New to cycling

[geckoGT]

Teschner is a very good brand and make bikes up to the $10,000 dollar bracket. They are very popular here in Bris with roadies and for a good reason, they are good frames and that bike is a very good buy, it is easily a $4000 bike. Ultegra components are competition level stuff and will last many years if you are doing regular fitness type rides.

If you don't buy it I will, it would be great for my daughter.

[blueoval]

Hey Gecko, would you rate Ultegra components higher than 105's? i.e. reliability, strength, durability etc.

[ratter]

Ultegra is better than 105, Dura-Ace is better than Ultegra, Di2 is better again

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by ratter

Di2 is better again

That is open to a lot of discussion, they fight about that on cycling forums for hours.

[ratter]

Originally Posted by geckoGT

That is open to a lot of discussion, they fight about that on cycling forums for hours.

yeah I know, just like we have arguments about whether to go turbo or V8

The only downside I can see with Di2 is battery and wiring connectors, everything else is a positive, just too dear for me

[TZENU]

Nice bike for the price !!! Very good buy

The only thing I can think of with buying a second hand carbon fibre bike is to look carefully at the frame. CF may lose some of it's integrity if it's been dropped hard... But if it's never been ridden your laughing!!!


And yeh ultegra is a higher rank than 105s then dura ace

[geckoGT]

Much better. They have better quality bushings in the deraileurs, better quality chain and sprockets, bearings in the brake pivots instead of bushes and will tolerate moderate to high mileage much better.

Function is similar to 105 but Ultegra retains its optimum function a lot better, 105 will lose function more rapidly as the lower quality pivot points wear and become sloppy.

Ultegra also has a reasonable weight saving too.

In the Shimano upper levels the line up is 105, Ultegra and Durace. The difference between Ultegra and Durace is often questioned because in terms of quality the difference is not huge. The difference between 105 and ultegra is a different story. Put it this way, I would love to find a cost effective way to get my daughter off her 105 equipped bike and onto a Ultegra equipped bike.

[blueoval]

Interesting information guys. I'm learning a lot just from this thread alone.

Sorry to Sam for hijacking the thread. I am just enthusiastic about cycling that's all and the more I can learn, the more I can be aware with other products out there.

[TZENU]

IMO after test riding an Avanti equipped with Di2, it felt alot smoother than the mechanical shift but whether it is worth the extra i'm not so sure.

They have an Ultegra Di2 system which is due late October, which hopefully, is a smaller premium over the Ultegra 6700 (mechanical) system in comparison to the premium you pay for Dura Ace Di2 over the Dura Ace 7900 (mechanical) system

[blueoval]

I've been browsing ebay and I spotted this for sale.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Azzurri-U...item415d6cb901

Thoughts?

[gtfpv]

Originally Posted by blueoval

I've been browsing ebay and I spotted this for sale.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Azzurri-U...item415d6cb901

Thoughts?

BARGAIN !!!! interesting to see how much it goes for . i wouldnt buy unsen though because heaps of people sell problems . and carbon frames often are off loaded this way . .
surprising here , nothing along entry level these are all high mid range bikes for 1/3 to 1/4 of retail prices .

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by gtfpv

BARGAIN !!!! interesting to see how much it goes for . i wouldnt buy unsen though because heaps of people sell problems . and carbon frames often are off loaded this way . .
surprising here , nothing along entry level these are all high mid range bikes for 1/3 to 1/4 of retail prices .

That's what caught my eye. It had some dam good componentry and starting from a good price, but yes, buyer be ware I could tell. If I was truly keen I would be inspecting this prior to bidding. other than that it's a great find.

Originally Posted by sgt_doofey

Yeah, they have an escape route to cut out Mengler's Hill, but it knocks 19kms off of your ride, so if you do the 33km Tanunda to Tanunda loop and take the escape route, you end up only cycling 14kms.

That kind of defeats the purpose I reckon using that shortcut. Sure if your skills arent up to it, by all means take that route, but I like to challenge myself and try new things. If you are going on the BUPA tour and are considering doint this section of the challenge, let me know and I will join ya.

Originally Posted by TZENU

Not bad at all especially with the Dura ace groupset.. I'd be going over it with a fine tooth comb if you were keen on it.

Also remember that a carbon fibre bike is going to be more rigid than an alloy framed bike, so it may take a little longer to get use to it from a comfort point of view... IMHO

Thanks for the tip. I doubt I will ever get into competitive riding. But a good quality road bike with cabon forks and maybe seat post and with 105 or Ultegra components will suit me just fine. I just got to keep an eye out on bargains. Am thinking of sticking with my LBS for fitment to be on the safe side too. Sure I'll pay more, but I will at least get the best advice and help I need when the time comes.

[sgt_doofey]

Originally Posted by blueoval

That kind of defeats the purpose I reckon using that shortcut. Sure if your skills arent up to it, by all means take that route, but I like to challenge myself and try new things. If you are going on the BUPA tour and are considering doint this section of the challenge, let me know and I will join ya.

I've signed up to do the 79km ride from Mt Pleasant to Tanunda Shav. Good luck with the ride though. It should be a good ride.
Definitely look in to Amy's ride though. It's a much easier ride. You could tackle the 60km route pretty easy. The only real climb is at the start for the start of the Southern Expressway. It's all down hill to the end of the expressway and flat along out by the coast in to McLaren Vale.

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by sgt_doofey

I've signed up to do the 79km ride from Mt Pleasant to Tanunda Shav. Good luck with the ride though. It should be a good ride.
Definitely look in to Amy's ride though. It's a much easier ride. You could tackle the 60km route pretty easy. The only real climb is at the start for the start of the Southern Expressway. It's all down hill to the end of the expressway and flat along out by the coast in to McLaren Vale.

Thanks mate, I'm gonna give it a crack. (Amy's ride) If the mrs pikes out, I might give the 60km route a good go. Thing is I don't want to bite off more than I can chew. Is there a 45km section? I might just have a crack at that. Either way Amy's ride is happening. I can't resist the temptation to ride the expressway with 3000 other cyclists. It will be a buzz.

If I give the BUPA challenge a go, maybe I'll catch up with you there.

[TZENU]

Originally Posted by blueoval

I've been browsing ebay and I spotted this for sale.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Azzurri-U...item415d6cb901

Thoughts?

Not bad at all especially with the Dura ace groupset.. I'd be going over it with a fine tooth comb if you were keen on it.

Also remember that a carbon fibre bike is going to be more rigid than an alloy framed bike, so it may take a little longer to get use to it from a comfort point of view... IMHO

[EB#]

Check out this bike... (just for a few laughs).
http://canberra.gumtree.com.au/c-Stu...AdIdZ314517680

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by EB92

Check out this bike... (just for a few laughs).
http://canberra.gumtree.com.au/c-Stu...AdIdZ314517680

haha. interesting write up. That bike will be a buyer be ware kind of purchase.

[sgt_doofey]

Sorry Shav. I think the only options for Amy's ride is 30, 60 or 100. The 60km ride is pretty flat after the expressway so you should do it no worries. From memory, if you look at the web site, it should have a route map with profile. Otherwise, something like mapmyride.com will.

Let me know if you do the TDU.

[gtfpv]

if your not a regular rider 60km isnt a cinch . i dont know how old you are or how much you ride . but if you arent doing 20km rides a few times a week , your going to struggle doing 60kms in one go .

[bartsau]

I have now been riding on a road bike for about 6 years of something. I also have a nice mountain bike.

Now I have also worked in a bike shop on weekends for the past 2 years or so and have certainly learnt a lot.

A few things to consider before you buy a bike are:
What sort of riding are you going to be doing? easy rides with the family, to work, fitness only, road or off road?
How much do you want to spend?
How likely is it that you will actually use it?

If you have had any back, neck or shoulder injuries be aware that a road bike is about the worst thing you can buy. On a hybrid you sit up higher than on a mountain bike, which sits you more upright then a flat bar road bike/commute bike which is better than your road bike.

You do at the end of the day pay for what you get! The more you spend, the lighter, stronger and better equipped a bike will be. Whether this is wheels, drive train components, seats there will be improvements. Any reputable bike shop will not stock anything that you would not consider. They will all do the job, just some will do it better!

Carbon or not? Carbon fibre will be lighter and stiffer than alloy framed bikes. They also believe it or not are a lot comfier. I would not believe my boss until I got my new bike (Avanti Quantum Team 2010).

New or second hand? No second hand bike will come with any kind of warranty! But you can get lucky with second hand bikes I have in the past myself. Beware especially with Carbon fibre framed bikes as the frames can be cracked very easily. Just over tightening the seat post can crack the frame! Also, I know where I work we offer as a store free servicing for the first 12 months. A general service is worth $60. If you buy second hand and things need adjusting then you have to pay to have it serviced unless you can do it yourself.

Size: Don't be put off by the size of a bike ie; it is 57cm and you need a 54cm. Every model has a different geometry to the frame and there are not many out there that are directly comparable. There is a fair amount of variation. You may fit on an Avanti 56.5cm but you may also fit a Scott 52cm.

Just a few points to consider. I could keep on going but I would be here typing all night.

The first bike I bought was an Avanti team corsa for $1200 back in 2004-2006. Can't remember exactly when. I ended up snapping the gear cable and chain within about 2 weeks. I had to spend about $350 before it was up and running properly. Also, it had been used for triathlons and the frame had started to corrode, there were hair line fractures of the seat tube and a few other small problems. I did end up riding it until the start of last year however, I had replaced the frame, the wheels and just about the entire drive train.

Just be careful about diving in the deep end. Think about what you want, do some homework and then make your decision. Don't be pushed into buying anything EVER as you may regret it later on.

Sorry for the waffle but I hope this may be of some help to those looking at getting into cycling!

Cheers, Rhys

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by bartsau

I have now been riding on a road bike for about 6 years of something. I also have a nice mountain bike.

Now I have also worked in a bike shop on weekends for the past 2 years or so and have certainly learnt a lot.

A few things to consider before you buy a bike are:
What sort of riding are you going to be doing? easy rides with the family, to work, fitness only, road or off road?
How much do you want to spend?
How likely is it that you will actually use it?

If you have had any back, neck or shoulder injuries be aware that a road bike is about the worst thing you can buy. On a hybrid you sit up higher than on a mountain bike, which sits you more upright then a flat bar road bike/commute bike which is better than your road bike.

You do at the end of the day pay for what you get! The more you spend, the lighter, stronger and better equipped a bike will be. Whether this is wheels, drive train components, seats there will be improvements. Any reputable bike shop will not stock anything that you would not consider. They will all do the job, just some will do it better!

Carbon or not? Carbon fibre will be lighter and stiffer than alloy framed bikes. They also believe it or not are a lot comfier. I would not believe my boss until I got my new bike (Avanti Quantum Team 2010).

New or second hand? No second hand bike will come with any kind of warranty! But you can get lucky with second hand bikes I have in the past myself. Beware especially with Carbon fibre framed bikes as the frames can be cracked very easily. Just over tightening the seat post can crack the frame! Also, I know where I work we offer as a store free servicing for the first 12 months. A general service is worth $60. If you buy second hand and things need adjusting then you have to pay to have it serviced unless you can do it yourself.

Size: Don't be put off by the size of a bike ie; it is 57cm and you need a 54cm. Every model has a different geometry to the frame and there are not many out there that are directly comparable. There is a fair amount of variation. You may fit on an Avanti 56.5cm but you may also fit a Scott 52cm.

Just a few points to consider. I could keep on going but I would be here typing all night.

The first bike I bought was an Avanti team corsa for $1200 back in 2004-2006. Can't remember exactly when. I ended up snapping the gear cable and chain within about 2 weeks. I had to spend about $350 before it was up and running properly. Also, it had been used for triathlons and the frame had started to corrode, there were hair line fractures of the seat tube and a few other small problems. I did end up riding it until the start of last year however, I had replaced the frame, the wheels and just about the entire drive train.

Just be careful about diving in the deep end. Think about what you want, do some homework and then make your decision. Don't be pushed into buying anything EVER as you may regret it later on.

Sorry for the waffle but I hope this may be of some help to those looking at getting into cycling!

Cheers, Rhys

Good points Rhys. Cheers for the low down. Good to know others opinions on bike choice.

[sgt_doofey]

Originally Posted by gtfpv

if your not a regular rider 60km isnt a cinch . i dont know how old you are or how much you ride . but if you arent doing 20km rides a few times a week , your going to struggle doing 60kms in one go .

No, it's not a cinch, but if you go easy enough it's do-able.

Here's the 65km (not 60 like I first thought) map and profile.

http://www.bikemap.net/route/660080

The biggest hill is in the first few kms and it's the climb at the start of the southern expressway. Then, it's pretty much downhill for 20kms, then flat for a bit and only a couple of small hills towards the end. If you've done a few 20km rides prior, then you should be able to do this 60km ride. There is a drink stop along the way, so you can stop and rest a bit if you're feeling tired.

I did this ride last year with very minimal training due to injuries (knee problems) and haven't done much riding in the past either. It's only now that I'm starting to ramp things up a bit.

[blueoval]

Im 34 and I've done a few 20km rides before. that's why im gonna try the 30km one to see how i go.

[Uncle Niceguy]

IMO if you wanna go fast get fit and have lotsa fun u cant beat down-hill riding.
you can pick up a decent hard tail for a reasonable price and if your partially chicken the soft tails are mildly dearer. on some tracks they have a by-pass route for beginners when it comes to big drop-offs and the like and the adrenaline rush is insane and you learn quick cos if you mess it up your in pain.
just my 2 cents though seems your fairly into the road bike scene though.

[XR6_661]

Originally Posted by eb-fairmont

IMO if you wanna go fast get fit and have lotsa fun u cant beat down-hill riding.
you can pick up a decent hard tail for a reasonable price and if your partially chicken the soft tails are mildly dearer. on some tracks they have a by-pass route for beginners when it comes to big drop-offs and the like and the adrenaline rush is insane and you learn quick cos if you mess it up your in pain.
just my 2 cents though seems your fairly into the road bike scene though.

Couldn't agree more!

And don't bother with B-Lines even if you're a beginner haha. If you aren't falling off and making mistakes, you aren't going fast enough. I don't think I've put together one fluid run lately cos I've been pushing too hard haha

[Uncle Niceguy]

Originally Posted by XR6_661

Couldn't agree more!

And don't bother with B-Lines even if you're a beginner haha. If you aren't falling off and making mistakes, you aren't going fast enough. I don't think I've put together one fluid run lately cos I've been pushing too hard haha

Haha so true!!! i see your in cairns mate used to live up there (where i picked up down-hill) had an absolute hoot lol i first started out doing it on a small eastern battery then saved up and got a orange hard tail and didn't look back damn i cant remember what the name of the track i went down first time starts with a P palmers or something like that anyways it was an absolute hoot then we moved down to brissy where the down-hill riding is **** and easy and ended up quitting the sport and selling my bike (i'll try and find a pick) orange hardtail was a 2003 model would be very old now lol.

[blueoval]

Hey Sam,
Is that route map also the same route as the 30km one but starting from Majors road?

[sgt_doofey]

Originally Posted by blueoval

Hey Sam,
Is that route map also the same route as the 30km one but starting from Majors road?

http://www.bikemap.net/route/660126

No, the 30km one also starts from Flinders Uni. The difference is that at the end of the expressway, the 30km riders turn left and head in to McLaren Vale. The 60km riders turn right and head out to the coast.
Only the 25km one doesn't start from Flinders. That one starts from the top of the hill at the start of the expressway. I think it's Major's Road from memory.

All the routes are here: http://www.bikesa.asn.au/RideGuides_...ApplicablePDFs

[Uncle Niceguy]

this is the current model version of what i had from 03' to the end of 06' it was awesome in every aspect and always seem to come out the other side unscathed.

http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/bikes/miii/

[Terror6X]

How tall are you Sam?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/220861167...ht_1297wt_1139