New Bike

[Deadmanwalking]

Right, i need a bike.

The orange Patriot7+ i have is all the way up in Scotland. So i need a relatively cheap bike for bombing from college and back (About 7 miles). It will also be used for little excursions into the nearby country, so needs to be able to handle some pretty stiff terrain. A hardtail should be all that's needed.

I am currently considering the Orange Gringo, and that comes in at just £550 for a new 2004 model or about £400 for a 2003 model.

Take into account i have not done that much digging on the situation.

Suggestions please.

Thanks

 

[Sockstuff]

go to halfords they have them for under 80 quid!!!!!!!1

WOW!

 

[Will]

So, are you wanting a MTB that you can commute on as well, or a commuting bike which lets you ride some easy off-road, towpaths and the like?

First thought in the cheap would be a Specialized Hardrock, which start at £259.95 at my LBS (local bike shop), up to £499.95, with a suspension fork and disc brakes. You can throw some slick tyres on it, and you'd have an OK commuter.

If you are wanting something a bit more for a pure commuter, I'll dig you out some options there.

Sorry for the slow reply, but I don't read this forum often.

 

[Deadmanwalking]

Ideally a MTB that i can commute on. However i have since down some research and i don't see any problem with swapping out the forks/wheels for either if need be.

As the commute will be every day of the week, while the offroad side will be a weekly thing.

 

[JBP|]

[Cough]KONA[/Cough]

 

[MrBlack]

I just got me a Hardrock Sport (300 quid) with front fork shocks. I'm doing the 5 mile commute on it every morning and I'm planning on taking it out to the New Forest to do some of the forestry comission trails.

It's pretty nippy on the roads, too, given how thick the tyres are. Front suspension helps when ploughing down the knobbly bits of Cowley Road in the morning

 

[TdC]

a mate of mine has a Hardrock, imo it's a nice little bike. very durable and good value for money.

 

[Chameleon]

I can highly recommend the Specialized Rockhopper. Imo go for the standard model, £550 or less. Rayment Cycles are your best bet dmw, they know what they're talking about. I use mine for work each day and at least 2 rides over the downs a week and it does the job very well. Great frame, good components. Don't bother with disc brakes imo.

http://www.rayment-cycles.co.uk/acatalog/RAYMENT_CYCLES__Rockhopper_65.html

 

[Doomy]

I got myself a GT Avalanche 1.0 with Deore throughout, discs and some Judy forks. Does me well to and from work and its blinding off road aswell. It needs a proper clean tho, maybe someone could point me at a decent ;take your bike to bits type guide?, the thought terrifies me.

 

[Gumbo]

Here's my new ride, it's a lot muddier than this now though...

 

[Tom]

maybe someone could point me at a decent ;take your bike to bits type guide?, the thought terrifies me.

Its all fairly simple, although you will need specialised tools. Just don't ever dismantle the shock absorbers, and don't attempt to dismantle the rear wheel hub. Sprocket cassettes are easy to remove, as are bottom brackets (the axle your pedals run on). Everything tends to be sealed units these days.

Oh, and never, EVER, attempt to true your own wheels. Get the bike shop to adjust your spokes.

 

[Will]

*resists urge to post pictures of his rapidly growing bike collection*

 

[Chameleon]

While we're on the subject ......

Now I'm using my mountain bike for so much off road riding, I'm tempted to go for either a hybrid or a proper road bike of some sort, in addition, for going to work and back each day, but know little about them. Any advice? I know Cannondale are a popular manufacturer and seem to make some tasty bikes, but that's about it. I want the slim line wheels or at least some smaller rims with slick tyres on them. A good range of gears is needed cos it's all up hill on the way home .... and they are BIG hills! Being a second bike and the fact I will only use it on the road/cycle path to work and back each day, plus the odd ride here and there, I'd be looking to pay no more than about £500 tbh.

tia

Cham

 

[Deadmanwalking]

I had the exact same dilema (Why this thread exists).

I have narrowed it down to two possibilities.

Kona Fire mountain for £450 odd.

Or

Claude Butler Olympus for £350 - Shimano Deores, Disk brakes and Jusy Fron forks (i think),

Both excellent bikes. Those prices are from Sydney Street Bikes in Brighton
Avoid the specialised Hardrocks for a similar price tag, as they are a bit poo.

 

[Will]

Go for a hybrid if you like an upright riding position, and a proper road bike for a streamlined but lower position.

I'd go for a fixed gear bike, unless you live somewhere very hilly, in which case a singlespeed is a better choice. But I'm weird like that.

I'll be able to help out more once you decide which of the two you'd prefer.

 

[Clown]

Get a moped or something. Less tiring

 

[Chameleon]

I had the exact same dilema (Why this thread exists).

I have narrowed it down to two possibilities.

Kona Fire mountain for £450 odd.

Or

Claude Butler Olympus for £350 - Shimano Deores, Disk brakes and Jusy Fron forks (i think),

Both excellent bikes. Those prices are from Sydney Street Bikes in Brighton
Avoid the specialised Hardrocks for a similar price tag, as they are a bit poo.

Aye, if you're looking at the £400 mark, don't go for the hardrock imo. However, if you wanna go £500 upwards, get a specialized every time. Check out Rayments before you buy m8, they are generally thought to be a lot more helpful .... though I've had no bad experiences at either to be fair.

 

[tRoG]

I bought a £200 Diamondback thing on Saturday.

It's the most expensive bike I've ever had (Or, am going to have, since it's in the post atm ).

 

[Deadmanwalking]

Aye, if you're looking at the £400 mark, don't go for the hardrock imo. However, if you wanna go £500 upwards, get a specialized every time. Check out Rayments before you buy m8, they are generally thought to be a lot more helpful .... though I've had no bad experiences at either to be fair.

Well sydneys is owned by the old man of a good mate of mine. So not really got much choice

But that aside Rayment are soo specialized obsessed it hurts.

 

[Chameleon]

Hope it fits through the letter box tRoG My gf has a diamondback, they seem pretty sound bikes.

Well sydneys is owned by the old man of a good mate of mine. So not really got much choice

But that aside Rayment are soo specialized obsessed it hurts.

Ahh I see, nice discount in order then eh!
Rayments are a little Specialized obsessed ........ but then me too, I'm a bit of a walking advertisement for them when I'm on my bike hehehe ...... think they should be paying me for advertising
Will, you must have a road bike haven't ya? Any recommendations on makes and models?

 

[Gumbo]

I'm with Will on the fixed gear thing, even if it is hilly. Once you don't spend your time buggering about changing gears on an uphill, but just get up and stomp, you'll be amazed how quickly you reach the tops.

Plus, a good fixed gear bike is pennies compared to a good 'proper' bike. Giving you plenty of change to blow on unicycles.

Go here :- http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/index.html for lots of info, and here:- www.sjscycles.com/ to get stuff.

Mind you with fixed gear bikes a skip can be as good a place to start as anywhere.

 

[xane]

http://www.prioritydesigns.com/sven/images/copperstar/copperstar_page.html

 

[Tom]

I bought a £200 Diamondback thing on Saturday.

It's the most expensive bike I've ever had (Or, am going to have, since it's in the post atm ).

Is it pre-assembled? A mate of mine ordered a bike from the states, it came in bits, and he didn't have a clue how to build it. He eventually visited his local bike shop about 47 times, as they had the same bike in. The owner must have thought he was really going to buy that bike

 

[Chameleon]

I'm with Will on the fixed gear thing, even if it is hilly. Once you don't spend your time buggering about changing gears on an uphill, but just get up and stomp, you'll be amazed how quickly you reach the tops.

Thing is, I stick in the same gear uphill, standing up and travelling rather quick, as opposed to the sitting down and changing gear whenever it becomes tough to pedal .... but then equally I stick to pretty much one gear along the seafront, going at about 30-40 mph* in a very high gear. I can't do both these things with a fixed gear bike. What I'm really interested in is one of those light, thin rim, slick tired, possibly drop handle-barred, speedy little things. There's so many to choose from though!

* The new community support officers along the coast have been stopping and issuing £30 fines to people travelling too fast on the cycle path, cos it's dangerous for pedestrians. What is the world coming to!!

 

[Deadmanwalking]

* The new community support officers along the coast have been stopping and issuing £30 fines to people travelling too fast on the cycle path, cos it's dangerous for pedestrians. What is the world coming to!!

Not just that. They are mainyl there to make sure people are sticking to the cycle lanes. And not using the "promenade" for cycling.

The stupid thing is pedestrians still insist on walking in the middle of the cycle lane and not using the 60 odd foot wide promenade.

 

[Will]

In the £400-500 mark, for a road bike with gears (*spit spit*), you could get a Giant OCR 3T or a Specialized Allez. I've not ridden either.

Personally, I'm saving up for a Soma Rush, which is a nice steel track frame, designed for riding with a fixed or single gear. £350 for a frame and forks, imported from the US. Horizontal dropouts are tehwin. Perfect for one gear, and if you want gears, you can buy a hub gear.

 

[Tom]

Thing is, I stick in the same gear uphill, standing up and travelling rather quick, as opposed to the sitting down and changing gear whenever it becomes tough to pedal

A little trick I used to use on my road bike (haven't ridden it for years now, will do when I'm a bit fitter again), was to stick in the same gear, and shift my position on the saddle so that I was sitting almost above the top of the rear wheel. Its only a small movement, but you can get a heck of a lot more power from it. You see the Tour de France riders do it all the time, they only stand on the pedals on the really steep bits, when they're trying to accelerate.

 

[Will]

I assume when they move, it puts them in a similar position to a TT rider. Which is not a comfy place to be for an extended period.

But who cares when you are going that fast?

 

[Chameleon]

Cheers Will, I like the look of the Allez. Looks like it costs a good £500 for an entry level one ..... that's more than I'd expected! The hybrids look far cheaper, though I suppose they compromise somewhat on the components. Hmm may have to go test ride some at the weekend.
Ta Tom, am off over the hills tonight and will give the arse shifting a go!