New to road biking
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New to road biking
Postby NinjaCycle » Tue Feb 26, 2013 10:53 pm
im currently interested in getting a road bike for myself, im about to turn 15 and im about 1cm off 180cm, being my age with no job i have a strict budget and i have been looking around,
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/200880981877 ... 326wt_1271" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
^ this looks good and on the limit of my budget, do you think it looks ok? it has allright specs from what i can gather , i have one more question, i am currently inbetween the recommended size of medium and large and being 15 i imagine im still growing, im 179 and the large is for people from 180cm to six foot, would i be wise to choose this. i have no money for upgrades once i include the gear such as helmet, riding suit ect so this will have to do for the time being, whats your opinon, i have time to think because a friend is giving me his old roadbike worth $500 but i have to buy my own soon as i can it bothers me if its not mine!
thanks Cree
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Re: New to road biking
Postby GTRmon7 » Wed Feb 27, 2013 10:15 am
But my advice would be to scour Gumtree and the forums on here for a secondhand bike. You can probably get better value.
For example, an Orbea with full Ultegra:
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/brisbane ... 1014927963" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
or this one, a Fondriest FZ4:
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/indooroo ... 1013786540" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Bearing in mind that secondhand sellers are usually pretty negotiable.
180cm, so you're after about a 56cm bike, give or take. You can likely get a decent quality frame with better than Tiagra running gear for your approximate budget
Remember to factor in the other expenses: helmet, clipless pedals and shoes (if you want to go down that path), lights, a lock, bib shorts and jersey etc. The extra costs of cycling add up quickly, so have in mind a firm budget and buy what you need when you need. Some things you can cheap out on Kmart helmet and lock, some you should try to buy the best quality for your budget, like jerseys and bib knicks.
I'll also add that if you start with a decent frame, you can virtually upgrade the bike around it. I'm still using the same frame from when I was 17, but with almost every component on the bike has been changed over the years.
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Re: New to road biking
Postby sbr511 » Wed Feb 27, 2013 11:45 am
I had ordered a bike from my LBS, it was a M/L 56.5cm, when we assembled it and had my bike fit, I acutally needed a LGE at 58cm.
Luckily I know the owner had he built one up for me that day and it wasnt much hassle but fi you buy online and its wrong... bit dissapointing...
Avanti Cadent 2
KTM 250SXF
Honda CT70
four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul.
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Re: New to road biking
Postby NinjaCycle » Thu Feb 28, 2013 9:00 pm
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Re: New to road biking
Postby LM324 » Fri Mar 01, 2013 12:24 am
Personally, for a first road bike I would prefer a new bike over one that has had another guys sweaty bum sit on for years before me . Yes second hand is cheaper and also probably better value for money, but you have to wait for one with the right size to pop up and there are still many risks associated with it. Also you don't get any warranty for the bike or parts.
Alternatively you can buy a bike and change out the frame over time. 15wilsonwu did this on his reid falco... You can ask him about it.
And another thing (this applies to reid as well as other brands) don't buy your bike from online, go into a store to see it and get the right size.
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Re: New to road biking
Postby GTRmon7 » Fri Mar 01, 2013 12:28 pm
I don't buy the low end Shimano argument. I ran Sora for many years, and now that I run 105 I realise how much smoother the shift is (and the Sora thumb lever is not cool). But I never had any maintenance problems. It always ran ok, and in fact I later found out that some of the deterioration in shifting was from a bent derailluer. If given the choice, always get a better groupset, but Shimano don't have endemic quality problems, even on their low end groupsets.
Reid are meeting the ultra low pricepoint by running low margins on the groupset, using cheap wheels and cheaping out on everything else (bars, steam, saddle, tubes, tyres, rim tape, bearings etc.) So the risk of having to replace bearings or tyres increases. Not a huge deal, but it's money and maintenance time that can be avoided.
Definitely ride the bike before buying. If you're buying secondhand off Gumtree or similar, make sure you take it for a ride around the block, and adjust seat height and handlebars before you lay down any money. If buying on eBay, only buy from someone in your area who will take cash on delivery and let you test ride it. Don't pay for a bike and have it shipped to you or otherwise only to find out it's the wrong size or a dud!
Also keep an eye out for bike shop specials. It might be a bit late, but some stores might still have 2012 or even 2011 stock that they're trying to clear still. If you pop in to a couple of local stores, just explain your situation and ask if they have anything. You could get lucky.
Don't worry about wheelsets. The weight of wheels absolutely matters, but when you're starting out it's better just to get rolling. And in the future wheels are literally the easiest thing to swap on the bike, so worry about that when you come to it. Like groupsets, always try to get the best wheels you can for your budget, but don't stress it.
But yeah, you do have to scour eBay and Gumtree for something to come up in the right size (although the size you're looking for is quite common). If there is literally nothing, or nothing that isn't hideously overpriced, then the Reid is an option.
Overall though, good luck man! Cycling is an addictive hobby and a great way to meet new people/keep fit/get around. And race. Racing is addictive.
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Re: New to road biking
Postby clackers » Fri Mar 01, 2013 2:21 pm
Sora, low end? Remember, GTR, that there are a heap of lines that Shimano produce they don't even dignify with a name.GTRmon7 wrote:
I don't buy the low end Shimano argument. I ran Sora for many years, and now that I run 105 I realise how much smoother the shift is.
Might be manageable on a day to day basis if you're mechanically inclined, but a cruel trick on beginners.
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Re: New to road biking
Postby NinjaCycle » Fri Mar 01, 2013 8:43 pm
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Re: New to road biking
Postby NinjaCycle » Sat Mar 02, 2013 9:56 pm
the gear changing mech is on the the frame lol its just above the s in shogun, which is a little unusual but ill adjust, i dont think i even wanna buy a new one as this one feels and looks pretty sweet first hand, also light compared to my crapola MTB from ALDI
thanks
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Re: New to road biking
Postby NinjaCycle » Sun Mar 03, 2013 12:28 pm
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Re: New to road biking
Postby toppity » Mon Mar 04, 2013 5:14 pm
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Re: New to road biking
Postby NinjaCycle » Mon Mar 04, 2013 9:00 pm
Thanks, been riding it abit, ive done 22kms all together
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Re: New to road biking
Postby casual_cyclist » Tue Mar 05, 2013 2:40 am
Awesome bike!NinjaCycle wrote:Thanks, been riding it abit, ive done 22kms all together
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Re: New to road biking
Postby AndrewBurns » Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:41 am
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Re: New to road biking
Postby bychosis » Tue Mar 05, 2013 7:00 am
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Re: New to road biking
Postby Derny Driver » Tue Mar 05, 2013 5:16 pm
My son is 5'11 and a half and rides a 56cm bike. Your shogun is too big as it looks at least 60cm or maybe more. But you can compensate a bit with your seat height and handlebar stem length. As a rough guide, my sons seat is 75cm from top of seat down to the centre of the bottom bracket. And 58cm from the tip of the seat to the top of the handlebars.
I think you need to lower your stem and maybe swap it for a shorter one. Just undo the allen key bolt on the top of the stem, undo it about 5 turns then tap the top of the bolt with a hammer to release the internal clamp. Then you can drop it down and retighten it.
Shoguns were a pretty decent bike in their day. I think its a good one to get you started on. Once you look to buy, look for a 56 cm one.
happy riding : )
Cheers
DD
PS. What city do you live in?
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Re: New to road biking
Postby NinjaCycle » Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:16 pm
thanks
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Re: New to road biking
Postby Derny Driver » Tue Mar 05, 2013 8:09 pm
Im on the South Coast too (Shellharbour) so I knw where Tilba is. Beautiful spot. Im guessing there are some nice rides along the coast in the Bermagui area.NinjaCycle wrote: "Derny Driver" i live on the south coast of NSW in a little town called tilba (near narooma if you've heard of that)
thanks
Good luck with the riding.
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Re: New to road biking
Postby bychosis » Tue Mar 05, 2013 9:35 pm
If it fits, ride it. If it doesn't, trade it in.
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Re: New to road biking
Postby ishanhoupe » Thu Mar 07, 2013 11:19 am
hello there, i too have shorter legs than others and have experienced this before, anyway really cool looking bike that and i'm glad someone else is enjoying biking ! I too just started.bychosis wrote:Its possible you are of longer leg than others. I have shorter legs and have found that others of the same height have a higher seat while I tend to want a longer stem on the same frame.
If it fits, ride it. If it doesn't, trade it in.
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Re: New to road biking
Postby NinjaCycle » Thu Mar 07, 2013 8:38 pm
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