New Bike

[Dommers]

Right, I'm currently looking for a new bike as my old one is slowly destroying my back. What I'm looking for is something under £400. It needs to be able to get me from A to B. I'm looking for something with a d-slant frame. It wont be used for any offroad or anything but I would like it to have some sort of decent suspension. It will mainly be used for cycling on paths/roads.

So far I've just looked at Saracens, and seeing as how a couple of you are bike boffins I thought I'd ask.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Tom]

At that price, don't bother with full suspension or disc brakes.

Get a hardtail (front suspension only), with rim brakes. You'll get much better value for money.

I suggest looking around www.chainreactioncycles.co.uk

 

[Dommers]

Would it better to just get a new frame instead of a whole bike. As everything on my current bike is pretty decent. Its a specialized bike. Got rockshox suspension and good breaks.

 

[TdC]

hmm. tbh I'd take a trip down your LBS and tell them your bike is hurting your back and ask them what you can do about it.

 

[Tom]

What part of your back is hurting? Are you over-reaching? Do you have the saddle too high?

 

[Dommers]

Just the lower part. I've tried adjusting the saddle but it still seems like im reaching too far. The bike is just generally uncomfortable. I've tried friends bikes and they're far more comfortable using a d-slant frame.

 

[JBP|]

You're not going to get much of a bike for under £400 (unless its sale time with added internet discount) but i would look at Specialized and Kona.


Having said that i would more than likley up the budget to something nearer £1000, but thats just me

 

[Will]

d-slant?

If my budget was £400, and I wasn't going to go offroad, I'd not get suspension, since it'll be pretty heavy in that price range, and suspension makes a bike more nickable. For purely on road, I'd get a Specialized Langster (oh look, I already did ), or if I was going to do canal paths and the like, an On-One Il Pompino, both of which are under £400.

They don't have gears though, and they are both designed to be ridden fixed.

Kona bikes are pretty good, I'd have a look at the bikes in their Asphalt range, like the Dew, Smoke, Paddywagon, or Humuhumu. Though if you want a Paddywagon, you'd be better going with my earlier suggestions, since they are a wee bit cheaper.

 

[TdC]

I'm still inclined to think that tweaking your bike will save you dosh Dom, unless you've really come too hate it and just want a new one (in which case, I'd have a look at what Will mentioned (I've seen his langster, and it's a cool bike for the price (think courier stylee a bit(though people who ride fixed are a bit touched obv)))). if you feel you're having to stretch a bit to get the bars comfortable, it may be just your stem that could be a bit over-long.
the stem is the part that connects your handlebars to your fork, and in this day and age anything greater than 100mm is considered long on an mtb. you can get a decent priced short(er) stem from on-one.co.uk here. they're available in 80 and even 60mm, and the 80mm one (I have this) recently got 10/10 in the mtbuk bike mag.
shortening your stem will make the bike somewhat more twitchy and responsive, not really a bad thing. think "lively" instead of "steamroller"

 

[old.user4556]

I thought this was a thread showcasing a new girlfriend

 

[Will]

though people who ride fixed are a bit touched obv

I'll touch you if you aren't careful.

 

[TdC]

only if you can catch me one-speed-boy

 

[Will]

Heh, you know I can catch you.

 

[TdC]

when you're spinning out and dancing the funky chicken legs, I shall make you eat your feeble words

 

[Will]

Since I spin out on the Langster at over 30mph, I think you are being a bit hopeful. I shall pwnerize j00!!!

 

[TdC]

50kph? I can do that




*wince*

 

[Tom]

I'd like to see either of your bikes beat me on my Mercian frame

Sadly, you probably would as I'm too fat to ride it, so its collecting dust up in the loft.

I was on the mountain bike the other day, uphill on the road, pushing quite hard. Only to be swiftly overtaken by a fella on a racing bike, probably had about 4 spokes on each wheel and 19mm tyres

 

[TdC]

heh I was doing something similar yesterday. pushing uphill on roads on my Scandal is a joy. I'm made a mental note to bike to the highest point in arnhem every other day; high being extremely relative in Holland and so it only takes me 30 mins to get there: 25 up and 5 down

 

[Will]

Is that the same wee hill I climbed up when I was visiting, and came back down to see where you had got to?

 

[TdC]

no, this was somewhere else. tis a road with an 8deg slope to it. hella steep for dutchland it is


given that I am utterly not in shape though

 

[Dommers]

Ok thanks for the helpful suggestions everyone, ill take a look at the one you mentioned Will.