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Beginners bike buying advice please

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  • June 15, 2020 at 3:25 pm #30837
    Cerysdad

    Put this as a reply in classifieds before realising that it should probably go here. Apologies if inappropriate forum etiquette.

    It’s been a long time since I used a bike regularly. About 20 years ago I spent a lot of time on a mountain bike but children and age leave me pretty ignorant about current bikes. Reasonably fit but 105kg and 5’7″, with short legs. Mainly for commute to and from work as it looks like I’m going to be avoiding public transport. About 40 minutes each way … mostly downhill then uphill … then back again at the end of the day.

    This looks good to me. Saw it in a google search for something else. Haven’t a clue if it’s good value. Can’t see any pictures for some reason. https://road.cc/content/forum/sale-massi-carbon-ultegra-size-small-2017-274521

    Also looking at new bike via cycle to work scheme:

    Triban 520c disc £750 or

    Specialised Allez Elite £1050 or

    Cube Attain SL 2020 £1200

    Any advice would be appreciated.

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Viewing 13 replies - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)
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  • July 10, 2020 at 6:53 pm #960749
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    novice

    Sorry to hijack the thread. I

    Sorry to hijack the thread. I am also looking for a bike. It will be my first bike and will use it mainly for casual rides and potentially the occasional commute to work which is about 5kms away. 
     

    came across the following two bikes. Would appreciate thoughts / recommendations. 
     

    Decathlon: Riverside 500

    Go Outdoors: Calibre Stitch

    The Calibre is hard to find new in my size although seen a couple of second hand ones though selling at full retail price.

    June 18, 2020 at 8:43 am #960747
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    Cerysdad

    Thanks. Didn’t occur to me
    Thanks. Didn’t occur to me to try that. As my granny used to say, “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.” Nothing available though at the moment and as it’s nearly 2 weeks since I applied, I think I’ll chase up my employer again about the salary sacrifice agreement.

    June 17, 2020 at 11:13 am #960745
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    kil0ran

    If you’ve got a good local

    If you’ve got a good local bike shop that does Cyclescheme, have a chat with them about options for faster delivery. I’m sure mine is not the only one that’ll let you take a new bike on a credit card authorisation in lieu of the voucher arriving. Do the transaction the day after your credit card statement date and the refund will be back on the card before your next statement. That Merida would be a good option, I’ve had Merida bikes in the past and would still have but for the fact they sponsor the Bahrain cycling team.

    June 17, 2020 at 10:32 am #960743
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    Cerysdad

    Thanks.  My difficulty is

    Thanks.  My difficulty is with the cycle to work scheme.  Go through the quote stage … and then wait 5 to 14 days for it to process … bikes no longer available.  So I’m looking at bikes around the £1000 mark. The Merida Speeder 900 looks excellent.  Can’t find it to buy online unfortunately.

    June 17, 2020 at 8:20 am #960741
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    SimonAY
    Cerysdad wrote:
    Urban.  All road.

    If you’re only going to be doing a short-ish urban commute you may want to consider a hybrid. I much prefer cycling to work through central London on one than on my road bike. Plus they tend to be a bit cheaper – https://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/10-best-hybrid-bikes-218766

    June 16, 2020 at 10:13 pm #960739
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    Cerysdad

    Excellent advice thanks.  I

    Excellent advice thanks.  I checked that originally but have forgotten to recently as I’ve ploughed through many different bikes.  Every day I learn something new.

    June 16, 2020 at 10:11 pm #960737
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    Cerysdad

    Thanks.  Nothing is in stock

    Thanks.  Nothing is in stock with the retailers I can buy from anyway,  It’s why I was looking at the Massi I posted a link to.

    June 16, 2020 at 10:09 pm #960735
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    Cerysdad

    Urban.  All road.

    Urban.  All road.

    June 16, 2020 at 9:15 pm #960733
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    SimonAY

    What’s your commute like?
    What’s your commute like? (aside from the elevation) is it urban or rural?

    June 16, 2020 at 9:07 pm #960731
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    kil0ran

    The Allez Elite is a proper
    The Allez Elite is a proper “fast” road bike, will be fun to ride and is a good option if you’re also expecting to get bitten by the bug and start riding at weekends.

    The Triban is a workhorse, pretty much the perfect commuter. It will get the job done and has space for mudguards and rack mounts which might be important if you end up commuting in the autumn. I ran an earlier model as a commuter for years – Decathlon make good bikes and they’re a good basis for upgrading if you want to. It won’t be as fun to ride but to be honest if you’ve not ridden much in 20 years you’ll be blown away by almost any modern bike. Shifting, comfort, and braking have all improved massively over that time.

    June 16, 2020 at 5:02 pm #960729
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    Joe Totale

    I’d advise the Triban given

    I’d advise the Triban given that it’s a great bike for beginners. 

    One thing though, I’d check to see if these bikes are rated for someone at your weight. Some components such as wheels have a weight limit and sometimes it can be as low as 85-90kg. 

     

    June 16, 2020 at 9:00 am #960727
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    Cerysdad

    Thanks Lukas.  I’d definitely

    Thanks Lukas.  I’d definitely be getting the Triban if my cycle to work scheme had a link with Decathlon.  

    Just had a look at the Sirrus … well worth investigating.  Thanks for the suggestion.

    June 16, 2020 at 6:41 am #960725
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    Rome73

    You seem to have a reasonable

    You seem to have a reasonable budget – so that’s a good start. There is another recent forum post on the subject of commuting – things mentioned included bike with rack and panniers, mudguards, puncture protection tyres; all of which can be fitted to the bikes you mention. If I was coming back to cycling after a while and mainly commuting I would go for a flat handle bar (Hybrid). The riding position is more upright and less ‘aggresive’ and you have a better view. Also a rack and pannier does not look ‘great’ on an Allez. Have you considered a Specialised Sirrus? (Word of warning, I have worked with yoofs in the past and ‘species’ are right up the list of desirable bikes for your local tea leaf) I have heard good things about the Triban (yoofs are not interested in them either) and they are a good bit cheaper – money you can spend of quality accessories. 

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