Thetownend.com

...out there?

I do about 65 miles a week on my commute, so am splashing out on a fancy new bicycle, a Trek District:

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s8/TheOwl_2007/1fed0a4a.jpg

It's pretty much a road bike, single speed (the clunky gears on my Dawes have left me fearing for my nuts), belt drive, and best of all reduced from £750 to £425.

Question is, are Brooks saddles worth the expense? The one that comes with the new bike isn't great and I've heard that the Brooks Swift would be an ideal replacement. At £80-odd I'm tempted to give the one supplied some time to settle in before I invest.

And how about pedals/shoes, I've never worn clip-ons and wonder how good they are?

Also, bus drivers and lorry drivers and taxi drivers and car drivers are utter cunts, particularly the drivers of larger vehicles who see cyclists passing them and pull out anyway.

Smart looking bike, single speed seems to be the 'in' thing at the moment.

I got my first road bike in January, after years of owning mountain bikes. I don't think I could ever go back now.

I'd definitely recommend using clipless pedals, it feels so much more efficient. I'm using Look Keo pedals and cleats, which are great - easy to clip in and out. Only downside is the cleats tend to wear down quite quickly, I'm replacing them every 1200-1500miles.

As for the saddle, I've never used a Brooks so can't be much help there. However, several people have told me that 'less is more' when it comes to saddles. A properly fitted road/racing saddle is often every bit as comfortable as the huge, gel padded things - without the inevitable pain in the bum when the gel all settles at the bottom. Get something with a decent size cut out to allow blood to the important bits and you won't go far wrong.

Roadies are Lycra-wearing perverts.

As you can probably tell I'm firmly in the mountain bike camp. That said, at the age of 29, I am considering getting a road bike for the commute into work but that's mainly due to my utter contempt for public transport in Devon.

OF,
Try a Charge Spoon. They are cheap 20-25 but are very good. I've had 1 for a while now and better than saddles at least twice the price. Go clipless definately. But put them on the easiest to unclip setting until you're used to them or there will be comedy at your expense!!

Anyone know of a good commuter bike for under £500?  I keep looking at hybrids but don't know whether to spend a little more and go down the full on road bike route.  Definitely going to be needing some gears though... nowhere near fit enough for single speed.

Give the saddle that comes with it a go first but if you don't get on with it then take a look at a Fizik saddles.  I have a mtb one and it's lasted me years and still nice and comfortable.

Boarman hybirds are really good value new. Even better value down the ebay route. there are a couple of boardman pro's on there at the moment at good prices. If you get 1 from Halfords new make sure you get someone to check over the build though as they are very hit and miss at doing the bolts up!

Saddle - Wear padded shorts.

Clip on shoes - You get so much more power.

Don't understand going for a single gear unless your commute is flat all the way?

I bought a nicely spec'ed Trek mountain bike in the US about 6 years ago. Cost me about £250 for what was a £850 bike!

Bump.

Anyone got any experiences of using Hargroves Cycles in Swindon?

In the market for a new MTB to replace my ageing (nearly 20 year old) Trek MTB. Quite fancy a Cube Analog.

See if your company do a cycle to work scheme you can get up to about £1k to spend on a bike, it'll come out your wages and its tax free. I've also heard that you can upto about 10% worth of the bike and spend it on accessiories not to sure if the last bit is bullshit though

They do! However, it'll be a push convincing them that I'll commute 25 miles each way every day....

Apparently Hargroves honour a significant discount which my employer offers (different from CTW) and I'll have a lump sum to spend once I shift the unwanted car on my drive.

It'll only get used for leisure, light trail use, dragging a three and a bit year old in a trailer and the occasional stupid charity ride.....

A few nutters at the place where I work commute 40 miles each way. Nut jobs the lot of 'em.

On a treader?

What the fuck is a treader?

Ship in Narnia...

Indeed. Not quite at that level but there are a couple that do 20-25 each way (Bussage to Chippenham for example). And we aren't talking about spring chickens.

I agree roadees are weird, dodgy lycra in dodgy designs (skeleton, black tie, etc).

I've just started trying to do a bit on an old 2001 Marin Muirwoods MB. Only manage to get 11 miles in or so at a lunch hour, Chippenham->nearly Calne down the cycle path trail (I guess its old railway line). On my rides last week  I have seen cows, sheep, a pheasant, a dog rolling in cow poo and a 'distressed' owner, some rabbits and a kestrel. Beats tarmac and grass verge :)

After running 3 miles it take a few days to stop walking with a limp thanks to my dodgy knee. After cycling 11 miles my knee feels better than when I got on the bike. I declare cycling the new running.

It's what we used to call em at school

Back on topic you bunch of thread derailing cunts. What are fucking Hargroves like?????

Been released by Man City

Useless then. Thanks for the honest reply....

Sorry, I'll go watch tv now

Got a cube hybrid last year from hargroves, 500quid, 12 months 0% finance, can't complain. Took it out forcthe first time this year, think I need a new saddle.

I've had a couple of Cube hardtails from Hargroves and they have both been well se up. Sometimes they do think you know fuck all though so don't let them give you bullshit. Yes I would use them again. The analog disk is a decent entry level bike that has good components for its price. If you're paying full asking price there are better spec bikes out here for the money. You should get 10% easy discount. If not go elsewhere.

I've been twice in the last couple of months and haven't been impressed on either occasion. The staff that I spoke to had no knowledge of the bikes or products they were selling and couldn't make any recommendations above the research I'd done online already. I guess I may have been unlucky and got the new Saturday boy or suchlike both times.

Mitchell's recommended that I visit Swindon Cycles, as they had a better range of road bikes in the price range I was looking for and I ended up buying from them. Helpful staff, excellent knowledge and a hefty discount on the bike.

Have you checked stock availability on the Cube bikes? When I was still looking I was told that Cube had BIG stock problems with their road bikes and if they could get hold of one at all I'd be waiting months.

Can you go through Evans Cycles and still get a discount?

They have a few stores across the country, and the people there know their stuff.

Ask grubby how many time he has cycled to work on his bikes for works scheme bikes and then ask him how many bikes he has bought on it!!

fucking build your own - lazy git

I've got a trek road bike that i've had for the last few years. Complete a 120 bike ride on Friday/Saturday. The gears kept jumping between 3, 4 , 5 and 6 when selected to be in there.

Would anybody have any reason why they would jump up or down one gear?

Get a unicycle Pumbaa, no need to worry about gears, brakes etc - plus the risk of punctures is reduced and you'll only need to replace the one tyre.

Try the Decathlon website for good quailty road bike and a good price

I think you would probably need a new cable to the rear mech. If it is stretched, worn the the middle gears tend to be a bit iffy. Also ensure that the whole rear mech is clean and well lubed.

Hargroves are an ok bike shop, fairly decent range but I wouldn't trust them if I didn't know what I do about about bikesd Been given different information by different members of staff.

Heard good reviews about Cube MTB's - but bad things about the cube carbon framed bikes

As someone said earlier the Boardman range gets good write ups - just a pity you have to get them through Halfords and they won't let you test ride them.

Cheers Bewster! I make take it for service. I've had it for about 3-4 years so it probably needs it.

can anyone reccoment a good tyre pump? Ive  only got a 3 quid jobby and it doesnt pump them up properly.

Joe Blow for home. Topeak mini dual for carrying

Agreed.

I can't ride a bike, can anyone recommend some good stabilisers?

At the moment I have to use a static exercise bike, close my eyes and imagine I'm on the open road.

Yes, lay off the beer

Incorporate a fan into the setup to get that feeling of the wind rushing through your hair.

If you do get a Boardman bike from Halford check its assembled properly as they havent got a clue what they are doing half the time.

Depends what sort of riding you are doing, if its a road bike I would recommend a CO2 system for carrying as you struggle to get over 80psi in a road tyre with a pump (or I do anyway), would agree that the Joe Blow does the job at home (just bought one for 20 odd quid online).

Hurry up Nev!

That is the problem - been tempted by CO2 pump - are they any good ? I do the odd triathlon and it would help immensely.

They are good probably dont get a full 100-120PSI in with them but its better (and quicker) that a hand pump, especially the small one I carry on my road bike - my mountain bike one is better, but too big for the road bike. Have to be careful though, ripped a hole in the tube first time I tried it!

Can anyone recommend a good fan?

Mex was, in the good old days.

Sorry 4D, too busy looking for a new wicker basket for mine.

Poppd into Hargroves today on my way back home. They didn't have the bike I wanted to look at on display, so I'm going to swing by Snow and Rock in Bristol later in the week.

Hargroves did offer a 12.5% discount, making a near 600 quid bike a touch over 500.....keep shopping!

I've got a Giant TCR1 Compact if anyone's interested, standard 501 set.

I got it on a bike to work scheme and I live 65 miles away from my work  :D

Been out on the mountain bike a couple of times this week.  Found the trail in Croft woods.  Much better than I thought it would be.