What bike shall i get

[JUCAT]

right age 45 lady, ive never owned a bike in my life.
i do know how to ride one using other peoples, but i now need one to get to work.and also to help me loose weight
i wanted a mountain bike, mayby a ridgid.
but how do i know whether its suitable for my weight.
im 13 plus stone and im only 4ft 11 with 30 inside leg.
i have no idea what i should be looking for, please help.

 

[Neilwoo123]

Firstley .

A visit to your LBS is always a good place to start. What kind of commute are you planing? If its all road/cycle path then a mountain bike will be ok as long as you dont get a full suspension one!

A town bike may be better tho! Its easier to ride than a MTB with knobble tyres.

Neil

 

[PaulB]

Are you sure it's a mountain bike you want? They are heavier than other bikes and unless you are planning on riding up mountains, the weight penalty is probably not worth it. Ask yourself if you need suspension at all. If you're not planning to ride off road, then a hybrid or specific road bike would be a better bet. There's less to go wrong as well. Whatever you do, do get a bike. It's one of the best things you will ever do. As you are already an occasional rider, you'll know it is superb fun and most cyclists ride with an enormous smile, if not on their face, then in their souls.

Go to a good, local bike shop and let them advise you but avoid the big chain stores such as a certain high-street shop more noted for cars and car parts than bikes as they are more likely to sell you a bike that suits them rather than you.

Whatever you decide to do, good luck and keep us informed as to your progress.

 

[caz]

Hello Jucat and welcome to the forum! You will find lots of helpful advice here and lots of friendly people.

What sort of bike you want depends on what you want it for. Are you only going to use it for commuting, or will you use it for going out at the weekends as well? I've never had a mountain bike, so can't comment there, but I think you may find the larger tyres (tread) and the weight of the bike will make it hard work on the road. Mountain bikes are normally for off road riding (someone's going to shoot me down now for saying that!!) I started off with a hybrid which is a mix between a mountain bike and a road bike. It's still heavier than a road bike and it has a more upright position. I still have the hybrid, but bought a road bike earlier this year and it's a joy to ride!

Regarding your weight - don't worry, there are men who are heavier than 13 stone and I haven't heard yet of anyone breaking their bike due to their weight!!!

Do you have a local bike shop (lbs) near you where you can go and try some bikes out? As people will tell you, you get what you pay for. You're probably looking at around £400-£500 for a decent bike. Does your employer know about the bike to work scheme? Someone else can tell you about that (I'm not up on it).

I took up cycling 3 years ago, lost a stone in the first 3 months and been bitten by the cycling bug. I'm a lot fitter than I used to be. All I can say is go for it - you'll love it!!

 

[Sittingduck]

Hi Jucat

Firstly, good luck with the commuting and if it seems hard for the first few weeks stick with it - it will suddenly become easier and it'll change your life! I have been commuting only since July and lost over a stone thus far. Started on an el-cheapo rusty (ish) old mountain bike but after a month of my fat butt dragging this heavy and pretty uncomfortable thing around Central London, I decided to buy a Hybrid. Got one for 200 quid in a Sale that's a decent make and the change is remarkable. It is much lighter, smoother and faster than my old mountain bike. I heartily recommend one!

If you get bitten by the bug as Caz has forewarned and find you are obsessing about cycling and visiting this forum and checking out shiny new bikes online daily!

Whatever you choose to get I wish you a lot of fun!

p.s. dont even worry about 13 stone... I am considerably heavier (but heading the right way)!

 

[HJ]

My advice is to decide on a budget, find a good local bike shop, see LBS Recommendations thread, and try as many different bikes in your price range as you can. If they won't let you test ride the bikes outside, walk away and don't go back. Then buy the bike you like best.

There is a bike out there to suit everybody, it is just a case of finding it...

 

[JUCAT]

HI ALL
THANKS FOR YOUR RESPONCE.
i wanted a mountain bike as my hubby has one and i will be going off road, when i get time.
the jorney to work is a short one but i just dont want to be out walking on dark morns.i have to leave home at 5am.
i was more concerned about my weight, i thought a mountain bike would be more robust.
i know it sounds daft but im really scared i,ll make a rotten choice and regret getting one.

 

[JUCAT]

hi me again, im gonna check out the hybrid. ill let you all know how i get on.
ill prob be sittin on a bag of frozen peas next time i log on he he cheers all

 

[Randochap]

Going to a good LBS is the best advise, as long as they are reputable. If they go with your initial idea of a mountain bike, then walk out. I'm not kidding.

Edit: I just read your plan to go offroad. OK, but the mountain bike is not going to make a good commuter. How often will you ride trails, compared to the ride to and from work? Are you willing to ride an inappropriate bike every day in order to have an offroad bike every so often. Hard decision, I know.

If I (a long-time bike shop salesperson) were advising you, I'd probably want you to try one of the so-called "comfort" bicycles, among other commuter-style bikes.

Comfort, or "town" bikes have a comfy upright position and some have a more forward bottom bracket (where the crank axle goes through the frame) which makes it easier for a given saddle height to put one's foot down at a stop. To quote Sheldon Brown: "In many respects, the comfort bike harkens back to the riding style/position of the classic English roadster , only with modern gears and brakes." That's a good definition.

In the last couple of years, I've sold more of these cycles to new and returning cyclists (99% women) than any other. They have been overwhelmingly happy with the choice.

I'm not sure what's available in the UK, but Biria, for instance, make some nice models.

 

[Priscilla Parsley]

HI ALL
THANKS FOR YOUR RESPONCE.
i wanted a mountain bike as my hubby has one and i will be going off road, when i get time.
the jorney to work is a short one but i just dont want to be out walking on dark morns.i have to leave home at 5am.
i was more concerned about my weight, i thought a mountain bike would be more robust.
i know it sounds daft but im really scared i,ll make a rotten choice and regret getting one.

Hello Jucat,

i was a very happy hybrid/town bike for many years, i started with a mountain bike but i would really think if you actually need a mountain bike and what kind of trails you will be going on, most hybrids can handle a bit of soft off road, Hybrids are supremely comfy and a joy to ride.

but yes go to your LBS and get some nice and friendly service and try them out. I am pretty sure that13 stone dosnt warrent the need for a mountain bike though.

happy shopping

 

[Danny]

Welcome.

I'd also vote for a hybrid. You'll find it much easier to ride than a mountain bike and hence will will want to ride more regularly and longer distances - all of which will get you fit quicker.

And don't worry about the weight issue - any decent bike will easily cope with someone of your size.

 

[Sittingduck]

JUCAT

A couple of links to the type of thing I would have thought suitable:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/ridgeback/motion-womens-2008-hybrid-bike-ec001083

http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=15458&categoryID=8

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Mongoose_Crossway_350_Ladies_Rigid_V-Brake_2009/5360039228/

 

[summerdays]

Noting your height and inside leg (you have long legs for someone 6 inches shorter than me!!) you would probably be best to go for a Woman Specific Design rather than a man's bike.

 

[annedonnelly]

Hello JUCAT,

When I changed my bike in the summer I got one of these http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebw...QRY=C109&f_SortOrderID=1&f_bct=c003155c002908

and I love it. It's quite happy going off-road onto tow paths, farm tracks, etc. I haven't tried anywhere really mountainous though!

It's also worth thinking about what extras you need. I wanted mud guards and pannier racks and I'm very pleased that I paid the extra to get them. If you're commuting to work you might want to carry stuff regularly.

Note that a ladies step-through style makes it harder to fit some accessories like bottle cages, etc. I've found that a bit frustrating.


Anne

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Hello JUCAT and .

I can add nothing more to the great advice given by others except to say that I ride a mountain bike mainly on roads and cycling trails. Whilst it is solid, and robust I do miss the larger wheels of a road (racing) bike or a Hybrid - So much so that when I can get another bike it will be a Hybrid.