Starting out - bicycle recommendations megathread (see summary in OP)

Tony04

Stichy wrote: »

I thought a road bike would be a better for the greenway? as far as I know it has a good surface and I cant ever see myself going anywhere off road really so why would a gravel one be a better option?. My company go direct I think well their link brings me straight to the cycle scheme website anyway. Thanks

Gravel bikes can take more of a beating and would be little more comfortable. But yeah a road bike would be perfectly fine. Cyclescheme is a middle man so you can only go through shops they deal with which is most brick and mortar in ireland + chain reaction online(better value but probably no stock). I guess going local in the current situation is probably the easiest. The trek domane would be fine but you might find you'll want to upgrade it if you get more into cycling... Does your local bike shop have anything a little above 1000€?

As mentioned above have a look at the second hand market around you can save around 50% usally + your b2w scheme is saved if you find you want to upgrade.

cinnamonsticks

I go confirmation from my work - we do not have any approved list - any stockist that accepts the scheme i can choose from.

Are Cube bikes any good ? what is the quality of these like compared to other brands ? i want to spend 850-1250 or in around that.
I want the bike for exercise plus general usage. Gravel bike or Road bike preferably.

which would be the better bike among these 3 please
https://www.cyclebike.ie/vantage-endurance-20.html
https://www.cyclebike.ie/cube-nuroad-pro-fe-grey-black-2020.html
https://www.cyclebike.ie/falco-sport.html

and from halfords these two options
https://www.halfords.ie/bikes/cyclocross-bikes/boardman-cxr-8.9-cyclocross-bike-528973.html
https://www.halfords.ie/bikes/adventure-bikes/boardman-adv-8.9-mens-adventure-bike-526787.html



im leaning towards
https://www.halfords.ie/bikes/adventure-bikes/boardman-adv-8.9-mens-adventure-bike-526787.html
and
https://www.cyclebike.ie/vantage-endurance-20.html


If someone could give some input on this please i would appreciate the help , i want to get out on the road as soon as i can ,also can you verify cyclebike is a legit store please

thanks again

raxy

cinnamonsticks wrote: »

I go confirmation from my work - we do not have any approved list - any stockist that accepts the scheme i can choose from.

Are Cube bikes any good ? what is the quality of these like compared to other brands ? i want to spend 850-1250 or in around that.
I want the bike for exercise plus general usage. Gravel bike or Road bike preferably.

I'm a beginner myself so don't know much personally but my brother bought a Cube Attain road bike & he is very happy with it.
I picked up a 2nd hand Lapierre road bike from adverts rathar than buying new. I contacted a shop to ask what they had & was told they had nothing available in my price range but they would be getting a shipment of Trek bikes at the end of June so you might want to confirm with the shops what stock they have.

Stichy

Hi, can anyone recommend some good websites to get cycling gear from.
Cheers

Tony04

cinnamonsticks wrote: »

I go confirmation from my work - we do not have any approved list - any stockist that accepts the scheme i can choose from.

Are Cube bikes any good ? what is the quality of these like compared to other brands ? i want to spend 850-1250 or in around that.
I want the bike for exercise plus general usage. Gravel bike or Road bike preferably.

which would be the better bike among these 3 please
https://www.cyclebike.ie/vantage-endurance-20.html
https://www.cyclebike.ie/cube-nuroad-pro-fe-grey-black-2020.html
https://www.cyclebike.ie/falco-sport.html

and from halfords these two options
https://www.halfords.ie/bikes/cyclocross-bikes/boardman-cxr-8.9-cyclocross-bike-528973.html
https://www.halfords.ie/bikes/adventure-bikes/boardman-adv-8.9-mens-adventure-bike-526787.html



im leaning towards
https://www.halfords.ie/bikes/adventure-bikes/boardman-adv-8.9-mens-adventure-bike-526787.html
and
https://www.cyclebike.ie/vantage-endurance-20.html


If someone could give some input on this please i would appreciate the help , i want to get out on the road as soon as i can ,also can you verify cyclebike is a legit store please

thanks again

Do you want 11 speeds? Do you want disc brakes? Do yo want hydraulic disc brakes? Do you want to be able to go off road?

Tony04

Stichy wrote: »

Hi, can anyone recommend some good websites to get cycling gear from.
Cheers

Galibier.cc really good quality for the price I wouldnt even go any where else unless it's on sale.

Stichy

Tony04 wrote: »

Galibier.cc really good quality for the price I wouldnt even go any where else unless it's on sale.

Thanks, I will take a look.

cinnamonsticks

Tony04 wrote: »

Do you want 11 speeds? Do you want disc brakes? Do yo want hydraulic disc brakes? Do you want to be able to go off road?

I would probably prefer 20/21 speed ? this would make life on hills easier right ?

i like the hydraulic brakes,i like tidy looking cabling also.

As for off roading not really. Mainly main roads and country roads. Some rougher than others.


would these be good bikes ?
im leaning towards
https://www.halfords.ie/bikes/advent...ke-526787.html
and
https://www.cyclebike.ie/vantage-endurance-20.html

Tony04

11 speed means there are 11 cogs on the rear, most likely there will be 2 chainrings on the front so youd have 22 gears.

When I mean off road, I mean forest tracks off road tracks to masts etc Would you be doing that?

cinnamonsticks

Tony04 wrote: »

11 speed means there are 11 cogs on the rear, most likely there will be 2 chainrings on the front so youd have 22 gears.

When I mean off road, I mean forest tracks off road tracks to masts etc Would you be doing that?

ah ok yes its a long time since i rode bikes we always used to have like 6/7 on the back and say 3 on the front and that would be called 21 speed 3x7 etc

But maybe i might go a little on tracks yes. Could i not just get gravel tyres ?

The 2 bikes i listed would be capable of that im assuming ?

thanks for your help here

Tony04

Yeh you can but buying a gravel specific bike like the boardman will offer you more tyre clearance to fit wider tyres for better traction and geometry would be designed for gravel so it would feel more secure on steep descents?

Conversely getting a road bike might be better if you want to join a club, ride sportifs and maybe try racing.

cinnamonsticks

Thanks Tony - i will never compete or join a club - if i do later on and get into it i will upgrade i guess.

I will go for this one then https://www.halfords.ie/bikes/adventure-bikes/boardman-adv-8.9-mens-adventure-bike-526787.html

Boardman ADV 8.9 Mens Adventure Bike - S, M, L, XL

im 5'8-9 im guessing medium would be for me.Jeez just seen they only have L and XL grrr

bbari

cinnamonsticks wrote: »

Jeez just seen they only have L and XL grrr

Bikes are "The new toilet paper" these days!

magicbastarder

bbari wrote: »

Bikes are "The new toilet paper" these days!

yep, choose badly and you'll end up with a sore arse.

Tony04

Does your company pay directly? If so you could get this https://www.merlincycles.com/wilier-jareen-race-tiagra-gravel-bike-179193.html, as good as the boardman a little bit cheaper, and from a more designer brand.

cinnamonsticks

I think its all pretty new to company so no one really knows all the ins and outs to it, when i first asked the HR person told me any irish store that offer the scheme.

But since i now see online stores offering im gonna try get one online - from what i see they work out a lot cheaper than irish shops (halfords excluded as their prices online and store would be same)


Does the link u just gave off the bike to work scheme ? i think id be better off with a .ie store to try it at work maybe.

cinnamonsticks

how about this raleigh
https://www.halfords.ie/bikes/womens-bikes/raleigh-mustang-elite-adventure-bike---xs%2C-s%2C-m%2C-l%2C-xl-frames-651290.html

i will see can they get the boardman but if not what about this one

Tony04

Tony04 wrote: »

Does your company pay directly? If so you could get this https://www.merlincycles.com/wilier-jareen-race-tiagra-gravel-bike-179193.html, as good as the boardman a little bit cheaper, and from a more designer brand.

Ah here I'm getting tempted into N+1 territory there, thats decent money for a gravel bike which normally attracts a premium just for being called a gravel bike.

Tony04

It all depends if your company buy directly or go through a middle man. If your company goes directly you can buy from any bike shop in the world. If your company goes through a middle man your limited to the shops that are affiliated, so only irish shops and for some chain reaction cycles, online store out of Belfast who's own bike brand is better value than halfords, although like everywhere they're probably out of stock at the moment.

Tony04

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Ah here I'm getting tempted into N+1 territory there, thats decent money for a gravel bike which normally attracts a premium just for being called a gravel bike.

For sure it's a good deal. And the rest of lockdown is probably the bet time to go 'gravel biking'.

Personally I'm holding my guns until the post lockdown scarecly used bike sell off and the clearance of over produced bikes from the demand surgem

Tony04

cinnamonsticks wrote: »

how about this raleigh
https://www.halfords.ie/bikes/womens-bikes/raleigh-mustang-elite-adventure-bike---xs%2C-s%2C-m%2C-l%2C-xl-frames-651290.html

i will see can they get the boardman but if not what about this one

No it has 1x drivetrain not good if you want a wide choice of gears.

bbari

cinnamonsticks wrote: »

I think its all pretty new to company so no one really knows all the ins and outs to it, when i first asked the HR person told me any irish store that offer the scheme.

But since i now see online stores offering im gonna try get one online - from what i see they work out a lot cheaper than irish shops (halfords excluded as their prices online and store would be same)


Does the link u just gave off the bike to work scheme ? i think id be better off with a .ie store to try it at work maybe.

I look after the B2W in my work. I don't care which shop/site the employees are buying the new bike from. I just pay and deduct. I don't get why companies put restrictions on who they would deal with etc.

MojoMaker

Presumably it's better for the economy to keep the money in Ireland with local bike shops vs shooting it over to the likes of Canyon or Rose?

Hairy Japanese BASTARDS!

My commute to work is 25 km if going the non motorway route. I was hoping to build up to cycling that distance. I can comfortably do 15k at the minute in about 45 minutes to an hour.
I'd need a shower after that.

The showers in work are closed now with the exception of people who have to use the sterile clean rooms for work. You could probably see the stink lines coming off me.

I'll have to put off the work commute til later.

What if you get pissed on from the heavens on the way in? How do yous all deal with that? This is Ireland afterall. :pac:

younggalway

Hairy Japanese BASTARDS! wrote: »

My commute to work is 25 km if going the non motorway route. I was hoping to build up to cycling that distance. I can comfortably do 15k at the minute in about 45 minutes to an hour.
I'd need a shower after that.

The showers in work are closed now with the exception of people who have to use the sterile clean rooms for work. You could probably see the stink lines coming off me.

I'll have to put off the work commute til later.

What if you get pissed on from the heavens on the way in? How do yous all deal with that? This is Ireland afterall. :pac:

Just been approved for the scheme through work and waiting for my voucher to come through.

I was getting the bike primarily for exercise however as above I would like to be able to use it for commuting once we return to work. My commute is only about 8km each way through Dublin City but worried about the practicalities. Shower in work is grim but would do, more concerned with transporting an ironed shirt and trousers ? Im sure there is an obvious way to address this but as I mentioned I'm new to the cycling world.

Tony04

Any bag should be fine. If its wet weather get a good waterproof bag to put in the bag.

Check out GCN on YouTube they've got good videos for beginners.

Tony04

Hairy Japanese BASTARDS! wrote: »

What if you get pissed on from the heavens on the way in? How do yous all deal with that? This is Ireland afterall. :pac:

Waterproof bike clothing, that would be a jacket, tights/shorts and over shoes. By mudgaurds to avoid the dirt spray. When you get home clean and relube your bike

Tij da feen

- what is the intended use of the bike: Primarily commuting about 10km each way, some steep hills but mostly greenway. Will be using it for some exercise locally ; unlikely to do offroading
- what is your budget: Ideally about €600 for bike and helmet (inc. Bike to work scheme so real cost for me more around €300)
- will you be using the bike in wet weather: Rarely
- how tall you are: 5ft 9" male

I've been looking at Hybrid bikes, maybe something like this:
https://www.theedge-sports.com/cycling-c18/bikes-c19/hybrid-bikes-c200/cube-nature-red-n-grey-2019-p24486
https://www.halfords.ie/bikes/hybrid-bikes/carrera-crossfire-2-mens-hybrid-bike-2020---red---s%2C-m%2C-l-frames-345718.html

magicbastarder

you won't need a suspension fork on the bike, based on what you say you'll be using the bike for. it'll add weight and cost - and potential maintenance - without providing much benefit to you.
check out a trek FX2 disc - probably very similar to offerings from giant, etc., that would probably suit.

magicbastarder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDMdcC63Z0s