Lol, well thanks anyway, wish halford at york could deal with my bike maybe I'd get further with them.MichaelCarter wrote:"I dont want to go into halfords again and argue with them."
Don't worry, no need to argue, I'll go into a different store, I'm a different person, I'll speak to a different person, won't do any harm and you never know!
(I used to sell ice to eskimos so a Halfords "oik" will be no problem!)
New bike advice.
Moderator: Moderators
I'm sure if you asked 25 different people this question you will get 25 different answers, Will.
I can speak with some experience on this as I've had lots of bikes from lots of different sources.
10 years ago I bought a fairly basic ready built steel framed bike from Deeside Cycles. I liked the bike and raced well on it for a few years and then rode it as a Winter bike until it fell apart. I had a couple of mid range Bassos from RaceScene at Barnsley - both I was measured up for. The first I liked the second I didn't. I now ride a Cannondale I bought from Evans which I really like. I saved about £500 on the full price as it was the prev years model. However I've had to change a few bits - saddle, stem, bars just to get the position right. But I can live with that. The bike shop measure ups just confirmed I already had approximately the correct position. However the print out they gave me I still use and I now set all my bikes up with this.
If money and space mean you can only have one bike you should sell your old one now and use that money to get the best bike you can afford. If you have to ride this in Winter it just means you will have to get some Race Blades and keep it well maintained. There's loads of bikes in that price range & the make is irrelevant as they are all going to perform the same and have pretty similar componentry. If you are set on buying new have a look round the local bike shops and see what they can do for you.
Getting measured for a bike isn't rocket science and there are people in the club who could help you with this, myself included. But If you got a shop to do this they will be able to measure you up accurately and then get the bike set up correctly before you take it away. This may save you money in the long term.
If your current bike is too small it is no use to you and you need to change it asap.
I can speak with some experience on this as I've had lots of bikes from lots of different sources.
10 years ago I bought a fairly basic ready built steel framed bike from Deeside Cycles. I liked the bike and raced well on it for a few years and then rode it as a Winter bike until it fell apart. I had a couple of mid range Bassos from RaceScene at Barnsley - both I was measured up for. The first I liked the second I didn't. I now ride a Cannondale I bought from Evans which I really like. I saved about £500 on the full price as it was the prev years model. However I've had to change a few bits - saddle, stem, bars just to get the position right. But I can live with that. The bike shop measure ups just confirmed I already had approximately the correct position. However the print out they gave me I still use and I now set all my bikes up with this.
If money and space mean you can only have one bike you should sell your old one now and use that money to get the best bike you can afford. If you have to ride this in Winter it just means you will have to get some Race Blades and keep it well maintained. There's loads of bikes in that price range & the make is irrelevant as they are all going to perform the same and have pretty similar componentry. If you are set on buying new have a look round the local bike shops and see what they can do for you.
Getting measured for a bike isn't rocket science and there are people in the club who could help you with this, myself included. But If you got a shop to do this they will be able to measure you up accurately and then get the bike set up correctly before you take it away. This may save you money in the long term.
If your current bike is too small it is no use to you and you need to change it asap.
How long will it take to get a new bike once I start asking around? Might go to Haxby cycles on monday if they are open and ask them, but I mean I have to get measured up, then its going to be a couple weeks untill they would have a bike ready if I decided I liked one I see?
Will they measure me up at haxby cycles if I ask them?
Will they measure me up at haxby cycles if I ask them?
-
MichaelCarter
- Posts: 185
- Joined: Fri May 18, 2007 12:16 pm
Yea would not mind it if you could write a letter thanks. Any money back or even them fixing the breaks would be good tbh.MichaelCarter wrote:No manager types at Halfords when I popped in Will. Do you want me to write a letter? The way I see it, if you can get any money back or even a deal towards a new bike it's worth doing. Michael
If you do want a shop to measure you up you may have to pick the phone up first and ask them Will. I don't know. If they don't then get someone to measure you up first and then you can go along and know what you require and if that means changing a handlebar stem then its better than having to but another after you've left the shop.
I've had a quick look at the local shops websites and Cycleworks comes up best with its Trek 1.7T - £800 with decent compentry - Shimano 105 / Ultegra and a triple chainset. You could do anything on that and they would maybe have it in stock? If thats how much I had to spend and I wanted it this week that is what I would get. And remember you would get 10% off this before you start waving cash about.
I've looked at the Giants on Cyclesense website but ain't impressed. Limited choice in that price range and poor spec imo. And thinking practically I detest steep sloping top tubes - you can't carry two big waterbottles!
I've had a quick look at the local shops websites and Cycleworks comes up best with its Trek 1.7T - £800 with decent compentry - Shimano 105 / Ultegra and a triple chainset. You could do anything on that and they would maybe have it in stock? If thats how much I had to spend and I wanted it this week that is what I would get. And remember you would get 10% off this before you start waving cash about.
I've looked at the Giants on Cyclesense website but ain't impressed. Limited choice in that price range and poor spec imo. And thinking practically I detest steep sloping top tubes - you can't carry two big waterbottles!
That Trek 1.7T looks awsome, but thinking of going to haxby cycles see what they have first as apparently they are having 20% off everything next week!paulM wrote:If you do want a shop to measure you up you may have to pick the phone up first and ask them Will. I don't know. If they don't then get someone to measure you up first and then you can go along and know what you require and if that means changing a handlebar stem then its better than having to but another after you've left the shop.
I've had a quick look at the local shops websites and Cycleworks comes up best with its Trek 1.7T - £800 with decent compentry - Shimano 105 / Ultegra and a triple chainset. You could do anything on that and they would maybe have it in stock? If thats how much I had to spend and I wanted it this week that is what I would get. And remember you would get 10% off this before you start waving cash about.
I've looked at the Giants on Cyclesense website but ain't impressed. Limited choice in that price range and poor spec imo. And thinking practically I detest steep sloping top tubes - you can't carry two big waterbottles!
Not sure how big you are Will but have you seen this?
http://www.cliftoncc.org/discussion/vie ... php?t=1125
http://www.cliftoncc.org/discussion/vie ... php?t=1125
It is with some hesitancy that I contribute to this thread as I guess everyone feels by now that the last thing we need is yet another opinion! Three points really:
1. Nick S and Paul M are both vastly experienced and should be listened to. Am sure you are Will....
2. There is a third way that builds on what both Nick and Paul say. I was thinking what I would have done as a teenage student of minimal means. Well, I would have bought second hand bigger frame and swapped the stuff across. Ride it for the rest of the summer and winter. Save up and buy a better summer bike for next year. Loads of advantages with this - you'll get to learn how the bike goes together and how to fix it, you'll know more about it all when you come to lay out wads of dosh next year on a better one, you can fettle your current stead so it becomes a purposeful winter bike with plenty of gears and proper guards that will hopefullyt get you through few more winters. Suggest you source another frame from say, eBay or the small ads in the Comic. Someone else in the club may have something gathering dust. You can get somthing back on your "old" frame on eBay. Budget for a few tools. The library is full of books about bike mechanics and the web is full of pages. Believe me; there's nothing difficult.
3. Much of the advice you've had on here confuses buying a bike of the right size with getting the right fit. Let me explain. You quote Giant bikes. These, I believe, come in just 5 frame sizes. They used to come in just 4. The days of 12 sizes in 1cm increments are long gone. You'd have to try hard to get the "wrong" size frame. If you know your current one is too small then get to work with a tape measure. Each manufacturer has a "spec" page with a diagram of the frame geometry. Work it out - do you want 2cm more reach, 4 cm more.....? Getting the "fit" is then more scientific, but you can do that at your leisure with help from clubmates and some judicious tweaks to saddle height and stem length. Suppliers of bikes even at the other end of the country, expect to help you swap stems etc with the help of the Royal Mail. And in the worst case this is what eBay is for.
Good luck
R
1. Nick S and Paul M are both vastly experienced and should be listened to. Am sure you are Will....
2. There is a third way that builds on what both Nick and Paul say. I was thinking what I would have done as a teenage student of minimal means. Well, I would have bought second hand bigger frame and swapped the stuff across. Ride it for the rest of the summer and winter. Save up and buy a better summer bike for next year. Loads of advantages with this - you'll get to learn how the bike goes together and how to fix it, you'll know more about it all when you come to lay out wads of dosh next year on a better one, you can fettle your current stead so it becomes a purposeful winter bike with plenty of gears and proper guards that will hopefullyt get you through few more winters. Suggest you source another frame from say, eBay or the small ads in the Comic. Someone else in the club may have something gathering dust. You can get somthing back on your "old" frame on eBay. Budget for a few tools. The library is full of books about bike mechanics and the web is full of pages. Believe me; there's nothing difficult.
3. Much of the advice you've had on here confuses buying a bike of the right size with getting the right fit. Let me explain. You quote Giant bikes. These, I believe, come in just 5 frame sizes. They used to come in just 4. The days of 12 sizes in 1cm increments are long gone. You'd have to try hard to get the "wrong" size frame. If you know your current one is too small then get to work with a tape measure. Each manufacturer has a "spec" page with a diagram of the frame geometry. Work it out - do you want 2cm more reach, 4 cm more.....? Getting the "fit" is then more scientific, but you can do that at your leisure with help from clubmates and some judicious tweaks to saddle height and stem length. Suppliers of bikes even at the other end of the country, expect to help you swap stems etc with the help of the Royal Mail. And in the worst case this is what eBay is for.
Good luck
R
My bike deffenitly is too small for me, and even though its been adapted best it can it still causes problems, I'm going to be writing letters soon to try get a refund or another bike in a bigger frame, but really I do want to buy a new bike, I understand there are advantages to using other parts of my old bike onto a new frame but the parts on my carrera are getting abit worn out so I'd end up buying new parts anyway.
I've been to haxby cycles and cycle heaven today, for £900 there was a cannondale but was too expensive, I went into cycle heaven and found this Genesis Aether in a 56, its £699 and then 10% off that and they should be able to swap the SPD SL pedals for SPD for free and the guy at the shop said it was very good value, specs in link:
http://www.ukbikesdepot.com/products.ph ... 16b0s6p522
Now the bike in for sale rob linked to seems to be better and for £500 http://www.cliftoncc.org/discussion/vie ... php?t=1125
Seems tempting but 54 frame might be too small?
I asked cycle heaven how much it would cost to convert the Genesis Aether to a tripple and they said £60.
I've been to haxby cycles and cycle heaven today, for £900 there was a cannondale but was too expensive, I went into cycle heaven and found this Genesis Aether in a 56, its £699 and then 10% off that and they should be able to swap the SPD SL pedals for SPD for free and the guy at the shop said it was very good value, specs in link:
http://www.ukbikesdepot.com/products.ph ... 16b0s6p522
Now the bike in for sale rob linked to seems to be better and for £500 http://www.cliftoncc.org/discussion/vie ... php?t=1125
Seems tempting but 54 frame might be too small?
I asked cycle heaven how much it would cost to convert the Genesis Aether to a tripple and they said £60.
-
MichaelCarter
- Posts: 185
- Joined: Fri May 18, 2007 12:16 pm
"I'm going to be writing letters soon to try get a refund "
Hold fire Will, I have written to them today, I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything.
Michael
Hold fire Will, I have written to them today, I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything.
Michael
Last edited by MichaelCarter on Mon Jun 09, 2008 4:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
CheersMichaelCarter wrote:"I'm going to be writing letters soon to try get a refund "
Hold fire Will, I've wrote to them today, I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything.
Michael
Still wondering about getting this bike from cycle heaven, can ring up to reserve it if I want it, looks good I asked them why it was so cheap has some good stuff on it.
I called in CH myself today and noticed the Genesis in the window; looks like good value and the kit on it is all reasonable. Will CH check you on the Bikefit jig for free and make any adjustments in terms of stem length etc for free?
I'm sure you'd need a 56 (at least) in most frame geometries - I've got a 54 and I'm under five nine.
I'm sure you'd need a 56 (at least) in most frame geometries - I've got a 54 and I'm under five nine.
I had a ride on the 56, could not tell if it was ok was in normal clothes and also SPD SL pedals where in the way, I'll drop in after college tommorow and have a look I think.PhilBixby wrote:I called in CH myself today and noticed the Genesis in the window; looks like good value and the kit on it is all reasonable. Will CH check you on the Bikefit jig for free and make any adjustments in terms of stem length etc for free?
I'm sure you'd need a 56 (at least) in most frame geometries - I've got a 54 and I'm under five nine.
That bike Dave C is selling really looks awsome but I dont know if I can fit 54 ok with some very small adaptions.
If the Genesis bike is good I'm going to buy that after college tommorow and ride it home slowely to get used to it.