new cyclist looking for advice to get me started

[redcard]

Cycling is brilliant, because you can get absolutely totally knackered and run out of food/water ... and still have to pedal home
under your own steam.

At the gym if you get knackered ... you visit the vending machine, or maybe jump in the car to drive home (my friends do).

Sounds farking horrible, mate. I'll just stick with the bus

 

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

Sounds ****ing horrible, mate. I'll just stick with the bus

But you'll miss all the tasty flies. Yummy!! Did you know a full fat bluebottle is worth 7 calories.........

 

[MissTillyFlop]

Thanks for the response, Dave.

With that sort of kit, do you shower before work, or does a generous spraying or deodorant do the trick?

Definitely shower at work! Even when you get changed, you'll stink if you don't get rid of all that nasty bacteria - I speak from my own shameful experience.

As far as cheap kit goes, get down to the sales and also Lidl and Aldi do some okay stuff for the price (no point shelling out loads before you know that you're going to use it regularly!)

 

[HLaB]

Yep, was hoping someone would come along with another opinion!

I think I'd be way more comfortable with flats, easier to sit-up, relax, and be aware of what's going on around you. With drops I feel like I would always be in cycle-mode, if that makes sense.

I agree with Jim you'll want drops in the end and if your bike is the right size there's no problem with sitting up, relaxing and looking around, you don't always have to be in cycle-mode and you can fit cross levers too if you want to brake from the flats. Given the distance you are talking about cycling and the terrain you'll be better with a more comfortable bike.

 

[vickster]

I wouldn't say my road bike is any more comfortable than my hybrid...I have done many more miles on the latter...and the roadie is definitely the right size having been built from scratch to me - the fact it is full carbon does help of course, but the OP won't be getting one of those for £300

He needs to give both a go or start with flats and accept that he may want to change to drops

 

[phil_hg_uk]

I started a few years ago on a cheapish MTB, then when I found myself doing over 1500 miles a year a wearing it out I got a road bike, also the MTB was very heavy.

Interestingly a couple of weeks a go I got a Felt QX65 Hybrid from someone one here and so far this year it is all I have been out on, I like it .Yes it is weighs more than the road bike but no where near the weight of the MTB and I like the change of riding position the flat bars give. It has taken a bit of getting used to the change of hand postion but I like been able to go anywhere I want i.e. down muddy bike tracks through woods or just on the road without worrying about damaging or covering my road bike in mud. Also I am able to go for rides with friends who dont like to go riding as far as I do, or just are not fit enough, and with the road bike that was impractical which means I just end up riding long distance on the road on my own.

I will go back to the road bike when the weather gets better but I think I will also get the Hybrid out more in the future so I can explore the off road routes.

 

[HLaB]

I wouldn't say my road bike is any more comfortable than my hybrid...I have done many more miles on the latter...and the roadie is definitely the right size having been built from scratch to me - the fact it is full carbon does help of course, but the OP won't be getting one of those for £300

He needs to give both a go or start with flats and accept that he may want to change to drops

I can only go by my experience the road bike and drops is far more comfortable than my sirrus (when it was a flat bar) on the hands; I converted it to drops and it is far more comfortable and easier (conversion is not the ideal brake wise however). I wish now I had went for drops straight off but c'est la vie

 

[redcard]

Thanks for all the responses so far. Some excellent advice and information.

I'm not sure if my company is interested in signing up for Cycle Scheme, and at the moment I don't have £400-£500 for a decent bike and kit, so I'm looking around on ebay and Gumtree.
If they do sign up, I'll be looking at the Triban 3, or the TDF from Halfords.

If there's 3 things I should be looking for on a decent bike what are they? Assuming it fits me, and is in decent condition, what's the things that make the difference between a good bike and a bad bike, a bike that I'm going to be using for mostly commuting on main roads.

700c wheels seem to be number 1, and I'm guessing weight would be another. Should i be looking at around 10-12KG?

Anyone got anything to add?

 

[the snail]

For cycle track use, I reckon the Carrera Subway is worth a look - £199 in halfords at the moment. It's a well regarded bike, with 7005 frame, wider tyres will be comfy off tarmac, it will take mudguards and rack. My thoughts are that you could buy one, get used to the commute, then after a while you'll have a better idea of the sort of riding you'll be doing, and the best type of bike for you. Then you could use cycle to work to get something flash, and keep the other bike for back up/bad weather.

 

[snorri]

Is this any help?
http://www.mapmyride.com/s/routes/view/bike-ride-map/united-kingdom/glasgow/5582435

 

[redcard]

I'm pretty much set on the Triban 3, but from stuff I've read, and some of the comments here, that wouldn't really be suitable for cycle paths?

There's some decent cycle paths in this area, and I'd like to use those for leisure cycling, and potentially for commuting occasionally as well.

Aren't cycle paths similar in terrain to roads??

 

[TheCyclingRooster]

As to a route try Cyclestreets.

Hi HLaB. I bought this Claud Butler Levant brand new in early 2009. It cost me then £404.00. In standard form it weighs 10.5kgs.
It is a very frisky Hybrid Road Bike and runs on 700c Ragida Nova rims and Maxxis 23c tyres.
It has a Triple and an 8spd cassette all on Shimano. Since the image was taken I have shortened the bars back to 500mm and fitted some Deda Ergo Grips and Mini Horns.
The bike is an excellent ride,it is as good a ride as my Bianchi but with the obvious difference of the bars.
At 66yrs of age old habits & practices don't go away. I am riding Marcel Berthet Lyotard platform pedals with Christophe toeclips & straps and Vittoria leather shoes and sole plates on both bikes.

 

[junglegusset]

I'm pretty much set on the Triban 3, but from stuff I've read, and some of the comments here, that wouldn't really be suitable for cycle paths?

There's some decent cycle paths in this area, and I'd like to use those for leisure cycling, and potentially for commuting occasionally as well.

Aren't cycle paths similar in terrain to roads??

There is a degree of variety in what constitutes a cycle path, often they are tarmac which is as good or better than roads. However they are sometimes just a load of potholes, sometimes just hardpack gravel like a forestry track, sometimes they are just Bridleways. A hybrid or Cyclocross bike will cope with most things, MTB with anything, road bikes you have to be a bit more careful with, even on roads. A bad pothole hit at speed will destroy a lightweight road wheel.

 

[Monkspeed]

I'm pretty much set on the Triban 3, but from stuff I've read, and some of the comments here, that wouldn't really be suitable for cycle paths?

There's some decent cycle paths in this area, and I'd like to use those for leisure cycling, and potentially for commuting occasionally as well.

Aren't cycle paths similar in terrain to roads??

My Triban is fine on Tarmac (obviously! ) but on surfaces like loose stones and mud, its ok but you need to go nice and slow, but then, what road bike would be good on those surfaces?

Normal pot holes on roads is ok, obviously I try not to hit them but sometimes it can't be helped. The wheels are pretty strong but the downside to that is they are heavier.

I've got the weights of them in my user gallery but off the top of my head the rear wheel with cassette and tyre is 1900grams(ish) and front wheel with tyre is 1400grams(ish).

 

[HLaB]

Hi HLaB. I bought this Claud Butler Levant brand new in early 2009. It cost me then £404.00. In standard form it weighs 10.5kgs.
It is a very frisky Hybrid Road Bike and runs on 700c Ragida Nova rims and Maxxis 23c tyres.
It has a Triple and an 8spd cassette all on Shimano. Since the image was taken I have shortened the bars back to 500mm and fitted some Deda Ergo Grips and Mini Horns.
The bike is an excellent ride,it is as good a ride as my Bianchi but with the obvious difference of the bars.
At 66yrs of age old habits & practices don't go away. I am riding Marcel Berthet Lyotard platform pedals with Christophe toeclips & straps and Vittoria leather shoes and sole plates on both bikes.

Nice bike With a good flat bar road bike like that you only really notice the benefits of drops in a strong wind or riding in a group, when others are free wheeling and you are having to pedal against resistance. Nothing is as good as a Bianchi though