Looking for a new bicycle
 

Hi.

Well I'm looking to buy a new bicycle but I want one mainly for the road and these cycle cross bikes that have the flat handlebars look good.

At the moment I have a saracen Xray 2003, and its not really a road bike, offroad? Its heavy, got big suspension and it drags like hell into the wind and I go so slow (pic below):
I replaced the normal tyres with some lower profile ones from Halfords but unfortunatly the back one did not last long, the front is still find, having to use one of the older ones now.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...b/DSC00379.jpg

I'm wondering, if I got say a road bike or a cycle cross, would I be able to sustain higher speeds and also get to a high top speed? usually after about 15mph I feel the need to go into last gear (21) on my bicycle and if strong win is pushing me I can proberbly do a big push to about 30-32mph but then I'm pedaling so fast I'm nearly loosing track. Anyway I want to keep this bike as I will need it if I ever go to my friends house and we go down to the woods and a road/cycle cross bike proberbly would not be good.

I try to bike to college now and its around a 10 miles trip there and 15 mile back, road all the way and I've found a selection of bikes I think may be ok but I need some opinions, I cant spend much, £200-£300 is the max unfortunatly.

But what I would like to know is with one of the below bikes would I be able to sustain higher speeds and also would it be easier going into the wind?

http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B2189.html
http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B1711.html
http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B2101.html

Any other bicycle recommendations are welcome, I'm not that experienced with bikes so I dont really know what would be best.

Thanks
Will

The saracen is not a road bike. Its not a great offroad either but still.

The bikes you are looking at are cheap and I am afraid will not give you a good ride. Look in the local papers and start looking S/Hand. May take a bit of finding but some very good deals to be had---Cheap.

OR- a mate of mine in your situation- Put an advert in the wanted section- Wanted-Bike for Poor Student for transport I am *ft *inches tall and need a cheap bike to get to University. He had a lot of cheap bikes offered and was given several.

try any of these (that means test ride BEFORE you buy :) )

trek portland - http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...land/portland/

cannondale cross xr7 - http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/08/c...del-8XR7C.html

Brodie romax - http://www.brodiebikes.com/2007/2007_bikes/romax.php
brodie ronin - http://www.brodiebikes.com/2007/2007_bikes/ronin.php

lemond poprad disc - http://www.lemondbikes.com/bikes/cross/poprad_disc.php

rocky mountain sherpa - http://www.bikes.com/bikes/2007/TOURING/sherpa-10.aspx

kona sutra - http://www.konaworld.com/08_sutra_w.htm

orbea diem drop disc - http://www.orbea.com/ingles/interior...ilia=6&gama=13

focus cross disc - http://www.focusbikesuk.com/focuscyc...cross_disc.php

devinci caribou2 - http://www.devinci.com/10479_an.html

raleighusa sojourn - http://www.raleighusa.com/items.asp?deptid=5&itemid=427

rei novara element - http://www.rei.com/product/744808

co-motion mazama - http://www.co-motion.com/mazama.html

rocky mountain Solo CXD - http://bikes.com/2008_preview/2008_preview.html

rotwild rs1cx - http://www.rotwild.de/en/ (street bikes section)

fixie inc. pureblood - http://www.cycles-for-heroes.com/200...pureblood.html

maxx roadmaxx custom (you choose the color and parts at the LBS and the factory puts it together, i.e., not a custom frame) - http://www.maxx.de/frmain_bikes.htm (road - roadmaxx custom)

Salsa la Cruz - http://www.salsacycles.com/laCruzComp08.html

Thanks for the replys.

In what way wont the bikes I was looking at not going to give me a good ride if you dont mind telling me?

thanks.

post the spec's and pictures please - sorry strange website, new user, etc., (it's not you, it's my paranoia about phishing).

There's quality and there's features. They are completely different things.

Features are easy to define. It's how much the bike weighs and how many potential gear combinations you have.

Quality is harder to define because it has to do with subjective things like smoothness of ride and crispness of how everything operates. It's entirely possible to have a good quality bike that weighs over 25 pounds and has only 14 or 21 potential gear combinations.

People who have never ridden a quality bike don't understand what the big deal could possibly be. People who use quality bikes cringe at the idea of riding a low quality one.

I cringe at the idea of paying £1000 for a bike though :(.

http://www.bikes2udirect.com/bikes_h...tems/B2189.jpg

Hybrid & Trekking

Key features include:

Lightweight aluminium 24 speed sports hybrid bike
Suntour adjustable suspension forks & seat post
Shimano Alivio rear derailleur with ST-EF50 trigger shifters
XC-D double wall aluminium wheels with Schwalbe tyres
Truvativ crankset on a splined bottom bracket

Consider upgrading to the Saracen Venturer 4

Saracen Venturer 4 upgrades over the Saracen Venturer 3
include: Suntour adjustable suspension forks with lockout
feature; Shimano Deore 27 gear system; Shimano centrelock
disc hubs; Shimano V brakes; WTB pure sports saddle.

Saracen Venturer - Ditch the gym and discover fitness freedom
instead.

technical specifications


Style: Gents 700c Hybrid
Wheel size: 700c
Frame size(s): 17" (43cm), 19" (48cm) & 21" (53cm)
Min. inside leg: 29" (74cm), 31" (79cm) & 33" (84cm)
Colour: Metallic bronze & black 2 tone
Frame: High level lightweight profiled aluminium sports
hybrid. Mounts for rack, mudguards & disc brakes
are included
Forks: Suntour NEX4000 adjustable suspension with
mudguard & disc mounts
Gears: 24
Gears rear: Shimano Alivio
Gears front: Shimano
Gear shifters: Shimano ST-EF50 24 speed E.Z.fire
Chainset: Truvativ 5D alloy 48/38/28 with protection guard
Bottom bracket: Truvativ power-spline sealed cartridge for long life
Freewheel: Shimano 8 speed cassette
Headset: A-head system with seals
Stem: Forged alloy adjustable A-head
Handlebars: Aluminium flat handlebar
Brake front: Forged alloy V type
Brake rear: Forged alloy V type
Brake levers: Shimano alloy-adjustable
Rims: XC-D double wall alloy
Hub front: Alloy, quick release
Hub rear: Alloy, quick release
Spokes: Rustless
Tyres: Schwalbe Silento II with puncture protection
Saddle: Comfort sports, with pressure relief zone for
delicate areas
Seatpost: Lightweight MCU adjustable alloy suspension
Pedals: Alloy body/metal caged sports with ability to fit
toeclip

thanks - it doesn't seem that much different from the one you're already riding. Try clipless pedals (concentrate on applying force through out the entire pedal circle) and possibly taller gearing on your current bike.

Also get a saddle fitting done - saddles are like shoes and massive wedge saddles fit no-one :)

You should be able to get a few centimetres more out of your saddle height (always keep the knee slightly bent) if you get a comfortable saddle, sized correctly with minimal padding.

Would I be able to get any improved speed out of that saracen that I am looking at? or wont it be much different, I'm not really interest in getting a new bike unless the bike can improve my cruising speed and top speed because I'm certain its not just my physical fitness stopping me from going faster the gears on my current bike at only 21 gears and bit broken now, only got gears from 4-7 and quickly run out of gears.

I'd have to say not really - take it (your current bike) into a decent bike shop (NOT evans) and ask them to put taller gears on it - match the 48/38/28 set up or go for a road specific 50/38/28. Also get as close a ratio cassette as possible 12-20 or similar. They'll need to change the chain and derailleur jockey wheels as well.

That will keep the gear difference minimal and allow you to spin more. The service will also give you back the full use of your gears.

While you're in there check out clipless pedals (time, bebop or speedplay - that is, pedals with free float) and cycling shoes. I wouldn't touch pedals without free float (shimano, shimano clones and look) as they put greater strain on your knees. Also, it's more convenient to get MTB shoes and pedals no matter what the bike as you can walk safely in them and won't have multiple shoes/pedals should you get a different bike.

Don't think your current bike has much potential for any gain in ridability or speed. It is heavy- the forks will take a lot of pedal effort away fom riding and I don't personally think there is any- improvement to be gained unless a lot of money is spent on it.

It is now 08 and a lot of deals to be had on 07 bikes. My LBS currently has the 07 Giant FCR3 for sale at £300

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-GB/...ad/1400/28831/

Nowhere near the best bike around but far better than any you are looking at and at a price that is at your Upper limit. If the 07 models are not available- they are only around £350 for the latest model.

http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productD...&categoryID=49

What about that? Thats a Giant.

This is the FCR with drop bars and retails at around £450. Fantastic bike and the one I started road riding on in 2006. Have moved on from there but put it this way- In my first year of road riding I climbed Mt Ventoux on it. This is one of the famed Tour de France climbs (But is not as hard as it sounds)

Get the size right as it is a compact frame so a link to the size to get is here

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-GB/...mpactroad_new/

Compared to your current bike and the others you have been looking at- This is a good bike.Just hope you fit one of the two sizes they have in stock.
I am 5'6" and inseam of 30" I got the 42cm and had to put on a longer stem with more reach. My latest Bike- A TCR at a lot more money is a 46.5 and fits me perfectly. But will go for someone a couple of inches taller. Pics of the two bikes attached so you can see the setup.


And if you are in the South-the SCR3 is up for sale so you could try it out- if you are short enough.

I need 50-55.5 then I think as I am about 5ft 10 to 5ft 11.

I'm up north in north yorkshire so not possible for me to see these bikes for sale :(.

I'm 1.81m (5'11") and ride a 56cm (56cm ctc seat tube and 56cm ctc top tube) which fits me pretty well.

If youy're set on buying a new bike then isn't a day trip to the bike shops of either Leeds or Newcastle an option?

It is an option, I found a giant dealer in york so will go check em out tomoz. Infact I found a giant dealer in my local town just 2-3 miles away :D

Hi.

Sorry to bring this topic up again.

But a while ago I got a new bike, got a Carrera Vanquish (2004), anyway I've found myself getting lower back pains and sometimes neck pains, the frame is S for small, but it felt ok, but I guess now I know it is not? I am 5Ft 9".

Should I return it? Also even in the wind, the other day I was pushing into the wind, must of being 17mph but I was slowed down pretty bad, having to stop sometimes, must of being near walking pace, maybe that is due to the bike? I cant see myself being too unfit surely :\.

Bike is in this pic along with my old one on the left:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...b/DSC00763.jpg

Thanks.

Willz

for the neck/back pain just get a shorter stem or even an adjustable one

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/images/ritch...table-stem.jpg

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductSearc...stem&cat=cycle

for the lack of speed - get fitter :D

So all the back pain is being caused by the stem??

I dont see how I'm so unfit that any sort of wind effects me, today I have to go to college on my bike and most likely on the way back the wind will be against me and its 23mph wind, thats going to slow me down to about 5mph :o

no, the back pain is caused by two things

bad position on the bike

weak core muscles

The bad postion is easy enough to fix and usually just means getting a new stem to put the rider more upright and therefore less pressure on the back and a gives a slightly more upright head postion. Double check with your local bike shop (NOT evans) before changing anything as I could be completely wrong.


Weak core muscles just means doing plank exercises twice a day and crunches as well. See diagrams below for plank exercises - you should do both left and right sides and the face down method always remebering to keep your stomach sucked in during the exercise. After a few weeks you should notice an increase in strength, better posture and, hopefully, reduced back pain.

http://www.berkeleyrunningcompany.co...k-exercise.gifhttp://www.berkeleyrunningcompany.co...k-exercise.gif
edit: you're resting on toes/elbows and elbow/foot in the above diagrams - not floating in space :rolleyes:

Thanks I'll try those :).

I also went to the shop I bought the bike from and got a new stem that extends it abit, now its sticking out about 1cm as I lowered it on the new one but its fine, deffenitly more comfortable, hope it does not kill my speed much, I know on the drop bars I can still get down but dunno if there is any point now. I'll post pics tomorrow when its light to show you.