Brands
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Brands
Complete newbie here. After the cardiologists suggestion I’m toying between road/mountain biking. To keep my question short but sweet, how far does the brand go in what I purchase?
For example, I’d rather spend more on a decent make than a pot luck in Halfords. The problem is that aside from price, I have nothing to go on. I suppose the ideal scenario would be 2 lists, one consisting of decent road bikes and another of mountain bike brands.
Lets pretend money isn’t a stumbling block too. Also…is my opinion that road cycling would be better for the heart to build up endurance or would mountain biking do the same?
For example, I’d rather spend more on a decent make than a pot luck in Halfords. The problem is that aside from price, I have nothing to go on. I suppose the ideal scenario would be 2 lists, one consisting of decent road bikes and another of mountain bike brands.
Lets pretend money isn’t a stumbling block too. Also…is my opinion that road cycling would be better for the heart to build up endurance or would mountain biking do the same?
Re: Brands
Take a look at a flat bar hybrid or maybe a gravel bike and that way you will have the best of both worlds
Both offer the option of on road and off road
A true mtb will come with knobbly tyres which will be harder work on the road and a true road bike is unsuitable for off road
Spend wise decide on a budget and go from there
Im sure a lot more knowledgeable people on here will give a better answer than i have
I recently bought a flat bar hybrid (Pinnacle Neon 2) from Evans and am more than happy with it
Cost me £775.00
Both offer the option of on road and off road
A true mtb will come with knobbly tyres which will be harder work on the road and a true road bike is unsuitable for off road
Spend wise decide on a budget and go from there
Im sure a lot more knowledgeable people on here will give a better answer than i have
I recently bought a flat bar hybrid (Pinnacle Neon 2) from Evans and am more than happy with it
Cost me £775.00
Re: Brands
"Better" would be which ever you will stick at, when its cold, wet and gets dark early.
A hybrid/gravel bike will allow you to do both roads and local tracks.....or even a desperately unfashionable touring bike.
.....touche, Godzy!
A hybrid/gravel bike will allow you to do both roads and local tracks.....or even a desperately unfashionable touring bike.
.....touche, Godzy!
Bike fitting D.I.Y. .....http://wheel-easy.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/bike-set-up-2017a.pdf
Tracks in the Dales etc...http://www.flickr.com/photos/52358536@N06/collections/
Tracks in the Dales etc...http://www.flickr.com/photos/52358536@N06/collections/
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Re: Brands
If you are new to cycling, one of the main things to help you cope will be low gears. Lots of speeds does not necessarily = low gears. To put it at it's very simplest, a bike with drop handlebars is unlikely to have really low gears and a bike with flat handlebars generally will but it's not guaranteed.
Re: Brands
I'd second a gravel cx bike it's the only bike I can do everything one.
Brands such as boardman, Ribble, canyon, Merlin are all good value.
An alloy frame / carbon forks with claris / sora / tiagra groupset and disc brakes. Approx price £750++
Cheers James
Brands such as boardman, Ribble, canyon, Merlin are all good value.
An alloy frame / carbon forks with claris / sora / tiagra groupset and disc brakes. Approx price £750++
Cheers James
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- Joined: 13 Feb 2015, 8:32pm
Re: Brands
Road bike, you can always take it off road if you know what you're doing!
https://youtu.be/5z1fSpZNXhU
Seriously I was looking for something of a do it all bike after my new mountain bike style hybrid got nicked. Really didn't like flat bars having ridden almost all my life on drop bars. Back then the specialised brand did a cyclo-cross bike that was more of a leisure bike than a true cx bike. It was what all the bike shops recommended. It was about when adventure bikes were starting to be a thing. About them a guy cycled the world on the newly released croix de fer.
Not having much i bought an planet x London road. They were selling it as a do anything bike, kind of whats now called a gravel bike. Later on they sold it as an urban bike whatever that is.
I use it mostly on the road but I've ridden it offload a bit too. I've done mountain bike trails on 32mm slick tyres before now but usually put my 38mm marathon pluses on for offroad. It's fun slipping sideways on a muddy slope on 32mm slicks, but controlling the bike all the same.
After I got this bike the gravel bike got fully developed and given that name. Now they're simply a tough bike you can fit out for road or off road or hybrid use. Get one capable of up to 50mm tyres and you can fit quite wide nobbly 700c tyres or slightly narrower more slick ones for when you're only doing the roads. You can also get ones capable of even wider in n650b wheels. Smaller wheels that are between the old 26"mtb and the 700 roadwheel. There's a whole range of mountain bikes in that tyre size so if b your rims can take wide it's a option with some gravel bikes.
My personal choice would be either a tour de fer or a croix de fer from genesis. I've wanted one for years. However kona look to be doing some similar touring gravel bikes. Not sure that's a thing but that's what I call those rugged, offroad capable bikes that have all the brackets and fixing points for every kind of touring and bike packing kit. The kona ones have several fork bolts to take those bikepacking luggage cages or front rack. Plus rear rack bolts, three bottle bosses, etc.
It's an exciting time for road style off road capable bikes.
https://youtu.be/5z1fSpZNXhU
Seriously I was looking for something of a do it all bike after my new mountain bike style hybrid got nicked. Really didn't like flat bars having ridden almost all my life on drop bars. Back then the specialised brand did a cyclo-cross bike that was more of a leisure bike than a true cx bike. It was what all the bike shops recommended. It was about when adventure bikes were starting to be a thing. About them a guy cycled the world on the newly released croix de fer.
Not having much i bought an planet x London road. They were selling it as a do anything bike, kind of whats now called a gravel bike. Later on they sold it as an urban bike whatever that is.
I use it mostly on the road but I've ridden it offload a bit too. I've done mountain bike trails on 32mm slick tyres before now but usually put my 38mm marathon pluses on for offroad. It's fun slipping sideways on a muddy slope on 32mm slicks, but controlling the bike all the same.
After I got this bike the gravel bike got fully developed and given that name. Now they're simply a tough bike you can fit out for road or off road or hybrid use. Get one capable of up to 50mm tyres and you can fit quite wide nobbly 700c tyres or slightly narrower more slick ones for when you're only doing the roads. You can also get ones capable of even wider in n650b wheels. Smaller wheels that are between the old 26"mtb and the 700 roadwheel. There's a whole range of mountain bikes in that tyre size so if b your rims can take wide it's a option with some gravel bikes.
My personal choice would be either a tour de fer or a croix de fer from genesis. I've wanted one for years. However kona look to be doing some similar touring gravel bikes. Not sure that's a thing but that's what I call those rugged, offroad capable bikes that have all the brackets and fixing points for every kind of touring and bike packing kit. The kona ones have several fork bolts to take those bikepacking luggage cages or front rack. Plus rear rack bolts, three bottle bosses, etc.
It's an exciting time for road style off road capable bikes.
Re: Brands
Before we discuss, perhaps it would make sense to ask the OP one question, like whether they've got any idea of the type of riding they'd be interested in - e.g. on-road, on-gravel, on trails, and what sort of roads/terrain they're likely to be on in their local area.
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Re: Brands
Look at these to see what I mean.
https://konaworld.com/sutra_ltd.cfm
https://konaworld.com/rove_ltd.cfm
https://konaworld.com/libre.cfm
https://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/genesis- ... vargn21320
https://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/genesis- ... vargn21050
https://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/genesis- ... vargn21410
https://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/bike ... orCode=red
Flat bars
https://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/genesis- ... vargn21420
Novelty bike!
https://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/bike ... e=bluedark
If I had the money kona ones would appeal the most.
https://konaworld.com/sutra_ltd.cfm
https://konaworld.com/rove_ltd.cfm
https://konaworld.com/libre.cfm
https://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/genesis- ... vargn21320
https://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/genesis- ... vargn21050
https://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/genesis- ... vargn21410
https://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/bike ... orCode=red
Flat bars
https://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/genesis- ... vargn21420
Novelty bike!
https://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/bike ... e=bluedark
If I had the money kona ones would appeal the most.
Re: Brands
My first thought is: what would nearby rides involve? Can you ride from your front door?
If getting to the start from home is too complex you may set yourself up to fail. Of course, if a ride does require some other transportation at the start there is another discussion.
If getting to the start from home is too complex you may set yourself up to fail. Of course, if a ride does require some other transportation at the start there is another discussion.
John
Re: Brands
First pick your style of bike. Of course that may be tricky but will depend on what is outside the door I would think.
Second consider a compromise. Modern so called "gravel " bikes work nicely on the road with lighter tyres or nicely off road with knobblier tyres. You adjust the bike to suit A gravel bike with flat bars will be called a hybrid and vice versa . And you'll have a million variations here.
Third. The more you pay the higher spec you get. Just like everything else. Thing is, do you need the higher spec and is it actually better for YOU? Some of us want super light and stuff the longevity. Some want it to last for ever and care nowt for weight.
Fourth. Road or off road can be equally good for fitness. It's how hard you ride that matters.
Finally. The universal questions about string length is more specific than the one you have asked .Just too big to answer I suppose. Try to have a look at what people are riding near you. Talk to people in cafes. Join Facebook groups etc. Just keep at it.
Second consider a compromise. Modern so called "gravel " bikes work nicely on the road with lighter tyres or nicely off road with knobblier tyres. You adjust the bike to suit A gravel bike with flat bars will be called a hybrid and vice versa . And you'll have a million variations here.
Third. The more you pay the higher spec you get. Just like everything else. Thing is, do you need the higher spec and is it actually better for YOU? Some of us want super light and stuff the longevity. Some want it to last for ever and care nowt for weight.
Fourth. Road or off road can be equally good for fitness. It's how hard you ride that matters.
Finally. The universal questions about string length is more specific than the one you have asked .Just too big to answer I suppose. Try to have a look at what people are riding near you. Talk to people in cafes. Join Facebook groups etc. Just keep at it.
Re: Brands
Welcome.Englishhammer wrote: ↑17 Sep 2021, 6:08pmAlso…is my opinion that road cycling would be better for the heart to build up endurance or would mountain biking do the same?
What advice on exercise have you been given by your healthcare professionals?
The most important factor in choice of exercise is what will encourage you to keep it up. Try them both, see what you enjoy and what you don't.
Road cycling is an excellent low-impact way of improving cardiovascular fitness.
Jonathan
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Re: Brands
Amazing answers so far, thanks. To answer this it doesn’t help I’m also a bit indecisive. Cornwall isn’t flat and so I believe the road cycling would be hard although it is the one I’m slightly more drawn to. Also living where I am, the town itself is built for cyclists but outside of town not so great. Hills galore.DevonDamo wrote: ↑17 Sep 2021, 10:30pm Before we discuss, perhaps it would make sense to ask the OP one question, like whether they've got any idea of the type of riding they'd be interested in - e.g. on-road, on-gravel, on trails, and what sort of roads/terrain they're likely to be on in their local area.
Probably to make my decision easier is the fact I live close to 3 gardens/forests etc that have official mountain bike trails.
To give some more context. It would get daily use on short road journeys to work, but if it was also capable I’d definitely try it out at the local trails too.
Last edited by Englishhammer on 18 Sep 2021, 8:52am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Brands
Get a bicycle (hybrid NON electric ) flat bars can help loads with getting a comfey ride sorted...
Begin slowly but begin, dont set targets too soon just get out and enjoy that riding...
Things I found uselful
Persistence (stay with it even when your unhappy with your progress)
Tenacity ( begining can be easy but often is not, again stay with it)
Learn about the bike and all its doings with regards to repair at home and while out, this saves some of the hassles that can put you off and gives you confidence to go a bit further without worry.
Ride often but dont push too hard to begin with !
The rest will come with time.
Begin slowly but begin, dont set targets too soon just get out and enjoy that riding...
Things I found uselful
Persistence (stay with it even when your unhappy with your progress)
Tenacity ( begining can be easy but often is not, again stay with it)
Learn about the bike and all its doings with regards to repair at home and while out, this saves some of the hassles that can put you off and gives you confidence to go a bit further without worry.
Ride often but dont push too hard to begin with !
The rest will come with time.
Pete... I think
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- Joined: 17 Sep 2021, 6:01pm
Re: Brands
Basically I’m limited in what I can do, but he wants me to push to the boundaries of what I can do. After 18 months of being told not to do more than a brisk walk (I’m only 38) I need toJdsk wrote: ↑18 Sep 2021, 8:15amWhat advice on exercise have you been given by your healthcare professionals?Englishhammer wrote: ↑17 Sep 2021, 6:08pmAlso…is my opinion that road cycling would be better for the heart to build up endurance or would mountain biking do the same?
A) build up the fitness
B) find my limitations and stick to it, don’t overload myself
So I’ll never be doing 30mile rides