The yellow is mine, the white is my bros bike(Merida Race Pro):

http://www.dwpg.com/contentdata/images/127107533.pjpeg

http://develop.dwpg.com/easter/fenris/mtb.jpg

The ride I have now is a Merida Race, SRAM 9.0/X-9 equipment, Magura Louise discbrakes :D , Marzocci Bomber Z2 frontshock, handbuilt wheels and so on, so it's a pretty nice bike...but I really wanna get a new magnesium frame for it.

My bro just bought a "new" bike...used to belong to Gunn-Rita Dahle, Female MTB World Champion last year. It is soooo sexy! Same bike as below, but with Shimano XTR disc brakes:

Hey duckman, nice bikes. I used to have a crecent mtb a few years ago, but it wasn´t anything fancy, it got stolen anyway... What do you think about this one i´m getting , as soon as I´ve saved up. It retails about 30-40 000 kr where i live, but i´ve seen cheaper second hand ones on ebay.
http://www.trekbikes.com/images/bikes/2004/mountain/medium/liquid30.jpg

Looks very cool, but it's kida hard to see what equipment is on. Generally, though, unless you're planning on going downhill, I see no reason why you should get a full suspension bike...just get a kick-ass hardtail instead;)

I was... until the accident :rolleyes:

I'd love to get into biking, but there's just so much to learn I'm having a hard time knowing where to start.

I'd be riding in the city, so I wouldn't need a mountain bike. I don't have a bike right now.

What would your thoughts be on buying a bike off ebay? Good idea or bad? A decent starter bike can be fairly expensive, and as a beginner, I probably wouldn't be able to appreciate the finer points or a more expensive one.

Can anyone recommend some good cycling sites or forums that will start me off?

dunno how much you wanna spend or what brands are available in toronto, but my bro is selling bikes, and I'm sure he could recommend a model from Merida. What you're looking for is definitely some sort of hybrid (crossing between MTB and racing bikes)

I'm thinking about spending about 700 USD (I'm using USD because it's a better reference for everyone) although I could go higher if needed. Trek, Meridia, Giant, Cannondale are the brands I was looking at (used).

Yeah!, but it looks cool, and thats the main point :) hehe

Cool thing about this kind of suspension is that it is adjustable, if you don´t want any suspension at all, (if you´re on a flat long road, or whatever) it´s just to adjust it. I was thinking of starting to bike long rides, once I´m fit enough. perhaps down through asia, or africa, then I wouldn´t know how the roads would be, and I think this kind of suspension would be good. I can´t really differ the liquid system from the fuel ones.
(http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2004/mountain/index.jsp)

I´m gonna try and get a bike from ebay, cause the one i´m after isn´t too common in retail or 2nd hand around where i live. I guess it would be easier to find a 2:nd hand good hybrid bike, or any kind in Toronto, since it is a big city.

I am looking for writers and biking is a topic that I am lacking on the website. If you are interested, just send an article and your byline (I will link out to a site of your choice and share your e-mail if you like) - we need to grow the Sports section!

Thanks!

Jeremy

heck, yah.

roadie here. current ride is a 2001 Cannondale R-600. the bike is a coda/shimano 105 mix, but i've moved out most of the coda components, upgraded the front derrailleur and added some custom-built wheels (mavic open pros laced to ultegra hubs). and a lovely USE alien shock seatpost el husbando bought me last summer. love him.

How important is it for a beginner to worry about the components of a bike? Should I care about what front derrailleur or disc brake etc. comes with a bike?

How important is it for a beginner to worry about the components of a bike? Should I care about what front derrailleur or disc brake etc. comes with a bike?

components aren't bells and whistles; they're very important. some, however, more than others. front derailleur not so much, rear very.

for a small difference in price, the riding difference between shimano's sora and tiagra groups is huge. i'd suggest taking a gander at bicycling.com. they usually have a decent buyer's guide that might start to answer some if your questions. i can answer more too. :)

Whatabout Bontranger components, are they good?, Thats what the Trek bike that I´m after carries. Maybe I should just buy the ram and put other components on to it, that would give a kind of Lego experience to it aswell :) Like putting things together.

I'm thinking about spending about 700 USD (I'm using USD because it's a better reference for everyone) although I could go higher if needed. Trek, Meridia, Giant, Cannondale are the brands I was looking at (used).

I think you could get something like the one I have second hand for about 1000usd...it's about 5 years old, but still rocks. The biggest diff between this and the newer ones would be the frame.

did you know there is a model of pedal called an eggbeater?

extremely frustrating when searching the web for info on getting hold of eggbeaters.

did you know there is a model of pedal called an eggbeater?

extremely frustrating when searching the web for info on getting hold of eggbeaters.

sure.

Crank Brothers (http://www.crankbrothers.com/introduction.php)

Whatabout Bontranger components, are they good?, Thats what the Trek bike that I´m after carries. Maybe I should just buy the ram and put other components on to it, that would give a kind of Lego experience to it aswell :) Like putting things together.

Bontrager is decent. If I have my facts correctly, they were an independent company headed by wheel builder Keith Bontrager that was bought by Trek. I think Keith still designs the wheels, which are ridden by the USPS pro team.

I just sold my Merlin Agilis titanium bike with mostly Ultegra components. I also have my baby "TITUS Racer X" decked out with Maxm bars and seatpost, Manitous Black elite air, king wheelset, FSA carbon cranks, Sram XO rear der. and many various parts. Bike weight is 22.5 lbs. I will try and get a pic of it up soon.

http://www.obscurasite.com/jon/images/bicycles/.catalogimages/dscn3455-jpg-indexicon.jpg (http://www.obscurasite.com/jon/images/bicycles/dscn3455.jpg) http://www.obscurasite.com/jon/images/bicycles/.catalogimages/dscn3492-jpg-indexicon.jpg (http://www.obscurasite.com/jon/images/bicycles/dscn3492.jpg) http://www.obscurasite.com/jon/images/bicycles/.catalogimages/dscn7590-jpg-indexicon.jpg (http://www.obscurasite.com/jon/images/bicycles/dscn7590.jpg)

Bontrager is decent. If I have my facts correctly, they were an independent company headed by wheel builder Keith Bontrager that was bought by Trek. I think Keith still designs the wheels, which are ridden by the USPS pro team.

Thanx!, always nice to know what you´re buying. :tu:

Hi guys,

I was also thinking about getting started with some biking. I guess that I need some change to indoor cardio training!

I am a little bit confused though concerning chise of bike after visiting some local dealers. There are so many different type of bikes to chsoe from nowadays! Could someone here come with some advice?

I live in a big city and want to use the bike for everyday stuff like going to work and so. But (of course) I would want a bike for fitness training too. I think I would like something fast and simple but got stuck in the choise between a mtb with slicks and a fitness/cross bike.(spending limit ~1000eur)
Do anyone here have advice as to when I should chose which type? I would be very happy for some advice as the sun is slowly even getting to these parts of Gemany!

Thx Mattias

You need a hybrid bike. Bianchi has a nice series called Camaleonte, more specifically the Camaleonte 4. It's a really awsome bike with 105 racing equipment, aluminum frame and carbon fork.

http://www.bianchi.com/data/images/cam4_big.jpg

More info here: http://www.bianchi.com/php/page.php?id=1300&menu=41&lang=uk

Meridas counterpart, the Speeder T5, is a bit more sturdy, more MTB'ish, yet still a hybrid. Same high quality on the equipment, alu/magnesium frame, 105/XT equipment.

http://www.merida.com/db_data/bikes/750/speeder_t5.jpg

More info here: http://www.merida.com/s0_global/main_control.php?group0=bikes&group1=fitness&bikeId=38

Both bikes are highly recommended by my bro who's selling bikes, and he really knows what he's talking about.

My 4 last bikes has been Merida, and I've been very happy with all of them. No complaints whatsoever.

Hi Duckman,

I guess I'm in the same situation as Gurre. I want to start biking this season, but have been a bit lost in the "world of bikes". I used to to bike-riding WAY-back (when I was slim, fit, and had loads of energy to do loads of activities, but that was then, this is now), but I enjoyed it, and think I would now as well. However, I was thinking of starting out on my old bike that is not worth mentioning since it's not a good one, just to get started, and rather buy some gear as shorts, gloves and may be a better helm. I want to know if this is really something I'm going to do and enjoy as I used to, before spending a whole lot of cash on a bike that I don't use for what its' worth. Is that the bad decission to take, or should I really have a great bike to feel the fun with the sport?

Do you have the prices on the bikes you are mentioning? (Hybrides)

Do you know anything about Fuji Highway? Through work I can get it at a price range I am willing to spend to start with, if I'm getting a new now. (Suppose your'e having a good laugh now, hehe! :o )

Duckman,

thanks for your reply. Those bikes are really cool! :D It is definitely something like that I was thinking about. I just came back from a local dealer and wanted to sell me a Oreba, which is a Spanish brand. Do you know anything about them? The dealer suggested me to get a hardtail for the city though. He ment that they are more versatile then one of those fitnessbikes. :confused:

Do you know what that Merida bike would cost approximately(maybe your brother can come up with a good deal? ;) )

Regards

Mattias

xray: A hybrid is a crossing between a mountainbike(MTB) and a race bike. It has a lighter frame than a MTB, but a bit more sturdy frame than a race bike.

It also has bigger wheels, so you can go faster than with a MTB. The derallieurs(girsystemer på norsk) is much like the race systems, and the brakes are usually more like the MTBs.

It might be a good idea to start using your old bike if you're not sure you'll like it. However, if you buy a new bike, it will probably be so much better than your old one. It's like driving an old Firsta -85 versus a brand new car. Get the idea?

If you used to really like biking, I see no reason why that would've changed over the years, and I think I'd recommend start looking for a new one.

In the 5000-10000 NOK range, you'll get a lot of bang for your bucks, just make sure to stay away from bikes cheaper than 4500, cause they're usually pretty crappy.

There are usually huge differences in a 4000 bike and a 5000 bike, both the frame, derallieurs, suspensions if there are any at all, and the brakes. Please do not get a 4000 bike with suspension - they are most definitely pretty shitty, cause they've spent money on the suspension, and the other equipment then has to suffer greatly in quality.

The most important things on cheap bikes are brakes and derailleurs, then frame. Merida actually use the same aluminum frame on 4500-5000 NOK bikes now as my 5 year old 22 000 NOK has(which is why I want to get a new magnesium frame), so the development on frames has really seen a great progress the last few years.

...bit Fuji Highway? Never even heard of them...

Gurre: Oreba...doesn't ring a bell, and I'm no expert in the field, but I do have a clue on what's good when I see one.

For use in the city, you definitely don't need a full suspension bike. A hardtail is with suspension fork, and a hard tail, hence the name, and is generally what I'd recommend too. Which is basically what most hybrids/fitness bikes has nowadays.

I asked my bro about hybrid bikes below 1000 euro, and these were the ones he suggested. And they're definitely not more expensive in Germany than in Norway...

Thanks Duckman for great reply. Might it be that your brother knows about the Fuji highway bike? The normal price for it is 8.500 NKR, but we can get it for 4.900 NKR. You can find it on www.eurotex.no ...

What are the prices of those you mentioned? Way out of my league? I'm sure I'll enjoy bike-riding again, just that I'm (yet) not as fit as I used to be, and it's a H... og a hill up to my house..... Of course I can walk, which I guess I won't until I fall of the bike anyway. :db:

Can you - through your brother may be - suggest any good bike retailers here in Oslo, where I live?

Duckman,

I am sorry but there was a typo there, the name should be "Orbea". I attached a picture. The components are allthrough Shimano Deore and there is a DNS suspension. I would be able to select tyres and would then go for some street ones with little profile. What do you think about that?

Regards Mattias

I was... until the accident :rolleyes:
Yes, I was once an avid cyclist until it dawned on me that there were two types of cyclists - those who have already been hurt and those who are going to be hurt. :nod:

I live in Wichita Falls, TX which is host to the annual "Hotter N Hell Hundred" each year. It's a hundred mile ride held during the heat of the Texas summer. It attracts about 14,000 riders each year. They have shorter routes for the novices. I last rode the 100 mile route in 1996 and gave up the sport shortly thereafter when a good friend was hurt very badly.

About 6 weeks ago, I started riding again as I was tired of staring at the wall for my cardio. It's not as much fun but I feel like it's much safer when riding alone. It only takes one stupid rider in a pack to bring down everyone.

I've entered myself in a 150 mile, two day ride on May 1 and 2. I entered myself so that I'd be forced to train. It's a benefit ride for Muscular Sclerosis and my company is one of the sponsors so I can't back out. I thought it would be a good way to put the pressure on myself.

Mattias, with my zero knowledge about bikes, I can say it's nice looking anyway :D

Those biking accidents can be more than nasty... Working at an ICU have told me that. So I'll go fairly "slow" or at least as safe as I can. Hope for the safety with you guys, as well :tu:

Road guy here. I do ride a Gary Fisher MTB during the winter though.

I don't want to scare anyone away but if you are just getting into biking, try riding on some rural roads first. Car drivers can get crazy at times. I read somewhere that 90% of all car-bike collisions happen when the driver and the rider have eye contact.

I had dog or dogs (notice the plural ;) ) chase me, truck driver pour some questionable liquid on me, stupid young kids throw king size McD drink at me from a passing car (surprisingly this one happened multiple times), drivers cutting me off, driving me off the road etc. Luckily I managed so far without any real accidents but you do have to be careful.

I just had my bro to look at this thread, and this is what he has to say:

Gurre: Quite nice bike(his reference is a 4000 euro bike), except for the front derailleur. It will need a lot of maintainance and lube, because the tracking is actually a tiny bit too narrow. If you can't be assed with the regular maintainance, he suggest you move up or down one class for the front derailleur.

xray: He's more than scheptical to the mechanic disc brakes. It is virtually a no-name, and you'll have a really hard time finding spareparts for it. You'd be much better off with regular breakes. Problem with this bike is that there's no way you can mount regular brakes on it. So what will you do when the breaks needs replacement or service?

Another this is where do you get service for your bike, and this is a webshop...he certainly wouldn't be thrilled if you came by his shop with this bike for warranty work...

Because of the disc brakes and because of the mail order thing, he'd suggest that you take a look in a local shop, and he recommends Merida Crossway 8500 or 8700. Both are in the same pricerange as the Fuji one, but Merida is huge in Norway, you'll get excellent service where ever you are, and there's most certainly no problems with spareparts.

Who knows...maybe you can get a nice discount on the 8700 2003 modelnow as the 2004 models are out...

The bikes I mentioned for Gurre is in the 8000-12000 NOK range....As for retailers in Oslo, and my bro works in an MX shop, I guess I'll have to recommend one of those. I'm not familiar in your area, but you could always take a look at http://www.mx-sport.no/ under Forhandlere.

Hope this helps;)

Thanks D, you're great. I'll consentrate on my skiingtrip first of all, try out my old bike afterwards - if no snow has landed in the Country of Santa Clause while gone - and then get back to you. I assure you, I'll NOT buy the Fuji :d_wink: And wow do I want a new bike now... :nod:

Thanks Duckman(and your brother!),

that is some helpful information that I will keep in mind. I still have not decided wether I go for a MTB that is street tuned or for one of those hybrids. I will definitely go and check one of those Merida's out today.
They look great and very fast! (I want one :drool: )

Mattias

Hi guys,

after spending tons of times at different dealersm reading magazines and trying quite some bikes I finally bought one!

As I stated earlier in the thread, I was looking for something for everything basically and at a decent cost too. Impossible I thought in the beginning of my search. After adjusting what I felt was a decent price to pay for a bike(it was a long time ago I bought my last bike...) I managed to find a compromise. The "compromise" came yesterday and I am more then satisfied. Now there is no reason for me not to do cardio anymore...

Here are the specs and picture of my new beauty! :D

Scott Sportster P1:

Fork »Suntour NRX 9100 Lockout, Air System, 60 mm

Cassette »Shimano LX 11-32

Rear Der »Shimano XT 750 27-Speed

Front Der »Shimano LX

Shifters »Shimano LX

Brakes »Magura HS 11

Crankset »Shimano LX 44/332/22 w CG


Gurre

Awesome, Gurre, congratulations! It's always exciting to bring a new baby home.

:jumping:

(Yes, I know I'm certifiable, thanks.)