Author Topic: More questions for the Cyclists  (Read 6046 times)

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Offline Fat Rat

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Re: More questions for the Cyclists
« Reply #20 on: September 07, 2012, 19:08:53 »
:thumb:
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Offline beep

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Re: More questions for the Cyclists
« Reply #21 on: September 07, 2012, 19:31:18 »
Quote from: "Locksmith"
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 ..

Bit of a coincidence my commuter is a Scott Aspect 50. Works fine for commuting, easy to get one discounted. Only problem so far is the lockout failing on the forks, fixed under warranty and not really Scott's fault since they don't make the shocks.

Offline Locky

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Re: More questions for the Cyclists
« Reply #22 on: September 07, 2012, 19:57:05 »
Mines a Scott too , its an old Scott Boulder with all the xt kit and suntour forks. I'm scared to sell it to get something more up to date because it fits so well and I've got used to it over the years . It owes me nothing considering the miles its covered over the years .

Offline Fatbelly

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Re: More questions for the Cyclists
« Reply #23 on: September 07, 2012, 20:00:47 »
Seriously now, bicycle advice. Wouldn't you rather have a pie?

Offline Fat Rat

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Re: More questions for the Cyclists
« Reply #24 on: September 08, 2012, 11:15:36 »
I find myself uncharacteristically not wanting to throw loads of money at a hobby that may not fly for me..

Reviews/opinions on suitability on this please http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENTS-26-EXTR ... _952wt_989
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Offline Locky

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Re: More questions for the Cyclists
« Reply #25 on: September 08, 2012, 11:56:52 »
Not sure on that bike Fat rat , it seems cheap cheap . I'd spend that little bit more and go for something like this  http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=75071
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kona-Lanai-La ... 2a2280b103

Just found this , looks a good buy http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gt/ ... e-ec030595

How tall are you ? what's your inside leg ?

Also some great buys on used bikes on ebay but they are all collection only.

Offline beep

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Re: More questions for the Cyclists
« Reply #26 on: September 08, 2012, 13:26:30 »
I agree with Locksmith, doesn't look great and the fact that they don't give the specific parts for the gears, crankset etc, suggests it'll be pretty poor. The advantage of buying a brand is that even the base model will at least have a decent frame.

A good pointer on quality is the groupset used, although some manufacturers are bit sneaky in this respect, by mixing groupsets so much that only a cycling geek would know what they are getting. It often works just to look at what kind of rear derailleur the bike has got. Most will have Shimano, these are from cheap to more expensive, for recreational mountainbikes and hybrids:

Tourney, Altus, Acera, Alivio, Deore (and it variants), etc....

They all work fine but Shimano also make other poorer budget stuff. I usually buy a minimum of Acera but I do a fair bit of cycling. The cheaper you buy the faster it will wear out, but I tend to wreck wheels before the gears and new chains and cassettes are cheap. SRAM also make some great groupsets, but they might not feature on less expensive bikes.

Offline pad

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Re: More questions for the Cyclists
« Reply #27 on: September 08, 2012, 13:28:56 »
Do you have a decathlon sports near you?  I was advised to look at the Btwin bikes from there if I was spending £150-£200.

This one is supposed to be a good spec for the money and gets good reviews.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-52-id_8156187.html

Offline Fat Rat

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Re: More questions for the Cyclists
« Reply #28 on: September 08, 2012, 15:04:54 »
Quote from: "Locksmith"

How tall are you ? what's your inside leg ?

6ft 2" and 31" inside leg (half a big bloke as my Mum used to say)  :)
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Offline Fat Rat

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Re: More questions for the Cyclists
« Reply #29 on: September 08, 2012, 15:07:42 »
Quote from: "pad"
Do you have a decathlon sports near you?  I was advised to look at the Btwin bikes from there if I was spending £150-£200.

This one is supposed to be a good spec for the money and gets good reviews.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-52-id_8156187.html

Thanks for all the tips so far. More stupid questions to follow...
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Offline Locky

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Re: More questions for the Cyclists
« Reply #30 on: September 08, 2012, 16:20:58 »
Yea you are an odd size  lol   .
Id still go for the GT Palomar in the link I posted . can't find anything better for the money . £224 is a fair price for what it does for your health, and if you can't take to the cycling it will sell easy being a GT .

Offline MartinW

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Re: More questions for the Cyclists
« Reply #31 on: September 08, 2012, 16:39:27 »
Quote from: "Fat Rat"
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)

Well done, it took me 4 years to lose 4 stone .... Will you be changing your name from Fat Rat to Doormouse ?
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Offline Locky

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Re: More questions for the Cyclists
« Reply #32 on: September 08, 2012, 16:41:31 »
This is the reason for getting my bike back out , I could do with loosing 2 stone .

Offline Strommer

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Re: More questions for the Cyclists
« Reply #33 on: September 09, 2012, 08:04:57 »
I lost a stone after Xmas and have kept if off with the novel "eat less" diet.... :shy:

Another stone to go and I'll be back to running weight (10.5 stone).


A disgrace to biking...

Offline Sharpy

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Re: More questions for the Cyclists
« Reply #34 on: September 09, 2012, 08:52:43 »
Quote from: "Strommer"
I lost a stone after Xmas and have kept if off with the novel "eat less" diet.... :shy:

Another stone to go and I'll be back to running weight (10.5 stone).

I did similar... Its like magic!

Now I eat more than ever, but just keep it off with many hours of exercise a week!!
Biker & Cyclist...

Offline Strommer

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Re: More questions for the Cyclists
« Reply #35 on: September 09, 2012, 09:33:43 »
That's the plan, I find if I run over 11 stone I just get injured.  Weight down, then start running again and try not to fall into the trap of overeating due to the exercise.


A disgrace to biking...

Offline Fat Rat

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Re: More questions for the Cyclists
« Reply #36 on: September 09, 2012, 10:27:46 »
Quote from: "MartinW"
Well done, it took me 4 years to lose 4 stone .... Will you be changing your name from Fat Rat to Doormouse ?

 lol

I still need to lose another couple of stone before the Speedos come out of retirement  :-x
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Offline Catballou

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Re: More questions for the Cyclists
« Reply #37 on: September 09, 2012, 17:42:11 »
Quote from: "Fat Rat"
Quote from: "MartinW"
Well done, it took me 4 years to lose 4 stone .... Will you be changing your name from Fat Rat to Doormouse ?

 lol

I still need to lose another couple of stone before the Speedos come out of retirement  :-x

That is unfair putting that idea out there, folk will be having nightmares  :-x  :-x  :-x


Well done on the weight loss, however since giving up smoking I feel like I've found the weight all of you have lost  :GRR:
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Offline jonH

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Re: More questions for the Cyclists
« Reply #38 on: September 10, 2012, 08:26:24 »
6 stone is a stunning amount to lose - took me over a year to lose 3 and I'm cycling like a loon, chapeau!

bit late to wade in but another vote for a mountain bike with slick tyres on - for what you need, best of both worlds. I can ride my 17 mile commute only 10 mins slower on a mtb with slicks than my road bike, mostly down to the fact you're sat up rather than over the bars.

It's the perfect time to buy a bike - massive discounts at this time of year as bike shops clear their stock ready for the next year's stuff. I'd consider the links to evans or chain reaction - both great bike retailers where you're far more likely to get long-term vfm.
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Offline andy168

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Re: More questions for the Cyclists
« Reply #39 on: September 10, 2012, 08:49:12 »
The Trek 7200 is a great bike, I've had mine for about 4 years and have only had to change the tyres, chain & brake blocks
If this bike can take my 6' 2" and 19 stone it must be good :)