Matt Cycle
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Well done on the miles Chris. 🙂 However, there's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing. 😉
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Cycling. New single speed bike.
- Thread starter Chris Hobson
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- single speed bikes.
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Well done on the miles Chris. 🙂 However, there's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing. 😉
Chris Hobson
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
"... there's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing."
I have heard this, I just have difficulty making myself believe it. The gym is so warm and cosy when it's p1$$ing down outside. Stationary cycling and running is pretty boring though.
I have heard this, I just have difficulty making myself believe it. The gym is so warm and cosy when it's p1$$ing down outside. Stationary cycling and running is pretty boring though.
Chris Hobson
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I have recently dropped off the wheels of my commuter bike at the bike shop to have some solid tyres fitted. Even with fairly new puncture resistant tyres I am suffering an annoying number of punctures at the moment. The Charge single speed bike has been pulled out of the gym and fitted with mudguards and brackets for lights. I have been taking it very easy over the hols so today's 15K test ride was my first bit of exercise of the new year. The display on the computer was a little faint so I put a new button battery in it. The mostly stationary mileage was 1761 which has now been lost. The mudguards worked well, some of the disused railway line is quite muddy so it was a good test.
Chris Hobson
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
The bike shop phoned to let me know that their supplier is out of stock of the tyres that I ordered and that it will be a few weeks before they get them. Meanwhile I have done three commutes on the Charge and realised that this is a little different from a quick spin around the block at the weekend on quiet country roads. The route to work is fairly flat but there are a few hills that involve standing on the pedals to get up. Junctions and roundabouts also require getting out of the saddle to generate sufficient acceleration. I would also not recommend this kind of bike for inexperienced cyclists due to the slightly odd geometry that means that your feet can foul the front wheel when turning tight corners and potentially tip you off. Still, although the bike is sometimes hard work, I tend to have a smiley face most of the time that I'm riding it. Meanwhile I have acquired an old school skewer for the rear wheel of my Planet X racing bike so that I can mount it on the turbo trainer.
Docb
Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Interesting thread because after retiring from my proper job, I spent 15 years running my own bike shop so I know a bit about cycling and cyclists. Some of the posters obviously know their bikes but could I offer a note of caution to anybody who is enthused by their comments and wants to get out and get a bike (a great idea), maybe their first for years.
First off, single speed cycling can be brilliant but it is an aquired taste and rarely for the beginner. The inability to freewheel, lack of gears and need to be able of work at a wide range of cadences can be problematic for even the most experienced cyclist let alone a beginner.
Second, With bikes you GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. Planet X bikes have been mentioned. They are cheap, not because they are brilliant value, they are cheap because they are cheap. Every corner that can be cut is cut. Some you can see but most cut corners you cannot see. Unless you know your bikes, don't buy one that "only needs assembling". Used to take me anything up to an hour to assemble and set up a bike and I had a full workshop with all the specialist kit and I knew what I was doing. There were some bikes, the cheap ones, that I would not go near because I knew they could not be assembled into a bike that was safe to ride.
My advice is to go to a proper bike shop, not a heavily advertising chain promising discounts. There you should get some good advice on what type of bike would best suit you and get properly sized. Most don't appreciate it but the most important thing about a bike is how well it fits you. No amount of gimmicry will compensate for an uncomfortable bike! Try several shops. You will know when you have found the right one, just like you know when you have found the right medical help for your diabetes.
Could go on for pages about bikes!
First off, single speed cycling can be brilliant but it is an aquired taste and rarely for the beginner. The inability to freewheel, lack of gears and need to be able of work at a wide range of cadences can be problematic for even the most experienced cyclist let alone a beginner.
Second, With bikes you GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. Planet X bikes have been mentioned. They are cheap, not because they are brilliant value, they are cheap because they are cheap. Every corner that can be cut is cut. Some you can see but most cut corners you cannot see. Unless you know your bikes, don't buy one that "only needs assembling". Used to take me anything up to an hour to assemble and set up a bike and I had a full workshop with all the specialist kit and I knew what I was doing. There were some bikes, the cheap ones, that I would not go near because I knew they could not be assembled into a bike that was safe to ride.
My advice is to go to a proper bike shop, not a heavily advertising chain promising discounts. There you should get some good advice on what type of bike would best suit you and get properly sized. Most don't appreciate it but the most important thing about a bike is how well it fits you. No amount of gimmicry will compensate for an uncomfortable bike! Try several shops. You will know when you have found the right one, just like you know when you have found the right medical help for your diabetes.
Could go on for pages about bikes!
Chris Hobson
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I buy from the internet as well as using my local bike shop. I also love my Planet X bike. It has served me well as a training bike and in triathlons. It took me a whole day to put it together but I enjoyed doing it and considered it a good use of my time. I intend to upgrade it in the future, starting with the wheels.
Docb
Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
My observations about Planet X were based on quite a long time in the bike business and information shared amongst others in the business. Currently the world is awash with cheap carbon composite frames. Some have got high end names on them although they have never been near the high end producer. If you want to see what I mean, get an endoscope and look at the inside of the tubes. If true to form they will not look the same as the outside. They are cheap because they are not well designed or well made and the only point to them is that they give people bragging rights in the pub - I've got a carbon frame and it only cost me £x. Any carbon composite framed bike costing under £2k will have a frame of this type. Fortunately most people who ride that sort of bike never ride them hard enough to highlight the deficiencies.
I still stand by my suggestion that anybody thinking of buying a bike without any experience should not buy a bike in a box. There are a couple of reasons for this. Anyone who is a bit handy can put one together but setting it up to make it safe to ride requires a lot of knowledge and skill. Keen riders aquire those skills as you have done but newbies to cycling don't have them. Get a couple of bike shop owners chatting over a beer and it's likely the conversation will turn to horror stories about self built bikes and what it has cost to put them right. Second reason is that once you have started to build it any warranty disappears. Any problems with the bike or its components and its down to you to foot the bill for putting it right. The people you bought it from will not want to know.
That said, I'm glad you like your bike, it clearly suits you and you enjoy riding it, so what more is there to be said 🙂.
I still stand by my suggestion that anybody thinking of buying a bike without any experience should not buy a bike in a box. There are a couple of reasons for this. Anyone who is a bit handy can put one together but setting it up to make it safe to ride requires a lot of knowledge and skill. Keen riders aquire those skills as you have done but newbies to cycling don't have them. Get a couple of bike shop owners chatting over a beer and it's likely the conversation will turn to horror stories about self built bikes and what it has cost to put them right. Second reason is that once you have started to build it any warranty disappears. Any problems with the bike or its components and its down to you to foot the bill for putting it right. The people you bought it from will not want to know.
That said, I'm glad you like your bike, it clearly suits you and you enjoy riding it, so what more is there to be said 🙂.
Chris Hobson
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I think that this discussion might be happening on the wrong thread really. There is a thread specifically about my Planet X bike here:
https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/airfix-kit-from-planet-x.63334/
I don't think that it is the supplier's fault if someone buys a bike in a box and isn't competent to put it together. Regarding carbon fibre frames, I suppose it should be obvious that you are going to get what you pay for. Planet X is a budget brand and is selling a budget frame. If other makers are putting high end badges onto budget frames as you say then who is committing the bigger sin? For me, the carbon frame is much lighter than a steel or aluminium one and it does the job that I bought it for. The rest of the parts are simply the generic components that you would get with any midrange racing bike, very similar to the specialized Allez although with a slightly better Shimano Ultegra gear set.
Having worked in the fixing things business all my working life I can confidently say that horror stories and examples of unbelievable idiocy are not unique to the cycle business.
https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/airfix-kit-from-planet-x.63334/
I don't think that it is the supplier's fault if someone buys a bike in a box and isn't competent to put it together. Regarding carbon fibre frames, I suppose it should be obvious that you are going to get what you pay for. Planet X is a budget brand and is selling a budget frame. If other makers are putting high end badges onto budget frames as you say then who is committing the bigger sin? For me, the carbon frame is much lighter than a steel or aluminium one and it does the job that I bought it for. The rest of the parts are simply the generic components that you would get with any midrange racing bike, very similar to the specialized Allez although with a slightly better Shimano Ultegra gear set.
Having worked in the fixing things business all my working life I can confidently say that horror stories and examples of unbelievable idiocy are not unique to the cycle business.
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