New to Cycling

[Potter930]

Hi All,

Thought I join this forum to get some better insight to cycling.
I currently have a mountain bike that I bought around 4 years ago... I didnt use it.

I havent riden a bike for over 10 years, so got it out the parents shed and started riding.
I want to work towards cycling to work, which will around 8miles each way.

I'm looking for any tips and advice really. The Mountain bike I use at the moment is a Shockwave SUS500, i'm now looking into buying something new. Im considering the ride to work scheme.
I have decided a hybrid bike would be best for me to use. The commute to work would be road and various surfaces on the thames path.
I've heard good things about Decathalons B-Twin bikes, and looking at the Riverside 1 http://www.decathlon.co.uk/riverside-1-mens-id_8202744.html
If I were to join the R2W scheme, it would be through Evans Cycles, and I imagine I will then have a budget of £300 (I wouldnt want to use the full £1000.)
On my days off I would like to go on longer distance rides.

Plus any advice for riding on the roads? Also, does the bike have to be stored inside somewhere? I dont have a shed at my house, but have a garage, would it be best kept in there?

 

[Eribiste]

G'day Potter,
That looks like a very useful allrounder for the money. Riding on the roads, I would say make yourself visible at all times, keep watching out for car drivers doing the unexpected. I ride exclusively on the roads for recreation, so far without any real trouble in about 2000 miles of riding in the last 3 years. Visibility and vigilance are the keys, probably.

As for where you're going to keep your bike, as long as it's dry and secure, that'll do I reckon. Regular use and cleaning help to keep them looking good, and whilst you're cleaning you spot and fix any little niggles too.

Enjoy your new bike!

 

[Potter930]

G'day Potter,
That looks like a very useful allrounder for the money. Riding on the roads, I would say make yourself visible at all times, keep watching out for car drivers doing the unexpected. I ride exclusively on the roads for recreation, so far without any real trouble in about 2000 miles of riding in the last 3 years. Visibility and vigilance are the keys, probably.

As for where you're going to keep your bike, as long as it's dry and secure, that'll do I reckon. Regular use and cleaning help to keep them looking good, and whilst you're cleaning you spot and fix any little niggles too.

Enjoy your new bike!

Thanks a lot for the reply. I intend to go to Decathalon one day to buy some high vis gear and t-shirts etc.

I'm a complete Noob when it comes to knowledge about bikes. I was looking at this bike; http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/70-fx-2012-hybrid-bike-ec031935 if I were to join the ride to work scheme, but I have no idea if it is any better then the B-Twin one

 

[Potter930]

I was also wondering if its worth me buying the new bike now. I'm in 2 minds about it;
The bike I have at the moment is very heavy and the gears arent to great on it, so if I get a new bike for the purpose I want it for, i would enjoy riding and having spent money, be more encouraged

But... I have just started to ride again, so do I want to speak money just yet... mmmm

 

[R105]

new bike might encourage you to do your commute best advice is dont do to much and if your planning to use your mountain bike on the road fit a suitable tyres

 

[sidevalve]

Don't get too hung up about what bike / type to buy. You are not trying for the tour de france or an olympic gold, anything of even reasonable quality will do what you ask of it. More important to find one that fits and that you like. One other thing about riding on the roads is beware of doing anything unexpected yourself. As I've said before the two most important words to remember are THINK AHEAD.
Have fun and enjoy your riding.

 

[Saluki]

Welcome to the world of cycling. The riverside 1 looks like a fair bit of bike for the money and I have no doubts that it would do what you need it to do.

A new bike, with better gears, would probably help with your enjoyment of cycling too. Nothing worse than clunky gears.

 

[Hybrid heaven]

There is a couple of decent hybrids on ebay at mo ,quite a few boardman comps for a couple of quid more if funds permit

 

[Pikeman]

Hi potter, I've just done the same as you last week. I bought a trek 7.3 fx for £500 and it's amazing, now riding to work and back.

 

[Ozzrahog]

Just followed the link you posted and that bike at Evans is showing as discontinued now, may be worth checking out before you set your heart on it

 

[wmtlynx]

Welcome to the world of cycling. The riverside 1 looks like a fair bit of bike for the money and I have no doubts that it would do what you need it to do.

A new bike, with better gears, would probably help with your enjoyment of cycling too. Nothing worse than clunky gears.

I have the Riverside 1 and have done about 800 miles commuting since June. As commuting by bike was an experiment for me, I didn't want to spend a lot on a potential fad. At the price you can afford to tinker around with it and get a feel for maintenance without fear of breaking something. It's a workhorse and treated as such. I've added mudguards, slime tyres, metal pedals with clips, lights and new saddle to make it better for me. But, as it came was far more capable than a mountain bike on the road. Great fun for the money!

We shall see how it copes with the winter, I will no doubt update on here with any issues. So far it's only suffered a slight axle bend due to cones coming adrift. My fault for ignoring play in the wheel for a week!

 

[Potter930]

Thanks a lot for the replies guys. I went back on the Evans site a few hours after posting on here and the noticed it was since dis-continued. What a difference a few hours makes.

I popped into Decathalon last night to have a little look at the Riverside 1, seems alright... But i dont really know what I'm looking for. It seems a lot lighter then my current bike. I'm currently using a Shockwave SUS500

 

[Potter930]

Well, think I need a new bike before I knew it... Just been out on mine and its in a terrible state... god knows whats happened to it! The top of the rear triangle appears to be bent and its rubbing against the wheel. Only done a mile, and as I was pushing it back to the car, it was getting worse

 

[Scoosh]

Potter930 and to CycleChat !

Lots of good advice up there ^ ^ ^ and from people who are just a few days/weeks/months further 'down the road' than you are now !

There is no doubt that a 'better' (ie more suitable/comfortable/lighter//faster/bling ) bike will make a big difference to your enjoyment of cycling, which translates directly into how much you want to ride.

However, you are wise to approach it a bit more slowly and not to splash too much cash at the start.

You have a reasonable idea of what you want to do with your bike and your budget. Armed with this, go into as many bike shops as are reasonably local and tell them what you want. That way, you'll get a 'feel' for the shops and staff and get a variety of bike suggestions. Then come back on here and ask again !

Once done and you have a reasonable idea, go and test ride as many of them as possible. This is important, as you will take some time to adjust to the feel of this type of bike compared to your current MTB (or should that be NoTB ?) They will all feel different from each other and, hopefully, one of them will be 'just right' !

ps remember to budget £60-100 for proper clothing, spares and .......

pps - Aldi's cycling stuff is in this week ....

 

[Gaz Vickers]

I'm a fairly undecisive person generally, so when i decided i want to take up cycling the first thing i had to do was stop the wife laughing! after i managed to convince her i was serious, i took to ebay to find a ''bargain''! (i wanted a £500 bike for £50) when i realised this wasn't going to happen, the wife suggested we go to Decathlon for a look. Once there to my amazement she pointed at a bike for £200 and said ''get that''! It was a RockRider 5.2 , As i didn't know what i really wanted i thought sod it, i figured if i like cycling then next summer i can upgrade to a hybrid or a Road Bike. so i bought it there and then. Then there was the clothes issue, Having no sportswear what so ever, i purchased some padded shorts, a Cheap cycling s/s Jersey and a light Jacket. This was only 4 weeks ago, so in hindsight i should of purchased some more wintry attire.....so my advice is think ahead! lol. Because the wife is pulling her face now that i want more cycling gear! haha. also be wary of the need to buy more and more and more stuff! lol