First bike purchase (in 20+ years)

[Paul B]

Well here I am in my early 50s and keen to get back into cycling .... I used to ride road bikes (for fun), at one time I bought (roughly 1982) a bike from a guy by the name of Giessauf in Southh Australia. He built the bicycle wheels for the Moscow olympics. Later I bought a mountain bike which I did not use off road, but on a bike track between Chadstone and the Melbourne CBD.... it used to hammer along that track... lol.
ANyhow, I am getting sedentary and was dreaming of buying a road bike, getting fit and joining in a group ride..... but then I remembered how much I enjoyed the mountain bike. I found it to be a ver=y comfortable ride and a lot of fun, even though I mainly use it on the black stuff.

SO while I am thinking about road bikes, I am also very tempted by this... http://www.mcbains.com.au/index.php?q=node/1651

Any feed back would be most appreciated. BTW... I am located in Hobart.

Cheers,

Paul

[mitzikatzi]

If you can afford it. That is a nice bike.

Some riders don't like 2x10 especially if it is Hilly. The bike linked to is "SRAM X-9 26x39T" so should be ok. Some bikes come with bigger sprockets not so good for hills.

Some say 29ers are more suited to taller riders over 5'10" (5'8" maybe) others disagree.

Buy both! A $1200 road bike and a $1200 MTB.

[Nobody]

Buy both! A $1200 road bike and a $1200 MTB.

Good idea. Just because the racers use carbon, it doesn't mean everyone else has to use it too.

[Paul B]

Buy both! A $1200 road bike and a $1200 MTB.

Good idea. Just because the racers use carbon, it doesn't mean everyone else has to use it too.

There is more to these machines though then carbon. Quality running gear makes a huge difference to the overall operation of the machine.

[bychosis]

$2500 ish a lot for someone who is getting back into it. Go with alloy and real nice parts.

[Jean]

Depending on your current level of fitness and how much weight you are carrying, you might want to think about a dual suspension bike if you go down the MTB path. Hardtails are fine, but there's no doubt they are somewhat harder on the body, which matters as we get, ahem, wiser.

[mitzikatzi]

Buy both! A $1200 road bike and a $1200 MTB.

Good idea. Just because the racers use carbon, it doesn't mean everyone else has to use it too.

There is more to these machines though then carbon. Quality running gear makes a huge difference to the overall operation of the machine.

The "engine" males a bigger difference. Good luck riding faster than a workmate of mine. 15yr old Giant roadie with Shimano 105 and big engine
Wheels maybe, group set not so much IMHO.

$1200 buys you a lot of bike these days. I paid about $2500 several years ago for a bike that costs $1500 today.

[Paul B]

Great advice people... thanks. Here is a Cyclocross bike that appeals to me. Any opinions would be most welcome.... I need a lot of help with this purchase.

http://www.feltbicycles.com/Australia/2 ... /F65X.aspx

[mitzikatzi]

The Felt looks good on paper. Maybe upgrade the brakes from BB5 to BB7.

[mitzikatzi]

Good old Google "F65X Felt"
finds
The Word on Felt F65X

Felt F65X Disc Brake Cyclocross Bike Upgrades Fork, Finally Ships – Plus Other Sweet Bikes

and a heap of other hits

[Paul B]

yea, well the Felt seems to have a few fans... looks like a nice ride. I went to 5 bike shops today and saw a diverse range of machines. The two that stood out (completely different bikes I might add) were the Felt and this http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-au/bik ... 717/50969/ ($400 off at the moment)

[brasstinman]

Both are really nice bicycles but it comes down to what terrain you want to ride. The Cyclocross bike is nice, you could run two wheel sets or just switch over the tyres (that would get old) with different tyres so you can use it for group rides and some off road action but be prepared for the no suspension.
The Giant 29er would be a nice MTB bike. I had a 29er and they roll really nice. I'd go back to one in a heart beat. They just eat up the trails and it makes for a nice ride on the trails.

Best of luck with your decision.

[Mugglechops]

I own a 29er HT and a cyclocross bike. If it was a choice between only having 1 bike it would be the 29er. Then I would get another set of wheels and run some 35mm road tyres on it.

[trailgumby]

Horses for courses. I love my 130mm 26er Cannondale Rize around Manly Dam and Taree. But I've been enjoying the Ellsworth Evolve 29er I'm reviewing which has a 120mm Fox fork and 100mm on the back. Given Fox and SRAM forks rarely use all their travel it is well matched.

I can see myself getting a dually 29er some time in the next 12 months ... great race weapon!

[Paul B]

Was leaning toward the Giant but just could not get my head around the 29er deal. It looks greta for tall guys but I am only 170 cm. Anyhow, I am very much liking this sweet number. The best of both worlds with an emphasis toward road..... awesome.... http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/ ... xpertforce

[waramatt]

I own six bikes which is pathetic I know. If I had to ditch all but one, I'd hang on to the CX but that is because most of my km are done commuting. It's a great utility bike. Some of that commuting involves ducking across grass reserves, a little single track and in warmer months a diversion with about 10km of scenic unsealed roads.

It depends on the type of cycling you'll be doing. \\You've certainly hunted down some sweet looking rides. I reckon you have good taste, so you'll end up with something awesome!

[Paul B]

Six.... justifiable no doubt. Some of yours are similar to the models I was investigating. I came to the conclusion that I would need two... but now, having discovered the Crux Expert Force, I think that may fit the bill for the time being.

[trailgumby]

Watch the gearing on the CX bikes - the granny ring tends to be on the tall side for a reason I don;t understand.

I'd recommend going with "compact" cranks on a roadie/CX which has a smaller 34T granny ring. Kinder on the knees. After 20 years you might need that.

re: 29ers and smaller stature riders like yourself, Willow Koeber is a world cup mountain biker who is diminutive to the point of being tiny. Yet she races and wins on a 29er, toe overlap and upright riding position not withstanding. They just work.

[Gordo]

bikride in hobart is getting rid of some demo's. go buy the caad and the teocali. worth checkin out. might not be around much longer


Cannondale 2011 CAAD 10 5 56cm $800 (was $2100)
Specialized 2011 Roubaix SL2 54cm $1400 (was $3000)

Mongoose 2010 Teocali Comp Med $800 (was $2700)
Mongoose 2010 Boot'R DH Med $900 (was $3700)
Cannondale 2010 Judge DH Custom Med $2K (frame only rrp $4500!!!, bike sold complete)
YETI 2010 575 Carbon Large custom build with 2011 XO/Fox/Mavic $3K (rrp $6500)
Cannondale 2011 Flash 29 3 carbon Med $1750 (was $4K)

[Paul B]

[quote="Gordo"]bikride in hobart is getting rid of some demo's. go buy the caad and the teocali. worth checkin out. might not be around much longer


is that in Liverpool street ? was in there yesterday and was not aware of any s/h bikes.

[Mugglechops]

Six.... justifiable no doubt. Some of yours are similar to the models I was investigating. I came to the conclusion that I would need two... but now, having discovered the Crux Expert Force, I think that may fit the bill for the time being.

I would go the level below and get this

BB7s and it looks awesome. Being SRAM apex you may be able to run a 11-32 with a 34t front to get some nice low gearing.

[Paul B]

[/quote]

I would go the level below and get this

BB7s and it looks awesome. Being SRAM apex you may be able to run a 11-32 with a 34t front to get some nice low gearing.[/quote]

yea, the disc brakes are a big plus for sure...

[Rowley Runner]

Time to join the dark side and get a recumbent http://www.flyingfurniture.com.au/shop/ ... wheelsize-

RR