see aldi and lidl special buys coming upMountain bike advice
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Yorkshire Andy
- Posts: 9077
- Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2013 4:06 pm
Re: Mountain bike advice
Get some padded shorts see aldi and lidl special buys coming up
see aldi and lidl special buys coming upIf your roughing it, Your doing it wrong
Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
Re: Mountain bike advice
I started out with an old ladies bicycle that was dumped in a back garden when the tenant moved out, nothing wrong with it, basic model with 5 gears, had it for years up and down to the allotment, never had to do anything to it, sold it recently when we bought a pair of nearly new hybrid bikes, but TBH I wished I'd kept that old bike.
Adapt or Die, there is no middle ground.
Re: Mountain bike advice
When we are all back from our trips, must get my fold up Brompton and the kids' bikes out of the garage, where they're mouldering away. DH doesn't have one - he just keeps falling off 
. Still some time this summer to get out there when we get back. The one thing I need for it is a basket or pannier, so that I can nip along to the shop to get a few bits 'n bobs. It's a bit of a walk and I always take the car 
.
. Still some time this summer to get out there when we get back. The one thing I need for it is a basket or pannier, so that I can nip along to the shop to get a few bits 'n bobs. It's a bit of a walk and I always take the car .
Re: Mountain bike advice
Love going out in the summer on the bike, I have a small bag on the front that will hold a bottle of water and a sandwich lunch with snacks and a very small box of first aid bits. For my phone, keys and cash I have a miniature purse/bag that clips into either a belt loop or under the saddle.FEISTY wrote:When we are all back from our trips, must get my fold up Brompton and the kids' bikes out of the garage, where they're mouldering away. DH doesn't have one - he just keeps falling off
Behind every great man is an even greater woman. She carried you, raised you and made you who you are.
Re: Mountain bike advice
My thoughts on bikes:
Buy second hand and get a branded bike - not a halford special.
Try these - not a complete list, but start of a list of makes who make decent bottom end bikes.
Trek, Giant, Specialized, GT, Marin...there are others, glance through a Mountain Bike Magazine and you'll see them. You'll get far more bang for your buck than a Bike Shaped Object from Halfords.
Working bits:
Tyres - they stay pumped up? Good.
Brakes - they work? If they are stuck, does a bit of WD40 sprayed down the inside of the cable cover sort it? If they don't work well enough there are various adjuster screws that will tighten the cable if you twist them.
Stick some oil on the chain - not WD40, lubricating oil.
Mostly, you are good to go.
If the gears don't work it is either because they aren't lined up properly - there are two screws to move them up or down, it's a fiddle but you'll get there. or because the chain is stretched (get a new one).
Other than that, bikes generally are very easy, you just need the right tools. the right tools don't cost much, a complete set is say £20 (Draper). Frankly though, you probably have them already, apart froma couple of specialist ones you probably won't need.
Size - sit on the saddle, tip toes on the ground.
If you have to lean too far to reach the handlbars it will get uncomfortable, you can move the saddle forwards a tad, or the handlebars nearer a tad by loosening the screws that keep them in place. (tighten them back up). Hopefully you'll notiuce this before you buy.
Trek's have pretty comfey saddles usually... Bontanger make decent inner tubes.
Frankly, most of what you really need to know you will find out the hard way - so cycle with friends.
Get a helmet. I've cycled alot, even competitively. Many mates have been saved by helmets.
Get gloves - gravel rash is no fun on the ride home.
The other thing - cycling gets you places walking a driving doesn't - well a mountain bike does - you'll find better routes, better hidey places, better shortcuts...all better.
Buy second hand and get a branded bike - not a halford special.
Try these - not a complete list, but start of a list of makes who make decent bottom end bikes.
Trek, Giant, Specialized, GT, Marin...there are others, glance through a Mountain Bike Magazine and you'll see them. You'll get far more bang for your buck than a Bike Shaped Object from Halfords.
Working bits:
Tyres - they stay pumped up? Good.
Brakes - they work? If they are stuck, does a bit of WD40 sprayed down the inside of the cable cover sort it? If they don't work well enough there are various adjuster screws that will tighten the cable if you twist them.
Stick some oil on the chain - not WD40, lubricating oil.
Mostly, you are good to go.
If the gears don't work it is either because they aren't lined up properly - there are two screws to move them up or down, it's a fiddle but you'll get there. or because the chain is stretched (get a new one).
Other than that, bikes generally are very easy, you just need the right tools. the right tools don't cost much, a complete set is say £20 (Draper). Frankly though, you probably have them already, apart froma couple of specialist ones you probably won't need.
Size - sit on the saddle, tip toes on the ground.
If you have to lean too far to reach the handlbars it will get uncomfortable, you can move the saddle forwards a tad, or the handlebars nearer a tad by loosening the screws that keep them in place. (tighten them back up). Hopefully you'll notiuce this before you buy.
Trek's have pretty comfey saddles usually... Bontanger make decent inner tubes.
Frankly, most of what you really need to know you will find out the hard way - so cycle with friends.
Get a helmet. I've cycled alot, even competitively. Many mates have been saved by helmets.
Get gloves - gravel rash is no fun on the ride home.
The other thing - cycling gets you places walking a driving doesn't - well a mountain bike does - you'll find better routes, better hidey places, better shortcuts...all better.
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Ahastyatom
- Posts: 101
- Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2014 1:26 pm
Re: Mountain bike advice
FEISTY wrote: The one thing I need for it is a basket or pannier, so that I can nip along to the shop to get a few bits 'n bobs.
Aldi had the wire mesh front baskets at the weekend https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/s ... ke-basket/ may be of some use.
Hasty
Re: Mountain bike advice
Thanks for the advice Adrian that is quite reassuring. I've been browsing at a couple of different cycle forums and they are saying words that I haven't even heard of so it overwhelmed me a bit.
Re: Mountain bike advice
I adore my Brompton. I had it custom built, back when I was rich!FEISTY wrote:When we are all back from our trips, must get my fold up Brompton and the kids' bikes out of the garage, where they're mouldering away. DH doesn't have one - he just keeps falling off
so versatile. Get it oiled up and sorted- they are the only bike that hold their price second hand. AND British made.In three words I can sum up everything I have learned about life: It goes on.
Robert Frost.
Covid 19: After that level of weirdness ,any situation is certainly possible.
Me.
Robert Frost.
Covid 19: After that level of weirdness ,any situation is certainly possible.
Me.
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Yorkshire Andy
- Posts: 9077
- Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2013 4:06 pm
Re: Mountain bike advice
ggc wrote:Thanks for the advice Adrian that is quite reassuring. I've been browsing at a couple of different cycle forums and they are saying words that I haven't even heard of so it overwhelmed me a bit.
Ask away on here I'll try my best to keep it simple or translate any thing you don't understand
If your roughing it, Your doing it wrong
Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
Re: Mountain bike advice
my advice on buying bike?
if you won't go offroad buy hybrid and avoid cheap bicycles. (mine costed above 400 and wouldn't go down below 350)
I remember one lass from my work bought some 70 quid bicycle, came to work once and never used it again. If you want bicycle buy something better - buying quality is not a waste of money, paying 100 for useless shite is a waste of money
seek bicycles with models of previous years. for example year 2014 model will cost 500quid, and same bicycle with different frame colour will cost 20-30% less, because it is 2013 model. also frame size matters a lot.
for cheap bikes I recommend: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com
lot's of discounts, for example: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ghos ... -prod81696 - hardtail MTB with 44% discount, way better to buy than Halfords full price bikes imo - I am not saying they are bad, you can get something good for 500 quid there, but here you have a bike at nearly half the original price and 2014 same model costs 550.
as about servicing - you will probably find lots of films on youtube no how to maintain and fix things
if you won't go offroad buy hybrid and avoid cheap bicycles. (mine costed above 400 and wouldn't go down below 350)
I remember one lass from my work bought some 70 quid bicycle, came to work once and never used it again. If you want bicycle buy something better - buying quality is not a waste of money, paying 100 for useless shite is a waste of money
seek bicycles with models of previous years. for example year 2014 model will cost 500quid, and same bicycle with different frame colour will cost 20-30% less, because it is 2013 model. also frame size matters a lot.
for cheap bikes I recommend: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com
lot's of discounts, for example: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ghos ... -prod81696 - hardtail MTB with 44% discount, way better to buy than Halfords full price bikes imo - I am not saying they are bad, you can get something good for 500 quid there, but here you have a bike at nearly half the original price and 2014 same model costs 550.
as about servicing - you will probably find lots of films on youtube no how to maintain and fix things