Official P&b Cycling Thread

[Bobby Skidmarks]

Going around Arthur's Seat yesterday on an uphill climb and my pedal just disintegrated and fell off. I jolted forward and rattled my nuts off the bar.

I then had to push the fucker up the hill and cycle with one pedal to the Edinburgh Cycle place on Bruntsfield in the pishing rain to get it repaired.

I took the car today.

[Bold Rover]

I'm an ageing plodder on a cheap old hybrid which has served me well. Now in the market for an upgrade and bewildered, really, by the apparent choices online, whilst realising that availability may be different. I'm probably going to have to throw myself upon a salesman and wonder which outlet best to trust. Any thoughts guys?

[Newbornbairn]

If not a local bike store, Edinburgh Bicycling Co-op or Evans are pretty good with qualified staff, good advice and a wide range of bikes.

[broon-loon]

Check out the Decathlon website and if there is something you like at least you can visit a store to see it.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/en/store?store_id=PS_UK_555

This has decent reviews

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/riverside-7-hybrid-bike-black-id_8070411.html

I noticed this in a cycle magazine earlier in the summer. I'm not really in the market, but I like the idea of the disc brakes on a downbar bike. Cheaper options available as well.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/arkose-three-2014-cyclocross-bike-ec054866.

I would hold off maybe another few weeks as shops/stores will start to offload this years models to make room for the 2015 range.

Happy shopping.

ETA

just recieved another flyer from Rutland Cycling and they are already introducing one manufacturers 2015 range....

http://www.rutlandcycling.com/

Edited August 26, 2014 by broon-loon

[carpetmonster]

Did the commonwealth games MTB track at the weekend, great fun! Totally doable on a hardtail, rented Genesis with Rock Shox air-oils from Alpine Bikes on St George's X, had a wheeze.

[Bold Rover]

Check out the Decathlon website and if there is something you like at least you can visit a store to see it.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/en/store?store_id=PS_UK_555

This has decent reviews

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/riverside-7-hybrid-bike-black-id_8070411.html

I noticed this in a cycle magazine earlier in the summer. I'm not really in the market, but I like the idea of the disc brakes on a downbar bike. Cheaper options available as well.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/arkose-three-2014-cyclocross-bike-ec054866.

I would hold off maybe another few weeks as shops/stores will start to offload this years models to make room for the 2015 range.

Happy shopping.

ETA

just recieved another flyer from Rutland Cycling and they are already introducing one manufacturers 2015 range....

http://www.rutlandcycling.com/

Thanks, Broony! Would you believe: I'd already bookmarked the Riverside 7, but it's not available in Scotland to go and see - would need to order online. I'm thinking a trip to Evans is my best bet as they seem to have a big stock of bikes to actually see and touch. With regard to NBB's advice: I'd like to use a LBS as I've always done for cheap bikes over the years for myself and children, but the stock is minimal and last year I felt a bit ripped off by one. Cheers guys.

[Newbornbairn]

Ouch - the Riverside 7 is 17kg - that's seriously heavy.

For the same money, I'd recommend the Specialized Crosstrail. Everyone I know that has one raves about it. http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/crosstrail-elite-disc-2014-hybrid-bike-ec042524 And it's about 4kg lighter

[broon-loon]

Thanks, Broony! Would you believe: I'd already bookmarked the Riverside 7, but it's not available in Scotland to go and see - would need to order online. I'm thinking a trip to Evans is my best bet as they seem to have a big stock of bikes to actually see and touch. With regard to NBB's advice: I'd like to use a LBS as I've always done for cheap bikes over the years for myself and children, but the stock is minimal and last year I felt a bit ripped off by one. Cheers guys.

Ouch - the Riverside 7 is 17kg - that's seriously heavy.

For the same money, I'd recommend the Specialized Crosstrail. Everyone I know that has one raves about it. http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/crosstrail-elite-disc-2014-hybrid-bike-ec042524 And it's about 4kg lighter

Ouch that is heavy.. NBB, your option looks better for sure.

Noticed a Boardman Hybrid parked outside work recently, that looked decent. Also noticed an Orange Clockwork hard tail reduced on-line somewhere.. OK it's an MTB, but a set of slicks would make it a decent machine on the road or trail paths. Knobblys back on for the more extreme off road as well.

Spoilt for choice these days BR...

[Bold Rover]

Ouch that is heavy.. NBB, your option looks better for sure.

Noticed a Boardman Hybrid parked outside work recently, that looked decent. Also noticed an Orange Clockwork hard tail reduced on-line somewhere.. OK it's an MTB, but a set of slicks would make it a decent machine on the road or trail paths. Knobblys back on for the more extreme off road as well.

Spoilt for choice these days BR...

again, thanks guys. How right you are - actually too much choice. I'm homing in on the Specialized range and the Elite 14 with money off looks likely. Guys: along the range -

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/browse/bicycles/commuter-hybrid-bikes?brand=specialized&keywordFilter=Elite

what practical advantage does extra money buy? I note no weight is given for the Elite 14 so are we certain it's lighter than the B'twin? Thanks for your comments, chaps - appreciated.

[Newbornbairn]

The Vita and the Ariel are women's bikes. The Sirrus is basically a road bike with flat bars: skinny tyres, very light. The Crosstrail is like a mountain bike: chunkier tyres, front fork suspension but (I think) the gearing is better suited for the road/towpaths/trails etc.

One thing that makes a difference is disk brakes - they really do stop you better and more and more bikes come fitted with them, the exception being road racers who don't like the extra weight.

"Elite" is an equipment level, like an SRi with Vauxhall.

If you're after a bike for zooming around city or town streets and you'll never go off tarmac, the lightest and best equipped from that list is the Elite Carbon Disc.

If you want to do roads and forest trails, canal paths and the like, the Crosstrail gives you the most versatility.

[Bold Rover]

The Vita and the Ariel are women's bikes. The Sirrus is basically a road bike with flat bars: skinny tyres, very light. The Crosstrail is like a mountain bike: chunkier tyres, front fork suspension but (I think) the gearing is better suited for the road/towpaths/trails etc.

One thing that makes a difference is disk brakes - they really do stop you better and more and more bikes come fitted with them, the exception being road racers who don't like the extra weight.

"Elite" is an equipment level, like an SRi with Vauxhall.

If you're after a bike for zooming around city or town streets and you'll never go off tarmac, the lightest and best equipped from that list is the Elite Carbon Disc.

If you want to do roads and forest trails, canal paths and the like, the Crosstrail gives you the most versatility.

Do you think an old slow coach like me needs disc brakes, NBB? The Crosstrail does sound like the one for me - do you know if it comes with "ordinary" brakes? I understand the disc brakes to be difficult to self-maintain etc. I'll be using the bike mostly on the roads - but the dreadful, rutted roads of SW Scotland.

[Newbornbairn]

Yeah you can get it with ordinary brakes and at a good sale price too - http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/specialized-crosstrail-14

One advantage of the bigger tyres is it will absorb the bumps better than the skinny tyres of the Sirrus

I'm not saying there aren't other bikes available as good or better but I do know this bike is highly rated by those that have them, including @UnleashtheNade of this parish - and that guy knows his bikes.

I see Evans have that Crosstrail at the same price. They do a free test ride service http://www.evanscycles.com/help/test-rides so go along and try before you buy.

[Bold Rover]

Thanks again NBB. It so happens that I'm in Bruntsfield this weekend so possibly will pop in there. I might buy from Evans though - nearer home - although I note that there's an Ayrshire dealer sells Specialized. I think UtN is on his hols - hasn't been on here for while. Still haven't seen a weight for this bike, btw.

Edited August 27, 2014 by Bold Rover

[Newbornbairn]

This site will give a ball park figure for weight - http://www.thebicycleescape.com/bicycleweights.html Frames don't really change much so 30lbs is probably about right (13..5kg)

[Unleash The Nade]

Ouch - the Riverside 7 is 17kg - that's seriously heavy.

For the same money, I'd recommend the Specialized Crosstrail. Everyone I know that has one raves about it. http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/crosstrail-elite-disc-2014-hybrid-bike-ec042524 And it's about 4kg lighter

^^

This

IMO for the money,nothing comes close

I have a mate who works in a bike shop selling all the top brands and he agrees

[Bold Rover]

NBB and UtN agree, so the Specialized Crosstrail it is. Just need to decide which model/spec. Cheers, pals.

[Nelly78]

Decided at the weekend that I'd had enough of sitting next to smelly, spluttering people with music playing too loud on a roasting hot bus into work every day, so I've bought myself a bike and have started cycling in. No idea if it's any good, but picked up a Cannondale Quick 6 from Alpine Cycles for £300, which seems like a decent bargain (£150 less than it was in Evans).

Really enjoying the cycle into work in the morning, as it's pretty much all downhill and takes about 15 mins - about half the time of the bus. Going home is a bit of a pisser though - I live over the back of Braid Hills, so in my unfit state it's currently a 40 min uphill slog.

[lau03143]

Anyone got any good recommendations for entry level road bikes?

[Fifespud]

Doing an 80km route soon Dundee - Perth - Fife - Dundee, any tips? i.e Hydration, Energy Bars etc.

http://www.strava.com/routes/817253

The longest I've done before is 61km

This is a route I've done countless times. Good circuit - Kinnoul Hill being the toughest climb. I recommend high 5 energy gels as being amongst the most easily consumed.- on a route like this I carry a 750 ml bottle - my preference being pink grapefruit zeroes - then top up at shops as required with any old isotonics. You'll go straight past at least 10 shops. The power of a bag of jelly babies can never be overestimated. You've probably done it now - how did it go?

[Fifespud]

Have loved lurking on this thread even if some of the technical stuff goes straight over my head.

Anyway, have finally bought my first half decent bike.

Planning to do the 4m commute to work every day on it and also build up to some long rides. My parents stay 10m outside Aberdeen, so there and back will be a good start. i'm quite fit anyway so hopefully I won't struggle too much, although no doubt I'll be using muscles I didn't know I had!

I was quite wary of the guy in the shop selling me a load of shite I didn't need, so didn't get much to accompany the bike. Is there anything that is considered 'essential' apart from a good set of lights and a solid lock?

I'd say get a CO2 pump - these mini pumps are feckin useless. Also I carry a pair of surgical gloves for emergencies. Particularly if you're commuting you don't want to turn up at work with oily hands. For road use (relatively narrow beam) there's a good pair of catseye rechargeable lights you can get for about 80 quid the pair. They do the job excellently. I say don't skimp on the rear light - you want the fuckers coming from behind seeing you. Lightweight rain jacket that you can ram in the second bottle holder. Handy if you get caught in a shower. In general try to avoid really dark/black cycle gear. You may think it's flattering but renders you nearly invisible in flat light.