Matteeboy

Cyclescheme let us have bikes - we work from home...

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

I log which days I have ridden, car, worked etc from home so they can come and ask me if I do the requisite 50%, I am the only one that does though !


Wouldnt worry about the spoke, you know when you have broken one as you can hear it pinging around and the back wheel (always the back as it carries the most weight) goes out of true, when it happens I just back right off, no standing on the pedals, I slow down and really avoid pot holes but it can still be ridden at a reasonable speed, I then get home and strip it down and fit the new spoke.

Sometimes a broken spoke isnt always down to weight, even light people break them, can be down to power output, age (fatigue) spoke defects pot holes or just a badly tensioned wheel, a decent wheel builder can virtually eliminate broken spokes, certainly better than a piece working 12 year old in a Taiwanese Sweatshop whos only goal is to get it straight and not get whipped.

Grifters were actually fairly dangerous to ride, that bloody Sturmey Archer with its random "No Drive" or "Slip gear" feature that used to send you all over the place with no warning, the wide bars and weight of a small motorbike made it a liability, I had the comparatively nimble "Strika" which was the next model down.

MattW

That's a razor blade!

Matteeboy

MattW - comfiest saddle I've ever had and weighs less than 200 grams...

J4CKO - I've broken loads of spokes and don't even break the 12 stone barrier...

Aztec Performance Ltd

iTrader: (234)

I would go for a hybrid road bike myself.

Suspension/mountain bikes are a waste of time on the road.

Personally I've always used Treks as the frame strengths are second to none.

I can testify this having crashed one into a car at 25mph+

yoza

You now know how it feels when someone who hasnt got a clue chips in with bollox on someones thread who does know what he is talking about......annoying isnt it.

I still owe you 1766 chip ins....

Love you all...Yoza, in a man type way by the way.

Fangoria

iTrader: (1)

Thanks again for all the comments

Went in and had a look at the Badboy at the weekend - the top tube seems short on a 'large sized bike' - maybe because in the past I'm more used to aerodynamic positions on a proper road frame. I could sort with a longer handlebar stem I suppose

I'm 6''2 and the guy in the cycle shop was saying I should not go above 20'' and could even get away with an 18'' which I think is a little small frame size

I also saw a Marin Mill way I think it was called in white - but it only had 20 spokes front and 24 spokes rear so I think I'd destroy the wheels quickly - looks nicer than the Badboy though

Saw a Ridgeback but that was £900 and I have a £1k voucher no change. Cycle shop was trying to put me off the Badboy saying you pay for the name and not necessarily better quality with them - they were really pushing a Ridgeback (£1k retail bike to £900)

Will go in next week to cycle a few - then use a £150 accessories on the pedals and shoes that Matteeboy recommended. Not too concerned about lights at the moment, will look at that in a couple of months when it starts getting darker much earlier

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Fangoria, I am 6ft dead on and I have the Large Bad Boy, I found I was quite stretched out on it so changed the stem, so surprised it seems short, i noticed mine was a bit long after a few days of riding it, I suspect it will actually be fine and may be down to riding road bikes before, alternatively they do an extra large.

I would say that the Bad Boy isnt overpriced or paying for a brand as they seem prett much similar to anything comparable component wise, though Boardman do seem to have the edge.