totally confused newbie

[echogolf]

Want to get back on a bike, have been looking at "flat bar racers" but confused on specs and brands. are carbon forks ,external bottom brackets etc essential. Whats good for upto £600.Brands and components have moved on since last purchased kona fire mountain 18 years ago.

 

[DJ]

Have a look at ridge back they do some lovely flat bar bikes, and for that money you would get a decent one!

 

[Fab Foodie]

Want to get back on a bike, have been looking at "flat bar racers" but confused on specs and brands. are carbon forks ,external bottom brackets etc essential. Whats good for upto £600.Brands and components have moved on since last purchased kona fire mountain 18 years ago.

Welcome echogolf
Yep, things have changed, I bought a new bike 4 years ago and up to then I'd ridden one first made in about 1949!

OK, flat bar road bikes are pretty much as described. Most will be based on Aluminium frames (Light, stiff, cheap to make) and the better ones will have Carbon fibre forks (to remove road vibrations as aluminium can be a bit buzzy), Cro-Moly forks would be a good second choice.
Componants will most likely come from Shimano and feature some kind of indexed gear system and dual-pivot brakes as standard. This is all good stuff. A bottom bracket is the bearing and axle assembly for the cranks/Chainring, the latest versions have movedthe bearings 'outside' of the bike frame to give greater rigidity and power transmission.
The heirarchy of componants from Shimano is Sora, Tiagra, 105, Ultegra, Dura-Ace. All are good, it just gets lighter and smoother up the range. Good clubman/basic race kit starts with 105 level, Dura Ace is Pro-level.
Gearing is 8, 9 or 10 speed (Cogs on the rear wheel) 9 speed is the one to go for in your price range. Then there are triple chainrings and doubles. To confuse there are "compact doubles" which have a bigger gap than usual between front chainrings. There are pro's and cons compared to a triple, but both aim to give yopu a wide range of gearing.
Good wheels are important. Another subject.

The most critical factor is that the bike fits you properly.
Second, that the bike ticks all your boxes for needs, mudguard compatability, rack fittings etc if these are important. Also consider surfaces and terrain to be ridden on.
Third, try a few before you buy, find a good bike shop.

Good brands where you can't go wrong are...
Giant, Specialized, Trek, Bianchi....
There are more, but that's a good place to start.

My final question, are you certain you want flat bars, drops these days are not necessarily mega low and offer a wide variety of hand positions if speed and distance are priorities!

Keep asking questions and opinions!

 

[DJ]

Ridgeback make good bikes too!

 

[Danny]

Welcome echogolf.

Fab Foodie's covered everything I would have said + more.

 

[CeeDee51]

I've got a Specialized Globe Comp, which has Carbon forks and am very pleased with it. You can get it for around the £500 mark.

 

[echogolf]

thanks for replies and information. I am currently being drawn to Giant fcr's,whats the general opinion on these machines?

 

[fossyant]

What this lot say - £600 will get a very good bike.... INDEED !

FCR's good.....

Let us know what you want out of a bike.... usage etc, any off road..by off road, I really mean anything not on tarmac, cos a road bike won't do that too well....

Bridal ways, anything with stones on...hybrid.....

 

[Keith Oates]

You'll not be disappointed if you buy the Giant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[echogolf]

I am thinking I will give the tarmac a go, not commuting just "pleasure" (may be not), at the moment though I think I am liking the bikes more so than cycling. On the subject of Giants whats the opinion on sizing, as I am 5' 11 m or l. Ive tried a medium, but not a large. Problem is I dont want to bother LBS as they cannot match deals avaliable via internet. Any comments welcome, also whats the opinion on Giant alliance frames any good?

 

[ruthe]

the alliance range seem a bit pricey. i ride a giant scr and swapped to flat bars as i feel comfier on them, suppose the fcr's are almost the same. its making sure you feel comfy on it and it fits well. try your lbs even if you dont buy it there they are good for parts/service/kit or ask if they can match an online price?

 

[ruthe]

ps, the new ridgebacks are very pretty though

 

[dantheman]

oh, because no-one else has, i thought id mention that ridgeback bikes are good