Wizzbang

Been doing a bit of road cycling of late, and want to try to keep it up to gain some much needed fitness for next years mtb rides.

Im currently using my Giant XTC SE (06 model) hardtail mtb with Continental double fighter semi slicks and the forks stiffened right up, but im thinking that maybe a dedicated road bike might be better.

Ive been looking around, but budget is going to be my limiting factor (£4-500 tops). Seen a 2010 Giant Defy 4 (entry level) for sub £400 and also a 2010 Cube Ariel for £500.

The question is, will these (relative) budget bikes be better/easier to ride than my current one ??

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

Yes.


Next question

The much thinner tyres make for an improved rolling resistance, but the main factor is the weight of the wheels with tyres - you'll put much less effort into getting them spinning. The bike weight may not be hugely different, it's really spinning up all that weight.

First time you go out on the road you'll be over 20mph and wondering why the hell everything is going past so quick

B0DSKI

iTrader: (17)

Agree with the above. Less effort on a dedicated roadbike. Always worth looking on Ebay for a good used bike. You can turn up quite a few baragins if you are lucky and know what your looking for.

My ride to wet your appetite

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

I calculate an FCN of 1 whatever the hell you wear on that

You must cycle 'round with a target painted on your back You'll have every MTB and flat barred hybrid for MILES trying to get past....

tony de wonderful

Yeah a TCR would make a good cheap road bike for you. A road bike on the road is way better than an MTB.

Get one that fits you well and don't feel you need the bars way lower then the seat.

I was big into road biking a few years back and was training to do local time trials but fcuked my back up and had retired.

Now I do a job where I can't really train and my back is still fcuked.

Hoping to get back into it one day though. I really loved long morning rides at the weekend. It's a really great feeling.

B0DSKI

iTrader: (17)

They can try

It weighs sub 17Lbs so not a lot of weight to be pushing down the road

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

I must admit whenever I'm out on my Madone, I ride around like a skittish squirrel - I'm terrified some jeans wearing hoodie lout's going to come flying past.

I would probably have to hunt him down, kill him and hide the body


Back to the OP - watch your cadence on a road bike, it's too easy to sit in a high gear and mash away. Try dropping a couple of cogs and spin for a bit, this will certainly help with your MTB fitness

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

A big yes, being 24 hours off being 40, a bit overweight and not massively fit I still manage to punt my Spec Allez Elite down the road at some velocity, one that nobody on anything short of a decent road bike has improved on, since I got it in Feb I havent been back on my Cannondale Hybrid, its just so lovely, the Cannondale is hard and a bit mechanical feeling, the Specialized is smooth and seems faster, mainly I think down to the lower bottom bracket allowign a longer pedal stroke.

Get a road bike, they arent as fragile as some imagine, mine seems to take rought roads, bridal tracks, mud, shale whatever in its stride, in fact after about 2000 miles, no broken spokes but that could be down to me specifying a handbuilt rear wheel with more spokes to cope with my 16 stone and slightly rought road commute.

Its sat looking a bit damp tonight but nothing makes you feel so good after a day in the office, we are designed for physical activity, and rain isnt ever fatal, with decent lights and clothing its great, I feel listless when I have been in the car, only icy roads stop me.

Wizzbang

It appears that going road is the best thing then, currently winning my vote for a potential purchase is this one



Cube Ariel 2010, discounted to £500

davyboy

Can you get it with a double on the front rather than a triple?

I must admit I'd quite like to see have an MTB try and race me. Having riden one on the road, and even a hybrid, a full on road bike is a fair bit quicker.

Wizzbang

Most of the 'budget' bikes Ive been looking at all have a triple on the front....dont really know if it makes much of a difference. Dont have any experience of road bikes, only mtbs.

dpb

I reckon you need road bike geometry you dont necessarily NEED a full on road bike

dpb

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ROAD-BIKE-Sing...8#ht_500wt_949



bargain , fit in no time

Clarebabes

I like the look of that Cube.

I have a Specialised Allez Elite, the same as J4CKO and Davyboy, bloke's bike, but after some adjusting it fits me well.

Dave made me get the double at the front and even though I curse him at times, it did make me much fitter and able to climb hills faster!

Wizzbang

Well.....I have an early xmas present as the Cube has won out.


Got home from work today to find an email from Chain Reaction (where the Cube was in stock) giving me a voucher for 10% off of any order....made the bike £450 instead of its list price of £670.


Got to start looking for new pedals and shoes now though...as all my gear are mtb.

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

Just get SPD pedals - double sided if you can - you can use your mtb shoes on them then and not have to be clipped in if you don't want.

Wizzbang

Ive got XT spd's and xc shoes that I use on my hardtail, but dont want to have to keep swapping them over

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

These are the ones to get - only single sided but very very light - SPD fitting

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/PESHA600...edals---silver




This is my roadie and commuter

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

I have some Shimano pedals with different sides, pain in the bum really, I just went for double sided MTB SPD's, same on all my bikes, they are great, full on Road Shoes for commuting are overkill, MTB ones give you most of the benefit of being clipped in but with the added benefit of being able to walk into a shop reasonably normally, I aint on the TDF after all !

Wizzbang

Took delivery of the Cube yesterday, and this evening managed to get hold of some cheap lights so I could go for a quick spin.

Its going to take a few more miles to get used it and set it up properly for me, but I'm impressed how well it rolls and how slick the gearing is.

Richie856

Good stuff mate.
Enjoy it
I've just booked a wee trip to the Pyrenees next year for some Tour de France climbs

vindaloo

Pedals...

2nd the MTB SPD idea. I've got M545s on my tourer and M324s on my MTB. Can be a bit of a fuss with the 324s if you're determined to be clipped in but on the flip side, they ride really well on the flat side so usually it's no big deal.

J.

gtijames

i bought a specialized allez sport triple in may,to get a bit of fitness back i have loved going out on it.i have been building up slowly and had been doing a few local loops up to 27 miles 3-5 times a week.the problem i have been having in the last few weeks is that due to work/diy/crap weather and dark nights i havent been able to get out.so next week im getting a cycleops fluid 2 turbo trainer for my 40th birthday at least i can do some interval training and maintain some fitness during the winter months.
it makes me smile when i go on bikeradar and read the threads on there they are as bad as us on here for buying go faster parts and drooling over carbon lol.

Mogsi

You'll be wanting to download these then:

http://www.thesufferfest.com/

Pain and Suffering guaranteed.....

gtijames

thanks for the link mogsi they look good,ive read that they are good,they make you cycle until you throw up lol.

Richie856

Beat me too it. In preparation for winter I've just downloaded the Angels and Revolver ones.
Still to try them.

Gtijames....I'm on Bikeradar as well...know what you mean

davyboy

I bought some rollers recently but find them so boring...do you really think these DVDs help?

Mogsi

They certainly add variety to Winter training and help ease the boredom.

You'll need to be handy on the rollers though as some of the efforts involved are seriously hard 'do or die' sprints, not something I'd attempt on rollers. Far easier on a turbo.

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

you're not one of those dirty weirdos in the MTB section are you?

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Rollers ? just go out on your bike ?