Bike Recommendations for a fat bloater!
 

I am looking to buy my first bike in 20 years to try an loose the gut and wondered what the collective would recommend. I used to ride a road bike and the whole mountain bike thin has left me behind!

The criteria is this :-

Sub £300

"Hybrid" type - I think - as I don't need a full off road bike but want something that can go across trails as well as roads so a "racer" is out.

I've seen a Diamondback Quantum in a local bike shop and it seemed to tick a lot of boxes and looked good as well!

Diamondback Quantum

Can you test ride bikes like you would a car?

Thanks in advance.

Steve

PS As I'm a newbie, something from Halfrauds or the more common makes is better than an obscure mail order!

I think that looks pretty good although wife recently got a brilliant Specialized Globe IG8 (8 speed hub gears, carbon forks) for £500.

There's a more basic version available for £300 and Specialized are sold everywhere!
Would recommend a local bike shop over Halfords any day!

Nice one for getting into it!

Evans Cycles: Product: Specialized Globe Sport 2008 Hybrid Bike

Wife tested hers first (as did I).

Thanks.

Something I'm keen to avoid and it may be a misconception is that "non road" bikes (for want of a better expression), are low geared. Whenever I see someone on one on the flat, their legs are going 10 to the dozen.

As I'll be using the bike on tracks and roads, 235 gears (all low) are not a requirement, ideally I'd want the gearing to be like a racer. Is this achievable?

Steve

LOL, you make us sound like the Borg !! :lol1:

Mattee's suggestion sounds good. Doesn't say the weight of the bike (assume it's not bad), but Specialized is a quality brand and the bits are fine for not much cash. Agree that you may actually be better off withouy supension fork (ie having rigid instead), if your not going any more offroad than your local hardpac/dirt track.

Andy Mc

Steve,

The Diamondback looks like a pretty good spec for the money. As you're just getting back on the bike I wouldn't rule Halfords out if only to go down there, have a look around and ask some questions.

...and further to "non-road bikes are low gears" theory - I can hit over 30mph on the flat on my mountain bike on tarmac with off-road tyres (although I haven't managed to set a Gatso off yet :(). You can always change the tyres on an off-road bike so they are more suited to tarmac or hard-pack trail.

Yup, not bothered about suspension as I won't be downhilling! Just something to weigh more and go wrong IMHO.

Steve

I have both roadbike and mountain bike. Hybrids are normally based on mountain bikes, but I think you should go for a test drive ! I often see peeps' legs going at ten to the dozen on a tiny incline and wonder what the problem is !! Once you get used to the bike you'll not do that. In fact i don't use my smallest front cog unless I'm going up steep rocky paths off road.

HTH,


Andy Mc

SJ Skyline :

LOL at "View my Scooby" !

Glad to see you haven't done any modifications. Very clean example. ;)

Andy Mc

Andy,

I must change that!! The bike's had a few mods: Tool bag on the seat post and there's a map-board bracket on the handlebars! ;)

And it's rather dirty after last weekend's blat :o

Steve,

A hybrid sounds ideal for what you want. Any good bike shop will let you test ride.

Check rim sizes - if you are doing road and light trail work, you will want 27" /700 rims rather than 26" running road/trail tyres. Lower rolling resistance and higher overall gearing.

Evans have shops all over the place, so worth a visit.

ps - don't forget a helmet!

Right, going to test drive the Diamondback (the shop is 1/2 a mile down the road from my house) on Saturday.

What sort of margin do bike shops work on so I know how hard to haggle? They are going for £260ish on the interweb.

Steve

LOL - I've just realised I've done my pet forum hate.

I asked for advise and then went and followed my original course of action!

Maybe the bike will be crap - it has got 26" wheels after all.

Steve

I have the tool bag too, but haven't had a puncture for 3 years despite going off road about 3 times a week in the "summer" (LOL) ! I do run my tyres at 45 psi on my mtn bike though, so I'm not likely to get pinch flats !


Andy Mc

PS Will be going up into the Pentland hills shortly. :D

You'll learn to hate Hawthorn! :mad:

Evil, nasty stuff. Especially when you see a piece stuck in your front wheel as you know when you take it out the tyre will deflate! :(

LOL

I'm sure the bike will be fine ::lol1:

After 10 years off bikes myself until a few years back, I went to Halfords and got a Saracen for £250... It wasnt the lightest, but it survived being hammered round Delamere Forest and Winter Hill a few times and even some mountain paths in Wester Ross to very isolated places :thumb:
Once I knew biking was back in the blood I doubled my budget, went to a local specialist and got an award winning Claud Butler in 2005... 2000 miles and a few services later and it's going strong :)
The Saracen lives on though - gave it to a friend when I upgraded.

The Diamond Back will do you fine :) Enjoy your new hobby! :)

LOL. Reminds me when my neighbour said to me "You've got a bike, can you fix my wee lass's bike - it has a flat tyre? " Mucked about finding the correct spanner for a bit (cheapo kiddy's non quick release wheel), changed the inner tube, much appreciated by neighbour and child.

The next day the little lass came back, crying "I've got another puncture !!".

I'd forgotten to look for the tip of the thorn, which was still sticking inside the tyre ! :o :lol1:

Next June we've got a 4 day and night race in and around Stirling (running and biking), looking forwards to that one! :D

Hope the Diamond Back is/was good.
Re the Globe - It's based on an MTB whereas the Sirrus (hybrid) is much more road bike biased (so lighter but weaker).
Wife's has a sort of suspension fork (a rubber "insert" that separates the carbon blades from the alluminium steerer) but that £299 one doesn't.

You'd LOVE the 8 speed hub gears - All pretty high and I reckon I can cyce a good 10mph faster on the Globe than my Stumpjumper due to lower rolling resistance. Trouble is, you need to spend £450 for the hub one (the other £50 was a rack and mudguards).

have you looked into cyclo-cross bikes? basically a mixture of racer and xc bike.

Have a read of.....
Cyclo-cross bikes buyer's guide - BIKEmagic Gear News

Get the cheapest, nastiest full suspension no name cheapo bike off Ebay that you can get, it will be horrid and very heavy but think the weight you will lose dragging it up hills, compressing the lame suspension, carrying it when it breaks.

My lad has one, my dad found it with a puncture, some poor kid had obviously had enough of it, its enough to put you off cycling for life, it weight more than he does.

Sub £800 full suspension bikes are as useful as an aerodynamic parachute.
Avoid.

Well I bought the Diamondback!

Only done about 4 miles and my legs are ready to drop off! I didn't realise how unfit I was :(

Steve

Apart from the odd bit as a kid, I started cycling 7 yrs ago.

It gets easier ! :)

My backside is a bit tender too, FROM THE SADDLE!!!!

Steve

Glad you clarified that point. ;)

Peeps often go for "gel" saddles etc, but nothing beats a cycling hardened arse to cope with a few hours in the saddle!

Flat Tyre!
 

Bloody hell!

A flat tyre already!

Of course, I haven't gotten round to buying the puncture repair tools, pump etc yet :(

So, I inflated the tyre with my car air compressor and put the wheel in a bowl of water and couldn't see any bubbles.

Will drop it into the bike shop tomorrow (and buy some gear)!

Steve