if at all (ask the people who have ridden with me?). Mudguards are great because when you ride somewhere on a lovely day but the weather turns unexpectedly before you get home it's nice not having all the surface water spraying in your face and up your back. The Panniers are great because on that same day, it's nice to be able to pull out a set of waterproof overtrousers and a jacket. It's nice having somewhere to put your tools and pump and spare inner tubes without having to wear a sweaty rucksack on your back. It's nice having somewhere to keep your spare drinks, some cake and emergency snacks.

I never thought as a teenager I would ever hear myself being so enthusiastic in extolling the virtues of a 'sensible bike' but sometimes your head has to rule your heart and while you might yearn for that sexy roadbike, practicality and reality will point many people to a nice flat bar hybrid (NO, not ever with suspension forks, ever!) and let me tell you a secret..........

...... If you choose the right bike you might be surprised at how little of a compromise it really is

 

[BGD]

Many thanks to all of you for the comments above. Some of it flew a little over my head so it will have to be reread and looked into again tomorrow. I'll also check out the Triban 3.

Postman, unfortunately not. I recently moved well out of the area for better kid's schools etc so my key friends are 100 miles away and the sort of bikes they own, I fear will not be fit for purpose. That said, one of the friends mentioned in the OP is using the bike for this challenge that he rode at 16!!

 

[Red Light]

Clipless pedals will enable you to roll your weight around a bit to take the load of arms and bottom (see comfort (1) and (2)) and put more weight on your feet.

I have to say if you have not ridden a bike in 20 years and need to be ready by May I would forget all about clipless pedals. Its just not enough time to get used to riding the bike and get used to riding clipped in at the same time. Just get some flat pedals.

But the two things you need to start doing straight away are a) getting some time in the saddle to toughen up you bum otherwise you are going to be very sore after the first 70 mile day and b) get your general level of cycling fitness up as best you can. Both of those involve getting some miles in but I would start off gently and build it up - a little and often is better than a big effort and then being too stiff and sore to cycle for several days. Start with say 3-5 miles unless you feel good to do more and then build up from there steadily.

On the ride carry plenty of energy drink or energy gels for use in the second half of the ride.

 

[I like Skol]

but my advice is that bar-ends are a must on a flat bar bike.

I agree with this quite a lot, just some little ones will do.

 

[Rob500]

BGD. Welcome to the forum.

1. Good luck with which ever way the purchase goes.

2. There's nothing wrong with being the wrong side of 40.

 

[snorri]

2. There's nothing wrong with being the wrong side of 40.

Which side is the wrong side anyway?

 

[dellzeqq]

Which side is the wrong side anyway?

I'm assuming he's 39