Are you a bit thick? Ill hold your hand and walk you through it. I didn't make the brakes. Hope did. So whether I can have them copied somewhere they wouldn't be original. Is there another bike the same as this anywhere? No. Will hope ever make the bits again? No is this the bike that mbuk built? Yes. Did mbuk have the bits mentioned made just for this bike. Yes. So , one off. I bet you go look at the mono Lisa and say " I could knock that up on paint" sorry.
Crickey chaps - I was only remarking on the bike - I hadn't seen the MBUK replica build, I was just commenting on the bike itself! Calm down chaps.... You can get onto singletrackworld.co.uk if you want to get into this carry on - they can argue for months over an original XT short cage rear mech, a set of Suntour friction shifters or a set of bontrager cut-downs.... It's a nice bike, however constructed. Wish I still had my Hei Hei titanium from that era, or my Pace RC100 with elastomer forks.....
I love 90.s bikes. makes me feel young Again. Lol My mate had a pace rc200 I think it was. And I had a kula for a bit but nearly got a hei hei. Never rode a early titanium frame so didn't dare take e plunge. . I got offered a Xizang but went zaskar le instead in about 97. That's after my rts had snapped itself into two bits. The spooky was the only bike that lasted. Frank the welder at his very best. Had more bikes than can remember. But lately I seem to keep them much longer. Its harder to justify the cost now , as before I got most bits free or at cost through sponsorship.
I'm wanting to take up cycling for fitness next year. Any tips on what type of bike I should get, road bike or hybrid? We don't have any mountains around here so a MTB is out of the question I guess. I live in the sticks where there are mainly fast B roads.
A hybrid would be ideal. As its the best of both worlds. What sort of budget? Road bikes are good , but compromised in a lot of ways. The boardman range are very good for the money. For circa £500 you get a comp in pearl white. Local bike shops can't compete at this end of the market in my opinion. I've just got my mrs a bike for £215 which should of been £500. Using discount codes etc. nearest spec bike in local shop was £800. If you spending a bit more I'd look at local shops. A good bike shop will try to help you pick your ideal bike that fits. The problem with a lot of bike shops is the people they employ either thinking they too knowledgable and unless you spending £££££ they talk to you like a piece of poo, or they simply don't have a clue. Buy the best you can justify and it'll last years.
Mine cost a shade over £300 off eBay, 2 yrs old and in good nick. New still c£800. Reason I've gone road bike is I can work up to covering decent distances although MTB takes twice the effort and may be more comfy ;-)
I cycle a lot now. I have a specialized roubaix comp - entry level full carbon bike. It's great, I've done 2000k in the last 4 mths leading up to a charity ride (250k) I did in Oct. I had ankle surgery after that so I'm just getting back up to speed now. I commute every day on the bike. It's only 6k (15 mins in traffic) so I do longer rides and leave early to get the k's up. A couple of times a week I'll normally do a 40k before work and then do two longer rides a week, over 100k down into the national park about 35k south of me to do some hills and then head back, via the cafe to get a coffee of course - with all the other lycra clad warriors. I bought the bike because I can't run anymore and I now love it, it's addictive. I needed to lose weight, I was around 95kg when I bought it. I was 82 earlier this year, when i was training and not drinking, but have been sitting mostly around the 84-85 mark. It's very effective for weight loss when combined with a good diet and no alcohol. At one point I was training so much I could eat whatever I wanted and not put on any weight, brilliant!
Good advice re the hybrid option. Racing pedal bikes are a bit like sports motorbikes, they look gorgeous but are uncomfortable and not suited to real road conditions for the majority of people. Flat bars with bar ends make much more sense than drops. Shop around and see what is available. Agree the Boardman range do seem good vfm. Fast B roads sound a bit scary, do you have bridle ways, canal paths or really quiet back lane roads to ride on ?
I'm not sure I agree about dropped bars. I have commuted regularly on an MTV and on my road bike. I find that having my hans in one position for an hour is painful on the hands. Drops allow you to change hand position.
There are quite a few single track back roads that go on for miles around here, but they are usually covered mud and cr*p. There are only a few bridal paths and if you stray you will be shot on sight by the local farmers! Travel a bit further and there is a canal path and a sustrans cycle path. Would a Hybrid bike be best for the back road?
Me and the missus bought No1 son a new MTB for Xmas. Well actually we bought all the bits and one of his friends built it for us. Probably saved £1500 doing it that way. His (not so) little fave was a treat when he saw it yesterday :smile:
What about a cyclocross bike, I've just gone that way after looking for a Winter training bike. I went for a Specialized Crux but Boardman do one as well, drop bars, chunkier rims and a cross between road and MTB gearing. I've fitted a set of crud catchers and now can do a 30 mile road ride then hit the tow path for the last 10 miles. With the larger profile tyres it's a far more comfortable riding position as well and the extra weight (22lbs) I'm pushing around over the winter when I get on my BMC next year I'm sure it's goining to feel like a doddle.
If you search for a NUS discount code for halfords that gives 10% off. Then join British cycling for another 10%. Then make sure you buy it when they are on offer. Usually if you wait a week or so the do. And usually if you add 2 into the basket and then remove one it gives you double off if they doing any of them Internet deals. Make sure you reserve and collect too. Then I buy vouchers from my work at 10% discount too. But obviously you will struggle unless you can get this. But if you buy halfords vouchers at morrisons you get money off fuel too. It meant like I said a £500 bike cost me £214. Then sold her old one that I got free for £100 too. Winner.
I think defining the kind of riding you wish to do and getting a bike which is appropriate to that riding is the way to go. Things like age, experience and ambition all come into play. It is easy for individuals to promote their bike as being the best, and it may be for them, but it might not be for you. I have four bikes that I currently use, a Trek road/race, a Marin full suspension MTB, a Thorn RST tourer and and an old 12 speed that I have converted to a fixie. I tend not to use the Trek in the winter months when I ride the fixie instead. I rarely use the Marin these days as I prefer riding roads (very quiet where I live) but the occasional foray into the Lakes on the MTB is quite nice. The Thorn tourer is a recent aquisition and it is a brilliant all rounder, but it cost over £2k. Cycling is a very enjoyable way to exercise in the right environment on the right bike. Only you know what that is but it sounds like you wont go too far wrong with a hybrid. If the cycling bug bites then you can always change it in the future.
