depends if you want to get out at weekends and do a road trip with a group, or just commute to work / station etc so basically 1st decision is Do I want drops for regular road trips or straight handlebars for commute and general fun. Loads of good makes out there depending on what you want to spend, If I were you, I would go and find a decent bike specialist and have a chat with them, tell them what you are looking to achieve etc and they will usually give good advice.
Do your mates already ride? If so - ask them for advice - its easier doing it face to face than it is online as there are so many questions involved.
Ordinarily I'd suggest you buy a hybrid bike as that will give you a decwnt compromise between performance and robustness, but if your mates are already out there on road bikes, you'll feel like a bit of a bellend bringing up the rear every weekend sweating like a snowman in summer as they streak away from you on their 8lb frames
What's your budget? You can pick a good entry-level road bike up for about 600 quid - you won't have the greatest components on there, but it'll do you until you decide whether or nor you like it enough to start spending stupid money on it.
Cannondale and Specialized make good entry level bikes, and you van get pretty good spec if you go for models a year or two outside the current range. Like MAM says, use your local bike shop. They have a vested interest in providing you with good advice, because they're all haemorrhaging business to the internet. Ask for their advice - be honest with your budget and they'll see you right.
I'm cycling to Marseille with a mate in the summer and planning on coming home by plane. We are after a couple of the cycle travel bags that airlines insist bikes are packed in. Have any of your cycling Charlton fans got one (or two) that they don't want any more?? If not I'll head for ebay... Cheers
I got my bike from decathlon ... value for money and lots of advice. If you take to it then increase your budget. I was cycling in France and Belgium Thursday Friday last week.
I'm cycling to Marseille with a mate in the summer and planning on coming home by plane. We are after a couple of the cycle travel bags that airlines insist bikes are packed in. Have any of your cycling Charlton fans got one (or two) that they don't want any more?? If not I'll head for ebay... Cheers
Friend of a friend has started his own business related to this, Have a look at his website bikebox-online.co.uk/
I’m not a cyclist myself but from what I’ve picked up observing - make sure you run every red light, go 3 abreast on a small country lane for 5 miles with a queue of 20 cars behind you, and wear some Lycra 3 sizes too small. You should fit in just fine 👌🏼😉
As an aside I opened the thread and was initially struck by the lack of answers to the OP which suggested E-Bikes. Then I realised it's because the thread is nearly 10 years old!
So how do e-bikes fit into the mix of choice for the less committed riders? I have two bikes but am thinking of replacing one with an e-bike. In my case it's age -related. We live in a hilly area for a start, but I'd also hope the e-bike would help me to feel able to join in rides with people who are younger and fitter than me without being a passenger. Does that make sense, generally?
Anyone ever changed their drop handlebars to a narrow width in the hope of easing shoulder/neck pain? Did it work?
Trial and error in this area could get expensive. If you are riding regularly then have a look at getting a basic bike fit done. Neck and shoulder pain could be caused by a number of things - bar width, stem length, frame stack height, frame reach etc etc.
For what it's worth, I went from 42cm wide to 44cm and found the wider bars more comfortable.
Hmm... thanks. Bike fit not really an option where I live.
Seriously worth driving somewhere or taking a train with the bike somewhere to get it done. It made a world of difference to me when I had it done years ago.
What’s a bike fit? Think I might have seen a photo of it in ashop yesterday, cyclist on a bike that looked like it had been convertsd to an exercise bike.
Hmm... thanks. Bike fit not really an option where I live.
Seriously worth driving somewhere or taking a train with the bike somewhere to get it done. It made a world of difference to me when I had it done years ago.
Not in the UK and don't understand the natives. I'm not sure they even do them here.
What’s a bike fit? Think I might have seen a photo of it in ashop yesterday, cyclist on a bike that looked like it had been convertsd to an exercise bike.
You take your bike and cycling shoes to a bike shop that provides the service, you normally need to book in advance.
I spent the first 30 minutes being weighed, height and answering a lot of questions. I then sat on a special cushion that gave an imprint of my bum cheeks and bones within etc.
All this information was fed into a PC following which suggested settings for my bike were provided.
My bike was then mounted on a static trainer and I was asked to pedal slowly while the technician observed and made notes. While on the bike a gizmo was attached to my leg that measured distances between certain points like knee, ankle calf and thigh.
Once done I got off while my bike was set up based on the information provided by the PC as well as my measurements then I got back on and cycled again to test the results.
It was amazing and it turned out I am slightly flat footed which I did not know and I was compensating whilst pedaling which caused knee pain. Bike fit picked this up and they fitted specially made insoles in my cycling shoes which corrected the problem.
There was more that happened but I can’t remember it all, a quick google should help you.
They also gave me a printout of the settings as well just in case I had to take anything off my bike meaning I could reinstall it at the correct height etc .
As an aside I opened the thread and was initially struck by the lack of answers to the OP which suggested E-Bikes. Then I realised it's because the thread is nearly 10 years old!
So how do e-bikes fit into the mix of choice for the less committed riders? I have two bikes but am thinking of replacing one with an e-bike. In my case it's age -related. We live in a hilly area for a start, but I'd also hope the e-bike would help me to feel able to join in rides with people who are younger and fitter than me without being a passenger. Does that make sense, generally?
I bought one last year. It’s given my cycling a new lease of life. I bought a Look E675 gravel bike (in the sales). You can swap the tyres if you’re predominantly on roads.
Anyone ever changed their drop handlebars to a narrow width in the hope of easing shoulder/neck pain? Did it work?
This video might help with some of the causes/solutions of shoulder/neck pain issues. Generally your bars want to be the same width as your shoulders, but as some have said above, there are many variables when it comes to getting comfortable on a bike so some might get on better with wider bars.
What’s a bike fit? Think I might have seen a photo of it in ashop yesterday, cyclist on a bike that looked like it had been convertsd to an exercise bike.
You take your bike and cycling shoes to a bike shop that provides the service, you normally need to book in advance.
I spent the first 30 minutes being weighed, height and answering a lot of questions. I then sat on a special cushion that gave an imprint of my bum cheeks and bones within etc.
All this information was fed into a PC following which suggested settings for my bike were provided.
My bike was then mounted on a static trainer and I was asked to pedal slowly while the technician observed and made notes. While on the bike a gizmo was attached to my leg that measured distances between certain points like knee, ankle calf and thigh.
Once done I got off while my bike was set up based on the information provided by the PC as well as my measurements then I got back on and cycled again to test the results.
It was amazing and it turned out I am slightly flat footed which I did not know and I was compensating whilst pedaling which caused knee pain. Bike fit picked this up and they fitted specially made insoles in my cycling shoes which corrected the problem.
There was more that happened but I can’t remember it all, a quick google should help you.
They also gave me a printout of the settings as well just in case I had to take anything off my bike meaning I could reinstall it at the correct height etc .
What’s a bike fit? Think I might have seen a photo of it in ashop yesterday, cyclist on a bike that looked like it had been convertsd to an exercise bike.
You take your bike and cycling shoes to a bike shop that provides the service, you normally need to book in advance.
I spent the first 30 minutes being weighed, height and answering a lot of questions. I then sat on a special cushion that gave an imprint of my bum cheeks and bones within etc.
All this information was fed into a PC following which suggested settings for my bike were provided.
My bike was then mounted on a static trainer and I was asked to pedal slowly while the technician observed and made notes. While on the bike a gizmo was attached to my leg that measured distances between certain points like knee, ankle calf and thigh.
Once done I got off while my bike was set up based on the information provided by the PC as well as my measurements then I got back on and cycled again to test the results.
It was amazing and it turned out I am slightly flat footed which I did not know and I was compensating whilst pedaling which caused knee pain. Bike fit picked this up and they fitted specially made insoles in my cycling shoes which corrected the problem.
There was more that happened but I can’t remember it all, a quick google should help you.
They also gave me a printout of the settings as well just in case I had to take anything off my bike meaning I could reinstall it at the correct height etc .
What was the cost of that Mike and did it help?
I seem to recall the cost was about £90 but it was a few years ago so probably a bit more now.
It was a game changer for me, no more shoulder, neck and knee aches and my cycling improved both performance and enjoyment wise
What’s a bike fit? Think I might have seen a photo of it in ashop yesterday, cyclist on a bike that looked like it had been convertsd to an exercise bike.
You take your bike and cycling shoes to a bike shop that provides the service, you normally need to book in advance.
I spent the first 30 minutes being weighed, height and answering a lot of questions. I then sat on a special cushion that gave an imprint of my bum cheeks and bones within etc.
All this information was fed into a PC following which suggested settings for my bike were provided.
My bike was then mounted on a static trainer and I was asked to pedal slowly while the technician observed and made notes. While on the bike a gizmo was attached to my leg that measured distances between certain points like knee, ankle calf and thigh.
Once done I got off while my bike was set up based on the information provided by the PC as well as my measurements then I got back on and cycled again to test the results.
It was amazing and it turned out I am slightly flat footed which I did not know and I was compensating whilst pedaling which caused knee pain. Bike fit picked this up and they fitted specially made insoles in my cycling shoes which corrected the problem.
There was more that happened but I can’t remember it all, a quick google should help you.
They also gave me a printout of the settings as well just in case I had to take anything off my bike meaning I could reinstall it at the correct height etc .
What was the cost of that Mike and did it help?
I seem to recall the cost was about £90 but it was a few years ago so probably a bit more now.
It was a game changer for me, no more shoulder, neck and knee aches and my cycling improved both performance and enjoyment wise
There are two types of fit, one (which sounds like yours) where a fit is done on your existing bike, good if you've already shelled out the money on a bike. But the other is done on a machine that the fitter adjusts to get your exact measurements, a good fitter will then list out the best frames available that will then fit you.
I got my fit done a few years back, cost £250 but gave me exact measurements to what I need and now my new bike fits like a glove. It may seem expensive but it's a small price to pay compared to years of physio from injuries caused by a badly fitting bike.
Ah, got it. This shop won a retail excellence award yesterday and I saw a quick reference to it in the presentation.
Video shows it well, looks in this case like it is @eaststandmike version, but maybe the shop also uses demo versions of bikes for sale. They are not too far from me, albeit, if I buy one from them the first cycle back will involve some daunting hills
What’s a bike fit? Think I might have seen a photo of it in ashop yesterday, cyclist on a bike that looked like it had been convertsd to an exercise bike.
You take your bike and cycling shoes to a bike shop that provides the service, you normally need to book in advance.
I spent the first 30 minutes being weighed, height and answering a lot of questions. I then sat on a special cushion that gave an imprint of my bum cheeks and bones within etc.
All this information was fed into a PC following which suggested settings for my bike were provided.
My bike was then mounted on a static trainer and I was asked to pedal slowly while the technician observed and made notes. While on the bike a gizmo was attached to my leg that measured distances between certain points like knee, ankle calf and thigh.
Once done I got off while my bike was set up based on the information provided by the PC as well as my measurements then I got back on and cycled again to test the results.
It was amazing and it turned out I am slightly flat footed which I did not know and I was compensating whilst pedaling which caused knee pain. Bike fit picked this up and they fitted specially made insoles in my cycling shoes which corrected the problem.
There was more that happened but I can’t remember it all, a quick google should help you.
They also gave me a printout of the settings as well just in case I had to take anything off my bike meaning I could reinstall it at the correct height etc .
What was the cost of that Mike and did it help?
I seem to recall the cost was about £90 but it was a few years ago so probably a bit more now.
It was a game changer for me, no more shoulder, neck and knee aches and my cycling improved both performance and enjoyment wise
Sounds like just what I need. Shame I can't do it and I'm left to YouTube research and the process of elimination.
Out of interest, can you recall what they attributed your shoulder and neck pain to?
What’s a bike fit? Think I might have seen a photo of it in ashop yesterday, cyclist on a bike that looked like it had been convertsd to an exercise bike.
You take your bike and cycling shoes to a bike shop that provides the service, you normally need to book in advance.
I spent the first 30 minutes being weighed, height and answering a lot of questions. I then sat on a special cushion that gave an imprint of my bum cheeks and bones within etc.
All this information was fed into a PC following which suggested settings for my bike were provided.
My bike was then mounted on a static trainer and I was asked to pedal slowly while the technician observed and made notes. While on the bike a gizmo was attached to my leg that measured distances between certain points like knee, ankle calf and thigh.
Once done I got off while my bike was set up based on the information provided by the PC as well as my measurements then I got back on and cycled again to test the results.
It was amazing and it turned out I am slightly flat footed which I did not know and I was compensating whilst pedaling which caused knee pain. Bike fit picked this up and they fitted specially made insoles in my cycling shoes which corrected the problem.
There was more that happened but I can’t remember it all, a quick google should help you.
They also gave me a printout of the settings as well just in case I had to take anything off my bike meaning I could reinstall it at the correct height etc .
What was the cost of that Mike and did it help?
I seem to recall the cost was about £90 but it was a few years ago so probably a bit more now.
It was a game changer for me, no more shoulder, neck and knee aches and my cycling improved both performance and enjoyment wise
Sounds like just what I need. Shame I can't do it and I'm left to YouTube research and the process of elimination.
Out of interest, can you recall what they attributed your shoulder and neck pain to?
I am guessing it was due to badly aligned handlebars, seat stem and general riding position all of which the bike fit resolved
Comments
Ordinarily I'd suggest you buy a hybrid bike as that will give you a decwnt compromise between performance and robustness, but if your mates are already out there on road bikes, you'll feel like a bit of a bellend bringing up the rear every weekend sweating like a snowman in summer as they streak away from you on their 8lb frames
What's your budget? You can pick a good entry-level road bike up for about 600 quid - you won't have the greatest components on there, but it'll do you until you decide whether or nor you like it enough to start spending stupid money on it.
Cannondale and Specialized make good entry level bikes, and you van get pretty good spec if you go for models a year or two outside the current range. Like MAM says, use your local bike shop. They have a vested interest in providing you with good advice, because they're all haemorrhaging business to the internet. Ask for their advice - be honest with your budget and they'll see you right.
You'll start with a budget...and end with a mortgage
Super cheap: https://shortest.link/ilBs
Better but a bit more pricey: https://shortest.link/huNj
Evans also has bargains.
This one is their own brand and is currently half price: https://shortest.link/huPn
This is a much better bike (Trek) , but costs a bit more: https://shortest.link/ilEe
If you might want to go on rough paths this is a good vale gravel bike: https://shortest.link/ilCE
If you've just won the lottery you might like to try this one? https://shortest.link/ilFt
I found wider better. 46cm
So how do e-bikes fit into the mix of choice for the less committed riders? I have two bikes but am thinking of replacing one with an e-bike. In my case it's age -related. We live in a hilly area for a start, but I'd also hope the e-bike would help me to feel able to join in rides with people who are younger and fitter than me without being a passenger. Does that make sense, generally?
All this information was fed into a PC following which suggested settings for my bike were provided.
My bike was then mounted on a static trainer and I was asked to pedal slowly while the technician observed and made notes. While on the bike a gizmo was attached to my leg that measured distances between certain points like knee, ankle calf and thigh.
It was amazing and it turned out I am slightly flat footed which I did not know and I was compensating whilst pedaling which caused knee pain. Bike fit picked this up and they fitted specially made insoles in my cycling shoes which corrected the problem.
There was more that happened but I can’t remember it all, a quick google should help you.
They also gave me a printout of the settings as well just in case I had to take anything off my bike meaning I could reinstall it at the correct height etc .
It was a game changer for me, no more shoulder, neck and knee aches and my cycling improved both performance and enjoyment wise
I got my fit done a few years back, cost £250 but gave me exact measurements to what I need and now my new bike fits like a glove. It may seem expensive but it's a small price to pay compared to years of physio from injuries caused by a badly fitting bike.
Video shows it well, looks in this case like it is @eaststandmike version, but maybe the shop also uses demo versions of bikes for sale. They are not too far from me, albeit, if I buy one from them the first cycle back will involve some daunting hills
Out of interest, can you recall what they attributed your shoulder and neck pain to?