Buying a bike: Some general advice for new riders

[Jeune]

Hi all,
I just threaded my right crank arm (loose pedal) and need some advice on buying a replacement crank set. I'm pretty new to this so I don't know what to look for on eBay etc re size. Are they quite generic ie one type fits several or are they very specific from bike to bike. On a quick check before leaving for work they look to be around 195mm from top of crank to pedal hole centre, or about 200 from top to bottom. I just want to know what to look for so I can get back out there quickly.

Cheers!
Jeune

[SouthWest]

This is a basic calculator which I have used before:
http://www.ebicycles.com/bicycle-tools/frame-sizer (select cm rather than inches)

50cm however is really too small for your height - in these forums you could try a trade however the chances of getting a match are slow (it is a small frame and a specific style of bike).
I assume that you would end up selling this bike - and if it is still in good condition you may be able to sell it for the same price (or at only a small loss).

Cheers
Christopher

Hi,

I'm interested in purchasing a flat bar road bike. I'm at 174cm, ~ 78-79cm inseam. So I guess my ideal frame size would be 54cm but would it still be alright going for a 55cm bike?

If you would have to choose between one, would you go with one size smaller or one size larger?

Thanks.

[AUbicycles]

Good question, sometimes some frames skip a few CM - so 51cm, 53cm, 55cm and 57cm, so this may decided for you.

[maxknott]

if your really unsure or confused about what type of bike you want, you could always buy something cheap from gumtree/ebay, then after riding for a while you might have a better idea of what you want

[mssndependant]

Hi, not sure if this is the right thread for this query but I'll ask anyway!! I'm buying a road bike for my 15 year old son, I have to go 2nd hand due to budget. He will only use it maybe 4 to 6 times a year as an addition to his usual training (he plays junior footy and does karate). I have done some research on brands, to try and make sure I wasn't getting ripped off. I also put my son's measurements into the Fit Calculator on competitivecyclist.com and got some info on what size I should get him. I bought a Shogun (model Sport I think) second hand (without the ability to have him try it for size) and I thought I had a bit more flexibility in the frame size than I did, so the bike is too big (should prob be ok in a year though) so now I'm trying to get him one that he can ride now. My question is should I get a much older good brand like Shogun or Giant or even Apollo, or a second hand although much newer but not as good brand like a Triax. He won't ride it very often, and rides probably won't be longer than 40 to 60 minutes and unfortunately I am very limited by budget. I am looking on ebay, gumtree, and cash converters. I have also checked bike exchange.com.au but most of theirs are out of my price range.

Thanks for any advice!!

[fatdudeonabike]

I have no idea about ladies bikes... mainly on account of the fact that I'm a dude.
However, it only took 2 weeks of seeing less of me than my bike does for my gf to decide that she wants to get a bike so we can do the lake rides around Canberra. (She doesn't have a car, and she says she'll also use it to come to my house so I dont have to drive her all the time, or ride to her place - but I know this wont happen.)

She's not going to want to spend a lot - in fact, she was planning just to go to Kmart until I told her that I wouldnt ride with her if she's on a Kmart bike.

So what I need is some advice on the cheapest non-rubbish bike for a lady who will ride it, probably very slowly, for maybe 20km on a weekend. The only one I could find was the Giant Boulder 4 W, but at $379, I dont even know if she's going to want to spend that much. Although a mtb or maybe a hybrid is probably what she's after.
Does anyone know of anything cheaper?

(I'm crossing my fingers that if I go to the place that I got my bike 2 weeks ago, they'll do the right thing and knock it down a fair bit - I think if she could get bike and helmet for 360ish, she'll probably do it.)

edit: Its probably worth adding that she's got super long legs and is quite athletic - really, she's out of my league in so many ways, but she doesnt seem to have noticed yet...

But back on topic - would she be better off with a "unisex" (ie. mens) bike? At least I know where to go to get them at a good price.

[Dezza]

Are there particular types of road bikes that are less crouched than others?

Specialized Sectur/Roubaix, Giant Defy, Trek Domane or Madone in H3 are the bikes that come to mind when someone asks me for a relaxed bike. There are PLENTY "sportive" geometry bikes out there. I'd say go around to a few shops and ask for bikes with a more upright/relaxed geometry.

Somewhere on BNA forums (or maybe the BNV forums) there's a thread comparing these, but after a lot of searching, dang if I can find it again now.

Can anyone point me to it?

[tugga]

Hey is it worth buying a brand name bike like giant or will I get better value buying a cell bike. I was looking at the boulder 1 or the cell m29. I'm a biginner rider and both these bikes are as much as I want to spend.

Thanks

[Riddley]

The only one I could find was the Giant Boulder 4 W, but at $379, I dont even know if she's going to want to spend that much. Although a mtb or maybe a hybrid is probably what she's after....

edit: Its probably worth adding that she's got super long legs and is quite athletic - really, she's out of my league in so many ways, but she doesnt seem to have noticed yet...

Sounds like you ought to ante up and buy that gal a nice bike

[FatBoyWannaBeThin]

Thanks for this great thread it was very helpful and allowed me to make a "lot more informed" decision today and I bought a Specialized Sirrus Elite 2012 for $599 from my LBS. I felt a lot more confident when talking to the sales staff even though I admitted I was n00b. Planet Cycles were incredibly helpful and overall a good experience in buying my entry level flatbar.

[Dools]

So one of the earlier posts suggested not spending below a certain amount for each type of bike, but then a handful of people have said that they're looking at bikes worth a couple hundred dollars.

I've had a look at a few used road bikes on Gumtree and the like for about $300. Is this too low of a budget to expect anything of decent quality, even for an entry level?

Cheers!

[Mulger bill]

Age and condition dependant Dools.

BTW, Welcome outside!

Shaun

[caldina98]

I test rode my first rode bike today. I originally wanted to test out the ride lite 90 2013 but the sales guy talked me into riding the 91 2012 model. Its not what I was after but anyway. The 91 came with sora group set. Now, bear in mind this is my first road bike experience and the bike was fitted with bmx pedals. The bike fit fine, whislt standing, I could stand on my feet flat on the ground! I say this because, the very first shop I went to, the sales man wanted me to ride a bike that was way to big. My tip toes could not touch the ground, not to mention he wanted to sell me a bmx bike since I have the right frame for bmx ing.

Anyways, the shifting was very violent, this might be due to pedals but my right foot would slip off the pedals when changing gears or I am complete noob. Gear changing felt like a dsg on a golf. I could feel some tension on the fore arms and wrist, this is most likely because I have virgin wrist/fore arms.

My next test rides will be trek 1.5 currently $800 from rival bikes, defy 3 & 2 and specialized allez.

[FatBoyWannaBeThin]

So one of the earlier posts suggested not spending below a certain amount for each type of bike, but then a handful of people have said that they're looking at bikes worth a couple hundred dollars.

I've had a look at a few used road bikes on Gumtree and the like for about $300. Is this too low of a budget to expect anything of decent quality, even for an entry level?

Cheers!

I assume this is like anything Dools if you have a very good understanding of relevant metrics and a means to assess the 2nd hand equipment you may get a great bargain. For example I have a sound knowledge with Guitars and I could apply meaningful assessment methods to the instrument to gauge whether it is still "true" (neck not bent or warped) etc.

With bikes I didn't have this skill set developed as yet and so I relied on this thread and a very reputable LBS. I bought "last years model" and got a good bargain imho ($600 for a Specialized Sirrus Elite 2012) and are very happy with it. The journey has taught me a lot in getting this bike and I may "consider" 2nd hand next time (but unlikely as "last years models are very suitable for me").

[Duck!]

.... The bike fit fine, whislt standing, I could stand on my feet flat on the ground! I say this because, the very first shop I went to, the sales man wanted me to ride a bike that was way to big. My tip toes could not touch the ground....

Sounds like the second one tried to fit you on a frame that is way too small! On a properlyfitted road or mountain bike, you actually should NOT be able to touch the ground when you're on the saddle; your legs should be very nearly straight at the bottom of the pedal stroke, meaning you need to pop off the saddle to put a foot down when you stop. Having a bike that's too small (especially in that the seat position is too low) vastly increases your risk of injury, especially knees.