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Road bike beginner

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  • March 22, 2017 at 10:41 am #26921
    Bouncetastic

    Hi, hoping you guys can help me. I currently own a mountain bike and am now looking for my first road bike. I have £1000 to spend at evans cycles with the ride to work scheme and just acquired an old bike to trade in so my budget can go up to £1100 before it costs me anything. I also get £60 of accessories which I intend to use for pedals, mudguards etc as I already have clothing and helmet.

    I’m looking at the following 2 bikes. Both the same price both have hydraulic disc brakes. Beyond that I know nothing, the specification may as well be written in Chinese for all the sense it makes to me. The bike would be used for riding with a local club and some of the evans sportives plus obviously going out alone if only for the thrill of risking my life 😉

    So my question is, how do these bikes compare on spec? Obviously I will be visiting my nearest store before making a final choice.

    Also I know the cube has its own specific mudguards from the manufacturer but these are currently unavailable due to a product recall. I can’t find anywhere that someone has used alternatives, does anyone know if this is possible? Would I be able to fit clip ons for example?

    Any other possible options gratefully received but please bear in mind that I know nothing so anything technical will go over my head.

    https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-dolomite-4-2017-road-bike-EV275636

    https://www.evanscycles.com/cube-attain-race-disc-2017-road-bike-EV287828

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  • March 25, 2017 at 3:29 pm #889693
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    StraelGuy

    I’m glad you’re so thrilled

    I’m glad you’re so thrilled with your new bike. Ignore any comments about weight. I’ve been on my steel winter bike since last autumn. It weighs abour 8 lb more than my carbon summer bike but it’s just as fun to ride yes.

    March 25, 2017 at 3:01 pm #889691
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    Bouncetastic

    It’s lush. I’ve seen a few
    It’s lush. I’ve seen a few bright orange mountain bikes and always thought they looked really good but it’s definitely a marmite colour. Off out properly tomorrow and already looking for my first evans sportive to aim for 😀

    March 25, 2017 at 2:40 pm #889689
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    ktache

    That is a fine looking

    That is a fine looking bicycle.

    March 25, 2017 at 2:31 pm #889687
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    ClubSmed

    Great news, I’m glad you
    Great news, I’m glad you found your bike!

    March 25, 2017 at 2:21 pm #889685
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    sergius

    Fantastic, I hope you enjoy

    Fantastic, I hope you enjoy it.

     

    March 25, 2017 at 12:41 pm #889683
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    Bouncetastic

    Well I pooled over to evans
    Well I pootled over to evans in Leamington this morning and spent a couple of hours in the store. They were nice and relaxed with no pressure which was lovely. Set the Arkose up on the turbo trainer and I have to say I wasn’t too sure, it felt short and as though I was being pushed forward. Anyway he set it all up to fit me and I went off on my test ride…… I managed to do three laps around the block with a couple of small climbs but 10 seconds in I was grinning like the village idiot on a day trip, I actually didn’t want to take the bike back to the shop if I’m honest. So I bought it. They threw in pedals and I bought mudguards, saddle bag and bottle holder with my accessories allowance. I’ve just taken it out for a quick spin at home, just 11km but even in my unfit state I took 15 minutes off my MTB time on the same route. Saw a few cyclists out and about and got a couple of grins as we went by in all our orange glory. I liked the colour on the website but it looks even better in the flesh. I can’t stop smiling 😀

    March 25, 2017 at 8:13 am #889681
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    Johnnyvee

    I have bought from Evans
    I have bought from Evans several times now – in Sheffield as they are very relaxed and at one point I’d tried around 5 bikes over a week or two before I decided.
    They let me test three back to back and were only happy when I was happy. They were also great when I helped my sister get a bike.
    Bottom line go with what makes you smile lots as you’ll ride it more and form your own opinion and listen to them. Best also if they have a female member on the team to deal with as she will be able to steer you a little better on options.
    As others have said buy what makes you happiest and the test ride is the only way to find out.
    Only part with cash when you’re totally happy.

    March 25, 2017 at 2:00 am #889679
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    MarkOne

    If you get set on that orange
    If you get set on that orange bike, why not ask them to do you a deal in a compact chainset when buying it?
    Also, test a few other bikes out from the store at a higher price point.. Maybe add a bit of your own cash to the bike scheme..

    March 24, 2017 at 1:18 pm #889677
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    Simon E

    Bouncetastic wrote:

    Bouncetastic wrote:
    The overall weight of that bike according to fuji is 10.6kg which is about 1 kilo heavier than most of the others we’ve looked at so I’m guessing that’s the wheels?
    Weight is a red herring, as is all this blather about minor spec differences and other people’s preferences.

    Stop overthinking it. Just get the best bike that fits YOU and that YOU like best.

    atlaz wrote:
    The “sounds like” is about the worst thing you can hear. There’s no replacement for going and having a test ride on a few bikes.
    +1.

    March 24, 2017 at 1:03 pm #889675
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    atlaz

    Quote:

    Sound like the more relaxed geometry of an Adventure/Gravel/Cyclocross/Tourer would suit you best rather than a pure road bike

    The “sounds like” is about the worst thing you can hear. There’s no replacement for going and having a test ride on a few bikes. I’ve had relaxed geo bikes and race geo bikes and I find them pretty much of a muchness once I’ve fitted them properly; I honestly couldn’t say I’d want my now-dead Synapse back over the CAAD10 or KTM Revelator that I have now. It wasn’t THAT much easier on the body on a long ride.

    March 24, 2017 at 12:40 pm #889673
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    Bouncetastic

    ClubSmed wrote:

    ClubSmed wrote:

    Bouncetastic wrote:
    ClubSmed wrote:

    I would caveat that if you do go for the 2016 Pinnacle Arkose 3 then you will probably want to change the chainset pretty quickly as although the Cyclocross geometry will (IMHO) suit your needs I am not sure that the 48/32 chain rings will. I think you may be better off with a compact (50/34) set up which is what you will find on most bikes. As I pointed out before though, you can change this over with a massive upgrade and still come out with change from you cycle to work scheme voucher (don’t forget to use the price match though).

    Enjoy!

    With regard to the chain rings, what does that actually mean?

    The chain rings are the gears that you have on the front cranks (the pedal arms). The 2016 Pinnacle has lower number of teeth (are smaller) which means that it is easier to pedal. This is so it can go up hils in mud for the cyclocross purist but will mean that you will not be able to go as fast on the roads. A compact chain set of 50/34 (50 teeth on the bigger cog, 34 on the smaller) is a good all round middle cround between the 53/39 of the standard road chain set and the 48/32 cyclocross/mountain bike chain set.
    Did that make sense?

    That actually does make sense and I didn’t have to read it twice….. I must be learning! 😀 Anything that helps me climb up hills would be a good thing for sure as 4 months off means my legs are definitely not as strong as they were. I’m not too worried about speed as I’m never going to be the fastest on 2 wheels. It does depend of course on how much it slows me down. Maybe I could leave it as is and think about changing once I’m fitter and hills are less of an issue?

    March 24, 2017 at 12:35 pm #889671
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    ClubSmed

    Bouncetastic wrote:

    Bouncetastic wrote:
    ClubSmed wrote:

    I would caveat that if you do go for the 2016 Pinnacle Arkose 3 then you will probably want to change the chainset pretty quickly as although the Cyclocross geometry will (IMHO) suit your needs I am not sure that the 48/32 chain rings will. I think you may be better off with a compact (50/34) set up which is what you will find on most bikes. As I pointed out before though, you can change this over with a massive upgrade and still come out with change from you cycle to work scheme voucher (don’t forget to use the price match though).

    Enjoy!

    With regard to the chain rings, what does that actually mean?

    The chain rings are the gears that you have on the front cranks (the pedal arms). The 2016 Pinnacle has lower number of teeth (are smaller) which means that it is easier to pedal. This is so it can go up hils in mud for the cyclocross purist but will mean that you will not be able to go as fast on the roads. A compact chain set of 50/34 (50 teeth on the bigger cog, 34 on the smaller) is a good all round middle cround between the 53/39 of the standard road chain set and the 48/32 cyclocross/mountain bike chain set.

    While the pedaling being easier may sound like a good thing, imagine cycling down a hill in the same big gear you used to get up the hill and how fast you would have to pedal to engage the rear gears and I think you’ll start to understand the issue.

    Did that make sense?

    March 24, 2017 at 12:22 pm #889669
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    Bouncetastic

    ClubSmed wrote:

    ClubSmed wrote:

    I would caveat that if you do go for the 2016 Pinnacle Arkose 3 then you will probably want to change the chainset pretty quickly as although the Cyclocross geometry will (IMHO) suit your needs I am not sure that the 48/32 chain rings will. I think you may be better off with a compact (50/34) set up which is what you will find on most bikes. As I pointed out before though, you can change this over with a massive upgrade and still come out with change from you cycle to work scheme voucher (don’t forget to use the price match though).

    Enjoy!

    With regard to the chain rings, what does that actually mean?

    March 24, 2017 at 12:20 pm #889667
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    Bouncetastic

    ClubSmed wrote:

    ClubSmed wrote:

    Just out of curiosity Bouncetastic, where abouts in the world are you going to be cycling?

    I’m just outside evesham in Worcestershire

    March 24, 2017 at 12:18 pm #889665
    0
    ClubSmed

    I would caveat that if you do

    I would caveat that if you do go for the 2016 Pinnacle Arkose 3 then you will probably want to change the chainset pretty quickly as although the Cyclocross geometry will (IMHO) suit your needs I am not sure that the 48/32 chain rings will. I think you may be better off with a compact (50/34) set up which is what you will find on most bikes. As I pointed out before though, you can change this over with a massive upgrade and still come out with change from you cycle to work scheme voucher (don’t forget to use the price match though).

    Enjoy!

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