Bicyclist thread

[NotoriousREV]

They're beautifully made.

[JLv3.0]

They'd have to last 18 years to even match the current value for money I'm looking for

[Rich B]

Anything by 5:10. Job done.

[JLv3.0]

There isn't a great choice here Rich and if I have to order online it'll have to be Shimano to make sure the sizing is right.

[Rich B]

There isn't a great choice here Rich and if I have to order online it'll have to be Shimano to make sure the sizing is right.

buy some Shimano ones then. Jeez...

[JLv3.0]

I can't raise any enthusiasm at all

[Rich B]

[ste]

Shoes for Road or MTB JL? FWIW, I've had Shimano shoes in the past and I don't rate them at all.

Agree with Rich re FiveTens. FOr the road i've got some carbon Specialized S-Works and a pair of Rapha Climbers were are built on Giro carbon lasts. In pink obvs.

[ste]

I've hankered after a full suspension replacement for my Cube hard tail, but prices seem mental now.

Where should I start looking for a half decent full sus bike?

It's really for general trail riding/comfort etc rather than downhill nuttery. I'm not especially good on a bike (I have very poor balance and coordination) so I'm not going fast and doing "clever things" but I love being out on a bike (I've not been without a bike, since I first had one aged about 4).

Any guidance would be appreciated (and would help me blow a recent, small bonus too!)

2nd hand IMO. Some great bargains at the mo as the 2019 bikes start to fill the shops. Saw what looked like a mint 2018 Whyte T130 RS* on eBeg for £1500 last week.


* defines 'half decent full sus bike' IMO. 130mm but really wide range of ability. Perfectly capable of general trail riding but also much more if you get into it more / improve.

[JLv3.0]

If that's an actual solution (or some other product) I'm all over it.

Ste - for the road bike mate.

[DaveE]

I shunned the snobbery & bought a Boardman FS Pro a few years ago for £1150.00. The standard kit was great & will certainly do trails & scary stuff with ease. Downside is it's a bit heavy (with bikes, when weight goes down, the price rockets) so you might want to look at something else, maybe 2nd hand? My mate just picked up a carbon Cube 29"er with 140mm suspension all round for £800.00. Yeah, he's in the trade so got it cheap, but there are bargains out there. A bike like that'd be your best bet I reckon.

Thanks, I've always tended away from second hand bikes, as I always read "second hand bike" as "stolen bike" and I don't like to fraternise with the thieving classes.

But I shall have a look...

Last time I bought, many years ago, "last year's model" always seemed ludicrously good value, and often it was only a colour change between it and the current version.

is that often still the case? Or or year-to-year improvements more worthwhile these days?

[ste]

Depends on the bike. Easy enough to google 2018 and 2019 specs though. Sometimes it'll be a complete redesign, often just an incremental change and different colour. In Brexit times, bikes are either jumping in price or the newer ones are often de-spec'd slightly to retain the same price point so an older one may well be better.

[Rich B]

Those pink shoes aren’t actually yours Ste?

[ste]

If that's an actual solution (or some other product) I'm all over it.

Ste - for the road bike mate.

Genuinely, don't buy some Shimano ones online. If you have a Specialized shop anywhere you can get to go and get fitted properly for some Body Geometry ones. My S-Works are like wearing the comfiest slippers you can imagine. Have ridden in 8 or so hour rides and not had one pain or hot spot with them.

Unless you have very thin feet Sidis probably won't work for you. I have wide feet and they just don't fit.

[ste]

Those pink shoes aren’t actually yours Ste?

Fuck yeah, that's my photo. The chap who made the helmet stickers to match used the pic on his website which is where that's hosted. The coiled up stuff is my bartape coiled up as i wanted that to match too. See pic of my bike earlier in this thread.

[ste]

They're reflective too BTW.

[ste]

One 'mate' won't actually cycle with me since I got them. I genuinely think he's decided I'm gay and that he might catch it.

[JLv3.0]

Mate of mine had a thing for fitting pink grips to his motocross bike - they looked like fucking butt plugs

Thanks for the advice Ste - tbh I'll probably just go around the shops here and try stuff on, may as well play it safe eh.

[NotoriousREV]

I'll probably just go around the shops here and try stuff on

Crazy talk.

[JLv3.0]

I feel a bit ill today so am blaming any rationality on that.