I want a push bike, but what to get ?

[stever1]

Ok here goes.
aged 62
erm, generously proportioned, very generously.
unfit.
what I do have is time, a fair bit of time.
so I was thinking of getting a push bike, I see there are a myriad of different types out there. So what do I get ?
it would just be for local roads. Preferable easily pedalled. I have tried a bike with big off road tyres which was hard going. The only thing I have realised is it has to be a road bike, of some sort.
need to get myself in gear as I’m thinking of doing the prostate cancer ride next month. 100 miles in August.
any advice gratefully received.

 

[MikeS]

Ebike commuter type bike, you will love it. You can then choose how much assistance you want/need.

I bought one recently and my expensive road bike doesn't get used now.

 

[Hoggyf]

Highly recommend an ebike, you still have to put the effort in but at a slightly lower effort rate if that makes sense, go and hire one for a day and see what you think

 

[steve hughes]

Well for my two penneth, a 100 mile in 6 weeks time is a big ask for someone who says they are unfit. OK reality check over.
For road riding you certainly don’t need fat tyres eg mtb ones. They will be very draggy and also wear out quick. So road tyres either 28/35 mm wide.

Depending on the terrain in NELincs eg flat or hilly really brings about the decision conventional bike or electric assist.

For out of the box enjoyment an electric assist ( E bike) will always allow you to be more adventurous with distance. Modern electric assist bikes give you support based on how hard you push the cranks around.

If you are in a flat area, then a hybrid bike eg more upright than a racer will work.

lastly I know it sounds like sucking eggs , but get a quick checkover before you start pushing hard on a bike. I cycled 100 miles last Thursday, it took me 6 hours. But if you include stops for lunch coffee etc I was out for 9 hours and thats a lot for someone who is brand new to cycling

 

[DC]

hi, well I do a lot of cycling road and off road , but that's mainly in winter. E bikes are ok to get fit on but when ou have a certain degree of fitness ,normal pedalling is the way to go. If you don't want a full on race bike with dropped bars, id go for a Hybrid type bike ,Specialised make great ones. 28mm /30mm tyres will be comfortable and durable. Look for some decent drive mechanism like Shimano 105 , this will give nice smooth gear changes and have a good long life if serviced regular. also try to get a bike fit so you know you are getting the correct size. You say you have not done any cycling and are unfit ? I think you will find a 100 mile ride quite tough next month if this is the case. just take time build up mileage and elevation. if you rush into big rides you will suffer, then it will put you off cycling good luck with your choice .

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[stever1]

I think I may have misled you all. It’s 100 miles during the month of August. Not in one go. My idea is to get a route of 3 to 5 miles and repeat it as I have time. As for the topography of N E Lincs, I’d say it’s a bay hilly, not big hill or mountains.

 

[ymfb]

If I could only have one bike it would be a gravel bike.

1 x meaning it has 11 or 12 gears, no front derailleur, avoid electronic shifting such as Di2, definitely get disc brake.

I ride a Cervelo Aspero, which is my gravel/winter bike. Two friends have Giant Revolts, both v happy with them.

Find a reputable local bike shop who not only supply but do bike fit and service.

join Strava.

 

[Udders]

Get an Ebike. It makes life so much easier to start with. Then once your fitness levels are up get a normal bike too.

 

[Davey B]

Depeding how hilly it is in the part of Lincolnshire you live...
If very gentle/flat, I'd get a decent flat barred hybrid and be prepared to tweek stuff like the saddle, the stem (you can get adjustable ones to raise the bars and bring them back a little) and fit decent Ergon grips combined with bar ends. That way you have multiple hand positions. I would not go for a drop handled barred bike. (This option, new, may be c £1200)

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If it is hilly (and I know parts of Lincolnshire are) I'd go with a 29er hard tail MTB and get the shop to swap the tyres for some semi slicks. This may well be over £2500 but there are cheaper options...
My wife has one of these (the lady version), as you can see, the saddle to bars isn't a huge distance so you have a pretty good upright position. She spends 2/3 of the time riding it switched o bvut with no assistance. She had the tyres swapped for these

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Don't be suckered into paying loads more for 625 or even 750wh battery....this Lapierre does c 70 miles and 5000 feet plus of climbing on one charge...on a 400wh battery.
I'm happy buying mail order as I've pottered about bikes all my life, for an ebike we went to a local dealer as we expect the odd niggle....hard to solve from 200 miles away if the local dealer is being arsey (as it wasn't bought there)
If you're happy to, PM me your postcode and I'll look on Strava and see what a 5 mile ride throws up with regard to climbing.

PS, whichever bike you get, the set up is crucial, if you aren't comfortable and it isn't the right size, you'll ride it twice and then it'll languish in the shed

 

[stever1]

Ok folks. All good info.
I don’t think it’ll be an E bike on cost grounds. At the moment I’m thinking it would be a hybrid one.
I’m assuming the saddle can changed to a comfortable one. the only other things to get would be a pump, puncture repair kit, saddlebag and helmet.
I’ve seen a chap near here regularly out on a Giant ( but it’s a racing bike ), are they any good ?

 

[stever1]

Daveyb
looking more closely at your post.. what’s the difference between a hybrid and a commuter bike pls.

 

[Davey B]

Giant are fine...as are most mainstream makes. I'd trawl facebook marketplace/ebay etc and get something hardly ridden and 1/4 of the new price

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Boardman Hybrid Pro...£1000 new...£330. Another £100 for saddle etc

 

[Davey B]

Daveyb
looking more closely at your post.. what’s the difference between a hybrid and a commuter bike pls.

Not much, to be honest. A commuter bike is likely to be a bit heavier and may well have mudguards and rear rack already fitted. There's a blurring between bikes now....whatever new 'type' of bike the industry can create, they can sell more bikes.

Ask yourself if you'd religiously stick to a riding schedule or whether you'd skip a ride if it was raining ? Do you need mudguards? Are you likely to do any shopping on it? or very long rides? So you don't really need a rack.
From experience....in your shoes I'd buy 2nd hand and see how I got on....if you really fall for it you can get your money back on the 2nd hand bike and go down the rabbit warren of new bikes and kit...if not, you'd not laid too much out

 

[stever1]

Giant are fine...as are most mainstream makes. I'd trawl facebook marketplace/ebay etc and get something hardly ridden and 1/4 of the new price

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Boardman Hybrid Pro...£1000 new...£330. Another £100 for saddle etc

That boardman looks good, but it’s too big . IIUC, I’ll need a medium frame. I’m only 175cm tall

 

[stever1]

Not much, to be honest. A commuter bike is likely to be a bit heavier and may well have mudguards and rear rack already fitted. There's a blurring between bikes now....whatever new 'type' of bike the industry can create, they can sell more bikes.

Ask yourself if you'd religiously stick to a riding schedule or whether you'd skip a ride if it was raining ? Do you need mudguards? Are you likely to do any shopping on it? or very long rides? So you don't really need a rack.
From experience....in your shoes I'd buy 2nd hand and see how I got on....if you really fall for it you can get your money back on the 2nd hand bike and go down the rabbit warren of new bikes and kit...if not, you'd not laid too much out

All good points.
not to bothered about mudguards, but a rack would be useful.

 

[Davey B]

That boardman looks good, but it’s too big . IIUC, I’ll need a medium frame. I’m only 175cm tall

Just an example......I'll leave it with you. (shove a wanted advert on here...there's loads on here with more money than sense who are likely to have a good bike sat idle in their shed/garage)

 

[Kitsilano]

Not technical advice but just to expand on something that you mentioned.... Invest in the saddle that fits your arse now, and consider changing over time as you lose weight AND invest in padded cycle shorts (and yes, you will get people taking the piss a out 'lycra clad middle-aged men', but ignore it!!).

I can say as a 'on-again, off-again' cyclist since a kid that if you want to stick with this new focus then nothing is going to stop your ambition more than a sore arse or uncomfortable saddle.

As for the bike.. After your initial achievements you might eventually opt for the convenience of a Brompton - foldable, tucks away in the boot of your car out of sight and worry-free. You can take on a train and go city-to-city with a good lock.

Good luck with your plan... Stick with it!

 

[OldCroc]

Giant are fine...as are most mainstream makes. I'd trawl facebook marketplace/ebay etc and get something hardly ridden and 1/4 of the new price

+1 ^ Neighbour who has not cycled for 30 years bought an e-bike from Giant a couple of months ago and took it straight back when he found he could not get it in his car! Then bought a commuter from Giant for +1k despite being shown many on Fbook and Gumtree for little money! He fell off and has hardly touched it since. I see another garage queen in the making.

 

[Davey B]

Invest in the saddle that fits your arse now, and consider changing over time as you lose weight AND invest in padded cycle shorts (and yes, you will get people taking the piss a out 'lycra clad middle-aged men', but ignore it!!).

Adding to the shorts issue...you can buy good cycle undershorts and wear a normal pair of shorts over the top...

Endura Padded Liner Shorts | Merlin Cycles

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[Udders]

Once you get your bike go tubeless. No more punctures.