Couch to 50k which bike to get?

[nonbikerchick]

It starts next week and last time I checked it was 6 months away!

The organiser said get a hybrid. Other than that I'm clueless.

I don't have a huge budget. I've got a 3rd hand mountain bike that a friend gave me but it's a bit rusty and won't cut it.

If it's relevant I haven't cycled much in years but used to loads when younger. I'm now 44 and overweight with creaky knees.

Any suggestions would be very welcome.

What kind of cycling do you see yourself doing after you finish it?

You could do longer runs on a hybrid but it wouldn't be as much fun as those done on a lighter road bike but if you want to do things like woodland trails as well then a hybrid would be good.

Could you manage drop bars or would you prefer straight? A cross bike can be the best of both worlds.

What’s your budget?

Will you be cycling all on road, all off road, or a mixture?

Do you have any goals after couch to 50km? My friend bought a hybrid but got serious about cycling quickly and wishes he’d got a road bike.

Will you be riding alone or in a group? If you’re joining a road bike group you’d be much slower than them on a mountain bike, for eg

Depends on the budget. Is it road cycling primarily?

My mum just got the Ridgeback Avenida and it's amazing. Was £400. Depends on what sort of riding you are planning though as it only has 7 gears.

Sorry meant to say - it's a hybrid.

I haven't ridden for a while and I hopped straight on and was able to cycle it up various hills to bring it home as it's so light and easy.

I have a Liv hybrid which I like, think it’s an Alive model? Alight?

Friend has a specialised vita which is probably a bit better than mine.

I’m old and very overweight and love my Pendleton Somerby. It’s a Dutch-style bike, step through, and very comfortable and easy to ride.
Not that I’ve ever done 50k on it!

Thanks for the replies.

I'm envisaging mostly off road after I've done it. However the program starts off road then moves onto the road.

I'll be cycling with husband and five year old mostly!

I’m old and very overweight and love my Pendleton Somerby. It’s a Dutch-style bike, step through, and very comfortable and easy to ride.
Not that I’ve ever done 50k on it!
I have one of these too and I love it. I'm definitely someone who rides a bike, rather than a cyclist, though! I have been doing 20km a day on it for the last 3 weeks or so.

How much is your budget?
What frame size do you need (or what is your inside leg length)?

I was hoping not to spend more than £300 really but could stretch.

Need a car bike rack too, helmet etc so don't want to go crazy.

I'm 5'8 and inside leg 29'.

This is complicated!

Ooh, same as me. This Merida is decent value (Loughborough). I would msg them to ask how heavy it is. You want something under 14kg ideally.

That does look good but Loughborough might not be possible. Will have a look for something along those lines and am researching the others mentioned too.

Go to Halfords and try the Somerby or similar. I haven’t rated Halfords for adults’ bike for years but they’ve definitely upped their game recently.

It might have to be Halfords as that's all there seems to round here.

I wanted to go to an independent shop but round here they all seem to be for people who can afford £4K (I live I a cycling destination town due to all the hills).

I got my hybrid from Rutland cycles online. But I was confident about what size and what I wanted.

Do you have an Evans near you?

this looks good

It would be worth asking your coach for recommendations for shops, there's bound to be some with cheaper bikes. Could also be worth asking if any sell second hand.

Scum that bike is so pretty!

I'd better get down Halfords and check out sizes if nothing else.

Evans is 25 miles away. If only I'd done the programme already I could cycle there 😊

According to the giant bike size guide I think you’d need a small. I went off their sizing charts for mine and found it accurate.

Find a friendly local bike shop and make sure they measure your seat height accurately.
Having the seat too low won't help your already-creaky knees !!

Thank you all for the suggestions.

I'll head out Wednesday and get looking. If only I wasn't working tomorrow

Hi,

If your're looking for a hybrid then this is what I've got and I love it, www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/cube-nature-black-2017-hybrid-bike-1.html and Hargroves were great to buy it from they fitted it for me and had helpful advice on what else I needed (also just getting into cycling!) Hope this is helpful Holly xx

More on Ebay

Need to find out what size this fits.

This one too.

Quite a few promising ones on Ebay.