B’twin Ultra 720 AF…

If I went to the 11-32 wouldn

If I went to the 11-32 wouldn’t I need the longer rear mech fitted as well? I’ve read you can get away using the shorter version but not sure it’s worth the risk?

 

Everything I can tell about Decathalon seems to suggest the bike comes with the spec it does. Any changes are made  at an additional cost to the buyer – If I got them to do it – I don’t do mechanics 🙂

 

Did look at ebay etc for 2nd hand stuff, biggest problem with that is the only person I’d trust enough to look with me is around 8k miles away for another 5 months. I’m not trusting my own judgment on whats good or not.

My budget is £1250 (£1500 at a push -sell kidney and live on the Dogs kibble etc) for bike and anything attached to it.

 

I have a seperate budget for stuff that attaches to me 🙂 Mainly because I’m also replacing a load of my Dog walking gear so anything I can get that pulls double duty gets a bigger tick than just pure cycling gear.

JimD666 wrote:

Really looking at the compact as I can primarily see the use of 34+28 far more than I can 52+11.

But if you stuck with the 52/36 set up and just added an 11-32 cassette to the back you would have the use of 36+32 which is easier than 32+28. See chart below.

You can pick up a 105 11-32 cassette for ~£35 which should leave you plenty of money spare for things like pedals, shoes, new tyres, mudguards and anything else you think you need

If you did it this way you would also be able to keep the pannier rack options which may be some of the reason you are looking at the CGR?

But if you are really opening up then you could look a second hand as you can pick up some absolute bargains from people who were in your situation a year or two ago and have either not followed through or are splashing cash on a new shiny 😉

JimD666 wrote:

JimD666 wrote:

too much bike for a beginner cyclist?

The B’twin Road Bike Range is an excellent starting place for a beginner road cyclist by all accounts. As to wether it is too much, only your wallet can tell you that 😉

JimD666 wrote:

Started riding after 30+ years on a cheap MTB from a certain high street shop and have realised I actually prefer being on the road so started to look for a replacement.

Keep getting drawn towards the B’twin bike’s as they seem to be excellent value for money.

Well done on getting back into it after 30+ years, I did a very similar thing. I hadn’t really ridden for ~30 years and started back on a hybrid but did not gain a real love till I went for a drop bar bike (though I was part forced into the swap by theft).

JimD666 wrote:

If I went for the cheaper 540 I’ll also be looking to changing to a Compact 50/34 vs the 52/36 it comes with and possibly the tyres. I can (just about) stretch to the 720 without needing to change much of anything. Just add mudguards (assuming it can take them?).

As Simontuck says, just try out the original spec and see how you get on. If you feel you need the extra assistance to get you up hills then changing the rear cassette from the 11-28 to a 11-32 will give you greater range than changing the crankset and be a lot cheaper. Unless you have killer hills near you though I very much doubt you’ll need it, just keep at tackling the hills till you are king of them 😀

Also I generally think that you may well apreciate having a little cash spare to personalise the elements you find could be improved rather than overspend and be stuck with them.

JimD666 wrote:

Are there better options for a beginner cyclist? Or is it a fairly safe bet?

B’Twin are a safe bet, I expect that if your desire for cycling should outgrow the bike then it will only be demoted to a “winter bike” (people with a REALLY nice bike don’t tend to ride it in winter as the season can be a little corrosive) and not be completely abandoned.

JimD666 wrote:

Should add I’m massively unfit (though it’s getting better – slowly) and a little overweight (only a little)

I was in the same situation as I was a Consultant so living out of hotel rooms without much opportunity to exercise or eat healthy. I quit and got a job closer to home and started commuting by bike the ~3.5 miles each way to work. The commute took me the same amount of time as any other mode of transport but the weight dropped off (3 stone and counting) and my base fitness increased substantially.
If you too are considering using the bike to commute it may be worth noting that the 540 can take pannier racks where as the 720 cannot.

JimD666 wrote:

Thanks for any help/advice.

You are most welcome, I just hope it is useful to you and not just my ramblings

 

Why are you so keen to change

Why are you so keen to change to a compact 50/34? I’d say try the oe spec and see how you get on. Unless you’re riding up mountains you’ll be fine, there’s not that much difference as long as you have a decent cassette. Of course, changing the cassette is then a cheaper option to start with. You’d be better off putting the £50 for a chainset towards some decent bibs or shoes/ pedals.

Many thanks for the
Many thanks for the information 🙂