Reasonable road bike opinions?

[scook94]

I used to have a "racer" with drops growing up, and bought another "racer" when I was a student. I then had a 20 year gap when I wasn't on a bike (except the occasional hire bike to cycle round Cumbrae!). But we hired bikes on holiday last October and did a fair few miles on a MTB, I have to tell you, I hated only having the one hand position. When I bought a new bike recently I knew I wasn't having anything but drop bars.

I'm sure you'd get on fine with drops, I've rarely used the full drop position (except when going down a steep hill at speed) but having 2 or 3 positions on the top of the bar is most welcome.

 

[Wigsie]

'with the speed of a road bike'

not really true that surely?

drops are faster than flats, all things being equal

if you want to go faster, get a proper road bike, they can handle city commuing just fine, them city bikes are made to appeal to people that think they need something special

+1

I was sold on this whole Hybrid/urban/city bike thing by a few LBS's when searching for a new bike for my commute in the end I got a road bike and I am SO glad I listened to Guys like Tynan and some others on here as they are a more robust than many people give them credit.

A fixie with drops may be a good choice and faster than most hybrid city bikes. I think it was chain reaction cycles online that were selling 2008 Specialized Tricross singles for £275! they may have sold out but worth a look.

 

[colinr]

Cheers, I'm definitely going to try out drops on all your recommendations. Can't find the Tricross for under £400, but I've not looked that hard. How does it compare to the Giant Bowery at the same price? I don't know what all the specs really mean.

I've discovered there's a Specialized dealer near work, so I'll pop along and have a look later.

 

[Tynan]

and the oft repeated maxim that flat bars are better for traffic is silly imho

you can sit plenty high on the drops and observation and road sense is far far far more valuable than a sit up and beg riding position, I ride almost my entire commute in the drops anyway (fairly relaxed drops) in heavy traffic and it works fine, some hoods for noodling sometimes

I had a last minute dither about fixed/ss as i walked nto the shop to order, I met a couple of silver cyclists outside looking very pleased with themselves and their new tricked out SSes, they insisted I get on, but I move up and nerly all the way down a 10 speed cassette every day a largely flay commute, not sure I'd fancy flogging a SS into the wind at the end of the week with a pannier on the back

yay Wigsi, bravo, I think loads of LBS proffer hybrids because that
s what most people want, or think they want, better that then MTBs I suppose

 

[discplayer]

Hello

I don't know those bikes but can comment on some of the local shops.

• Pedal Revolution - good range and knowledgeable staff. BUT staff always seem a bit too busy especially if you're not so sure what you're after. They don't (or at least didn't) let you test ride. I did buy from them (after trying a friend's bike) and they have always been good since - including sorting out replacing a frame.
• Cycles UK (in the Jarrold sports shop's basement) - when looking at accessories they seem to know their stuff. When I last looked they had a strange range - cheap or really expensive.
• Which Specialized dealer did you get to? I've had great service from both Street Life (who do let you test ride) and Borwells.
• Velo Cycles, the Giant dealer, didn't do test rides a couple of years ago.
• Bike/Cycle Republic (I don't remember which), the new-ish place in the centre, appear to be Halfords.
• Mandarin - based on 2 yrs ago they do cheaper bikes, your £400 will put you at the top of their range but they did offer test rides.

I hope that helps.

 

[fossyant]

If you go single speed or fixed, make sure you are pretty fit first, unless you pick a spinny gear...

 

[colinr]

How fit is fit? I cycle under 4 miles each way to work with one small hill. If it's hard, I'll just have to get fitter right?

Thanks for the dealer info, I know most of them but haven't tried Velo.

Tried Street Life. Couldn't see any sign of a Tricross and the staff didn't seem that bothered about talking to me.

I've been to Cycles UK for stuff before, staff were helpful but they didn't really sell anything I fancy, though I may try again. Will pop into Pedal Revolution over the weekend as they definitely do Giant.

Cycle Republic are indeed Halfords in disguise.

 

[3-IN-One]

I'm pretty new here too, so not as knowledgeable as most people here. But my advice would be to visit a couple of good bike shops local to you, tell them how you plan to use it and see what they say.

Excellent advice just make sure YOU dont sound to desperate that way you can get more discount.

 

[discplayer]

Tried Street Life. Couldn't see any sign of a Tricross and the staff didn't seem that bothered about talking to me.

Not surprised they didn't have the Tricross - their range has always been limited when I've been in - although I am surprised they weren't bothered as they've always been very talkative. Unlike Pedal Revolution!

Velo Cycle and Borwells are right by each other - IIRC, on corners of the same little side street but opposite ends.

Good luck.

 

[Goffins]

I would avoid the fix if it's going to be an only bike, you're limiting yourself from the off.

 

[jimboalee]

There is a lot of confusion in the cycling fraternity about what constitutes 'easy to ride'.
Some say its all about weight and some say its handlebar type??

The acid tests are two fold.

1/ How fast it can freewheel down a hill.

2/ Does it have the gearing to climb back up again.


The freewheel part is an examination of it's Coefficient of Drag. Faster down the hill = lower Drag.
This can be tested quite simply if you know the gradient, the total weight of the vehicle ( including the rider ), your X sectional area, the tyre rolling resistance value and you have a speedo fitted.

The uphill bit has been thrashed out to great length on another thread which has been moved to 'Knowhow'.

The Cd figure is used to calculate how much power is required to maintain a speed using a polynomial equation.
This is the 'holy grail' of cycling.

Bike manufacturers go to these lengths when they are designing for competition. The difference is they use a wind tunnel.
The likes of us have to repeat 'coastdowns' and average the results.

Dawes Giro 500, Cd = 0.95
Spesh SWorks, Cd = 0.79
Apollo County, Cd = 1.19

These are MINE, not yours. You have to do your own.

 

[jimboalee]

Oops, I've put a load of technical stuff in 'Beginners' again.

 

[colinr]

I'm nowhere near a serious enough cyclist to add maths into a purchase decision!

I would avoid the fix if it's going to be an only bike, you're limiting yourself from the off.

Fixed, or single speed altogether? I'm still reserving judgement til I've ridden one but I rarely/never cycle other than commuting, and as long as it's good for the commute, I wouldn't feel limited.

I will check multi geared options out too - opinions on single speeds seem to vary. Any recommendations on entry level road bikes that aren't single speeds? (Around £400)

And thanks again to everyone for all these responses, very much appreciated.

 

[HF2300]

The Cd figure is used to calculate how much power is required to maintain a speed using a polynomial equation.

I don't maintain speed using a polynomial equation; I use my legs.

 

[colinr]

And the winner is... 2008 Giant Bowery. Got it from a dealer in Eaton (All-lite cycles). They let me take it out for a ride - the drops felt pretty good after a twitchy start and it's much easier to ride than my current bike even with the single speed.