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A bike is a bike... or is it?
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Now, if I hadn't had a coupe of beers, I probably wouldn't be starting this thread. But, hey ho, here goes....
I've only ever ridden on a mountain bike. I ride to and from work most days, occasionally take a longer trip over to see my parents and have completed a couple of sportifs. I don't really pay much attention to what I am riding; as long as it has two pumped up tyres and an oiled chain, I'm happy
Since my last bike (a men's Muddy Fox) was stolen a year ago, I have at least replaced it with something a little more appropriate, size-wise, as I am only 5'3" (Ok, 5'2 and nearly a half"
)
However, *if* I was looking at buying a road bike, what should I be looking at? And how on earth do I get the right size and make sure the handle bars are at the right level?
Budget? Around £500 - but happy to look at 2nd hand and do a little work on it or buy extra bits a little at a time.
I've only ever ridden on a mountain bike. I ride to and from work most days, occasionally take a longer trip over to see my parents and have completed a couple of sportifs. I don't really pay much attention to what I am riding; as long as it has two pumped up tyres and an oiled chain, I'm happy
Since my last bike (a men's Muddy Fox) was stolen a year ago, I have at least replaced it with something a little more appropriate, size-wise, as I am only 5'3" (Ok, 5'2 and nearly a half"
)However, *if* I was looking at buying a road bike, what should I be looking at? And how on earth do I get the right size and make sure the handle bars are at the right level?
Budget? Around £500 - but happy to look at 2nd hand and do a little work on it or buy extra bits a little at a time.
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Comments
Same applies as it does to shoes really, get to a shop, try a few on for size and find a colour you like
Cycle to work scheme?
As for cycle to work - currently applying for everything and anything in an effort to change jobs. Don't know that a request for the Cycle to Work thingy would go down too well
Edited to add - I wouldn't know where to begin in a bike shop, or even if there is a decent one nearby, I don't even know what to look for in a road bike.
What do you want from a bike?? Why do you want or think you want a road bike when perhaps a hybrid or a cross bike may be better
Sssshhhhhh damn you
Meldy, good questions, pity I have no real idea what the differences are
I'm only asking about biking, Saffy, honest *crosses fingers behind back*
Buy a Micra
If Debbo/Wifey actually retires from IM there might be a girlie midget bike up for grabs ...
Kanga's stop on by the way.
If you still have another bike for pootling on I would be tempted to make this new one a road bike- I had a hybrid for my first year of tri-ing, but it wan't/isn't as fast/light as the road bike I bought to replace it.
£500 will be sufficient to get you a reasonable steed from any of the big manufacturers (Specialized, Giant etc) but you might also want to have a look at some of the left field options (Decathlon, Raleigh). Fit is all important so you need to find either an informed friend who can accompany you or a bike shop who know what is what. Most bikes have 700 wheels, but you can get 650 (the numbers are a measure of the circumference IIRC) on some models which will mean the top tube of the frame is lower.
I'll sell it you if you like