dynamick
New Member
- Location
- between Chesterfield & Sheffield
Hi everyone.
I've just posted the "hello bit" on the welcome mat and I'm straight in here with a huge head scratchy post.
I've progressed from an awful "build it yourself and watch it fall apart" bike from Sterling House (it was £50 and I deserved it when the back wheel bearings went and I ended up in a ditch) to visiting my friends at JE James Cycles at Chesterfield who advised me on a hybrid bike 3-4 years ago, it's a Giant Boulder and it's had some serious use out of it. I know these guys at the shop pretty well (as I've spent a bit on spare parts for the Boulder over the years) but I just wanted a bit of advice from you if possible.
I've used it mainly for road use with a very little bit of "light" country track riding but to be honest nothing that warrants the 24 gears it's fitted with - I tend to stick on the high gears and even going up steep hills I don't drop it right to the bottom.
I wouldn't want a full suspension bike, that would be pure overkill, I don't offroad enough to warrant that. I've never ridden a drop handlebar bike but that doesn't bother me too much, I'd learn to use it and I think I'm fit enough these days (the hello bit explains I lost almost 10 stone in weight!). I don't want anything that's seriously quick....I'm not seriously quick either!
I want a bike that's a workhorse, that can cope on pretty awful roads (trust me where I live we've got awful main roads with potholes and cracks all over!), I'd be scared senseless on a skinny racer with the razor thin tyres....so which way do I go?
Hybrid flat bar or something like a road bike but a bit thicker tyres (not too tready....as I'm not going offroad)
Do I factor my weight into making the selection? I'm 14st 4lb (ish).....and I'm even thinking of panniers although not certain about that. I'm pretty fit (2 hours a day in the gym) and I run a fair bit so although I'm not skinny....I've got good cardio and I'd want a bike I can use as my main means of transport, something to keep me fit, something that I can enjoy.
Now the biggy......I've got £1000 to spend - I don't HAVE to spend that much but it's there and it's a gift from my dad as he's just given my sister the same for home improvements.
To give you an idea - I'd been looking at http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/pro-lite-inverno5-compact-road-bike-id54602.html and as a flat bar alternative http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/gt-traffic-hybrid-bike-steel-grey-id54760.html - they're both pretty much at the opposite ends of the spectrum but if anyone can give me good advice as to what I should be looking out for - I'd really appreciate it.
Cheers.
Mick
I've just posted the "hello bit" on the welcome mat and I'm straight in here with a huge head scratchy post.
I've progressed from an awful "build it yourself and watch it fall apart" bike from Sterling House (it was £50 and I deserved it when the back wheel bearings went and I ended up in a ditch) to visiting my friends at JE James Cycles at Chesterfield who advised me on a hybrid bike 3-4 years ago, it's a Giant Boulder and it's had some serious use out of it. I know these guys at the shop pretty well (as I've spent a bit on spare parts for the Boulder over the years) but I just wanted a bit of advice from you if possible.
I've used it mainly for road use with a very little bit of "light" country track riding but to be honest nothing that warrants the 24 gears it's fitted with - I tend to stick on the high gears and even going up steep hills I don't drop it right to the bottom.
I wouldn't want a full suspension bike, that would be pure overkill, I don't offroad enough to warrant that. I've never ridden a drop handlebar bike but that doesn't bother me too much, I'd learn to use it and I think I'm fit enough these days (the hello bit explains I lost almost 10 stone in weight!). I don't want anything that's seriously quick....I'm not seriously quick either!
I want a bike that's a workhorse, that can cope on pretty awful roads (trust me where I live we've got awful main roads with potholes and cracks all over!), I'd be scared senseless on a skinny racer with the razor thin tyres....so which way do I go?Hybrid flat bar or something like a road bike but a bit thicker tyres (not too tready....as I'm not going offroad)
Do I factor my weight into making the selection? I'm 14st 4lb (ish).....and I'm even thinking of panniers although not certain about that. I'm pretty fit (2 hours a day in the gym) and I run a fair bit so although I'm not skinny....I've got good cardio and I'd want a bike I can use as my main means of transport, something to keep me fit, something that I can enjoy.
Now the biggy......I've got £1000 to spend - I don't HAVE to spend that much but it's there and it's a gift from my dad as he's just given my sister the same for home improvements.
To give you an idea - I'd been looking at http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/pro-lite-inverno5-compact-road-bike-id54602.html and as a flat bar alternative http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/gt-traffic-hybrid-bike-steel-grey-id54760.html - they're both pretty much at the opposite ends of the spectrum but if anyone can give me good advice as to what I should be looking out for - I'd really appreciate it.
Cheers.
Mick
