Howdy, Stranger!
Categories
Numpty IM Bike Thread
The materials in this website are in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a doctor, qualified personal trainer, therapist, dietitian or nutritionist Runners's World, Part of the Hearst UK well-being network © Copyright 2017
Comments
Shall I start a new thread? ¦-D
I have it on good authority that Pearsons are a good shop in South London; not that I've used them yet:
http://www.pearsoncycles.co.uk/
Re women's fit : really cheap bikes would just have a woman on a smaller bike, more expensive manufacturers make 'women-specific' bikes.
Confusingly, other manufacturers make their small sizes in women's fit and bigger ones for men, but don't say so !
'Women's fit' works (roughly!) on the idea that women have shorter bodies and longer legs than a man of the same height, so a woman would need a bike which was shorter from back-to-front, not just 'smaller' than a man's bike.
It's more complicated than that of course, as a woman would also have different length arms, shoulder width, leg strength, etc, etc than a man the same size.
So all the proportions of a 'women's fit' bike are a little bit different - not just a shorter toptube (aka 'crossbar') for the same height seattube (from saddle to pedals), but also the height of the headtube (the tube at the front of the frame that the forks fit in the bottom of), the length of the stem (horizontal bit connecting handlebars to frame), the width of the bars themselves, the angle of the forks, the length of pedal cranks, etc, etc.
The wheels, brakes and gears are the same, but the geometry of the frame is all slightly different (those measurements they always quote in the blurb at the back of the brochure)
However, of course this all assumes there's a 'typical woman' just as much as a 'typical man', but no-one is quite typical and depending on your particular shape/size a woman might be better on a smaller 'mens' bike than a 'womens', or neither might fit quite right.
But that's not a problem, as so long as the basic bike frame is right, then bits like stems, saddles, pedals, etc can be swapped to make it fit you, and a good bike shop will do that for you.
To complicate further, different bike manufacturers measure their bikes from different places too, so the 'same size' frame from different makes may be a lot different in size.
And different bikes can be different styles - fast racing geometry or more comfy but slower touring geometry.
This matters if you want it for racing or long rides, commuting, cross-training, etc ?
What you need is a good bike shop where they'll ask what you want the bike for, show you alternatives, let you try them, work-out what size you need, and then fit the bike to you by making adjustments or even swapping some of the bits.
Not easy, not quick, but this is what you pay for by buying from a bike shop rather than paying less by mail order or internet.
However if you feel that a bike shop isn't willing to spend this time on you and wants to make a quick sale, or just plain doesn't know what they're doing, then try somewhere else.
Cheers!
i've got those on my winter bike, a hybrid with old tribars on (i don't use a turbo as i have no interest in dale winton's used thongs), and i never skidded off or got a puncture once.
if you see one, start a thread on here and i'm sure that some bike ponce will give you an objective view. but really, if it fits, its great.
as its an "IM Bike" thread, i would say that for an IM i'd insist on carbon forks and seat pin (although you can get the seat pin separately as an aftermarket accessory... but they do cost £50-£100). this is because carbon fibre absorbs road vibrations, that can cauuse discomfort after 5 hours in the saddle.
(a seat pin is the little tube that your saddle bolts to, that then sits in the frame and is adjustable to get the saddle to the right height)
winter kit is something you need to find too. i use motorcycling gloves, neoprene over shoes, some "ron hill bikesters" that are a bit thicker than normal tights and surprisingly warm, a motorcycling balaclava under my helmet when its very cold, or alternatively a Buff, and a dayglo reflective waterproof coat. its great! i can't wait for the winter....
It's got full mudguards, so long wet rides aren't much of a problem. Helps you keep a bit more comfy than you'd be otherwise.
Clip on ones are fine.
Bike etiquette also says that dark coloured shorts are the best to wear. Anything else goes transparent.
Was thinking I could start out on my trusty 20 year old Dawes Galaxy. It's not like I am going to be fast anyway.
Would be handy with the panniers anyway.
Is there a cycle-touring version of IM ? You know, gotta do a brass rubbing on the way round and stop for a swift cream tea ?
ultimately it's the frame that counts - the kit can be specced to suit preference and wallet
Custon Ti. Pics of mine in a few weeks :-)))))
Get some miles in and enjoy.
cough *graham norton*
;-)
Gotta get back in to it really. Up to about 15 years ago I used to cycle a lot and was in to strenuous touring. Sort of 1200 miles per 14 days stuff.
Since then work etc etc. Only the odd 5 or 10 miles.
she's "a black one"