Cycling for Noobs

89 watchers

halfpint Jan 2021 3:55pm, 26 Jan 2021 33,995 posts	0 halfpint Maz - get you being all knowledgeable about bikes. It’s almost like you’re a bona fide cyclist
AndyS Jan 2021 4:04pm, 26 Jan 2021 178 posts	0 AndyS @FF - due to the current situation, all the reachable bike shops are either closed, or "click & collect only", so test ride is nigh-on impossible. @DV - I have a lot of other health issues to be sure, but I'm 99.73% sure that the pain is a direct consequence of that bike. It may well be down to how it was set up, but given all the other problems I had with it, I'm glad to see the back of it. Given that every time I get on the Wattbike I get off feeling weaker, I figured that the best approach is to just stay off it, so it's now a really expensive clothes horse. I'm about 174cm(~5'8") with a 75cm(~29") inseam. Given a combination of my intended usage, and my old and creaky body, I figured a gravel bike would probably be my best bet - but they don't come cheap. I don't mind dropping the money on something that's going to work for me - but I don't want to throw it away on another expensive clothes horse.
MazH Jan 2021 4:11pm, 26 Jan 2021 11,262 posts	0 MazH hahaha! HP, I am about as far from a bona fide cyclist as it gets! I just absorb knowledge!
MazH Jan 2021 4:12pm, 26 Jan 2021 11,263 posts	0 MazH not ability!
Dvorak Jan 2021 4:29pm, 26 Jan 2021 21,885 posts	0 Dvorak I'm sure you would be thinking about spending a lot more, but have a look at: https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/bikes-available-stock/apollo-transfer-mens-hybrid-bike---18in-628108.html? At £140, I'm not claiming it'll be much good: but I'm pretty certain it will go, stop, and that the 18" frame would fit you. After you've found that out, and whether you want to do much cycling, you could buy something better and punt it or keep it as a hack. I used to have a thread about cheap bikes: all mine were, even the road bike, comparatively. (It went in a thread cull, unfortunately). But lots of people have got good use, and good fun, from bikes that others wouldn't even consider as bicycles. My MTB - just because I like it Currently though in need of some serious attention.
AndyS Jan 2021 4:52pm, 26 Jan 2021 179 posts	0 AndyS Thanks, but I'm not looking for a cheap bike to figure out if I'm going to cycle or not - I already know that I will (provided I can find a bike that doesn't leave me in agony after I've used it). What I'm trying to do is figure out how to figure out if the "something better" will cripple me or not. And since we're doing photos, here's the torture device - looks terrific, but I couldn't live with the pain. (Not to mention all the problems with the brakes, and the gears, and...)
AndyS Jan 2021 4:54pm, 26 Jan 2021 180 posts	0 AndyS ...and I should probably point out that I wasn't trying to ride it with the seat that low...
Dvorak Jan 2021 5:04pm, 26 Jan 2021 21,888 posts	0 Dvorak Not what I was expecting. I'll be absolutely blunt: I think that bike looks like an absolute piece of shit. And I looked it up: you can't produce a bike with that stuff, which works, for that price. I'm not surprised you had so many problems. I do sound like "one of those bike snobs" here, but really, there's a level you can't go below, and you found it. Spend that £300 on something basic, that fits, and you'll be fine. Like that Apollo above, but better.
AndyS Jan 2021 5:12pm, 26 Jan 2021 181 posts	0 AndyS And that's exactly why I didn't ask for advice on making this one work for me - I asked for advice on how to find a bike that suits. Since it seems like the only way is buy one, and sack it off if it doesn't, then I'm probably better off just abandoning the whole idea. Thanks for the help.
Dvorak Jan 2021 5:15pm, 26 Jan 2021 21,889 posts	0 Dvorak Sorry, maybe I was a bit too blunt. You've been given advice though. Basically, buy one that fits, however you go about it. I'd add, don't be swayed by something looking flash.