OK... It is novice question time folks!

[Paddygt]

First of all, I was going to apologise for such simplistic (to you) questions and then I thought, no! Why should I apologise! There I was, becoming one with the settee, with a mince pie (or two), bag of crisps and a tube of Smarties quite happily watching Eastenders, Strictly Come Dancing, Take me out, and I'm A Celebrity when I accidentally found this forum. So by being here, you have brought this upon yourselves

Anyway, current bike is a few years old Targa Viking DD 24 MB with huge great fat knobbly tires (and rider) on it. Although I actually love this huge bike, I have found very few mountains in Peterborough to justify it and, am considering re grading it as a road bike by fitting some narrower tyres. This will be a temporary thing as I have also decided that next late spring/early summer, I will replace the old girl with a Hybrid.

So, question 1. My current tyres are 2.3 R on a rim that has 559-21 written on it. I do not know if this is a size or something to make it look technical I assume that a fair bit of the energy I use is expelled in just getting these wide, soft, knobbly tyres moving along the road so I would like to fit some more suitable road tyres that will still allow me to use the none surfaced cycle tracks, anything from earth to shale,that abound around Peterborough safely as well as make my commute a little easier (I am looking at a new route to make my ride to work 3 miles each way instead of the 1.4 direct route as a start to slowly building up my usage). However, I have no idea what size tyres I can fit on these rims, I have always just replaced them with the same type as when I first got it about 8 years ago.

Question 2. I have been looking around at bikes online to get an idea of what I will need to look out for when I start the search proper around March next year. I will never have a massive budget and will be looking around £300 to £400 max including any additional bits like rear rack (I like panniers rather than even a small rucksack) and mudguards etc. I am not looking for style but practicality and have found a soft spot for some of the Ridgeback range, are they OK for the budget I am looking at?

Any comments on the above will be appreciated but, like playing with a puppy, you may just encourage me to ask more so be warned

 

[vickster]

No knowledge on tyres, I'd ask your local bike shop for advice

Ridgeback seem to make bombproof hybrids, just need to maintain and lube as with any bike. Might be able to find a 2011 / 2012 model for a good price compared to the new 2013 models

Happy cycling

 

[Nebulous]

Hi there and welcome.

Some bike things are confusing because like many clubs we use our own language, which can be difficult for outsiders. Tyres come in 2 main sizes, one usually stated in inches and one in mm. So your mountain bike (MTB) tyres are most often described as 26" which is what the 559 refers to. Road bike tyres are generally called 700c, or 622 using the same sizing system as is on your rims.

Arguments about favourite tyres abound, with most people including me trying a very small sample and making my mind up on that. Nevertheless most people will agree that putting slicks on a mountain bike will make a big difference on the road. City jets are the only ones I tried, and then only briefly as the bike got nicked, but I'm sure you'll get other suggestions.

The 21 referred to on your rim is the inner rim width. That is quite a wide rim as is normal on an MTB but either of those city jets I linked to (1.95 inches and 1.5 inches) will fit. There's more than you will need to know for a long time about tyre sizes here, including a coloured chart well down the page which advises on what tyres each rim size can cope with.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Good advice on tyres from nebulous. Nuff said there.

as for a foray into Hybrids. You could do worse than look at the carerra range in halfords - although it may be best to take a haynes bike manual or someone who knows a little about bikes when you collect it - their reputation for building and setting them up is flaky. My local one is decent and staffed by bikies, but a quick search will throw up some scary stories of slapdash and downright dangerous workmanship.

Otherwise Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative (their own brand is Revolution & they are generally excellent for the money but they also sell other makes too) and Decathlon are both fantasticVFM at that sort of price point and come from places where there does seem to be a bit more staff knowledge, care and attention to detail as standard.

 

[biggs682]

Paddygt yes get some good quality slicks ie schwalbe City jets and 1.75 or 1.95 x 26 should go on without any problems and will do fine over most terrain on cycle paths . i have done quite a few miles with these on loads of different 26" wheeled bikes including our family Tandem .

cant comment on Ridgeback branded bikes

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Hi Paddygt. No such thing as too simplistic in this section. Nebulous has already given good info on the sizing so I won't add to that but will throw my favoured tyres into the ring. These are Continental Tour Ride in 26x1.75 (47-559): LINK

This is the tyre I'm currently running on my cheap mountain bike and I find they roll well, puncture resistance is very good (just 1 slow puncture in well over 2000 miles on my set) and being a touring tyre they have enough grip for gravel/earth trails as well as on road. They aren't great in deep mud but if that is what you're after you'd be sticking with the knobblys.

With regards to the other question, I don't have any experience with Ridgeback but they are a respected make so I'd expect you to be alright with one of those.

 

[Paddygt]

WOW, thanks guys. Some great info there for me to mull over. As my back tyre is just about had it, I will be popping along to the LBS when they open again in the new year and getting some new boots for it.

As for the Carerra range in Halfords, I must admit that I had a bum buy from them a couple of years ago but then again, it was not their fault. I just picked a bike and took it home, set it up and it was pants lol but then again, it was £80 so what do you expect. The local store does sell some top end stuff, I remember seeing what I thought was a 'G' String until someone told me it was a carbon fibre racing bike....... Maybe time to go and have another look.

Something else that confuses me is the size charts. I am about 5' 9" on a good day with a 29" trouser length (not built for cycling at all lol). On some sites it says I need an 18" frame and on others the size differs. Is the size dependant on the frame shape/style or should I be OK with an 18" no matter what. I am sure the bike I have is bigger than 18", it towers above all the others in the bike shed at work.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Something else that confuses me is the size charts. I am about 5' 9" on a good day with a 29" trouser length (not built for cycling at all lol). On some sites it says I need an 18" frame and on others the size differs. Is the size dependant on the frame shape/style or should I be OK with an 18" no matter what. I am sure the bike I have is bigger than 18", it towers above all the others in the bike shed at work.

For bike sizes the inside leg measurement is to the floor not trouser length.

Bike frame styles have changed in the last few years as sloping top tubes have come in, meaning the quoted sizes for frames are often smaller than they used to be. This is where getting advice from your local bike shop is very helpful as they can advise and you can try bikes for size.

 

[compo]

I had a bargain basement Ridgeback I picked up for £30 at a bootsale. It was well used when I bought it, though in good condition, and it did me for many thousands of miles before I sold it and bought a new Trek hybrid. I now wish I had spent a couple of hundred pounds updating the Ridgeback and not bothered with the Trek, which I can't say I am in love with. The Ridgeback had a 19" frame, and I have a 29" inside leg and it fitted me perfectly.

 

[mrandmrspoves]

Agree with all the great advice above.
My advice: Buy a track pump and keep your tyres hard (when cycling on road and hard surfaces). Soft under inflated tyres contribute even more to rolling resistance than knobbly fat tyres.

 

[Helidoc]

Ridgeback hybrids are great. Even though I have a modern carbon road bike I still have my Ridgeback Motion, and considering it is their bottom end bike, it's great. The next one up is the Speed, which my wife has, and includes racks, mudguards and quick release hubs for a very small premium.

 

[cyberknight]

Welcome to CC !
As other have said , some semi slick tyres like the city jets will transform your ride

Another choice for a bike brand is a decathlon home brand if you are close enough to a store? Their bikes are higly regarded and they do a flat barred bike if you still want that although the triban 3 road bike is regarded as one of the best bang for your buck in the cycling press and by members here.

 

[defy-one]

Agree with all the great advice above.
My advice: Buy a track pump and keep your tyres hard (when cycling on road and hard surfaces). Soft under inflated tyres contribute even more to rolling resistance than knobbly fat tyres.

.... And punctures!!!!

Welcome :-)

I had Schwalbe city jets on my Giant mountain bike, they were great for £11 each. Be warned this will get you into cycling and once the bug bites ...... I predict hybrid and eventually road bike (many of us have taken the chosen path)

 

[MrJamie]

Welcome

I hate to offer such advice that doesn't support LBS, but on a budget you may find it considerably cheaper to order your tyres online and fitting them yourself will be good practice incase you need to fix a puncture in future

 

[Paddygt]

I will fit them myself, I have unfortunately had to mend more punctures than I care to remember lol. Although new on here and maybe new to cycling as a hobby rather than just a means of commuting to work and other odd places, I have been cycling in some form for many years off and on.

What I have never done before is take it seriously (serious as in proper, not serious as in serious... I never get serious as in serious about anything, life is too short for that) :-)