Might have to get a road bike, anyone help?

development_cycle · Feb 3, 2012

I have been getting involved more and more with the local community and the idea of creating a cycling hub here in the town and surrounding area.

It has been decided that a 60 mile road race would be a good way of attracting interest and starting the locals thinking about a cycle club!

I don't do road bikes, anyone help out? Oh and my budget is next to nothing, so any suggestions old or new, makes that are ok but don't hold their value, even sizing, I wouldn't have the faintest idea what size road bike I would need. Or just tell me it's a ridiculous idea even thinking about doing anything other than cheering on and manning a stand of some sort on the day!

bolly · Feb 4, 2012

If your on a budget why bother with a road bike an old ridgid mtb weighs nothing just fit a long stem flat bar and bar ends and some slicks. Got 1.2 continental gator skins on mine and it flys along with mavic 717 rims they will take a 1 inch tyre over 100 psi done up to 90 mile rides on these

development_cycle · Feb 4, 2012

Have to be honest, never thought of using an MTB. Not sure I'd really want to on a 60 mile road race either. Food for thought though.

GT-Steve · Feb 4, 2012

look for old Raleigh or Peugeot bikes on ebay, they can picked up quite cheap, and are of reasonable quality.

As for sizing, it purely personal, but if you get something late 80;s, early 90's, you're looking at 23-1/4" frame if you're around the 6-foot mark??

development_cycle · Feb 4, 2012

I am a smidge under 5'11" but all the sizes I've seen have been in metric, 52 etc.

bolly · Feb 4, 2012

Its a good excuse if your a bit slower than others but roadies hate it when you pass them especially when there wearing their lycra on their £4000 carbon bike just make sure your mtb looks a bit tatty and give them a loud hello when you pass

development_cycle · Feb 4, 2012

bolly":2jzifc1f said:
Its a good excuse if your a bit slower than others but roadies hate it when you pass them especially when there wearing their lycra on their £4000 carbon bike just make sure your mtb looks a bit tatty and give them a loud hello when you pass

GT-Steve · Feb 4, 2012

maybe roughly a 21" frame for you then (although I'm no expert)

which is 53.3cm in the witchcraft that is metric sizing.

Raging_Bulls · Feb 4, 2012

Divide the metric number by 2.54 (or 2.5 if you're lazy) and you'll have a frame size in inches.

Funnily enough, I prefer inches when it comes to frame size, even though I was raised with the metric system.

JamesM · Feb 4, 2012

bolly":25cb56om said:
If your on a budget why bother with a road bike an old ridgid mtb weighs nothing just fit a long stem flat bar and bar ends and some slicks. Got 1.2 continental gator skins on mine and it flys along with mavic 717 rims they will take a 1 inch tyre over 100 psi done up to 90 mile rides on these

Agreed. The other advantage with older MTB's is they will take big chainrings up front. I have an old Avalanche with a 50/39/28 up front and an 11-28 at the back. It has 28 spoke (DT revs

) 717s, 1.25 tyres at 100psi and tri-bars. It's wicked fast and with the Prestige frame/fork and a ti Flexstem it's really comfy. I rode it 300 miles in 3 days last year. The people I rode with were all on roadbikes and I didn't feel disadvantaged, in fact I was out front on the tri-bars towing them along more often than not

Might have to get a road bike, anyone help?

development_cycle

bolly

development_cycle

GT-Steve

development_cycle

bolly

development_cycle

GT-Steve

Raging_Bulls

Sbike Fan

JamesM

Senior Retro Guru

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