Sensibly priced cycles

Posted by: BigH47 on 18 October 2012

After both being told to do something about our lifestyles and general fitness, cycling has been suggested. 

Of course the next step is to purchase  said vehicles.

 

We are looking for sensible suggestions for a his and hers set , hybrid type for road/ cycle paths and easy trials (converted railways etc).

 

We have briefly looked at a Evans and £350-450 seems where we are at for an aluminium framed version.

 

Any advice? Any recommendation for stores in the Gatwick area?

 

Recommended brands? Brands to avoid?

Posted on: 24 October 2012 by Marky Mark

Also call Sam at Singular Cycles to see if he has any deals on.

 

The thing with bikes is, we all grew up thinking every bike was worth a tenner. In actual fact it is worth pushing the boat out a bit (maybe even financing through sale of some surplus hifi bits ) as your enjoyment of cycling will be directly linked to the capability of your steed. A lot of the stuff sold can't even cope with ongoing basic essentials such as gear shifting.

Posted on: 24 October 2012 by Svetty
Originally Posted by George Fredrik:

Dear Tony,

 

Or perhaps the peleton!

 

A friend of mine told me that he knew I would be fully recovered from my crash when I bought myself another Volvo and ploughed mercilessly into a peleton of fifty innocent cyclists and drove away smugly!

 

I don't think that a good plan, but I am considering another Volvo  I sold that last one more than two years ago after more than a decade of carefully driving round cyclists in it. 

 

I fancy an Amazon, which was made from 1956 till the early 1970s. Basically the chassis lived on until the 240 series was dropped, so a long lived design!

 

Half of all Amazons made are still on the road, so probably the most durable car ever made.

 

ATB from George

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsCyC1dZiN8

 

Posted on: 24 October 2012 by winkyincanada
Originally Posted by Marky Mark:

Most important thing by far is getting the right fit. Often the staff at Evans don't know what this. Try to find someone who can tune the set up for you so it will be comfortable on any longer trips. For your part, insist on a decent trial ride rather than just sit on bike in shop or once round block.

 

Have a look at some steel frames too. Slight flex can provide a nicer ride than aluminium which can be harsh. Brands like Surly, Salsa and Genesis may have something in budget. I see aluminium as better for entry level racers before moving onto carbon or titanium.

 

Wheels are vital. A lot of the pile 'em high sell them cheap vendors give you poor wheels. Maybe negotiable with the shop as part of the package.

 

Finally, the cycle-to-work scheme is a must if yourself or family have access to it. if you don't second-hand is your friend as values collapse quickly. Maybe rope a cycling mate into helping you buy?

 

All sensible advice. A steel frame with nice wheels will potentially be a better ride than a cheap alloy frame with crappy wheels. Surly, Salsa and Genesis are all good'uns.

Posted on: 24 October 2012 by BigH47

All good advice and thank you all. 

 

One thing, how is one to know what is a good or a bad wheel?

 

A brief list if possible of what to buy or avoid? 

Posted on: 24 October 2012 by George Fredrik

What to do about wheels is use what comes, and if they break down get a good pair built up.

 

I had a pair of great wheels built, from Ambrosio rims and Sapim or DT [cannot remember which] spokes onto Campagnolo hobs. This might be just about as good as money can buy this side or 555 PS DR PS prices, but at less than £250 for the pair was a superb improvement in smoothness, and precision of handling. So something of an upgrade for the future rather than something to worry about on day one.

 

ATB from George

Posted on: 24 October 2012 by Marky Mark

Building from scratch and being a little more adventurous on budget (or foregoing that £500 mains cable depending on your choice of poison) I would suggest:

 

Steel frame (in suitable geometry and get pannier mounts as can be useful) = £350

Wheels - handbuilt makes the difference - search on the internet for the maestro wheelbuilder Harry Rowlands and call (not email) him for his advice given your intended use, weight and budget. You might not want to share your weight on here but given your original post you probably need a 32 spokes / 36 spokes configuration or thereabouts. Something like Open Pro rims laced to Miche box hubs might be £220.

Groupset - I personally think that the good groupsets (read dependable shifting, braking etc with longevity) start at Shimano 105 (road bikes) or SLX level (mountain bikes) = £300

Finishing kit (saddle, bars etc) = £125

 

So you probably think I am having a laugh now as this is a) twice your original budget and b) a load of bits. You might be right. However, this machine will destroy anything from Halfords or Evans for £450 and because you enjoy riding it you will ride a lot more. Much like you listen to more music on your Naim whatever than you would do on a JVC thingy.

 

You can buy stuff second-hand (both complete bike and components) but will need someone to help you - know any bike nerds in your area? Alternatively it is the winter season so many retailers have sales and/or heavy discounting in place. Finally don't forget the Cycle 2 Work scheme which yourself and those around you have access to.

 

Alternatively, source the frame from one of the places/brands suggested, wheels from Harry, buy the groupset as a whole or in parts at best discounts available (try Chain Reaction Cycles, Wiggle, Merlin, Ribble etc) then either pay somewhere like Pearson (mentioned before) say £120 to build it or ask at your local bike club (someone will probably do it for £50).

 

Apologies if this has not helped! It is what I would do though.

Posted on: 24 October 2012 by winkyincanada
Originally Posted by Marky Mark:

 

Wheels - handbuilt makes the difference -

I'm odd in that I have had much more success with factory, robot-built wheels than I ever had with hand-built. I never have to touch my factory wheel-sets - (they stay perfect for years until they self destruct, typically the first and only spoke breakage coincident with the rims wearing out on the brake tracks), but I was always truing and replacing broken spokes with my hand-built wheels (years ago, now).

Posted on: 25 October 2012 by Wugged Woy

I think we shouldn't get carried away here - the OP is on a budget.

 

Re. wheels, I can suggest from a mountain bike/cross bikes view, try to get decent hubs (I recommend Shimano Deore - strong, cheap) together with respectable rims (from the likes of Mavic - 138, 139, 221 if my memory serves me well - or Alex). Good strong and cheap.

 

Maybe I'm daft but I think tyres are also an important consideration - albeit that they can be replaced easily at any time. My recommendation would be for Schwalbe tyres - all of them good, and especially the Schwalbe Smart Sam is an excellent all-round tyre. When buying a bike. it may be possible to negotiate with the shop to supply it with the tyres you prefer.

Posted on: 25 October 2012 by Marky Mark
Originally Posted by winkyincanada:
Originally Posted by Marky Mark:

 

Wheels - handbuilt makes the difference -

I'm odd in that I have had much more success with factory, robot-built wheels than I ever had with hand-built. I never have to touch my factory wheel-sets - (they stay perfect for years until they self destruct, typically the first and only spoke breakage coincident with the rims wearing out on the brake tracks), but I was always truing and replacing broken spokes with my hand-built wheels (years ago, now).

Winky you're right there are very nice factory wheels about (Campag, Mavic, Shimano etc) but I think you're price point given your lovely Colnago is higher maybe? At the £200 level I reckon a hand-built pair will outperform a factory built pair in feel and servicing. Sorry to hear about your handbuilts. You own need to hear the feedback on Rowland's wheels to hear that he takes great care building them (I have three sets so have voted with my wallet). Also some DT Mon Chass which have not really got on with and keep pinging spokes on. Obviously the workmanship and not my weight

Posted on: 26 October 2012 by lutyens

Harry has made my wheels for some years and i can only praise him and the wheels. I use mavic open pros as a rule and have them on ambrosia, novatec and dura ace hubs. I have a pair of factory ultegra hubs and rims. The hubs are great but the rims are these new tubeless rims which if you have a puncture on them, which i do, are a real pain in the backside to repair in a hurry on the road side so back to open pros for me. The ambrosias are good value work horse hubs but like the novatecs are sealed which i am wary of just because i am old and remember simply replacing the balls and regreasing each year. The ambrosia skewers are crxp mind you!

 

Anyway Harry is fab and highly rcommended. He can of course be wonderfully forthright about wasting your money on trendy hubs, rims and spokes tho'.

 

james

Posted on: 26 October 2012 by Marky Mark

Also half the fun of buying wheels from Harry is the pre-order conversation. Phone him to get his honest advice and a few anecdotes. Top bloke.