Cyclists types - advice please

[HardRockCamaro]

Hehe!!!

Maybe...

Turns out the (new) bike I want it is in short supply as it's hitting end of life hence the discount and the fact that they only have the large size left and I think I need a medium...

I think I've found one for sale near me in medium for an extra tenner, I'll call them tomorrow to double check.

Chances are I'll go with that as it's less hassle being virtually on my doorstep.

[Fieldy]

Andy, the GT would be my choice

[HardRockCamaro]

I had a look online, the GT is a good bike but I prefer the paint scheme of the Mongoose, it's also a bit far to go to get a bike even meeting half way, and what if it was then the wrong size or not what I expected?

So this morning I found a different local cycle shop that actually had the Mongoose in stock and got to try then out for size, good thing I did as both I and the store initially thought I needed a large, but a medium was the right size.
They didn't have the medium in that model in store (I tried a lesser one, but same frame design) so they're brining me (the last) one over from their warehouse.  I'll fetch it tomorrow or probably Friday.
Happy days, bought some mud guards, lights, puncture repair kit etc and so I'll be good to go.  They'll fit everything and set it all up plus I get a free first service.  Well worth the extra tenner they want over the other place (which doesn't have a medium in any case).

What swung it for me was how helpful and friendly the staff were, which is a stark contrast to the other 3 places I'd been so far.

One guy was in is early 20s, the other was an old timer.  When I revealed I hadn't ridden for years the question came about as to what bike I had last, I mentioned the Kirk and the old guy's brow furrowed and he said "wasn't that the magnesium one, cast in one piece so no welding?".  Yup!  He said he remembered those as they looked bloody heavy but were super light.  I asked why they didn't make them any more and he said that the standard components (gears and brakes etc) on them weren't very good considering the bike's price, the money was in the frame.  And he reconed that today they would be too expensive, probably nearer a grand and more than that if they put decent components on them.  Apparentley it's popular with enthusiasts as they buy them used and put their own top quality components on them.

Also saw a new Raleigh BMX that is styled to look as close to the original from the early 80s.  Even had black mag wheels (they're made of stronger stuff nowadays although still not as good as proper metal spokes) and it cost £250.  Ouch.  that's twice what I paid for mine in the day...

[Motorama]

If you arent going to ride off road you should consider a hybrid over an MTB. Lighter and faster, still ok for canal paths and so on.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/73-fx-2008-hybrid-bike-ec001501

[HardRockCamaro]

I did look at those actually, if I was going for paved surfaces only I'd definately get one (I've never liked "racers").  As things stand, a hybrid is in fact probably the ideal bike for my purpose.

But I went with an MTB in the end as I'll trade the extra weight for the knowledge that I can go off-road if my needs change.  I think it makes more sense as I'm hoping to avoid using roads as to be honest the traffic around here is so extreme I'm just not comfortable with the thought of riding in it.

I'm gonna start off on the canal paths and then move on to riding in say Epping Forrest.

Of course, who knows, I may not and just ride to work on the road, lol!

Anyways...

I'm looking forward to getting the bike tomorrow or Friday...

[Motorama]

Maybe worth investing in a spare set of tyres just for the road then. Knobblies do create a lot of drag and noise on the road.

Although i havent ridden it for a while i fitted road tyres to my hardtail and pumped the front shock up real hard for riding around the lanes where i live and it was so much smoother and faster.

[HardRockCamaro]

That's a good idea actually.  I'll look at that as the first upgrade, in fact, being the lazy type I may just get an extra set of rims and put the tyres on them for quick swap-out...

Stuff gets expensive real quick I've noticed...

This particular bike has a handlebar located lockout for the front shock so I can just flick it to on or off-road mode easily.

[Motorama]

I havent cycled much for the last 6 years, since i moved house.

Prior to that i used to cycle 2 or 3 hours a day 4 days a week. Road bike during the week for fitness and big off road jobs at the weekend.

Buying stuff for the bikes gets real addictive like it does with cars. Before you know it you'll be buying the magazines and constantly upgrading. Over a 5 year period i went from having a couple cheap secondhand bikes to having 2 built to spec bikes worth nearly 3 grand a piece. I still have them both hanging in the garage, an Orange EVO2 hardtail with lots of nice bits and a Bianchi road bike with some nice upgrades. I'd love to ride them both again but a niggling back injury is stopping me.

What you do find with bikes is the technology filters down, stuff that was only on higher spec models ends up on cheaper bikes a few years later. Much like cars i guess!

The worst thing about cheaper bikes has always been they are too heavy but even they are getting better in recent years.

I used to frequent a site called Bikemagic a lot which was good for forums, info, reviews etc. Dnt know if its still going. Also invested in a couple of books and some specific tools so i didnt have to pay the bike shops to mend my bikes

[HardRockCamaro]

You're the man to talk to then!

I do find the cheaper bikes to be heavy, but even the GT Avalanche I looked at came in at a hair over 30lbs, even the Tyax comes in at 28lbs but the salesman did admit it wasn't the lightest hardtail sub £400 but it is stronger.

The cheaper Halfords full suspension ones come in at around 39lbs, a full third more.

I've read that most of the higher end pro stuff comes in at around 20-22lb while retaining strength, but can dip to 19lb if you want a real lightweight.  But at some point is must be counter productive as an MTB needs strength.  I bet those road race bikes are proper light...

Mind you, the cheapest weight of getting the weight down I think is to lose some myself, lol!

[Motorama]

Quoting: HardRockCamaro

You're the man to talk to then!

Not sure about that I havent picked up a bike mag or ridden for over six years now.

When we moved house i was doing a lot of extra hours to pay for stuff and then i hurt my back and i just never got back into it. I really miss it, i've really piled on the weight since i stopped.

Feel like taking them both off the wall now and cleaning them up

[55starchief]

Still have my Specialised rockhopper although its sans the mavic sup rims and hope hubs,manitou shock and  flight titanium saddle. It does still have the onsa lightweight bars,shimano XTR groupset,girvin flexstem and shimano SPD'peddles. I had over 2k in that bike but i was a hardcore rider

I always wanted an orange vitamin T or a specilaised m2 matrix but never had the cash

[HardRockCamaro]

Didn't realise you were into bikes, would have rang you for some advice.


Ho hum...

Well, I'm sure what I've bought will be just fine.

For now...

[Motorama]

Quoting: 55starchief

Still have my Specialised rockhopper although its sans the mavic sup rims and hope hubs,manitou shock and flight titanium saddle. It does still have the onsa lightweight bars,shimano XTR groupset,girvin flexstem and shimano SPD'peddles. I had over 2k in that bike but i was a hardcore rider

Not too different to the spec on my Orange EVO 2. Mavic SUP rims on Hope hubs with Hope hydraulic brakes, Pace Evo 2 forks, XT group, Crank Bros Egg Beater pedals and a flight titanium saddle

I basically bought this and then upgraded and replaced almost everything except the frame

http://www.bikemagic.com/news/article/mps/uan/120