Cycling Thread - All Peddlers and Pedallers welcome.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Have started a new thread as the other one is very nearly full.

It's very Dutch in style, isn't it, sticky? Which is no bad thing, but to my mind it's a real city commuter. If I had spare cash I'd find it hard to resist an Islabikes beinn 29. This Dawes bike is similar to the Pendleton one.

Tarp and bungees is a good idea.

That Islabike looks good Habbibu - but have you checked out the gearing? It has just one 32t Chain ring and the cassette is an 11-36. Definitely aiming at off-road riding, and not all that nippy on the flat.

Yes, I know (though my technical knowledge is very poor). I think it's to keep weight down. They are great bikes - beautifully made, but I have my lovely Giant mtb, so really don't need another off-road bike. My kids have islabikes, and they are just lovely, though.

I don't think the spec is very good on the Dawes and though I can't see a weight I'd guess its heavy. I think Specialzed do some good hybrids, have you looked at the Vita?

Thank you all very much for the advice :) Think I just need to brave it with the cleats and be prepared to fall off a few times - God knows what I will spend in the bike shop tomorrow on various bits - learning this is not a cheap hobby!

Will have to wait till calf strain better before trying them out and hurting myself again! Hope I don't make too much of a tit of myself getting used to them!

Can I use the SPD Pedals without cleats and just with normal shoes on whilst I am too chicken to try? If so may ask them to fit whilst in for a service tomorrow.

You can get SPD touring pedals which are either flat on one side or double sided but with a sort of cage so you can ride in trainers etc. I have these on my cx bike/ commuter and I do think they are useful for commuting, but really the number of times that I have ridden the bike in normal shoes is so small to be irrelevant. I wouldn't buy them now, as they are heavier and bulkier than the plain cleats.

Thanks thistle I guess when I've got used to the cleats I will stick with them and don't want extra weight, I've got some bloody big hills to get up.

Spikey have you looked at any of the ridgebacks in that price range

www.evanscycles.com/products/ridgeback/comet-2013-womens-hybrid-bike-ec043401#features

www.evanscycles.com/products/ridgeback/meteor-2013-womens-hybrid-bike-ec043403#features

Thanks everybody.

Crappy hope you get sorted with the pedals tomorrow.

And thanks, yes, I have looked at those two Rigdebacks. In fact the Comet was top of the shortlist as my local shop stocks them and I have the catalogue downstairs. But now I am looking at them side by side, I think I prefer the Meteor. I rather fancy the tourer look (not so much the colour though). I think it's because I have had the MTB for so long I'd like a change of 'look' (silly, but hey)

Thanks Habbibu, afraid the Beinn is above my bugdet.

Thistle you are all right, it doesn't make sense to move from a MTB to the Pendleton. But it is just sooo nice . Ok, so sensible hat back on!

My technical knowledge is somehow lacking, so if you had to chose between the Specialised Vita (www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/vita-2013-womens-hybrid-bike-ec030756) and the Ridgeback Comet (www.evanscycles.com/products/ridgeback/comet-2013-womens-hybrid-bike-ec043401#features) which one would you go for?

And how about between the Vita and the Ridgeback Meteor (www.evanscycles.com/products/ridgeback/meteor-2013-womens-hybrid-bike-ec043403#features)?

Oh, something very important I forgot to mention. I am planning to fit a Tailgator bar for DD in the new bike. Does anyone know if it's a problem to fit it in step-through type of frame (like the Meteor)??

Based solely and pathetically on looks, I like the Specialized best. But there may be a difference in geometry which means one brand fits you better, I suppose. But I think I don't really like step through frames (even though with my stumpy legs they are clearly a better option for me). A friend has a Ridgeback hybrid (maybe the comet?) and it's lovely in the flesh, and she loves it.

yy, the Beinn is a bit of a silly price. Holds value really well, but that only makes sense in kids bikes, where you're much more likely to sell fairly quickly.

Theyre all decent enough specs.

Spec wise the meteor and the comet are nearly the same bike, only the chainset is different. The meteor is a tourer and has a rack fitted and mudguards which is worth the extra money.

The Vita has 24 gears compared to the Ridgebacks which both have 21. I agree the Vita looks nicer. Also Specialzed women bikes are meant to be well designed for women. That they don't just make a blokes bike smaller....but they take into account different average reach, blah, blah. It's meant to mean they're more comfy but it may be advertising bollocks.

I think if they're all in price range go and test them and see which you like best.

Thanks Habbibu. Unless there is a massive technical difference I am not taking into account, I am also going on looks (a bit ) at this stage. I am saturated with technical data and unable to process them anymore!

Oh, the other contender I forgot to mention was the Giant Escape (www.shopgiant-bicycles.co.uk/3695/products/2014-liv-giant-escape-3-w--mint--hybrid-bike.aspx). Those are my four. On looks alone, this one is the winner for me.

Any other opinions more than welcome, needed in fact!

Cross-posted! Thank you Viva. The only way to decide really is to try them, isn't it?

What do you think of the Giant?

I like the Giant, but I am biased, as Giant bikes suit me well. I think you will have to just try a few and see which one feels like home!

The giant looks fine, similar spec to the others really.

I would try them if you can. I got Giant escape 1 (mens small) 1 based on spec and weight and was advised best in my budget (for c2c) it's so fast and easy to ride compared to my old crappy hybrid, BUT i don't think it's quite the right fit for me. I feel like I want to be sat further back on the bike, will adjust saddle for next ride but don't think It will be enough. I wish I had tried different ones to see the difference but it wasn't an option in my shop as they weren't all in stock and I was impatient!

Thanks, I'll go round to my local bike shop this weekend, see which ones they have to try.

Shame about your bike, Crappy, hope you get it sorted. I'd like to avoid rushing into buying the wrong bike. I have waited 15 years for a new one so I'd like to get it right!

I am hoping the Giant Escape will be available and a good fit. With a pannier rack and mudguards it looks ideal to me.

Any thoughts on whether this (or the Meteor's) step-through type frame would cause problems to fit a Tail Gator bar?

Looks to me like it attaches to the seat post, so can't see that the position of the top tube would make a difference.

Yes worth it fir the extras, think I paid about 100 quid to have rack and mudguards fitted.

Cross with myself this morning. I woke up a little late and it looked all cold and grey at 7.30 so I wussed out of cycling to work. I am now on the train in the glorious sunshine and feeling really annoyed with myself!

It is so much easier to do the early starts on the bike in the summer. Anyone got a good source of motivation?

Definitely going to cycle tomorrow.

I haven't biked into work for over a month so am of no help!

We used to have a trailgator thingy and don't think a step through would make a difference as far as I can remember.

Thanks Habbibu and Viva, glad to hear it. The Trail Gator is a big part of the new bike set up. DD (almost 5 yo) is getting her first proper bike next month too so she can be my cycling partner!

Thistle, I work from home so it's a bit different. But I am very pleased that I did drag myself this morning after the school run and went for a ride. It was very grey but the rain held off. I used to take DD to nursery on the back of my bike until last July, but she's at school now (and way too heavy!)

I actually had another look at the Ridgeback catalogue last night, and I rather fancy this Speed too (www.ridgeback.co.uk/bike/speed-se-open-frame#details). Looks the same as the Meteor, but it's slightly lower spec. It's got a couple less gears, but I am not bothered about that.

The Meteor has the edge in that the handlebar adjusts, and I am thinking that is a big plus if I find that the sitting position is not as comfy as it could be. The minus is that it's brown (sorry, I know it's shallow but I am just not keen on the colour at all, and I'll have this one for another 15 years!).

I'd have thought there'd be av few 2013 bikes kicking around at decent prices, so you might get more for your money.

I was counting on it Habbibu! I had plans to use any savings twoards the Gator Bar . However, I have not seen any price differences between the 'old' models and current ones I'm afraid. Only the Meteor seems discounted in some online shops, but I'd really like to buy from local shop, as I get to try them, they'll set it up and service it.

Hi y'all! Just been catching up on this thread. It's nice to see some new girls, especially another mountain biker (waves to Habbibu).

We've been down to Shropshire for a few days, staying on a farm on Wenlock Edge. Viva, I took an old sheet to stand the bikes on, and there was a hosepipe for washing off the mud.

We popped into Islabikes, as it was next to Ludlow Food Centre. No-one came out to speak to us, so we didn't stay. I think you'd need to phone first, if you wanted to try out their bikes.

Shropshire is an excellent county for easy mountain biking, and also for hilly road cycling (if that's your "thing").