Hi all! Newbie to Road Cycling

Archibald

Adelaide - brilliant! enjoy the rides down to and through mclaren vale and the wineries!!
most gear questions can be sorted by trawling through the 'cycling equipment' forum - some good info in there!
just make sure you get a good fitting with your new bike!
and enjoy it!

jamesc

Adam

Have you consider a frame that is a mix of aluminium and carbon so that you could get better componentry such as full 105?

In terms of equipment I reckon the minimum is:
Lycra shorts and jersey (see probikekit.com for some cheap deals)
Computer with cadence either wired or wireless
Lights if you are riding at night
Road shoes
Helmet
Pump
Two spare tubes
Multi-tool

Regards

James

mikesbytes

"Lights" I missed one

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Flavzz

yeah i have definately thought about it mate. Any suggestions for a specific bike that falls into that category?? I just havent found much that rivals the ocr c3 for value for money especially in a full carbon frame. Also take into account that i got it for $1900. So im all ears if there is anything around that mark that you think would be better.. cheers mate

jamesc

I think you got a very good deal and you can always upgrade your componentry as it wears out! I can't think of anything in that price range.


James

artemidorus

Almost without exception, Giant offers the best value for any bike type.

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Albert 50

....probably true. One way they help to keep their costs down is by not increasing their chain stay length on the bigger sizes to suit tall ppl who ride with the seat a fair way back . How are you getting on with your rear wheels these days btw

Flavzz

thanks for all your comments guys, after researching bikes for the past few months i certainly cant find anything within $600 of the giant in carbon frame and good alround package. just have to pay it off now!!

Does anyone know what a good computer would be? I dont want to have to fork out in another 6 months for a better one so I might as well get something fairly decent now.... And where to buy them, i noticed ebay sells plenty well below bike shop prices...

artemidorus

Broke my first spoke in months yesterday at "Loop the Lake". That makes 5 broken spokes over 10 months on my latest rear wheel. Not too bad. I feel like I'm keeping up at present. Got myself a tensiometer and the drive side spokes are still in pretty even tension. Rim still perfectly true after each replacement.

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artemidorus

Do you want cadence? Altitude? Heart rate? Downloadability? (Power? )
Remember that most ebay purchases come with no warranty. That said, I'd buy it on ebay and gamble.

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Flavzz

I would like cadance, heart rate and maybe power, dont think i really need altitude,download at this stage. What would u recommend? and how much?

artemidorus

I use the Polar 720i, but it sounds like it's more than you need. Polar products are good, but there are good competitors. There is a lot of info on this forum - search it.

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Flavzz

Ok thanks mate. How much was your Polar?

matagi

Just to give you two extremes .... I have a Sigma BC1600 (now replaced by the BC1606L) which gives you cadence and my husband has the Garmin Edge 305 which is a GPS with cadence, HR, gradient, downloads, etc, etc.

My Sigma cost $50 (with cadence), his Edge cost $400 (with HR and cadence). Mine is a wired system, his is a wireless system.

So you should consider what is it you MUST have as compared to what you would like to have and make your decision accordingly. For me, I had to have cadence but didn't care if the system was wired or wireless and HR wasn't/isn't that important to me (if I'm having trouble breathing, I'm working too hard).