I want a bike, but I haven't a clue. Help!

Dinarius

I'm male, 48, 5' 10", 12.5 stone, living in south Dublin and I haven't had a bike since I was in my early 20s.

I'm looking for something that I can use around town when I don't need the car. I am willing to spend a few Euros if needs be, so don't hold back on the suggestions! Cycling off-road is not a consideration for me.

My line of work is the design/creative end of things, so something with aesthetic appeal as well as functional appeal would be very desirable.

Over to you.........

Thanks.

D.

digitalage

I bought a a specialized sirrus elite from cycleways, a few weeks ago cost 750 lovely bike very fast, Highly recommend this bike. Keep your eyes on some off the secondhand websites, adverts.ie, gumtree.ie. I picked up my mate a specialized sirrus last week for 320, its in good condition.

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=33594

Glowing

I bought this just a month ago - great price, looks great and is a dream to cycle

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=17876

Caroline_ie

Dinarius wrote: »

My line of work is the design/creative end of things, so something with aesthetic appeal as well as functional appeal would be very desirable.

If you are going to use it town and park it outside, I would not recommend anything with too much aesthetic appeal ...

Bicyclegadabout

Do you mean aesthetic appeal like the ones posted above, or do you mean something thats sort of form over function, like a Beach Cruiser:




Or an aul high nelly:



you know, a unique looking kind of bike.

Dinarius

Thanks for the replies.

Definitely not form over function. First and foremost, I want a serious piece of kit and I'm happy to pay extra for it. e.g. if I paid a bit more than the €500 or so suggested above, could I get a lighter bike?

Thanks again.

D.

IrishHomer

sorry for butting into your thread but i am in very similar situation too as yourself but i hope to do 100mile round trips at weekends to my folks house.

Would the hydrid that was recommended for approx. €500 be up for the job or would a racer be more appropriate? (i am very same i used cycle lot in my teens but i'm now 38 overweight but i cycle in the gym a lot).

digitalage

Dinarius the sirrus elite is very light, aluminium frame, it has carbon forks and seat post, the wheels are road style, I have 25cc tyres on it. You could splash out and get a carbon bike for about 2500euro. Your better going into a shop with the cash in the back pocket try out a few bikes and buy the one you like best.

Stark

One of the Giant FCR series, Lapierre RCR series, Trek FX series or Specialised Sirrus series would be good. The Trek has slightly thicker tyres than the other ones, which might make it slightly slower but it would be more comfortable.

neilled

digitalage wrote: »

I bought a a specialized sirrus elite from cycleways, a few weeks ago cost 750 lovely bike very fast, Highly recommend this bike. Keep your eyes on some off the secondhand websites, adverts.ie, gumtree.ie. I picked up my mate a specialized sirrus last week for 320, its in good condition.

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=33594

Was that Sirrus discounted? I thought the elites when for closer to a grand!

If your considering the Sirrus take a look at the Giant FCR1 and the FCR2 and Treks 7.5 FX and 7.6FX

Stark

IrishHomer wrote: »

sorry for butting into your thread but i am in very similar situation too as yourself but i hope to do 100mile round trips at weekends to my folks house.

I think your requirements are a bit different to OP's. You probably want more of a racer than a hybrid for those long trips. Hybrids are more comfortable in the city when you've a lot of traffic and stuff. On long trips, the drop handlebars on the racer are more comfortable.

accensi0n

Dinarius,

I'm gonna be taking up cycling again. Will be cycling to work mainly. About 40 minutes each way.

I've been looking at this road bike.

http://www.trekbikes.com/int/en/bikes/2008/road/1_series/12e/

I really like the look of road bikes, especially if they have the smaller, round tubing.

Costs about €750.

Oh and reviews I've read have said that its very good for an entry level road bike and comfortable. The main thing I'm worried about is comfort, the leaning forward position...

Will be having a test ride at the end of this week so I'll let you know what I think.

Are you into the look of that bike btw?

Dinarius

Once again, thanks for the replies.

The TREK in the above link looks nice, but I wouldn't like drop handlebars. I presume it's available with upright bars (if that's what they're called!) too?

On the issue of cost, yes I would be happy to spend up to about €1k if necessary. Mudguards and lock(s) (obviously) would be mandatory.

D.

Hungrycol

What about a lovely Titanium bike:

http://www.vannicholas.com//Gallery/AMRH_DT1_L.jpg

It's over €3k though!

Dinarius

Just been to a bike shop where I tried three Treks. 7.2, 7.5 and 7.6.

I liked the 7.5 the most. Cost is €575, I think. I presume that prices are fairly ballpark wherever you look?

Anyway, going to stew on it for a day or two.

D.

penexpers

Yeah prices are always ballpark. Try and haggle them down a bit or get some free stuff thrown in

neilled

Dinarius wrote: »

Just been to a bike shop where I tried three Treks. 7.2, 7.5 and 7.6.

I liked the 7.5 the most. Cost is €575, I think. I presume that prices are fairly ballpark wherever you look?

Anyway, going to stew on it for a day or two.

D.

The SRP for the 7.5 FX is around €800/£500 If your getting it for 575 then its a steal. The 7.6 is more or less the same, comes with thinner tires and its rear seat stays are carbon fibre, meaning a tad lighter and less felt vibration. Its also got a higher spec gearing system. The 7.6 goes for around €1000 normally.

The 7.5 is a great bike, i couldn't recommend them enough although I do like the look of the 7.6.... the grass is always greener and that! Oh if you go for a quality bike like this make sure you get a good lock, abus granite or a kyrptonite faghetaboutit - my bikes already been attacked after an attempt to steal it failed.

penexpers

It could be the 2007 model that's €575?

Dinarius

Apologies for the confusion..........

It was a 7.3fx that I was looking at for €575.

I liked the configuration of the gear levers. There is plenty of room around the grip/gear lever/brake lever. This wasn't the case with the 7.5, at least not on the one I tried.

Should I consider other makes? I know nothing about bikes but, looking around, TREK seem to be the Microsoft of the industry. They're everywhere!

Thanks.

D.

penexpers

You should look at some of the other bikes mentioned above, especially the Specialized Sirrus. I would also recommend the Kona Dew Deluxe, though that's hard to find in Ireland.

Dinarius

Thanks for the suggestion.......

Been looking at the Specialized site. The choice is mind-boggling!

Though I have to say that disc brakes on a push-bike look seriously cool!

This one looks gorgeous.....

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=34072

Probably costs a fortune too.

D.

penexpers

That should come in about 600 euro but they don't seem to have it in Cycleways.

The 7.3x would be a better bike than that though - cheap disc brakes aren't worth the hassle.

triv88

Could anybody tell me how this bike rates ?,seems like a very big price reduction there..GTR Series 5 Road Bike 2007 ,reduced from 499 sterling to 379 sterling

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=70243

neilled

Dinarius wrote: »

Apologies for the confusion..........

It was a 7.3fx that I was looking at for 575.

I liked the configuration of the gear levers. There is plenty of room around the grip/gear lever/brake lever. This wasn't the case with the 7.5, at least not on the one I tried.

Should I consider other makes? I know nothing about bikes but, looking around, TREK seem to be the Microsoft of the industry. They're everywhere!

Thanks.

D.

As i said earlier, Giant are well worth a look as well, their bikes are good quality and a tad chaper. Google and you'll often find Giant vsTrek threads. I went for the trek in the end because i got a brand new one for around 40% off the retail price second hand on adverts. I'd been strongly considering the giant up till that point.

penexpers

That kind of price is what you would expect for a 2007 model at this stage. The bike looks ok for the money. I've heard the Sora shifters can be a bit funny and most of the components are at the lower end. It's a grand starter road bike.

flickerx

Dinarius wrote: »

Though I have to say that disc brakes on a push-bike look seriously cool!

This one looks gorgeous.....

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=34072

Christ. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess - I think that bike looks awful.
And disc brakes? I think they're ugly, detract from the simple aesthetic of the wheel, and IIRC they're much harder to fix than standard calipers.
But all a matter of taste I guess...

Blurg

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/13174/Giant_Escape_M_Zero_Bike_2008

This is a nice giant hybrid, price in Ireland €699

check out the price from a uk mail order specialist €473

IrishHomer

Dinarius wrote: »

I'm male, 48, 5' 10", 12.5 stone, living in south Dublin and I haven't had a bike since I was in my early 20s.

I'm looking for something that I can use around town when I don't need the car. I am willing to spend a few Euros if needs be, so don't hold back on the suggestions! Cycling off-road is not a consideration for me.

My line of work is the design/creative end of things, so something with aesthetic appeal as well as functional appeal would be very desirable.

Over to you.........

Thanks.

D.

So Dinarius did you buy a bike yet?

dmigsy

I'd go for one of these. I'm saving for one now!

Dinarius

Went to Joe Daly Cycles in Dundrum. They're near me.

I like the TREK 7.3 and TREK is pretty much all they sell, so I will probably go for it.

But, I'm extremely busy and I haven't had the time to return there.

D.

niceonetom

dmigsy wrote: »

I'd go for one of these. I'm saving for one now!

looks nice.
two words though: BIG LOCK.