Branners Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 So, I used to be really in to my cycling. Did Lands End to John O'Groats in 10 days in my younger years. Had my road bike from those days in storage and finally fished it out a few weeks ago. Found the wheels a little buckled but more worryingly they are flat spotted. Went to a proper bike shop today (not Halfords) and they shook their heads at the state of the wheels and said they need to be replaced. But you cannot get those types any more, the 5 speed block wont fit modern wheels so need to change that, also need to change the chain and the 10 speed shifter mechanisms. All in all around £250 worth of parts including new wheels. So I asked him to show me the road bike range and they started at £499 and went up from there!! Are modern road bikes really worth that sort of money. To replace my current bike he said would be around £800. I have asked them to try to true the wheels up but they dont hope to be able to do it. So, anybody got a decent lightweight road bike for sale? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kopite Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 Wasn't there a guy on here with a bike shop JB? Can't remember his name though. Rich is into his bikes so might know a few fellas who can give adice out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixelfill Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 I think it might be Neil-NA with the cycle shop, definitely someone in the North West. Mike edit: yup http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=210816 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edge Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 Mr B. Im just looking at cycles for the other half as she gets a cycle to work scheme through her employer (police) and they pay upto something like 41% ish of the total inc bike and protective gear etc. Maybe worth asking if your employer does the same or is willing to sign up http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/ and you can pay out of you wages for 12months before tax with no interest and they will contribute to any bike upto £1000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Branners Posted July 25, 2010 Author Share Posted July 25, 2010 thats a good point, the place I work do that and I think it is a zero percent interest loan as well. I will ping Neil-NA and see what specials or used bikes he might be looking to shift on. I still have it in my mind to try Lands End to JohnO again next year, but need to start properly training now as 100 miles a day is quite a way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colsoop Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 Thew tech in road bikes has really moved on. For a low end carbon fibre framed bike then around £1k is the rough figure, it will be reasonably light(around 8kg's) and stiff. You mention lands end to john o groats, if this is a self supported ride i reckon you would be better off with an ally frame with rack mounts. Would be quite a bit cheaper. Wiggle have a few deals at the moment on bikes. The low end Chris boardman bike is excellent for the money, that was my previous bike before i bought a new frame and groupset and turned it in to a hybrid. What frame have you got at the moment ? If its in reasonable nick you could get a new groupset built on to it plus a set of wheels for around £300 or less if you don't mind being patient. I will be doing Lands end to john o groats next year too, the training has already begun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Branners Posted July 25, 2010 Author Share Posted July 25, 2010 My old bike uses Raleigh 531 tubing with Shimano Exage set on it. High tech stuff when it was first released and still a pretty quick bike now. I seem to remember is was 21lbs in weight when new, so around 10kg. It had a crack in the head part of the frame so went back to Raleigh to be sorted out and came back branded as Raleigh Special Projects. I think the cost in replacing all the chainsets and shifters would not make it worthwhile. Its a 20 year old bike now. I'm hoping that the muscle from my years of cycling can come back and I can do that sort of distance again. I'm 20 years older now though so who knows what is possible. Last time I did it in full racing gear with a support van, would be doing the same this time as I refuse to put more weight on the bike when doing 100 miles a day!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colsoop Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 I don't blame you for having a support van. Much easier and faster way to cover the miles. A modern bike does sound the way to go then really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 What frame size are you looking for? I have a GT road bike, around 9.2-9.5kgs which I used to use for cycling to work... I now work in the city and do more MTBing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Branners Posted July 25, 2010 Author Share Posted July 25, 2010 I think it was a 24" frame, but would need to check. Im 5"9' so tend to need a slightly smaller frame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 I have a 52cm frame I have no idea what that is in inches... but it is a smallish one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Branners Posted July 25, 2010 Author Share Posted July 25, 2010 I will wander out and check it later to see what size it was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dude Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 Light weight bike!!!!! Have you checked the mirror lately JB:innocent: I fear you may weigh slightly more than 20 years ago:rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Branners Posted July 25, 2010 Author Share Posted July 25, 2010 Light weight bike!!!!! Have you checked the mirror lately JB:innocent: I fear you may weigh slightly more than 20 years ago:rolleyes: You havent seen me for a while have you? I weigh less now than I have any time since my 20s. Which is why I'm getting back on the bike as it wouldnt have survived if I was the weight I was when you last saw me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dude Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 You just couldn't stay away from the lycra could you:search: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewie Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 Yep though the money may seem extortionate, you will notice the difference between an sub £1K entry level and a £2K racer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibrar Jabbar Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 You havent seen me for a while have you? I weigh less now than I have any time since my 20s. Which is why I'm getting back on the bike as it wouldnt have survived if I was the weight I was when you last saw me. LOL, I almost didn't recognise you when you visited last. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted July 25, 2010 Share Posted July 25, 2010 Yep though the money may seem extortionate, you will notice the difference between an sub £1K entry level and a £2K racer. completely agree... but a bike that costs more than my car, is ridiculous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil-NA Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 Send me a PM with what you need and the prices you have been quoted to fix the bike as its not always best to buy a new bike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewie Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 completely agree... but a bike that costs more than my car, is ridiculous And I agree with you too. I recently bought a set of Bontrager carbon fibre clinchers for £750 and that were in a sale. I could train harder to increase manpower but instead chose purchase power to buy performance. Problem is if I trained harder, I'd only spend the money anyway to get that extra edge anyway. It's is a rip-off. My Triumph 1050 Speed Triple cost me £8K but my racer cost me (so far) £3K and it hasn't even got lights nor a bell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil-NA Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 For some reason i find it easier to justify spending money on my bikes than i do on my car I'm reluctant to spend £250 on a new manifold for my car but don't think twice about spending 5k on a new bike for when i start XC racing again next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Branners Posted July 26, 2010 Author Share Posted July 26, 2010 Thanks Neil, I will ping you across the details later. On the expensive bike thing, I have always worked on the basis that sheer power is worth more than a small weight saving on a bike. I can probably make a £700 bike move almost as quickly as a £1,400 one and as I'm never going to be racing anybody I can probably 'make do' with a lesser bike. I just dont want to give up my raleigh as it fits perfectly, has never given me knee problems (where my mountain bike twinges my knee all the time) it handles exceptionally well and even with just 10 gears I have never had to get off and walk it up a mountain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitesupraboy2 Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 I dont know who you work for...but try the cycle to work Scheme. the bike shop may accept it (ask them) it use to be limited to halfords. You effectively buy the bike from your wages before Tax. I got £700 voucher and ended up paying back about £400 odd i think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil-NA Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 Thanks Neil, I will ping you across the details later. On the expensive bike thing, I have always worked on the basis that sheer power is worth more than a small weight saving on a bike. I can probably make a £700 bike move almost as quickly as a £1,400 one and as I'm never going to be racing anybody I can probably 'make do' with a lesser bike. I just dont want to give up my raleigh as it fits perfectly, has never given me knee problems (where my mountain bike twinges my knee all the time) it handles exceptionally well and even with just 10 gears I have never had to get off and walk it up a mountain. If your happy with the current bike and the frame is in good condition then i would suggest just upgrading the parts, finding a bike that fits comfortably these days is hard especially on road bikes, Mountain bikes arn't so bad as you move around alot on them. I see things the same way you do, i'm starting to race again next year after a 10 year layoff and even though i wont have the lightest bike or be the lightest rider (nearly 16stone) i know i can still hang with the flyweights on the climbs due to power (sustaining the power for a long time will be my problem) If you do go down the new bike route then definateley see if you qualify for one of the tax free cycle schemes, but if you decide to fix your old bike up i can help with most things, wheel building etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted July 26, 2010 Share Posted July 26, 2010 I really want a road bike.. my other half lives quite close to this place. As with everything in East London these days... whatever you do, it has to have a 'look'... usually the mag wheel on the front, single speed, and two tone frame. I have to say, some of the bikes around Shoreditch and Hoxton are like works of art. I want me one! I think these start at about £800.. but custom made so you'll never see another like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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