As I can't run at the minute I've been plenty of cycling on a cheapish Halfords mountain bike, I've cycled to work on it which is a 25 mile round trip which was hard work.
I'm thinking about getting a new bike, so I can maybe cycle to work and cross train (when I start running again), but not sure what to get, I'm looking at spending no more than £500.
Do I get a new bike or look for a second had bike?
Any ideas on what I should be looking for?
Road or mountain bike?
Have you read this thread?
I don't know really, thinking more road so I can use it for work?
I have a mountain bike which is ok for whizzing round off road.
A road bike is definitely best for training and a lot better for commuting than a mountain bike. If you are spending £500 then you will get a better bike secondhand. At this time of year you might want to consider something you can get mudguards on, depending on how hard you are. Also a double chainset is better for training than a triple coz it will make you work harder.
Now is a good time to buy new bikes however as most shops are getting rid of their 2007 bikes as the 2008 ones have started to come in.
Also the Bike to Work scheme will give you 50% off a new bike up to about a grand or £500 off a more expensive one - no good if you are self employed like me, but great if youv'e got a real job.
Get as much carbon as you can afford and try get a minimum of a 105 groupset (not sure what the Campag equivallent is, probably Mirage)
Enjoy
A cyclo-cross bike can make a great winter road bike, and you get the added joy of being able to enter the 3 Peaks Cyclo-cross race for even more pain and humilliation than is available in the average fell race
pay £700 and get a specialized tricross,i love mine,alrite on the roads and i've took it on some rough off road stuff and it was fine,really good all round bike
I need to find out if we do the bike to work scheme as that would allow me to spend a lot more!
Most of the bike to work scheme info can be found here:
http://www.evanscycles.com/ride2work.jsp
Though you don't have to get the bike from Evans, most bike shops do it.
The calculator on there is good, just shows how much you can save!
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote