You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Well I am not sure if anyone remembers but I joined here to get some help picking out a Mountain bike, I settled on the bike i wanted with some help . . . and then I made a huge mistake. A friend convinced me I would enjoy a road bike much more and wanted to go on group rides, so I looked at road bikes and ended up abandoning getting that mountain bike I wanted, and got a Specialized Allez Elite, Spending £900 on the bike plus £200 on accessories.
£1100 down and without the bike even being finished (I still have the horrible stock pedals) I have a bike that i just do not agree with.
I hate the limitations, not being able to throw myself around at insane speeds, and there just is not the same adrenaline rush.
Now I do not know what to do, do I sell the bike (I have only rode like 20 miles), or will i get peanuts for it and it's better to keep?
What would an estimate value be for it? (It is a 54cm)
Any advice or help appreciated.
£200 for it?
It takes time to get used to a bike, 20 miles of riding? That's my cycle commute to work.
You might want to ride it a bit more first before getting rid.
Start saving up... N+1
Seems rather soon to be getting rid..
But if you did want to get rid of it why not find someone who wants a road bike with an MTB to swap for it?
I hate the limitations, not being able to throw myself around at insane speeds, and there just is not the same adrenaline rush.
Topped 60kph today on a slippery wet and twisty descent. Plenty of rush involved, possibly a little more than I'd bargained for.
It'll take a few hundred miles before you even start to feel comfortable on the bike let alone begin to learn the limitations of grip.
What they said, road bikes are great fun, just a bit different from mtbs is all 🙂
Though if you have only done such a wee bit riding, can you try taking it back for a refund? Maybe sponge the tyres clean? Say it was stretching your back or something... 😉
Can you afford to also get an MTB? If so, do that and have best of both worlds.
Road bike to ride with friends or groups who like roadie stuff, and MTB for the adrenaline rush fun off road.
The former will keep the fitness up if you don't MTB so often. Though if MTB is your life, just ride loads off road and you don't really need the road fitness.
Personally I can't see why group ride road riding would be more enjoyable. Nothing more dull than staring at someone's lycra ass or tarmac and riding like I'd be on a cycle machine at a gym, with little variation or technique. All seems to be about rules, rhythm and speed but no actual enjoyment. Off road - fun, no rules, as fast or slow as you want, very social and generally riding in the countryside away from traffic.
Personally I can't see why group ride road riding
would be more enjoyable. Nothing more dull than
staring at someone's lycra ass or tarmac and
riding like I'd be on a cycle machine at a gym,
with little variation or technique. All seems to be
about rules, rhythm and speed but no actual
enjoyment.
I guess that if you choose to believe in stereotypes then I reckon you deserve to miss out 😉
Yorklin- I was actually hoping to, but it has been so long since I got it as I had an operation and really forgot about it.
I do understand how it can be great for most people and give a good thrill, but I love feeling like there is an earthquake while im flying down a narrow hillside. I have only rode 20 miles because of the before mentioned operation.
I definitely would not sell for less than half the price I paid as it is untouched.
So I guess that leaves me with keeping it. How do you get the most out of a Road Bike? I just don't get a great deal of enjoyment out of the ride.
You should get half of the price back if you really want to sell it.
Ride faster...
How do you get the most out of a Road Bike?
I love road riding but, to be honest, not that much in the UK. IME you get the best out of a road bike by
1) using it as training so that you're fitter when you're off road
2) keeping your legs in when it's muddy off road
3) taking it to Europe....
3) taking it to Europe....
Road riding in Europe's good, I'm always happy to come home though.
Keep it and buy a mountain bike as well..
Nothing more dull than staring at someone's lycra ass
Depends whose it is tbh
OP 20 miles is not enough.
Give it at least 200 miles and more IMHO before deciding
Its winter get a cheap SS from classified to see if you like MTB in the cold, mud, dark and rain.
Not everyone does just like not everyone likes road bikes - its still to early for you to tell after I assume one ride
How to put someone off mountain biking.
Get them to start on a singlespeed.
My only fear is that if I do ride it 200m plus before selling it . . . the value if i do sell it will be way less i'm assuming?
I have been mountain biking on a shoddy bike for years and love every second so it was always the safer bet but my friend really persuaded me to get a road bike.
For those saying get both. It aint that easy when im spending 14 hours each day getting to and going to college and i have no income.
as above - maybe if you can get a cheap mtb as well, maybe something s/h etc.. See what you prefer over a little time and then make a decision...or don't..
The value of a 20 mile bike and a 200 miles bike is really not that different, especially on a road bike. Stuff just doesn't wear out that quickly. You lost the biggest chunk of cash as you wheeled it out of the shop from that point on the devaluation of the bike is pretty minimal.
Get rid while its still worth a bit and get an MTB.
It sounds like you had your heart set on one and ended up with the wrong bike. Don't waste time riding something you hate.
Mtb'ing is more fun. Fact. Why ride if you're not? Unless someone can explain how riding at 20mph is fun sharing space with cars? Considering if you rode a motorbike at that speed you would be going super slow....
I waste enough time on the road and I hate it. Every bloody pedal stroke. (Commute)
Ypu, has to be said, road riding is dull dull dull. Most on here do it, although that's only because golf went out of fashion.
You're young, if you want some excitement then get an MTB and get out and do some skids. Road riding is midlife crisis territory, get out while you can, or you could end up like joefm - stuck in a hateful little rut
Pooves
Loddrick smells of shite and is ridden by poofs.
Oh, look how easy it is to make stupid comments 😉
I'm happy if its a muddy rut....
Well for obvious reasons I am not willing to sell at the low price i could get.
So i guess my next question is, What is a good Hardtail i could look at that is affordable but functional.
I will probably have to go second hand so a more common recommendation the better.
is the rockhopper good?
I guess that if you choose to believe in stereotypes then I reckon you deserve to miss out
+1
20miles is nothing, I'm 200 into a pair of shoes that don't quite fit and a saddle that's giving me some nasty sores. Both are better than they felt after the initial 20 miles, let alone getting used to an entire new sport.
Get off the internet, join a proper cycling club, go on some club runs, then form an opinion.
20miles on your own is probably as miserable as road riding gets, anti-social, with no sense of achievement, and unless you're blessed from the front door, probably no interesting roads!
Oh i don't know, solo road riding is pretty good, much prefer to ride MTB with others but road is great solo.
In fact, today i met some chaps i was on holiday in Spain with (Ciclo Montana) rode up a long hill with a couple of lads on nice road bikes then found myself descending into Hebden Bridge with a former UK National fell running Champion - all before riding up Cragg Vale, the longest continuous road climb in England.
A very nice day out 🙂
Has your friend that talked you into it not dragged you out for a few rides?
Feel for you really, but for what you,d get for it you'd probably be able to get a decent second hand 120-140 hardtail. As some else mentioned have a look round for any swap offers. Quite a lot come up as injuries and so forth can force people off the mtb's. i think people are being quite pessimistic about the price you'd get. Seems to be more demand for road bikes atm.
Personally it depends who you ride with as well. I have a good small group of lads I go out on the road with. Push each other well. I have a even smaller group I go mtbing with again we improve each other every time we go out. I'm the only one that does both and love them both for different reasons. But hate my commute!
No my friend it turns out does not ride much anymore. He was sure he had a plan to go to France and cycle across the country, but that never happened, with school and all its pretty hard to sort any good road bike holidays out.
Beat him up. Borrow some bombers! A bit of a lesson there fella. Follow your first instinct. I had similar sort of thing hence why I now have 3 bikes. As stw demands :). But I have a job and supportive wife! If your that unhappy sell it. But research the second hand prices. Look at classifieds and fleebay for a guide. It's a pain in the ass but if your not gonna ride it get rid. I also agree you've not ridden it enough. I've had my mtb for 2 years and still tinkering to get it right. My road bike is getting changed soon as well. But I'm fussy!
Personally, i would keep it and save up for a mtb over the winter.
My reasoning is thus, weather is going to get progressively worse from now on and the trails will be pretty awful for a few months. The road bike can keep you fit and riding when the trails are a horribly boggy mess.
Just a thought.
If you can only afford one bike I think it's better to have a mtb. Mountain bikes can traverse all kinds of terrain including roads. Road bikes.... well....
Cycling club, http://www.axevalleypedallers.org.uk/ , seriously you're missing out on a whole world of cake stops.
Swap it for a cyclocross.
Best of both worlds if your trails aren't too rocky.
Swap it for a cyclocross.
Definitely the worst of both worlds
Road riding is dull but it serves a purpose. I have only just started getting into it and have already found myself loads faster on the MTB. I would never swap MTB for road, MTB is just so much more fun!
20 miles isn't much to give it a shot...my first road ride was about this long and it was a pretty miserable experience (I wasn't wearing enough layers and froze my ass off). I stuck with it and now quite enjoy it especially when I know the tails are grim. Riding a different bike also keeps my interest up in the MTB and stops me getting bored of the local trails. I also like the ack of faff..I can just ride from my doorstep because the midlands isn't blessed with off road riding.
I'd say tat I enjoy off road riding more, but if I can only get out on my road bike I'll take that because its better than not riding.
You mate sounds like a tit fir talking you into a road bike and then saying he isn't ride much!
Put it on eBay with a realistic 'buy it now' price for 30 days and tick the box that lets people make offers on it: add the bike on a weekend as generally there's no insertion fee... No sale, no cost to you. Get a decent offer, and you'll be able to buy a 2nd hand mtb for the same money.
Keep riding the bike while its on eBay and you're not losing out either way.
Good luck...
maybe stop asking for advice and make up your own mind what you want.
[img] 
[/img]
Lovin how the roadies are telling you 'you WILL learn to love it'
Just like bum sex.
Ditch it, lesson learnt. Buy mtb. Smile sooner rather than later.
I think road and off-road are just different parts of the same thing, I wouldn't be without either. Done my first 100 mile ride on the road yesterday and Strava puts my max speed at 48mph on the descent to Chipping Camden, that was fairly exciting.
But you said you loved it last night, cheez0...
You should be able to sell it for over half I'd say, then get yourself a Voodoo or something similar, very good value for money and you'll have loads more fun.
If it's adrenaline rush you want, boy do I have just the bike for you!
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7364/9501215541_cb07857f3a_o.jp g" target="_blank">
The other day I was zooming down a steep hill in the rain. When the speed got up to 30mph, and with a corner coming up, I put on the brakes.
Pulled them on hard, nothing happened. The bike just kept going faster.
Even harder right up to the handlebars and it kept getting faster.
The adrenaline rush nearly stained my undies.
Apparently rod brakes don't work too well in the wet, but luckily they eventually do and I managed to slow down to about 20mph for the corner. The speedo shows the max hit 37mph with the brakes full on.
So now I find this bike far too exciting, and you find yours too boring, how about a swap? Your roadie mates will be really impressed...
pah! call that scary.
I went down Ditchling Beacon sat in the front frame of one of these;
[img] 
[/img]
just after I finished my O Levels.
We were getting faster and faster as we went down and as all I could see was basically my knees and the road it was quite a rush.
When we got to the bottom I said to my mate; "Blimey that was a bit quick and what's that burning smell?"
"Errm, the brake blocks caught fire half way down and weren't working too well but I didn't want to scare you so I kept quiet."
being young we just laughed and got on with our day.
Yes, you win.
He should swap for that bike, because those things are really [s]scary[/s] adrenaline rushy. The big basket is for your manly ornaments - you need big ones to ride one of those bikes down hills with a full load... 🙂
Ha, call that exciting?
I once donned my knee and elbow pads, put on my Met Parachute and then rode the black run at Llangdegla on my 150mm travel enduro bike.
Strava said I went upto 17mph, but it feels much faster due to the bumps and narrow trail.
[i]A friend convinced me I would enjoy a road bike much more [/i]
Jeez, with friends like that...
read this article;
[url= http://road.cc/content/blog/92981-if-you-can%E2%80%99t-see-my-handlebars%E2%80%A6 ]http://road.cc/content/blog/92981-if-you-can%E2%80%99t-see-my-handlebars%E2%80%A6[/url]
and then ride a sportive.
Ha
Im gonna keep the road bike just for convienience and to not waste money
Where can I find a good hardtail with either marked down price or second hand.
Im looking around the 1000-1200 rrp with a good discount
What about a cannondale trail sl 29er
clubber - MemberBut you said you loved it last night, cheez0...
Posted 12 hours ago # Report-Post
Yeah, but you were the taker, clubber ! 😉
I'd rather have bum sex than a ****ing road bike
I certainly "had" you..
Mind you that was after I'd offered to give you a road bike so I guess you are telling the truth. 😉
It's on. [b]mattamomo[/b] This will end well for you.
N + 1 IS PROVED!
Man wants new bike. Has budget.
GO! GO! GO!
Genesis, innit.
The son of a friend of mine spent £900 on a road bike. Turned out he didn't have the balls to ride it long enough to get fit enough to see some reward from it. Put it on fleabay and got £720. Pretty good return i'd say. Felt sorry for my mate. He knew that we all knew that he'd raised a little knobber. 
[b]eggshellblonde[/b]
Iam not a dad. Is "your son's shitter than my son" parents version of "my dad's harder than your dad"?
'Mon parenthood.
Quite possibly but I have daughters so can't say for sure 😉
Mattatomo.
For £1k On One is worth a look
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOO456EVO2/on_one_456_evo2_shimano_deore_mountain_bike
right decision . genesis +1. 🙂
On-one and genesis both look decent
which offers the most and which genesis should i get (if i went genesis) for downhilly and trail riding? Is the mantle the best suited?
cheeso + 1
Sack the road bike - you'll probably never grow to like it. Road and mtb are two entirely different sports appealing to different mindsets. Some folk have both mindsets simultaneously and ride both bikes. Those I know who ride both always say the mtb is fun and enjoyable, the road bike just a dull training machine. They also say road riders are generally odd and antisocial. I'm happy to take their word on this. No better way to 'train' for mtb than by riding an mtb, anyway.
Good luck with the sale. Give it away if necessary - save time and start enjoying yourself.
They also say road riders are generally odd and antisocial
What if you're an mtber who road rides too (as they are). Do you do a Jeckyll and Hyde as you switch from one to the other 😀
Still I guess if you really want to listen to that kind of stupidity, you deserve to miss out 😉
Nah, they're still sound, they just avoid riding road with other - more typical - roadies, thus minimising the contact with oddballs and performance nuts. These guys I know have nothing to gain by knocking roadies, it's just a general observation many of them have made over the years, independently of each other. I can't argue with that because it backs up my own (admittedly limited) experience of road riders - i.e. bit more uptight, a bit less friendly when you nod at them, and driven by results and PBs rather than just the fun of being out and having a laugh. Oh, and sometimes a bit ill looking 😉
Except all pro riders road ride as part of there fitness training. I do both and enjoy both. But if I had choose it'd be the mtb every time 🙂 yeah them anti social road riders going round in them big groups chatting and eating cake. But I know what you mean.
Bump