I'm going to buy a bike, probably Friday next week as this weekend is not entirely my own.

I'd like to blow £500 notes. I can go over this budget but I'd prefer to spend a remaining grand on a laptop and a month in Berlin.

I'd like some help & guidance on said bicycle purchase please.

Some notes

- ATB preferably as I want to use this everywhere.
- A decent mech set, last time I had an interest I was all about Shimano Deore LX.
- Gear system - grip shift is dead right? If not; none of that thanks.
- Frame as light as I can get for the money, anything close to a Reynolds 500 composite frame.
- Folding; I live in a block of flats so if I can get a full size folder that doesn't have an awfully cheap mech set and frame then I'll have a massive smile.

I have a feeling though what cocko bought (alu frame, deore mech set) is the answer, but GIANT are to bicycling what BENCH are to clothing in my eyes. And I didn't much care for bench.

Halfords do some folders, might be easiest place go give one a go.

Mate of mine just bought a B'Win. 300 notes and apparently amazing value. Proper size road bike though you could fit tougher nobbly tires for some offroad action.

You would be wrong. Giant are a very credible brand, extremely well built.

Yeah but so were BENCH. I just weren't into it and I'm not into GIANT. I'm being a blurt. I'm just after something that can fit the bill and any personal experience or expertise would be welcome. Be interested to see what cocko thinks of his.

Do you really want a folder? Second hand Brompton would be best bet, probably. Folders involve huge sacrifices, have you ever ridden one?

Not a brompton. I said full size. Yes I have, they do the city commute okay.

Halfords do some folders, might be easiest place go give one a go.

Hmm they have Montagues, full size folder. Though I wish I knew someone with experience of them. They look quite clumsy and heavy.

Mate of mine just bought a B'Win. 300 notes and apparently amazing value. Proper size road bike though you could fit tougher nobbly tires for some offroad action.

Not really up for this but my, that looks incredibly light. Would like same in a mountain bike.

Nice one Workid.

There's only one bike my size (17") from Montague and it only has 7 gears. If they had a size for me I could get 24gears but looks like the spend will be 700ish. Will probs be worth it but still plenty of time to sniff something out. Not having a folding bike is perfectly a-okay.

I'd agree clear of folders, too many compromises, especially if you really wanna take it anywhere. Also ignore hybrids, easier to take an MTB on the road than a road bike down a trail. My choice was a little limited but it seemed that with Giant I was always getting more bike for the same money. Also the Specialised were nice but rarely discounted at all. Can't believe how many people were raving about Halfords own brand Carrera

SOOOOOOOOOOOO

Men's Road Race WC tomorrow. Anyone give Tiernan-Locke a chance? Looks a very open race, especially after a tremendously tough season for everyone.

Ooops wrong thread

My god, that was awesome by Gilbert.

The other people were probably off their faces too so meh.

mistercrayon wrote:

The other people were probably off their faces too so meh.

They were. We know they were because most of Armstrong's competitors were caught for doping. But that's epically missing the point.

What I meant was that him and the other cheaters were cheating so his relative effort is still impressive.

But yeah cheating fuck.

Its interesting though because at what point does good sport science become cheating? If someone gave a painkiller jab I bet an eyelid wouldn't be bat.

They gonna nail Wiggins next?

Just watched Four Corners thing on Lance. (UK may or may not be able to see the clip in the above.) I think it was originally aired in UK, called "The World According to Lance", reported by Quentin McDermott, if you want to google it.

Interesting stuff, and they have some great interviews there, including the only sworn testimony from Armstrong where he categoricaly denies doping (and therefore the only testimony he could get done for purjury AFAIK). I do struggle to find any interest in the sport at all, and this really doesn't help. Especially after the comments from the epically named Dick Pound: While speaking to one of the bosses of the Cycling federation, or whatever it's called, Pound said to him the sport has problem, and the guy basically blamed the spectators because they want the riders going 40kph not 25kph. wtaf.

Most sportsmen are.

Rabobank pulling their sponsorship is a bit of a blow to cycling. Seems odd to do it when the sport is at its cleanest too.

Are the UCI serious?

Criticising the USADA for doing the job that the UCI should have fucking done in the first place.