Help me - bike choice
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At the level that you are looking at most bikes will work well, but what you need to be mindful when purchasing a road bike is the fit of the bike..
Do you have someone locally who specialises in bike fitting, either in a local shop or who works from home?? They may be able to guide you in the right direction, i.e. advise on the correct bike dimensions for your body type and flexibility, what will work well for your body type and what to avoid, and will be able to fit you on the bike once you have purchased it. Yes, it will cost you a little bit of money up front, but it will be money well spent.
Frame is more important than components.. you can polish a turd all you like.. it will still be a turd.. :laugh:
[Comments from my partner]0 -
At the level that you are looking at most bikes will work well, but what you need to be mindful when purchasing a road bike is the fit of the bike..
Do you have someone locally who specialises in bike fitting, either in a local shop or who works from home?? They may be able to guide you in the right direction, i.e. advise on the correct bike dimensions for your body type and flexibility, what will work well for your body type and what to avoid, and will be able to fit you on the bike once you have purchased it. Yes, it will cost you a little bit of money up front, but it will be money well spent.
Frame is more important than components.. you can polish a turd all you like.. it will still be a turd.. :laugh:
[Comments from my partner]
Yes it will be properly fitted to me - by a local bike shop.0 -
At the level that you are looking at most bikes will work well, but what you need to be mindful when purchasing a road bike is the fit of the bike..
Do you have someone locally who specialises in bike fitting, either in a local shop or who works from home?? They may be able to guide you in the right direction, i.e. advise on the correct bike dimensions for your body type and flexibility, what will work well for your body type and what to avoid, and will be able to fit you on the bike once you have purchased it. Yes, it will cost you a little bit of money up front, but it will be money well spent.
Frame is more important than components.. you can polish a turd all you like.. it will still be a turd.. :laugh:
[Comments from my partner]
Yes it will be properly fitted to me - by a local bike shop.
You appear to have missed the whole point of the response.. you will be able to make any bike 'fit', but not all bikes are built equally when it comes to fitting a specific persons body shape.. rather than looking at the specs of the bike on the internet it would be beneficial for you to talk to someone who can relate a bike back to your physical needs, which will make your future riding more comfortable, more enjoyable and likely faster..
* How flexible are you - Can you touch your toes??
* Do you have have long or short legs?
* Do you have long or short arms?
* Do you have a long or short torso?
Being able to fit YOUR body to the bike is more important than the group set which comes on the bike.. I for example am a typical female, I have long legs and a shorter reach, therefore my roadie was women's specific with a shorter top tube.. however I have seen men riding the same bike.. sure you can change up the stem, bars, seat post, crank length, but that will have nothing on buying a bike that fits you to begin with.0 -
if you've got around 3k to spend on a bike - budget a few hundred of it up front and go get something like a Retul bikefit. They do a complete fitting for you on an adjustable bike-rig - the figures that it comes out with are then compared with a database of various bike makes and it can point you to - or away from - specific bikes according to their layout. Once you've ruled your specification down to a couple or three that fit more or less right, it can also say "get a size 56 Cervelo R5, but swap out the stock 11cm stem for a 12cm"... this can work well if you're buying a complete build from a LBS, as they may well be able to swap out the stem as a no-cost-option.
it's worth every penny - you're far better of with a few hundred quid cheaper bike if it fits properly...
(there are other fitting services available of course, but I've only really experience of the retul one recently...)0 -
This is still under major consideration.
Been looking at De Rosa bikes now
Told ya; too much choice :laugh:0 -
if you've got around 3k to spend on a bike - budget a few hundred of it up front and go get something like a Retul bikefit. They do a complete fitting for you on an adjustable bike-rig - the figures that it comes out with are then compared with a database of various bike makes and it can point you to - or away from - specific bikes according to their layout. Once you've ruled your specification down to a couple or three that fit more or less right, it can also say "get a size 56 Cervelo R5, but swap out the stock 11cm stem for a 12cm"... this can work well if you're buying a complete build from a LBS, as they may well be able to swap out the stem as a no-cost-option.
it's worth every penny - you're far better of with a few hundred quid cheaper bike if it fits properly...
(there are other fitting services available of course, but I've only really experience of the retul one recently...)
I am doing something like this with my next bike. I wanted a Ti frame and there is a custom builder about an hour from me who worked for Merlin (and has close ties to Seven Cycles). We reviewed everything that I do riding-wise; average distance, pace, what is comfortable for me and what is not, etc. He then did a full measure on me and also checked me on my current bike and is building this new frame to the exact measurements for my body. The only problem is that it takes about 3 months to get the frame - only 2 more to go :-/0 -
You appear to have missed the whole point of the response.. you will be able to make any bike 'fit', but not all bikes are built equally when it comes to fitting a specific persons body shape.. rather than looking at the specs of the bike on the internet it would be beneficial for you to talk to someone who can relate a bike back to your physical needs, which will make your future riding more comfortable, more enjoyable and likely faster..
* How flexible are you - Can you touch your toes??
* Do you have have long or short legs?
* Do you have long or short arms?
* Do you have a long or short torso?
Being able to fit YOUR body to the bike is more important than the group set which comes on the bike.. I for example am a typical female, I have long legs and a shorter reach, therefore my roadie was women's specific with a shorter top tube.. however I have seen men riding the same bike.. sure you can change up the stem, bars, seat post, crank length, but that will have nothing on buying a bike that fits you to begin with.if you've got around 3k to spend on a bike - budget a few hundred of it up front and go get something like a Retul bikefit. They do a complete fitting for you on an adjustable bike-rig - the figures that it comes out with are then compared with a database of various bike makes and it can point you to - or away from - specific bikes according to their layout. Once you've ruled your specification down to a couple or three that fit more or less right, it can also say "get a size 56 Cervelo R5, but swap out the stock 11cm stem for a 12cm"... this can work well if you're buying a complete build from a LBS, as they may well be able to swap out the stem as a no-cost-option.
it's worth every penny - you're far better of with a few hundred quid cheaper bike if it fits properly...
(there are other fitting services available of course, but I've only really experience of the retul one recently...)
That makes things clearer, never knew things like this even existed!0 -
have a look on the website - https://www.retul.com/0
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have a look on the website - https://www.retul.com/
I googled it earlier, and found my local place
Just working out whether they are free when I am at the moment. 0 -
Just had an e-mail through from ChainReaction Cycles - They're having an 'upto 40% off sales on bikes at the moment...
Take a look: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/SearchResults.aspx?Search=bikes&CategoryIDs=17,330,1135,2147,2148,1406&utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ENG-11_06_13_bike clearance (1)&utm_content=&_$ja=tsid:41391|cn:ENG-11_06_13_bike%20clearance%20%281%290 -
Just had an e-mail through from ChainReaction Cycles - They're having an 'upto 40% off sales on bikes at the moment...
Take a look: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/SearchResults.aspx?Search=bikes&CategoryIDs=17,330,1135,2147,2148,1406&utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ENG-11_06_13_bike clearance (1)&utm_content=&_$ja=tsid:41391|cn:ENG-11_06_13_bike%20clearance%20%281%29
Thanks Cloggsy - even more choice !! :sad: :laugh:0 -
have a look on the website - https://www.retul.com/
I am booked in with a local guy who does this using the Retul gear - more for a fit of my current carbon hybrid bike for the moment, as that will be staying with me anyway - after all the equation isn't n - 1
Hopefully the numbers that come from this 'fit' will go some way to helping work out which roadie should be on my list.0 -
Awesome bike for the money; plenty of 'bangs per buck' here!
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-boardman-slr90s-13-473100 -
Awesome bike for the money; plenty of 'bangs per buck' here!
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-boardman-slr90s-13-47310
Thanks for the option, I am staying clear of electronic shifting for the moment, I am not sure it is for me to be honest.
Had my Retul fit today for my current ride with the local guy, very interesting. And glad those on this thread suggested it as it has helped my current bike with my 'settings'.0 -
I found it a strange experience sitting on the bike and getting "wound" further forward/back/up/down and watching as the power display on the screen varied (the retul bike I was riding was using the "engine" from a Tacx Bushido (same as my home trainer) as the resistance unit, and it was linked to a screen in front of me, which showed how the power developed went up/down as the saddle was moved around, or the bars were elevated/dropped/stretched away from me...
Then of course, the whole led-markers and video digitising cameras monitoring the movement in real-time under different load conditions was also great - allowed us to come up with a compromise between the most efficient (power-wise) and the most sustainable (re: comfort) and attainable (re: my level of flexibility and the intrusion of my big fat belly into the way of my legs!!)
Poor dude really earned his coin on that session!0 -
After a lot of consideration, and looking at various different options - I chose the new bike...it is pretty much built up now- except the shop are waiting for delivery of the pedals and the Garmin cadence and mounts need fitting.
The shop sent me a teaser photo (as I am out of the country until tonight)....
Hopefully pick it up on Saturday or Sunday morning and give it a good going over.
The wheels will be upgraded sometime in the near future once I've done some more research 0 -
After a lot of consideration, and looking at various different options - I chose the new bike...it is pretty much built up now- except the shop are waiting for delivery of the pedals and the Garmin cadence and mounts need fitting.
The shop sent me a teaser photo (as I am out of the country until tonight)....
Hopefully pick it up on Saturday or Sunday morning and give it a good going over.
The wheels will be upgraded sometime in the near future once I've done some more research
Looks tasty mate. The Fulcrum's aren't too bad, but something lighter wouldn't go amiss
I'll look forward to seeing your times tumble :bigsmile:0 -
if they're racing 5's they're bloody good "general purpose" wheels - probably one of the better sets of wheels I've ridden - and considering they did a good solid 3 years of trundling around under me when I was anything up to 400lb, they're fairly tough...
A nice pair of ZIpp 303 Firecrests would look good on there though...0 -
Saddle looks a little high. :bigsmile:0
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Looks the business!
Health to Enjoy0
