Any bicycle experts about?

[Spark plug]

Ok so it's time for a new bike, I currently have a Scott sportster 30 hybrid witch I had for a wile and has been a very good servant. I would happily go and buy a new one but I would like something that is geared higher.

The current bike has a high gear sprocket ratio of 48-11 wich seems to be quite standard.

I'm looking at a budget of arround £600, can any one offer advice?

 

[bigegg]

Why not service the old one, and maybe change the gearing?
lot cheaper than the price of a new one, even after you take into account the resale price of the old one.

 

[Spark plug]

• Why not service the old one, and maybe change the gearing?

lot cheaper than the price of a new one, even after you take into account the resale price of the old one.

Because it needs new:

• Back wheel
• Bottom bracket
• Steerer bearings
• Chain
• Sprockets
• Derailures
• Saddle
• Front brake pads
• Rear calliper and pads

And that's just what I can think of its done over 10,000 miles so everything is starting to get tired.

 

[lchris21]

as above, if you're happy with the bikes, then a change of gearing could be had for less than £40???

depends on what you want to do with the bike??? how much you ride, what terrain,

canal path ambles or Time trial lung bursting killers ??

 

[Spark plug]

as above, if you're happy with the bikes, then a change of gearing could be had for less than £40???

depends on what you want to do with the bike??? how much you ride, what terrain,

canal path ambles or Time trial lung bursting killers ??

I use the bike for commuting mainly and Long rides out when I can.

But I need a bike that Is a good all rounder mostly road but also tracks and woodland trails.

 

[CRB]

Even the expensive bits do not amount to a massive outlay.

I needed to get a bottom bracket and chainrings for No1 sons MTB a little while ago, it did not amount to more than 70quid, though you may want a higher quality set.

The other bits are coppers, the back wheel can easily be rebuilt too.

 

[lchris21]

I'm no expert, and have never claimed to be one in anything (it gets you more work where I work!!!) Got a few bikes and also commute and race em

dedicated road bike is out then.....

mountain bike is a nightmare anything longer than a 10mile commute.

hybrid in you case is a good choice???

thought about a cyclocross bike???

I bought one a few months back for my daily commute plus longer detours on way home, quite happy on the road but equally happy on the rough stuff. I went for a disc brake version for ease of winter maintenance. plenty of gearing choices available and not as heavy as a dedicated MTB, but stronger than an anorexic road missile.

loads around in the £600 price bracket, but I'd go second hand, as I do with with all my bikes, because as you may know they are like second hand cars....soon as you ride the nice shiney one out the showroom its already lost 40% of what you paid....

 

[bigegg]

We may be missing the point...

SP wants a NEW one

And I have NO idea.
My bike is a 1988 "Saracen Limited Edition" - it's had a new saddle, brakes, cables, sprockets, derailleurs, chain, wheels and frame over the last 27( )years, and 100,000 miles(!) but it's the same bike

 

[CRB]

We may be missing the point...

SP wants a NEW one

And I have NO idea.
My bike is a 1988 "Saracen Limited Edition" - it's had a new saddle, brakes, cables, sprockets, derailleurs, chain, wheels and frame. but it's the same bike

Wrong way up probably too.

 

[Spark plug]

I have been looking at cyclocross but don't realy know Mutch about the and a bit unsure about the race bars.

 

[lchris21]

cyclo cross frames are road orientated geometry but more relaxed.......they are a bit more robust, but more rideable over longer distances than MTB's. the gearing is more road biased, but tunable...
the drop handlebars are easy to get on with. just make sure you try a couple out first.

they are great fun to ride....in the urban environment, all sorts of widgets to tune them to your liking, just like every other bike really, no good unless you're comfortable on it or you will not ride it.....enjoyment at the end of the day....which is what its all about

I've got 3 x road bikes, 1 x cyclocross, 1 x MTB, 1 x Time trial bike...................they all have they're own plus and minus's ...........you can never have too many bikes !! Just don't tell the missus

 

[Maker]

Burf86 is the co-owner/builder of BTR bikes (Really really nice trail/DH bikes but well out of your budget), I'm sure he'll have some good advice.

 

[Keith 66]

I just rebuilt my old Dawes MTB, in the end i kept finding more bits worn out & i might just have well bought a new one.
Some of the bits came from Chain reaction cycles in Ireland, very good service.
Other bits came from Les's Cycles on Canvey, He ought to have a sign over his door saying "abandon hope all ye who enter here" Best salesman i have ever known. I walked in saying "I want some bits", he said "everyone buys a bike !" Next time i will just listen to him & buy a new one!

 

[Spark plug]

Ive found one of the for sale localy 6 month old like new over £300 cheper than retail.

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/boardman-cx-team-bike-2014

Any thorts?

 

[bigegg]

I like the look of it.
Not sure about the carbon fibre forks - I'm probablt VERY out of date, but I still think of CF as being very lightweight, but fragile?

Even less sure about buying a bike from halfords - isn't that a bit like getting your car fixed at kwikfit?

 

[Spark plug]

I like the look of it.
Not sure about the carbon fibre forks - I'm probablt VERY out of date, but I still think of CF as being very lightweight, but fragile?

Even less sure about buying a bike from halfords - isn't that a bit like getting your car fixed at kwikfit?

I know what you mean about halfords.

I don't keep up to date with bikes, I just look when I want a new one.

 

[chunkolini]

That does not look too bad.
the maim thing is how low the gears go. A 34 front sprocket is not too bad. I would always want a road bike with a triple chainset up front for climbing.
No frame bosses for luggage racks would rule that out for me.
I would say a wide range of gears and fittings for carrying stuff.
I have relaxed about carbon fibre forks over the years.
I keep thinking Cyclocross or touring bikes are the way forwards.
Comfy and robust. I have seen mates buy funky road bikes and destroy the wheels in a few weeks on country roads.
I am moving soon and will be looking at a fifteen mile commute on rural roads.

 

[CRB]

http://www.kinetics-online.co.uk/parts-accessories/gearing/k-gear-software/

A very useful gear calculator, on an excellent site.

 

[lchris21]

Boardman bikes have a decent reputation in the cycling world. They have decent components, and are not too shabby. Probably top of the range for Halfords???

Check out the fleabay for some other alternatives???
In the £600 2nd hand price bracket you'll be looking at:
cannondale
specialized
trek
raleigh
scott
GT

to name but a few.......

carbon fibre technology is good these days. lots of bike have some element of it in the mid range. Most of the top range bikes are 100% carbon......Its difficult to break

 

[bigegg]

If you buy second hand, unseen. you can't besure it's any better than the old one...

Good to know about the carbon fibre.