Author Topic: More questions for the Cyclists (Read 6047 times)

Fat Rat · « **on:** September 07, 2012, 07:10:31 »

Who'd have thought this site would generate so many cyclist questions

Anyhoo, Having given up the booze in February

I find myself a few stone lighter and am quite liking the mini me. I am currently living away and working around London and would like a bike suitable for commuting the few miles each day from my digs which gives me the benefit of not sitting in traffic and I get to do a bit of exercise each day.

People at work have been showing me their Gucci, Carbon Fibre, all terrain, 500 gear, lighter than a wafer, dogs dangly bikes. All I want is something suitable for someone 6ft 2", large build that won't look like I am giving birth to it and it has tyres wider than the crack in my arse (make up your own jokes).

So, what do you recommend? Road use only, comfortable, simple to use and something that doesn't require me to wear reflective Lycra underwear and preferably something that every thieving scumbag in London isn't trying to swipe each time I slow down.

Strommer · « **Reply #1 on:** September 07, 2012, 07:25:13 »

specialised Sirrus Elite. £400 if you go for the 2011 model - £500 for this years. My bike rack at work has six bikes - five of them are this bike, one of them mine.

On road stick with a 700c wheel. You can get pretty fat tyres on it as well.

All bikes can get stolen in London. You need two locks and always one more than the bike parked next to you. If you are commuting just leave your locks at work.

Note: Just noticed that some filter has changed the classic Oxbridge spelling of "S.p.ecialized" to specialised... seems like the american filter has a fault. The z/s argument is an example of where the yanks kept the correct spelling and some of us corrupted it. You'll find edyoocatud folkz use a z.

Fat Rat · « **Reply #2 on:** September 07, 2012, 07:30:26 »

Thanks, I see various frame and wheel sizes, what would be a minimum for a 6ft 2" lump of a bloke?

Strommer · « **Reply #3 on:** September 07, 2012, 07:32:37 »

You'll need the XL.

This is mine: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialised/sirrus-elite-2012-hybrid-bike-ec030146

I'm getting a second set of wheels so I can go very chunky on the tyre front and swap them in a minute.

glenwatt · « **Reply #4 on:** September 07, 2012, 07:36:09 »

Well done fat rat.
If you're not looking to invest a fortune to start off, I would take a look at Halfords Carrera or Boardman range. I had a Gryphon model a few years back and it more than did the job. They regularly offers 20% off pricing and through most firms internet discount schemes available to employees, a further 10% can be saved.

The staff aren't all ways the best(remember yts), but some stores are really good.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165534

Strommer · « **Reply #5 on:** September 07, 2012, 07:37:06 »

Then you can get one of these....

Fat Rat · « **Reply #6 on:** September 07, 2012, 07:38:58 »

Quote from: "Strommer"

You'll find edyoocatud folkz use a z.

You mean [s:3lgv2whu]septics[/s:3lgv2whu] Yanks?

beep · « **Reply #7 on:** September 07, 2012, 09:26:24 »

Another vote for a hybrid here, like the Sirrus. These make great commuting bikes, aren't quite as painful as racer on our well maintained roads and are faster than a mountain bike. Hybrids are also a bit less attractive to theiving scumbags who tend to go for high spec racers or moutainbikes. The Sirrus is towards the racer end of hybrid, if you want something a bit slower but more robust and with a smoother ride on rougher ground (closer to a moutainbike), then specialised also do the Crosstrail, which is also 700 wheels (faster than 26" mountainbike wheels). You'd probably want an XL in a specialised.

I've got a Crosstrail but Trek and Scott also also make some great hybrids at the moment.

I commute on a mountainbike, but some of ride is offroad, so bought one without disks since this is less likely to get nicked. Very slow on the road, but keeps you even fitter - my hybrid feels like a doddle in comparison.

Juvecu · « **Reply #8 on:** September 07, 2012, 10:39:00 »

I have a cheapie Kona Lanai, decent entry level mountain bike for the money (paid £220 delivered) and the brakes can be upgraded to discs later if I want to (the frame and wheels already support it) along with various other bits. If I wanted to use it for commuting I'd simply change the tyres to hybrid road tyres and use that. Budget for a comfortable replacement seat and some blinky lights front and rear and if you're riding in the winter some better lights is probably a safe idea. +1 for getting couple of good locks. Don't forget a hand pump and a puncture repair kit that has tyre levers in it, no use having patches if you can't get the tube out. I also put some cheapie plastic mudguards on to keep the road crud off me and a mirror in my right bar end.

Take this info from who it comes from: a relative noob who only recently got back into cycling and doesn't have much money to spend on it.

Let us know what you end up getting

pad · « **Reply #9 on:** September 07, 2012, 11:24:10 »

Another vote for the sirrus. I am 6ft 3" and have the basic in XL. I have been commuting 10 miles each way 2/3 days a week for a while now. For commuting I have had mudguards and a rack at the back fitted with a small dryline pack that carries spare inner tubes, tyre levers, pump (advised to buy a decent one and glad I did!) and will still leave room for sarines, mobile and wallet. I may swap the flak jacket tyres at some point for the armadillo kevlar type as I have had a couple of punctures. Surprisingly I find motorists much more courteous in the rush hour traffic when I am on the push bike.

Starting weight 17 stone 10 pounds......current weight 15 stone 7 pounds!

Sharpy · « **Reply #10 on:** September 07, 2012, 11:55:16 »

Nothing more to add really, the suhhestions seem spot on!

I would say, how great is that bike carrier?? Not sure my carbon bike like that too much though??

Also good work on the weight loss...

I was 109kgs 2 years ago, now 82kgs!

pad · « **Reply #11 on:** September 07, 2012, 12:20:59 »

Got me worried now Sharpy! It says upto 25kg and the pack is quite small, about the size of a loaf of bread, so fingers crossed.

beep · « **Reply #12 on:** September 07, 2012, 12:22:54 »

If we're talking tyres, I go through tyres fairly quickly and have tried many of the makes, several different Specialised ones which were pretty disappointing in terms of punctures, Continental Contact and Touring Plus (supposedly puncture proof but I still had a couple) and Schwalbe Marathon and Marathon Plus.

Most of the super puncture proof ones are very heavy, slow and a real pain to remove, particularly the Schwalbe ones.

My favorites have to be the "ordinary" Schwalbe Marathon, brilliant tyre for touring followed by the Continental Contacts. You'll still get punctures but not too many and the ride quality is miles better than the puncture proof ones I've tried.

Strommer · « **Reply #13 on:** September 07, 2012, 15:46:58 »

Have to agree with Beep, the "puncture proof" tyres aren't worth their extra weight. Had some Nimbus Armadillo tyres once - it was like riding through tar.

Fat Rat · « **Reply #14 on:** September 07, 2012, 16:55:08 »

Quote from: "Sharpy"

Also good work on the weight loss...

I was 109kgs 2 years ago, now 82kgs!

Not sure what a Kg is

(some Eurobollocks no doubt)

All I can tell you is that I have lost six stone since February (and no I didn't lose my wallet)

Juvecu · « **Reply #15 on:** September 07, 2012, 16:58:35 »

6 stone is half of what I weigh

I'm not sure I'm going to recognise you if I see you again

Would it be odd for me to say(?): Well done!

Sharpy · « **Reply #16 on:** September 07, 2012, 17:02:52 »

Quote from: "Fat Rat"

Quote from: "Sharpy"
Also good work on the weight loss...

I was 109kgs 2 years ago, now 82kgs!

Not sure what a Kg is (some Eurobollocks no doubt) All I can tell you is that I have lost six stone since February (and no I didn't lose my wallet)

Not 6 stone!! Great effort!

I have lost 4.5 stone roughly! Will be arranging a cycling meet at your gaff next!

Stromtrooper james · « **Reply #17 on:** September 07, 2012, 17:57:37 »

Quote from: "Strommer"

Then you can get one of these....

strommer is this your bike if so I saw u last weekend!

Fat Rat · « **Reply #18 on:** September 07, 2012, 18:18:35 »

Quote from: "Juvecu"

6 stone is half of what I weigh I'm not sure I'm going to recognise you if I see you again Would it be odd for me to say(?): Well done!

To be fair I had piled on a couple of stone before I started and then the penis reduction surgery has helped

Locky · « **Reply #19 on:** September 07, 2012, 18:56:19 »

If you're going to use it for other rides apart from the commute I'd get a MTB and stick some tyres on that are OK on and off road , something like these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-Schwalbe- ... 3f1a7fab3e
and you get what you pay for with bikes but these is always good deals to be had . Most of the well known brands will be good , eg GT , Kona , Scott , Marrin , Saracen etc etc but depends what you want to spend
Something like this http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec030673
or http://www.evanscycles.com/products/sco ... e-ec030850

But look around and you'll find some good deals ..