Choosing a bike?

[BJ]

Originally Posted by MarkP

Blimey, not AGAIN.

More papp!

(Are you coming to LIDS? I've been pickling my knuckles.) :-)

[MarkP]

Originally Posted by BJ

More papp!

(Are you coming to LIDS? I've been pickling my knuckles.) :-)

I might just be there, but if I see you I hide...

[chrisch]

Is the lady with the bike going? I might change me plans.

Chris

[Finless]

Originally Posted by IanD

I can highly recommend one of these

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q...downey/tri.jpg

Nice knobblies.

[EdHornby]

wot NickB said -- the 700c wheeled version is the one, EdinburghBikeCoop are great and at that price it's a winner

get mudguards, and if you were to buy only one bike accessory, get a track pump, as you inflate tyres so fast you can get them to the proper pressure you need for riding on the roads

[big_si]

Originally Posted by Glyn

Lost the link: Revolution Courier '07 (£249.00)

Originally Posted by nickb

That's a cracking looking bike for the money. Even better is the 'Race' version for an extra £30 - including 700c wheels:
Revolution Courier Race '07 (£279.00)

Originally Posted by Tunicates are Mad

Chrisch and Nick giving great advice here.

Also, I'm eating my words a bit about the £ amount.
That bike looks pretty good for the money.

Originally Posted by EdHornby

wot NickB said -- the 700c wheeled version is the one, EdinburghBikeCoop are great and at that price it's a winner

get mudguards, and if you were to buy only one bike accessory, get a track pump, as you inflate tyres so fast you can get them to the proper pressure you need for riding on the roads

So will this lil' baby be able to have some chunky off road playing in mud tyres or will it have skinny lil' forks too? Do their mountain bike stylee hybrids look any good?

Looks like a snazzy bike! So if I went for this... and mud guards... and super bright lights (so I can light things up in the countriside rather than just be seen in the city)... and a lock of some description.... and helmet.... £400-ish. Not tooooooo bad. But more than I have sat in my pocket at the moment (which was the draw of the work cycle scheme... :-/) Are there any other stockists people can find which are also on this list (http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/finder/)

Originally Posted by tunicates are mad

as you are a big lad, you will wear things out quicker, and need more servicing on your bikes that a little lad.

Is this skinny little frame made out of twiglets going to be strong enough for my massive bulk?

Oooo, I guess my other question is... What size frame should I get? I'm 6ft 4 and trousers are 33in inside leg if that comes into the equation at all?!?!?


Thanks for all the help folks!

[Tunicates]

Weeeerrllllllll, you havnt told us what you weigh yet......but I'll guess in the 16 stone region.

The frame should certainly be strong enough, but it might be a little more flexy (soaking up and wasting some of the energy you put into pedalling) than it would for me - same hight but only 12 stone.

Frame size - you want a 21" frame. THhs is measured from the middle of the bearing case (bottom bracket) that the pedal arms (cranks) are attached to - up to the top of the frame where the seat-post starts sticking out. OR maybe 1/2 an inch below it. Its different for different brands.

If you do go for a 2nd hand Kona, these are only measured S/M/L/XL I would say you would fit an L. This may be true for some other brands also.

Mountain bikes have 26" wheels. The width of their tyre are measured in inches. 26x 1.3 is as thin as you would want on a road optimised tyre and they'll go up through 26x1.5, 26x1.75, to 26x2 which is as fat as a fat thing for purely offroad use.

Road bikes and hybrids have a wheel size called 700c (used to be 27", but not quite the same) and the tyre widths are measured in nominal mm. They are only a rough guide and dont actually measure up to a ruler or anything.
700x19 is for racing bikes only and you dont want them. 700x25 is for whippets that want some comfort. 700x28 is for fast commuters that have to carry a bit of luggage. 700x32 the same but a bit more luggage.
What you should be looking for is a bike that will take upto 700x45 AND a set of mudguards. Most hybrids of your price range should be ok for that these days tbh.
Best make of tyre in this size at the moment is Bontrager. Specialised Armadillo's are another highly rated for fat bastard heavy use. Pretty well bullet proof. They dont need to be really nobbly either for the offroad stuff.
A good solid central tread that will be fast onthe road sections and a few knobbles on the edges would be ideal.

Btw, that bikesjop finder only works with a post-code. The first three bits would help ;-)

If you are more of a man than my guess then I might reccommend something a bit more burly.....

[big_si]

Originally Posted by Tunicates are Mad

Weeeerrllllllll, you havnt told us what you weigh yet......but I'll guess in the 16 stone region.

You're a very nice man

*cough*21stone*cough*

I was 16 stone when I was training 4 times, and teaching 2 times a week in karate!

Originally Posted by Tunicates are Mad

The frame should certainly be strong enough, but it might be a little more flexy (soaking up and wasting some of the energy you put into pedalling) than it would for me - same hight but only 12 stone.

Frame size - you want a 21" frame. THhs is measured from the middle of the bearing case (bottom bracket) that the pedal arms (cranks) are attached to - up to the top of the frame where the seat-post starts sticking out. OR maybe 1/2 an inch below it. Its different for different brands.

If you do go for a 2nd hand Kona, these are only measured S/M/L/XL I would say you would fit an L. This may be true for some other brands also.

Mountain bikes have 26" wheels. The width of their tyre are measured in inches. 26x 1.3 is as thin as you would want on a road optimised tyre and they'll go up through 26x1.5, 26x1.75, to 26x2 which is as fat as a fat thing for purely offroad use.

Road bikes and hybrids have a wheel size called 700c (used to be 27", but not quite the same) and the tyre widths are measured in nominal mm. They are only a rough guide and dont actually measure up to a ruler or anything.
700x19 is for racing bikes only and you dont want them. 700x25 is for whippets that want some comfort. 700x28 is for fast commuters that have to carry a bit of luggage. 700x32 the same but a bit more luggage.
What you should be looking for is a bike that will take upto 700x45 AND a set of mudguards. Most hybrids of your price range should be ok for that these days tbh.
Best make of tyre in this size at the moment is Bontrager. Specialised Armadillo's are another highly rated for fat bastard heavy use. Pretty well bullet proof. They dont need to be really nobbly either for the offroad stuff.
A good solid central tread that will be fast onthe road sections and a few knobbles on the edges would be ideal.

Btw, that bikesjop finder only works with a post-code. The first three bits would help ;-)

Ooo, lots of good info there! Cheers! (Armadillos it is then! )

trek 7.0 hybrid bike brand new with lights 20" frame on eBay, also, Bikes, Cycling, Sporting Goods (end time 08-Mar-08 19:10:25 GMT)
Any good?

[Tunicates]

Sheeeeeeeeeeeee........erm.............

Well,....... you write like someone much lighter......

No - sorry mate (good job I was rude enough to ask) - thats no good, and nors the Edinburgh one. You want something much more burly than that peice of cheese.

This really should be the level to be looking at::
Trek Bikes | Bikes | Bike Path | 7.3 FX

Anything lesser and you're going to be throwing money at it REGULARly.
THis thing pictured in the link ( and other of the same price bracket ) should be up to the job. And get a track pump. And get your wheels trued every month in the first 3 months of owning it. And if you buy it "nd hand - take it to a local bike shop and get them to service it for your - ahem - special requirements.

[big_si]

Originally Posted by Tunicates are Mad

Well,....... you write like someone much lighter......

I wonder if that's the first time that phrase has ever been used? Like it

Thanks for the help I'll buy you a beer at the dive show... Well I would if you were going on the Sunday. As you're not then buy yourself a beer and pretend it was from me!