Advice and assistance please

[sharleen]

hello all, i would love to start off road cycling, i have been spinning for years now and think its time i got on a bike that actually moves.

 

I dont want to go spend a fortune on a bike for off road that i know NOTHING about and dont want to get ripped off. Yay for the economic credit crunch

 

Can anyone help or advise on the following, taking the following into consideration

 

im a 39yr old woman, i am a whopping 4.9" so i guess a tall kids bike would be a good logical option. I am happy to buy 2nd hand if anyone on here has kids that have grown and cannot use their bikes. Also what other basic equipment should i be looking at that is essential.

 

Are there any cyclists in the Gallo Manor / Sandton area that ride often

 

Please if you can help and have any 2nd hand equipment or advise on where to get inexpensive start up gear, pls pls contact me.

 

Regards Sharleen

 

sharleen.brest@hotmail.com

 

 

 

[Johan Bornman]

Hi Sharleen, welcome to the world of moving bikes. You can throw away your sweat towell now.

 

Unfortunately you are going to battle finding a secondhand bike small enough for you. Depending on your standover height you will be lucky just to find a bike using standard 700C wheels that fits. Shorties usually have to consider bikes with 650C wheels. Due to the rarity of these, they're expensive and hard to find.

Whatever you do, do not settle for anyting someone throws at you. They'll try but don't be tempted. Choose a bike shop, have them measure you up and ask what options they have available for you. Then get a second opinion on that or come back to us here.

 

Making bicycles for short people poses particular challenges and you'll notice that once you've found your bike, it'll look completely different from anyone else's. The rear brake will be on a funny place, the head tube will be non-existent and the wheels will look out of proportion. That's the way it has to be.

 

Needless to say, the second hand market may not have what you need.

 

Start with a measure-up and don't throw that sweat towell away yet, you will need time to find what you need.

 

There are some clever people on The Hub and you'll soon be flooded (I hope) with names of importers who cater for shorties. You'll also be flooded with offers of cast-offs from someone's children. Be cautios. That may not be the best option. A women-specific bicycle usually has a short top tube and it is all about ration of torso vs standover height. Educate yourself thoroughly before showing cash.

 

Good Luck.

[Dirtbreath]

Brett from bikebay is based in Morningside. I have personally bought and sold through his site www.bikebay.co.za and can highly recommend his service. Give him a call and he can most probably help you.

 

Good luck and enjoy your riding.

 

[Canaris]

For such a small road bike you may have to get the bike shop to order the frame specially.  Consider 650c wheels over 700c.  Alternatively drop the idea of road cycling and go for an extra small mountain bike, and ride at northern farm, which is really farm roads and easy for starters. 

Again, I urge you to START with a proper woman specific MTB, and master bike handling skills before moving onto the road.  The road can be very intimidating to beginner cyclists, espcially in Joburg.

[Moab]

Guys, I am not sure but will an xs size fit?

I have a friend who is selling her GT. Let me know if you are interested. I can arrange for you to see it this weekend. It has hardly been ridden and has fairly good specs - ideal as a starter bike that will last a while. Disk brakes etc. She even has a few items of kit that she will give away to the happy seller.

[Wyatt Earp]

She did mention that she would like to start "off road" cycling.

[Moab]

Yep - she said off road. Hence my input. My friends bike has lockable shocks, is an extra small, has disks, cant remember the other components but it is a great bike - I would have bought it for Tour de Tuli had it not been too small for me. Plus, the price is quite good.

[AndreZA]

What about a 24" (wheel size not frame size) Scott? Maybe Raleigh also make them.

 

Okay Raleigh does have one

 

http://www.raleigh.co.za/Images/Products/2009/Trail%20Series%20Juvenile/Starlet%2024/large.jpg

 

 

 

[Wyatt Earp]

 

Yep - she said off road. Hence my input. My friends bike has lockable shocks' date=' is an extra small, has disks, cant remember the other components but it is a great bike - I would have bought it for Tour de Tuli had it not been too small for me. Plus, the price is quite good. [/quote']

 

If I am not mistaken they put a bend in the top tube for better stand over as well.

 

[Joe Low]

There's a grammatical funny here that needs to be cleared up:

 

"I'd like to start off road cycling" is different to

 

"I'd like to start off-road cycling"

 

So is it mtb or road we're looking at.

 

 

 

Panda bear eats, shoots and leaves.

[Moab]

Yep - she said off road. Hence my input. My friends bike has lockable shocks' date=' is an extra small, has disks, cant remember the other components but it is a great bike - I would have bought it for Tour de Tuli had it not been too small for me. Plus, the price is quite good. [/quote']

If I am not mistaken they put a bend in the top tube for better stand over as well.

 

Have not seen it in a while so cant remember but it is a stunning ride. Good centre of gravity. Still think my friend is insane selling it and giving up the cycling thing!

[Canaris]

She did mention that she would like to start "off road" cycling.

 

sorry I read, start off "road cycling".  My mistake.

[Wyatt Earp]

 

She did mention that she would like to start "off road" cycling.

 

sorry I read' date=' start off "road cycling".  My mistake.

[/quote']

Man, Joe just threw a spanner in the works.

 

[sharleen]

Hi John, thank you so much for getting back to me , yours was one of very few who actually gave\ practical advice and as you said did not try sell something to me immediately, i think im going to do exactly as you suggested and go to a bike shop and educate myself more. Also besides off road i would be able to in time cycle with others on the road, so if i cant get to a place where you all go at least i can go around my area with lots of hills etc (gallo manor) so i have kelvin drive up and down and south road up or down.

 

So thank you for your honesty and not trying to just sell sell sell and you are right im going to educate myself first, i have a feeling its going to be a bit expensive and dont want to throw away money.

 

Thank you John and hope to eventually meet you.

 

Shar

 

 

[sharleen]

She did mention that she would like to start "off road" cycling.

 

sorry I read' date=' start off "road cycling".  My mistake.

[/quote']
Man, Joe just threw a spanner in the works.

Hi There no you may have a good point, im so new to this that i perhaps i have the terminology incorrect, i want to be able to go with a group and cycle in amongst nature, dirt roads etc BUT also be able to cycle with others on the roads in JHB, so no spanner thrown, but if you could tell me if they are the same thing, do cyclists do both and use the same bike. In other words if i got a mountain bike would i be able to use that bike for outdoors as in nature etc and up and down my local roads.

 

Shar

 

[sharleen]

Hi Di, i think i need to educate myself a bit more as i think im mixing up the terminology, i want to do both, ie real nature cycling outdoors, but also if time does not allow still be able to ride on the roads in my area. im also not sure what things like stand over means etc. Please if you are in contact with your friend please ask her to just hang onto her stuff for a week, i will wait till the cycling shops are open from Jan 2nd and educate myself more.

thanks for your input

shar