Info for a newbie

[KT1406]

I’m looking for information and a second hand ladies bike. I’m not sure what type of bike I should get.

 

I moved to the Cradle/Muldesdrift area a few months back and after seeing all the cyclist around the area I have decided that perhaps this would be a great sport/hobby.

 

I live on a dirt road of about 500m to the main road and then about 1km to one of the regular meeting points, so it doesn’t make sense to get a bike carrier but can I ride on a dirt road with a road bike?

 

Is there ‘entry’ level bikes that can be ridden on or off road?

 

The last time I rode a bike was about 13 years ago and by the looks of things, bikes and cycling has changed so much.

 

Any advice and ideas on bikes and helmets, etc would be greatly appreciated.

 

And, of course, if you have any items for sale, please let me know.

[Butterbean]

You'll be fine off road for 500m.

 

I've done a few ks off road on my 23c tyres, just put it in a nice high gear and take it easy...

 

Find a bike that fits. The rest you'll figure out. Not challenging Chris Froome so don't overspend on a pleasure ride bike.

 

You'll find loads of great bargains here on the Hub. Seek and ye shall find, ask, and it shall be given.

 

Enjoy your cycling! I'm super jealous, I have to drive about 50km to get to the cradle. Few places better to ride!

[AdamA]

Hi, welcome to the wonderful sport of cycling. You will find some great bargains here.

You can get a really decent bike for Around R 3500. You'll be fine on the off road section on a road bike, you might want to put in some tyre liners to have added protection against punctures.

 

[KT1406]

So, this is what I have learnt ... I'm 1.71m tall (okay, I always knew that) and I should rather go for a MTB. If it's a unisex frame it should be small and ladies from should be medium and wheel size should be a 29er. And if possible, use 'slicks' and tubeless. Plus the seat tube should ideally be 17.5". AND, and I think that's actually a must, invest in a gel seat. Hahaha.

 

How am I doing so far?

 

Now to find a good second hand one ... B)

[The MTBer]

You can leave the gel seat, only harden the ride...

[Cat2forLife]

I personally don't think 29er is a MUST. It's personal preference really. What kind of riding are you doing? Lots of offroad and singletrack? Or mostly on the road? Because you should rather get a roadbike I think. I know it sounds silly, but it makes a huge difference. You will also find in time that those use, soft, squishy gel seats are way less comfortable than the tiny hard looking ones.

[KT1406]

I personally don't think 29er is a MUST. It's personal preference really. What kind of riding are you doing? Lots of offroad and singletrack? Or mostly on the road? Because you should rather get a roadbike I think. I know it sounds silly, but it makes a huge difference. You will also find in time that those use, soft, squishy gel seats are way less comfortable than the tiny hard looking ones.

 

It will mostly be on the road. Hmm ... on the gel seat ... time to toughen up the butt

[SpecialK]

I am 1.77m tall and never felt comfortable on a 29er. The bikes always just felt too big, and the advice I received while shopping for a new MTB was that if you are shorter than 1.75m, a 26" bike might be better suited.

 

Be careful of taking advice of what is fashionable (i.e. 29ers) from people that do a different type of riding than you are planning to do.

 

IMHO if you mainly want to ride on the road, rather spend the money on a decent road bike.

[eddy]

 

can I ride on a dirt road with a road bike? Yes, yes, yes !!!!!

 

The last time I rode a bike was about 13 years ago Don't worry, it is like riding a bicycle. It will come back to you.

 

 

 

 

So, this is what I have learnt ... I'm 1.71m tall (okay, I always knew that)

 

I should rather go for a MTB. Why ? The Cradle is road riding heaven and for that you should have a road bike. You can put 25mm wide tires on if you so wish, but ordinary 23mm ones handle the small amount of dirt quite adequately.

 

 

If it's a unisex frame it should be small and ladies from should be medium Getting a ladies frame is not great advice. Woman specific frames are almost without exception worse value for money than a ordinary bicycle and only has a shorter top tube.

and wheel size should be a 29er. This is not good advice. Actually it is bad if you consider your size and proposed application.

 

And if possible, use 'slicks'. This is contradicting advice. If you are using slicks on a Mountain bike, it is because you are riding on the road mostly. For that you should have a road bike. I am not sure why you have been advised to buy a MTB.

 

and tubeless. This is good advice, but only if you are riding a MTB. By the way, most slicks have wire beads and should not be converted to tubeless.

 

Plus the seat tube should ideally be 17.5". Again, this is irrelevant and bad advice. It is important that the bike fits, and reach (distance from Saddle to handlebars) is much more important to get right. Remember your seat can easily be raised or dropped within a large range without affecting the handling of the bike. Reach requires you to buy a new stem and stem length does affect control.

 

AND, and I think that's actually a must, invest in a gel seat. Hahaha. This is shockingly bad advice. A gel seat is counterproductive and does more hard than good. Get a good ladies specific saddle that fits your sit-bones, use some Chamois cream for a few rides and Roberta is your aunt.

 

How am I doing so far? Sad to say, poorly. But the important thing is asking the right question and you are learning.

 

Now to find a good second hand one ... B) Good tip, after 94.7 lots of people will be selling. Bargains are to be had

 

Apologies if my advice seems harsh, I'd hate for a cradle resident to hate cycling because she is on the wrong bike. She may just end up hating cyclists as well and that will be a pity :whistling:

 

Ps. What is your bike budget ? Remember to plan for a helmet, pants, gloves and ideally, as soon as you are comfortable, shoes.

Edited October 19, 2013 by eddy

[El Scorcho]

I am 1.77m tall and never felt comfortable on a 29er. The bikes always just felt too big

 

A little off topic, when I got my 29er it also felt kinda big but I shortened the handlebar by 30mm and dropped it one spacer and it's fit and handled perfectly since then (I'm also 1.77m)

[SpecialK]

 

 

A little off topic, when I got my 29er it also felt kinda big but I shortened the handlebar by 30mm and dropped it one spacer and it's fit and handled perfectly since then (I'm also 1.77m)

 

I'm sure I would have gotten used to it, but found a great deal on a second-hand 26" bike

[eddy]

Look at this and consider an offer:

 

https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/64854-cinelli-unica-2011/

[Jewbacca]

I am 1.77m tall and never felt comfortable on a 29er. The bikes always just felt too big, and the advice I received while shopping for a new MTB was that if you are shorter than 1.75m, a 26" bike might be better suited.

 

Be careful of taking advice of what is fashionable (i.e. 29ers) from people that do a different type of riding than you are planning to do.

 

IMHO if you mainly want to ride on the road, rather spend the money on a decent road bike.

 

Im 1.76 and I ride 29ers. (I also have 650b and 26 in various set ups.)

 

I ride small frames. The clearance issue is rubbish as they make the length of the frame within 20mm I length. I also ride super wide bars (780 to 808 depending on the set up) and 30mm to 40mm stems.

 

I love my 29ers. Its a bike fit, comfort, trial and error thing unfortunately. Cycling is one of those things where there is no right or wrong answer, only personal preference.

 

This is gained by experience. You wont get it right 1st time unless you are SUPER lucky.

 

Try a ride before you buy or borrowing some bikes from some peeps before you take the plunge.

 

Good luck!

[KT1406]

Apologies if my advice seems harsh, I'd hate for a cradle resident to hate cycling because she is on the wrong bike. She may just end up hating cyclists as well and that will be a pity :whistling:

 

Ps. What is your bike budget ? Remember to plan for a helmet, pants, gloves and ideally, as soon as you are comfortable, shoes.

 

Hi Eddie

 

Thank you so much for all your advise and it's not harsh, just to the point and that's great as I now have more info to rely on.

 

Hmmm ... I'll do my best to wait until after the 94.7, but that seems so far away (for those that are not training for it )

 

I did 'sit' on a few different sizes, shapes, MTB's and road bikes today and it seems my fit and personal preference is moving more towards a 26er and road bike.

[BeegMig]

Dirt road will be fine for 500m. Get wide tyres for your training wheels 23 or 24 mm just for peace of mind on that dirt stretch, will also help reduce punctures on the road and a little more comfortable for long training rides.

[Lucky Luke.]

Look at this and consider an offer:

 

http://www.thehubsa....lli-unica-2011/

 

Great bike - should fit the OP too.