18 March 2014

Bike Searching

| Lloyd
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Hiya. I am looking to get into cycling (the non lycra type!). I am overweight and havent ridden in a hundred years. Does anyone know what a good bike would be for the likes of me? I have researched and it seems that 36> spokes is the go as well as a damn comfortable seat!! I intend to start really slow so any good recommendations would be really appraciated.

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patrick_keogh said :

Lighter bikes are often built with better quality components, materials and construction methods.

Unless you can afford titanium, lighter bikes typically use aluminium alloy or carbon fibre components. Neither of these materials is as durable or reliable as steel. A friend of mine had a problem with the headset bearing on his carbon framed bike, that simply would not have happened on a steel or alloy frame. The headset bearing was so poorly constructed that it had to be replaced.

Be ultra cool and get a recumbent, no lycra required, just call Flying Furniture Cycles, your local Canberra recumbent specialist: http://www.flyingfurniture.com.au/

patrick_keogh4:55 pm 28 Mar 14

Leon said :

The lighter the bike, the more likely it will break.

Not quite Leon. Your statement would be true in the case of all other things being equal, but they seldom are 🙂 Lighter bikes are often built with better quality components, materials and construction methods. So the common modes of failure (broken spokes, broken axles, cracked forks, broken drivetrain components) appear to occur more frequently on cheaper, heavier bikes than they do on a lighter bike with better quality components and attention to detail.

Nanouk said :

Sorry, I am not sure I understand what you ask.

Look, all else being equal a lighter bike is probably better

But as lighter bikes are usually much more expensive, there is little benefit in pursuing a light bike for the sake of commuting.

Nanouk said :

dtc said :

So a total mass of, say, 115kg (100kg rider, 5kg pack and 10kg bike) is much easier to move than a total mass of 118kg (13kg bike?)

Of course, paying that extra $500 for the lighter bike takes some of the weight out of your wallet

buy a light road bike.)

The lighter the bike, the more likely it will break.

A lighter bike will feel more responsive, but research has shown that reducing overall weight by 3% (by spending the extra money to buy a bike that’s 3kg lighter) will reduce you journey time by only about 2%.

On the other hand, tests by Greenspeed indicate that a pair of 80 psi semi-slick tyres will reduce your rolling resistance by about 14 watts, compared with 65 psi mountain bike tyres.

dtc said :

So a total mass of, say, 115kg (100kg rider, 5kg pack and 10kg bike) is much easier to move than a total mass of 118kg (13kg bike?)

Of course, paying that extra $500 for the lighter bike takes some of the weight out of your wallet

Sorry, I am not sure I understand what you ask. I just mean that a 100kg person on a 8kg bike will move more easily than on a 15kg bike. And I really don’t think that he should buy a mountain bike or even an hybrid bike. I am telling this because I am 100kg myself, and a lighter person wouldn’t probably feel a 5kg bike difference. When you are overweight, are not a good rider, are not much into sport, just moving yourself on a bike is quite a challenge. So I am sure you all gave him good avices, but I stick to it: buy a light road bike. We are not sure how long how often how step he will use his bike, but he wants to “start really slow”, so I think a helpful advice for him not to be discouraged is to take an easy bike and take easy rides (no I guess he won’t use his bike in the bush, so why on earth would you want him to get a mountain bike?). For instance, I bought a bike one day, a good quality mountain bike: my normal 9km ride back home took an hour. Fortunately I managed to get an exchange the same day and rode back home the same way on a lighter road bike and it took me 40 minutes. (yes, it is incredibly long anyway, but that’s going uphill all the time and I am not a good rider like you… :p)

patrick_keogh1:31 pm 25 Mar 14

Leon said :

Did you mean to say that each of the individual factors contributes to the performance of the whole package?

If that is what you meant, then we can continue our rational discussion of the relative effects on performace of individual factors such as suspension and squishy tyres.

Well across my collection of bicycles, many of the individual factors come into effect…

Weight is a minor factor, rotating weight (tyres and rims) much more noticeable. Zero effect when riding with constant velocity on level ground, but any change of speed, altitude or direction you can notice.

Rolling resistance of the tyres. Definitely a factor. Even between different brands of 23mm slick road tyres I can notice a difference. There is recent research that shows that rolling resistance as a function of tyre pressure is VERY dependent on surface dynamics, so 110psi is not always best.

Aerodynamics only really a factor riding into the wind or at relatively high speed or for relatively long distances. It does mean however that my drop bar bikes are better than my flat bar bikes under these conditions. This could bring in fairing as an idea, but it has proven impractical in varied (e.g. crosswind) conditions.

Suspension. It definitely soaks up energy. All of the work to do those compressions and rebounds comes out of your legs. So much so that I will routinely lock out the suspension when it is not required (fire trails, paved surfaces or climbing). After an off-road ride, put your hand on your suspension. That warmth came out of your leg muscles. Any suspension system also contributes mass, but this is frequently a minor contributor. As an aside, the same goes for all those riders you see bobbing their heads. Your head is heavy. Moving it around costs energy. Your body pays.

Suspension dynamics, whether it be frame materials/design, suspension, correct tyre pressure, saddle compliance. Here’s the flip side for suspension. If you don’t have it and your body is part of the suspension system instead, then it requires energy to maintain body position. So on rough surfaces and long distances this will cancel out the energy costs of the suspension. That’s why a lot of road riders moved to titanium or carbon fibre. Not the weight, but because the suspension dynamics are less tiring than aluminium frames.

So what does all this add up to? There is no such thing as a “most efficient” bike. That depends on riding conditions. All other things being equal, on a flat, smooth surface, a track bike with narrow, high pressure tyres and only one gear is the most efficient. For non-extreme cross country mountain bike courses, it appears that at least front suspension adds value. Around town, commuting etc., I would value acceleration, steering and braking over efficiency anyway.

Last, the slowest and most de-energising ride is one where you have to stop to fix two flat tyres. That is why tubeless tyres are a runaway success on MTBs and why they will probably take over on road bikes too, as they did on cars. It also explains why heavier but more puncture-resistant tyres like the Schwalbe Marathons, Conti Gatorskins etc. are popular.

After all this slightly technical discussion, don’t lose sight of the fact that most bicycles will do pretty well at the task. That is why the bicycle continues to be the world’s most popular form of non-pedestrian transport.

Nanouk said :

I don’t know much about push bikes, as I ride mostly an electric bike myself.

But I lost 12kg with an electric bike, so I guess you will indeed lose some weight with a normal bike!
Having tried a few bikes (but can’t remember names or anything), my only advice is to get a LIGHT road bike. A heavy bike, or a mountain bike on a nice road => it will be a nightmare to move your weight. I am 100kg myself, unless you are heavier than that I wouldn’t worry about bike strenght: yes, it will withstand your weight. So take the lightest bike, so you don’t add that to what you will have to move. :

So a total mass of, say, 115kg (100kg rider, 5kg pack and 10kg bike) is much easier to move than a total mass of 118kg (13kg bike?)

Of course, paying that extra $500 for the lighter bike takes some of the weight out of your wallet

thatsnotme said :

Leon said :

If you really believe that the Anthem is slower than the Masi because of its suspension and not because of its big squishy tyres, then you can test your theory by (1) locking out the Anthem’s suspension and seeing if you can measure any improvement in your average speed, and/or (2) putting 38 mm tyres on the Anthem (similar to the ones on the Masi) and measuring the speed improvement.

We’d all love to know the results.

The fact of it is, that it’s the whole package that contributes, not any one individual factor.

This is the sort of twisted statement that we love on the RiotACT.

Did you mean to say that each of the individual factors contributes to the performance of the whole package?

If that is what you meant, then we can continue our rational discussion of the relative effects on performace of individual factors such as suspension and squishy tyres.

I don’t know much about push bikes, as I ride mostly an electric bike myself.

But I lost 12kg with an electric bike, so I guess you will indeed lose some weight with a normal bike!
Having tried a few bikes (but can’t remember names or anything), my only advice is to get a LIGHT road bike. A heavy bike, or a mountain bike on a nice road => it will be a nightmare to move your weight. I am 100kg myself, unless you are heavier than that I wouldn’t worry about bike strenght: yes, it will withstand your weight. So take the lightest bike, so you don’t add that to what you will have to move. 🙂

I also want to second another person here about helmets. When I was closer to work I used to ride a proper push bike and I did have a little accident (all by myself but still: head injury – hospital etc). My helmet broke and probably protected me quite a lot. But forcing people to wear helmets gives them a wrong sense of protection and makes road less safe. So even if it is sometimes protect you, it most probably make your ride less safe.

And there was another question about kids… I used to ride with my child to day care every day, 9km one way. He liked it a lot and it wasn’t too hard, as it was with my electric bike. 🙂

Leon said :

KB1971 said :

Suspension helps you to go farther, faster because it reduces rider fatigue. It absorbs far less energy than, for example, a knobbly or underinflated tyre. The world’s fastest upright bicycle had full suspension.

Not necisarily, I have Giant Anthem duelly 29er and a Masi cyclocross bike. They both weigh 13kg, the Masi has 700c x 38mm tyres on it.

Yep the Anthem is smoother to commute on because it has the suspension but I work way harder than the Masi and the average speed can be up to 5km different depending on the day.

If you really believe that the Anthem is slower than the Masi because of its suspension and not because of its big squishy tyres, then you can test your theory by (1) locking out the Anthem’s suspension and seeing if you can measure any improvement in your average speed, and/or (2) putting 38 mm tyres on the Anthem (similar to the ones on the Masi) and measuring the speed improvement.

We’d all love to know the results.

No doubt smooth tyres will help but not a lot. I also still have my Specialised Hard Rock which I started back into riding on.

I was using knobbies on it for ages and then went to some Maxis Worm Drives (completley smooth in the middle, knobs on the outside) and they made an improvement on my commute but only by a minute or so.

On the Anthem the suspension doesnt lock persay, it just increases the damping. This is extremely efficient on the front fork with only a little bit of movement when pushed hard but the rear shock is nowhere near as stiff on its hardest setting. I still bobs up to 10mm which is a lot of power from my pedal strokes that is being used.

Sorry to disapoint you though, I wont be putting smooth tyres on it anytime soon, its too much fun in the bush!

puggy said :

Hosinator said :

These days the CRX has been replaced by the Giant Cross City (which we also own and both my wife and I ride, and is used to tow a trailer.)[/quote>

Another thread hijack, but when you’re carrying a child, either in a seat or trailer, how far are you riding? I’d like to continue riding (for the more predictable commute times!) but don’t know how far a commute I can subject my daughter to!

Puggy, it’s 15km one way. I find that with the toddler seat we can have a chat (she’s 2.5 years old, but loves to talk and sing.) It’s a lot harder when she’s in the trailer, but because she loves to sing she keeps herself entertained.
I use the time to teach her things like directions, such as left, right or straight ahead. I also point out hot air balloons, water, trees or simply encourage her to sing. This keeps her entertained, so much so that she can’t contain her excitement when we ride to daycare.

lloydincanberra said :

Hey everybody, I would like to reply to you all individually but just wanted to say thanks heaps for all the advice. Looks like a mountain bike of sorts is the go so will try some of the stores recommended. I really appreciate this so thanks again.

Just keep in mind too, that if you get bitten by the cycling bug, you’ll almost certainly be lusting over better stuff soon 🙂 That’s not a bad thing though – whatever you pick up now will teach you a heap about what you like, what you don’t, and what you wish you’d bought instead! If you re-read this thread in 6 months time, you’ll probably read it completely differently to how you are now. Everyone on here has different experiences, but ultimately your own experience will guide you best. Grabbing a bike and just riding will teach you heaps more than this thread will.

I’m a non-Lycra occasional cyclist and use a Giant Yukon with street tyres for chasing the kids around the bike paths. It has front suspension so takes out some harshness from the bumps but is still firm enough that it doesn’t take extra energy to pedal. It’ll go off a gutter with ease and you don’t cringe if you hit a raised slab on the footpath.
Tyres are Schwalbe Big Apples, a smooth lightweight tyre that has a decent size to it and absorbs bumps nicely. Not particularly cheap but Well worth it. I’m 90odd kgs and usually tow a kiddy trailer too. The tyres glide nicely and have a good low rolling resistance.
I paid $50 for the bike, $50 for a new brake caliper (disc brakes) $150 for the tyres and tubes and $30 for a big wide comfortable seat. $280 and it’s set up just perfectly for what I do. The wife tends to use it rather than her $800 skinny wheeled Hybrid bike when she can get away with it too. Bike shop sold her the wrong bike in my opinion. Pity she didn’t tell me beforehand that she wanted to buy a bike.

This is what happens when you ask about bikes and the bikers get involved! Postalgeek has the right idea, keep it simply.

You just want a mid level hybrid or mountain bike, Giants are good as are Treks and a few other major brands. Look at their base or mid spec models, above that you dont need. Disc brakes are nice but not essential. You will probably only use 10 gears, so anything above 21 isnt worth the effort. Suspension is nice, most bikes have them, you dont need remote lock out or even lock out – just leave the suspension on its much more comfortable.

Tyres and bike weight and loss of energy from suspension all that other stuff makes a bit of difference BUT if you are riding for fitness and commuting, riding something that is 10% less efficient is arguably a good thing – it means you have to work harder and you get fitter quicker! Having thinner pumped up tyres or a extra lightweight bike or saving the weight of the suspension is fine if speed or efficiency is your goal, not if comfort and fitness is a goal. You wont notice the difference unless you are hopping between a hybrid and a road bike, which you wont be. Thin tyres slip as soon as it starts raining and you are crossing the road with all the built up oil slicks…

Get a reasonably soft saddle that isnt too wide or just put a gel cover on.

Lots of lights and reflectors (reflective tape is good)

I have been commuting for almost 20 years for what my experience is worth.

BTW if you join Pedal Power, a lot of bike shops give you 5% or 10% off, which will pay for the membership and you also get insurance cover (limited but better than naught)

Holden Caulfield2:16 pm 21 Mar 14

lloydincanberra said :

Hey everybody, I would like to reply to you all individually but just wanted to say thanks heaps for all the advice. Looks like a mountain bike of sorts is the go so will try some of the stores recommended. I really appreciate this so thanks again.

Pushys Fyshwick is pretty good.

lloydincanberra1:25 pm 21 Mar 14

Hey everybody, I would like to reply to you all individually but just wanted to say thanks heaps for all the advice. Looks like a mountain bike of sorts is the go so will try some of the stores recommended. I really appreciate this so thanks again.

puggy said :

Hosinator said :

These days the CRX has been replaced by the Giant Cross City (which we also own and both my wife and I ride, and is used to tow a trailer.)

*Repost because I failed at quoting*

Another thread hijack, but when you’re carrying a child, either in a seat or trailer, how far are you riding? I’d like to continue riding (for the more predictable commute times!) but don’t know how far a commute I can subject my daughter to!

I used both rear seat and trailer, and I’d go with trailer. Skip the cheaper bench seats and go with a bucket seat like Croozer or Chariot if you’re going to be doing regular commuting with the kid. Lot more comfortable for the child and easier on their little back. More protection from weather and small accidents. I did 30 minutes each way without too much issue. Sometimes they would fall asleep. Obviously the performance reduction is more significant with a trailer, but it’s about the kid for me.

As for Schwalbe Marathon Plus, I have them on my commuter. They’re not bomb-proof, but I’ve had very few punctures to date cycling through all sorts of crap in the cycle lanes.

As a general observation we’re in cathead season, so watch out for those distinctive leaves creeping onto the path. Horrible stuff.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribulus_terrestris

Hosinator said :

These days the CRX has been replaced by the Giant Cross City (which we also own and both my wife and I ride, and is used to tow a trailer.)[/quote>

*Repost because I failed at quoting*

Another thread hijack, but when you’re carrying a child, either in a seat or trailer, how far are you riding? I’d like to continue riding (for the more predictable commute times!) but don’t know how far a commute I can subject my daughter to!

As for commuter tyres: Schwalbe Marathon Plus. Heavy, but bullet proof. I had been running Vittoria Randoneur Cross Pros. One puncture in 5000km, but I did go through two sets, ’cause I’m a heavy bugger (yes yes, I did rotate them).

Hosinator said :

These days the CRX has been replaced by the Giant Cross City (which we also own and both my wife and I ride, and is used to tow a trailer.)[/quote>

Another thread hijack, but when you’re carrying a child, either in a seat or trailer, how far are you riding? I’d like to continue riding (for the more predictable commute times!) but don’t know how far a commute I can subject my daughter to!

As for commuter tyres: Schwalbe Marathon Plus. Heavy, but bullet proof. I had been running Vittoria Randoneur Cross Pros. One puncture in 5000km, but I did go through two sets, ’cause I’m a heavy bugger (yes yes, I did rotate them).

Leon said :

If you really believe that the Anthem is slower than the Masi because of its suspension and not because of its big squishy tyres, then you can test your theory by (1) locking out the Anthem’s suspension and seeing if you can measure any improvement in your average speed, and/or (2) putting 38 mm tyres on the Anthem (similar to the ones on the Masi) and measuring the speed improvement.

We’d all love to know the results.

The fact of it is, that it’s the whole package that contributes, not any one individual factor.

Mountain bikes have big, fat tyres that cause way more friction than hard, narrow road bikes. They also have suspension, which saps some energy. Depending on the model, they also aren’t geared for speed. By the time you hit top gear on many mountain bikes (especially new ones), you’ve likely got 4 or 5 gears still available on a bike designed for the road.

Another consideration is tyres. The more road like the bike, the higher the chance of punctures – especially if you’re a bit heavier. Invest in some tyres with better puncture protection. Specialized Armadillo’s are the bomb. I had multiple rear tyre punctures with Continental Gatorskins, but since switching that tyre out for an Armadillo, not one.

KB1971 said :

Suspension helps you to go farther, faster because it reduces rider fatigue. It absorbs far less energy than, for example, a knobbly or underinflated tyre. The world’s fastest upright bicycle had full suspension.

Not necisarily, I have Giant Anthem duelly 29er and a Masi cyclocross bike. They both weigh 13kg, the Masi has 700c x 38mm tyres on it.

Yep the Anthem is smoother to commute on because it has the suspension but I work way harder than the Masi and the average speed can be up to 5km different depending on the day.

If you really believe that the Anthem is slower than the Masi because of its suspension and not because of its big squishy tyres, then you can test your theory by (1) locking out the Anthem’s suspension and seeing if you can measure any improvement in your average speed, and/or (2) putting 38 mm tyres on the Anthem (similar to the ones on the Masi) and measuring the speed improvement.

We’d all love to know the results.

KB1971 said :

Lloyd, pretty well everyone has given you some good avice on the type of bike here except one has been left out.

Flat bar road bike, faster than a hybrid but light like a road bike and have all the good features like good gears brakes and wheels.

I have to agree with this. I own a Giant CRX 3 Flat Bar Road Bike, purchased for $500, usually $700. It’s my second commuter bike, used for those days that it looks like it might rain or it did the night before etc. It’s so I don’t get a spec of dust on my $3k roadie, which is my preferred commuter.

In saying that the CRX is a great ride, takes a beating, personally I find the gear ratios are just right and I use it to transport my daughter to child care in a toddler seat.

These days the CRX has been replaced by the Giant Cross City (which we also own and both my wife and I ride, and is used to tow a trailer.)

Lloyd, pretty well everyone has given you some good avice on the type of bike here except one has been left out.

Flat bar road bike, faster than a hybrid but light like a road bike and have all the good features like good gears brakes and wheels.

Spend between $1000 & 1500.

On the subject of wheels, they are a consumable. When I started riding again I found that when I got fitter and stronger I would wear the wheels out on bikes quite regularly, they start of whith just getting buckles in them and then they start to break spokes.

I coughed up for a good set of Mavic rims on my first road bike and they were the bomb, I have never had to touch them and they have outlasted the frame and are now on my single speed project bike.

Seats, as Leon said get the right seat to fit you. Dont just go for a fat seat as they can chafe on longer rides. I have found that the thinner alternatives combined with good padded pants work best for me. Its all trial and error though.

Padded Pants, you dont have to go spandex, there is a vast range of MTB shorts out there that you can buy. I got my last lot from Aldi & they work a treat.

& lastly, please dont buy and Ebike…..thats cheating…….. 😛

Leon said :

thatsnotme said :

The thing with suspension is that you don’t want to use it unless you need it. Suspension absorbs some of the energy that you’re trying to put onto the ground, forcing you to work harder. It’s for this reason that decent mountain bikes have suspension lock-outs, allowing you to lock the suspension when climbing, so you’re not wasting energy.

Suspension helps you to go farther, faster because it reduces rider fatigue. It absorbs far less energy than, for example, a knobbly or underinflated tyre. The world’s fastest upright bicycle had full suspension.

Not necisarily, I have Giant Anthem duelly 29er and a Masi cyclocross bike. They both weigh 13kg, the Masi has 700c x 38mm tyres on it.

Yep the Anthem is smoother to commute on because it has the suspension but I work way harder than the Masi and the average speed can be up to 5km different depending on the day.

Yes I can see why a speed record breaking bike would need suspension, for stability at speed, but that would be a far cry from what I have and what the OP would buy or need for commuting.

Start cheap, see if you like it before getting all MAMIL on us…

troll-sniffer9:50 pm 19 Mar 14

zorro29 said :

Good for you getting back on the bike!!! Like others say, it’ll hurt at first regardless…but after a few weeks you’ll develop what I like to call “bike a*rse” and you’ll be able to ride all over the place with no pain.

Agree with others that Giant bikes are good value. I would recommend a commuter cycle with wide handlebars (brushed backwards for extra comfort)…wider tyres will make you feel more secure and give a more comfy/softer ride (and easier to pump up due to lower psi) even if it costs you a few extra minutes on the ride time.

Don’t go for a cheapie bike (like elsewhere suggested)…around $1000 is pretty reasonable for a solid and safe bike. Anything less than about $700 will probably be crap and need more improvements than it’s worth.

My partner and I are the “lycra types” (lol) – we both have performance bikes for dry days and bikes that are suitable for rainy days. If you want to ride in the rain, make sure you have some traction on your tyres (and guards) or it’s pretty dangerous. The slick racing tyres of performance bikes shouldnt be ridden in the rain.

Also invest about $100 for decent lights for front and rear…as well as a helmet (around $50 should be right but lighter ones can be up to around $500). And if you’re riding at dusk/evening, visible/reflective clothing. Cars don’t look for you – keep yourself as safe as possible. The a bike pump – most have presta valves now…but the pumps usually do both.

And in Canberra, gloves are essential for winter (so your fingers continue to be able to operate the gears!!)…and be careful for black ice on winter mornings.

Canberra is a great (and forgiving) place to ride…so many safe places dedicated to cycling. Enjoy 🙂

My second to last bike was a Giant Elwood that is still running well at the holiday hose, it was around $300 I believe. My current bike is the Giant Cypress 3 which I bought for $346 about 3 years ago. No need to pay more than $400 for a good Giant hybrid bike that will easily see the other side of 10,000 km if maintained. Then, if you get that far, you’ll know if you want to move up to the $700+ bracket.

Another advantage of the cheaper bike? Never even gets looked at by the cycle-stealing scum who patrol the city and environs.

muscledude_oz7:18 pm 19 Mar 14

neanderthalsis said :

While I do agree that lycra is best left to the uber waifs and the tossers who feel the need to fully kit up for the 3km ride to work, a pair of padded knicks will make a long ride slightly more comfortable. I always wear a pair of shorts over them though.

You can always tell the bodybuilders with massive legs riding their bikes. They’re the ones wearing lycra shorts to show off to the motorists. Everybody else wears non-lycra shorts.

thatsnotme said :

The thing with suspension is that you don’t want to use it unless you need it. Suspension absorbs some of the energy that you’re trying to put onto the ground, forcing you to work harder. It’s for this reason that decent mountain bikes have suspension lock-outs, allowing you to lock the suspension when climbing, so you’re not wasting energy.

Suspension helps you to go farther, faster because it reduces rider fatigue. It absorbs far less energy than, for example, a knobbly or underinflated tyre. The world’s fastest upright bicycle had full suspension.

Stormfront said :

cbrjoe said :

I ride an electric to work most mornings, Its a BH E-Motion NEO. 20km commute from Gungahlin to Manuka Area…

cbrjoe, thanks for sharing your thoughts.How long does it take to fully charge it? And what is advertised battery life when it comes to charge cycles? (sorry, didn’t have time to check specs for your bike in detail).
I am looking at this: http://www.stealthelectricbikes.com.au/stealth-bomber.html
or http://www.stealthelectricbikes.com.au/stealth-fighter.html

Anyone has experience with them?

Thank you again.

Just buy a dirt bike.

Good for you getting back on the bike!!! Like others say, it’ll hurt at first regardless…but after a few weeks you’ll develop what I like to call “bike a*rse” and you’ll be able to ride all over the place with no pain.

Agree with others that Giant bikes are good value. I would recommend a commuter cycle with wide handlebars (brushed backwards for extra comfort)…wider tyres will make you feel more secure and give a more comfy/softer ride (and easier to pump up due to lower psi) even if it costs you a few extra minutes on the ride time.

Don’t go for a cheapie bike (like elsewhere suggested)…around $1000 is pretty reasonable for a solid and safe bike. Anything less than about $700 will probably be crap and need more improvements than it’s worth.

My partner and I are the “lycra types” (lol) – we both have performance bikes for dry days and bikes that are suitable for rainy days. If you want to ride in the rain, make sure you have some traction on your tyres (and guards) or it’s pretty dangerous. The slick racing tyres of performance bikes shouldnt be ridden in the rain.

Also invest about $100 for decent lights for front and rear…as well as a helmet (around $50 should be right but lighter ones can be up to around $500). And if you’re riding at dusk/evening, visible/reflective clothing. Cars don’t look for you – keep yourself as safe as possible. The a bike pump – most have presta valves now…but the pumps usually do both.

And in Canberra, gloves are essential for winter (so your fingers continue to be able to operate the gears!!)…and be careful for black ice on winter mornings.

Canberra is a great (and forgiving) place to ride…so many safe places dedicated to cycling. Enjoy 🙂

neanderthalsis2:30 pm 19 Mar 14

While I do agree that lycra is best left to the uber waifs and the tossers who feel the need to fully kit up for the 3km ride to work, a pair of padded knicks will make a long ride slightly more comfortable. I always wear a pair of shorts over them though.

cbrjoe said :

I ride an electric to work most mornings, Its a BH E-Motion NEO. 20km commute from Gungahlin to Manuka Area…

cbrjoe, thanks for sharing your thoughts.How long does it take to fully charge it? And what is advertised battery life when it comes to charge cycles? (sorry, didn’t have time to check specs for your bike in detail).
I am looking at this: http://www.stealthelectricbikes.com.au/stealth-bomber.html
or http://www.stealthelectricbikes.com.au/stealth-fighter.html

Anyone has experience with them?

Thank you again.

Get a second-hand, relatively unused, brand-name mountain bike; Giant, Specialised, Cannondale, Trek etc. Pushys sells second-hand bikes if you want to be sized up and limited after-sale support. Check eBay or all classifieds; there’s dozens of people who bought a new bike looking to get into it and it’s now gathering dust after a couple of rides.

Mountain bikes are robust, versatile, tyres have better grip, their gear ratio will be kinder to you on hills and the suspension will make your ride more pleasant because you’re going to be riding all manner of paths and rough terrain until you’re ready to rub shoulders with cars and asshats. Suspension forks won’t need much maintenance for what you’ll be doing and you can always lock them out for commuting. I doubt you’re going to be punishing them in Kowen or Stromlo any time soon.

Look to spend several hundred. For that you’ll get a decent second-hand bike. Don’t buy shite unless you want a shite experience. Upgrade to slick tyre bike once you’re fitter and more confident. I’m guessing you’re not going to be going for personal bests at this stage so it doesn’t matter if a MTB is a bit slower than a slick.

You may have a hang up about lycra but if you’re at all serious your arse is going to have its way eventually and you’re going to buy padded knicks to stop the chaffing and relieved the pressure pain. If you’re that self-conscious you can always stick a pair of shorts over your knicks. As someone else said, big fat plush seats can actually be counter-productive. Depends on your set-up.

I don’t know how much experience you’ve had in the past, but if it’s none, get a shop or Youtube to show you how to change a tyre and do it yourself before you go out. Seriously. Otherwise your bike will gather dust once you get your first flat.

Stormfront said :

OP’s remark “non lycra type” made me smile. Good on you,Lloyd.

Also thanks to people commenting, useful advices for when I decide to upgrade my mtb (just an average 570 bucks one I had bought 3 years ago).

Don’t want to hijack the thread, but have a question in regards to electric bikes: what kind of mileage do you get out of them? Are they worth the price here or is it better to get one from Sydney or Melbourne? Ty in advance.

I ride an electric to work most mornings, Its a BH E-Motion NEO. 20km commute from Gungahlin to Manuka Area. I weigh around 95kg and I find that I get around 50Km range with heavy assist. I love this bike, I wouldn’t be riding to work without it, I can make the trip in around 40 minutes, which is slightly slower than the car in heavy traffic. The assist is fantastic, it still requires pedalling but just makes you feel like Lance Armstrong, I don’t even blink at hills anymore. Still feels like a workout, but I can arrive at work and not need to have a shower.

I ended up buying my bike online after a not so good experience with a local bike store. You will save money buying interstate.

Holden Caulfield10:44 am 19 Mar 14

thatsnotme said :

niftydog said :

Hybrids have skinnier wheels (more efficient), but mountain bikes have suspension!

The thing with suspension is that you don’t want to use it unless you need it. Suspension absorbs some of the energy that you’re trying to put onto the ground, forcing you to work harder. It’s for this reason that decent mountain bikes have suspension lock-outs, allowing you to lock the suspension when climbing, so you’re not wasting energy.

He wants to ride to lose weight and get fit, not pretend he’s Cadel Evans (MTB or TdF versions). Comfort is the better option in this instance IMO.

thatsnotme said :

…It’s for this reason that decent mountain bikes have suspension lock-outs…

Not only “decent” MTB’s come with lockouts these days. The $500 Giant Boulder features a lockout, as does the $1200-1400 Talon – which comes in a 29er or 27.5…er!

Why not get one that feels right for you? You do not have to get a new one at all, I recommend going to the Recyclery at the Green Shed in Mitchell and see what they have on offer and you may just find a gem.

OP’s remark “non lycra type” made me smile. Good on you,Lloyd.

Also thanks to people commenting, useful advices for when I decide to upgrade my mtb (just an average 570 bucks one I had bought 3 years ago).

Don’t want to hijack the thread, but have a question in regards to electric bikes: what kind of mileage do you get out of them? Are they worth the price here or is it better to get one from Sydney or Melbourne? Ty in advance.

niftydog said :

Hybrids have skinnier wheels (more efficient), but mountain bikes have suspension!

The thing with suspension is that you don’t want to use it unless you need it. Suspension absorbs some of the energy that you’re trying to put onto the ground, forcing you to work harder. It’s for this reason that decent mountain bikes have suspension lock-outs, allowing you to lock the suspension when climbing, so you’re not wasting energy.

I must argue against the so-called comfort bike (aka hybrid aka city bike). They try to be jack of all trades but end up being master of none. They have high handlebars, with low saddles, which forces more body weight onto the butt, leaving you sore. They are great to ride stylishly 500m to the local cafe, but for anything more, they fall short.

For a first bike, get a decent quality mountain bike. Front suspension is good. Giant is good value, but the actual brand is less important than the fit. Go to a bike shop, not a department store. Between $500 and $2000 you get what you pay for. i.e. a $1000 bike is a seriously better ride than a $500 bike, and a $2000 bike will be noticeably better than a $1000 bike. Above $2000 the return on investment diminishes greatly. Highly advise to spend as much as your budget allows – you will get a better ride, and therefore use it more often. Over the 5-10 year life of a bike, the extra couple of hundred $ is not much, but you will have a more enjoyable time.

Mountain bikes are great on dirt and trails, but they are also great on bike paths and roads. I ride 18km each way to work. A mountain bike is only a couple of minutes slower over that distance than a road bike – 33 minutes, vs 35 minutes – but more comfortable to ride. Plus I can go up and down curbs, over gravel with ease, take shortcuts that I couldn’t do on a road bike. If you ride sealed roads/paths a lot, you can always put slicks (smooth tires) on the mountain bike for extra speed.

Mountain bikes ride a little more upright than a road bike, meaning less back and neck strain. The saddle is surprisingly not so important. Make sure your saddle height is set properly (usually higher than you think) so you put less weight on your butt, and more on your legs and arms. Lift your butt when going over bumps. The saddle is used more for balance than for supporting your weight.

If you haven’t ridden for years, it WILL hurt for the first week or 2. Your butt will be bruised, and muscles not used to doing work will be forced into action. Just keep riding! After the first 2 weeks, things get easier, and your fitness will improve very very fast. You will be surprised how a ride that seemed like torture when you first started will become easy and fun after a few weeks.

You don’t have to wear special clothes. Lycra is good because is doesn’t chafe, but shorts are good too. Cotton get really sweaty in summer, hence the cycle jerseys, but in autumn/winter/spring, it doesn’t really matter. If you are on roads, wear bright colours.

Bottom line – just ride! Its fun!

I suppose a Speedwell or Malvern Star is out of the question.

The Giant brand is usually the best bang for your buck and several shops stock it. I guess you’re thinking more spokes = stronger wheel, but don’t get too focused on the minute details. The staff will know which bike is suited to your build.

“Comfort”, “cruiser” or “town” bikes are, I guess, comfortable. High handlebar, low seat, upright position. But ultimately they always look awkward to ride to my eyes. If the plan is to get semi-serious eventually and climb some hills you’ll find the comfort bikes to be limiting. However, if you just want to tootle around on flat pavement like around the lake, then they’re ideal for that.

If you think you might get a bit more keen eventually as your fitness improves, then I’d be looking at hybrids or a mountain bike. Both have more traditional geometry with lower handlebars which will let you get out of the seat and crank up a hill. Hybrids have skinnier wheels (more efficient), but mountain bikes have suspension! Don’t forget to factor in service costs – something like an air-spring suspension fork requires routine maintenance and servicing.

Finally – the seat myth. A big, wide, soft and cushy seat LOOKS comfy in they shop, but they limit your hip movement, chafe your legs and when you haven’t ridden in a hundred years, EVERY bike seat will be uncomfortable. By all means, get one that’s padded and appropriate to your build, but make it firm padding (think German car seats) and give it a good try out before you commit.

I have ridden for over 50 years, and I regard seat comfort as the most important factor.
A bike seat should be very firm in the right places, so that it gives you proper support.
A seat that’s ideal for a racing position can be literally a pain in the bum if you ride upright, and vice versa.
Suspension is essential, whether it be in the form of a suspension frame, a suspension seat post or a sprung saddle.
Don’t overload your saddle and your pubis bone by carrying luggage on your back. Let the bike carry the weight.
Choose a bike with your preferred riding position. Upright is more comfortable than a racing position, but puts more weight on your bum and makes it even more important to get the saddle right.
Buying a bike that’s already set up the way you want, with the accessories that you want, is generally cheaper than buying a bike and modifying it.

A hybrid or “comfort” bike is probably the way to go. If you’re in Belco, pop in and see Paul at Ride365 – he’ll see you right.

neanderthalsis3:46 pm 18 Mar 14

I got into cycling recently as a means to lose weight and increase fitness. I discovered that bikes can be bloody expensive and the bike shops will try to sell you their top of the line racer rather than listening to your request for a solid bike for pottering into work or around the lake. In the end I bought a second hand hybrid as I wasn’t prepared to pay up to $1000 for a new bike that I might have ridden once and stuck in the garage.

The Giant Roam might be a good place to start.

Assuming you’re talking about a push bike, I highly recommend the Lonsdale Street Cyclery. They have a decent range and will help you pick something that’s most suited to your stature, structure and fitness level.

The bike shop in O’Connor (next to Duxtons, which used to be All Bar None) used to have a seat profiling system which would attempt to match seats to your bum cheeks (technically, the Ischium bones, lower part of the Pelvis). Their custom-matched seats are a bit pricey, but it’s worth asking them and seeing if you can get a “test sit”. The comfort of a seat, unfortunately, is hard to gauge in anything other than a half hour of riding, but you can get a pretty good idea from your first bum contact. It’s also worth getting a slip-on gel pad for when you start riding, since it takes some time for your buttocks (and bollocks) to get used to the pressures of riding.

As for clothes, the main attraction of lycra is that it is tight-fitting. This means that you won’t get chafing on longer/sweatier rides. There’s nothing wrong with being overweight and wearing lycra: people will be just as judgemental regardless of what clothes you’re wearing. If you really want to avoid lycra, get some very loose fitting cargo pants (“below the knee shorts”). My experience was that cargo pants chafed less than shorts, mainly because the shorts had hem lines mid-thigh which was the part of my body moving the most.

I have two favourite T-shirts for riding. One is a relatively heavy weave “Ride to Work Day” shirt which is awesome for Winter. The other is a lighter weave shirt suitable for Summer, it lets a lot more wind through than the RTW Day shirt. You can also get jackets which zip at the front and have a mesh/open back, which are good for the cool foggy days of Canberran Winter when you want to keep the cold damp air from flowing down your chest, but you don’t want to keep your back hot and sweat-soaked.

In Winter I wear a pair of long lycra leggings under my shorts. It looks daggy but I stay warm. I also have two light polar fleece jackets, so I can wear zero, one or two layers of fleece as the conditions require. I do the same for gloves: one very tight fitting “under glove” and a looser glove which allows me to tailor what’s on my hands for the conditions.

As far as safety gear goes, the most important safety gear is a good pair of gloves. If you come off your bike, you will instinctively reach out to break your fall with your hands. A good pair of gloves will reduce the amount of laceration and embedded gravel you get in your hands. For most of the people I know, working hands are vital to their job, so protect them. Most people can cope with grazed knees much easier than grazed hands. There are also nerves in your palm that are very exposed, so there’s an extra reason to be more careful about your hands. My preferred cycling gloves will have “armour pads” for the ball of the hand (the fleshy bit just before the wrist), the metacarpals (the pads at the base of the fingers) and finger tips. I don’t go mountain biking much, so I have no need for “knuckle armour” to protect my hands from branches and rocks slapping into me as I’m riding, I just need the impact protection for my outstretched hand as I hit the ground.

I’ve been riding for 30 years, come off my bike a dozen times, even been hit by a car. In all those years I’ve never hit my head. I don’t believe that helmets do anything other than satisfy a bunch of worry-warts and helmet manufacturers (the safety standards don’t even simulate any realistic head injury scenario). Having said so, we have laws about the use of helmets so please pick a helmet that matches the laws and use it.

But back to your original question: I would look for a bike with higher pressure street tyres to start with. These will roll much easier, meaning you exert less effort to get anywhere. I’m not sure what the style of bike is called, but my current cycle is an Avanti Blade. This has a straight handlebar like a mountain bike (rather than the typical racing rolled-under bar), but a light-weight frame, high pressure tyres and about 21 gear combinations. There is a gear to suit whatever situation I face.

But like I said at the beginning, the folks at the Cyclery will be able to help you make a good choice, just be aware that high pressure tyres are much easier to ride on while you’re on sealed paths. Chunky, low pressure tyres are much better for bush-bashing, but soak up a lot of your energy making for a harder ride. Stay away from any suspension (except a compressible seat post for comfort) unless you’re into mountain biking. Suspension is just another way of turning your pedalling into heat without any benefit to locomotion. For mountain bikers, suspension is sometimes the difference between coming home on a bike versus a stretcher, because you actually want to absorb a lot of energy to slow down your forward movement.

One last thing: I highly recommend joining Pedal Power. They’re a cyclist advocacy group, and they send you a nifty magazine which has good advice and a number of aspirational articles of thin, energetic people riding across Australia, Asia, Europe or elsewhere. They also have a group insurance policy that means you’ll be covered for third party property and personal damage while riding your bike.

Hope this helps!

It’s difficult to give general advice without just falling into the “I got good service from X…” (FWIW, I recently got a Trek 7.5 from On The Rivet in Philip and it’s just fine – & I have no financial interest in them either).

The best thing you can do is get fitted for a bike: go into any bike store and ask the staff. Most stores are limited to one or two brands generally, so there’s no real shame in shopping-around for looks/style/price. The wheel/frame size are most important to match the rider’s physique, the seat is surprisingly less-so (In other words, they’re all pretty uncomfortable after a while).

What you want to do with the bike is the next thing:
* If you want to go fast on smooth paving, a road/racer bike with skinny, slick tyres and a lower-down riding position and drop-handle bar might be the go.
* If you want to bash the bush, a mountain bike with fat, knobbly tyres, springs/shocks and a sturdier frame might be what you want.
* If you want to commute at lower speeds in relative comfort in an upright position, a town or hybrid bike (which are somewhere between the other two above) might be an option.

Probably a GS500, or SV650 if you’re bigger.

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