Beginner - Giant bicycle buying advice

ChrisW said:

Hi,

I'm a 29yo beginner who hasn't cycled much before. I'm looking for a
nice road cycle for general fitness. I will probably just be doing laps
around my local cycle park - Heffron Park in Maroubra. Anyone familiar
with this track? It's a little hilly and at times quite windy. I was
riding a Giant hybrid a few years back and it felt like I was peddling
in mud.

Any thoughts on the Giant OCR or TCR cycles? There's such a large range
I just can't get my head around them. The OCR looks good. Can spend up
to $2000. Do I need a triple-crankset since I'm a beginner? Also,
should I get a custom-fit cycle to prevent injury or are those standard
sizes ok?

thanks,
Chris

Giant's OCR range is very popular, judging by their numbers on the Melbourne BR. Go to a shop and insist on have a ride and spend some time getting the bike fitted to your size/flexibility. You don't need a triple because you're a beginner - it comes down to the kind of hills you want to climb. Triples tend to offer a lower lowest gear than doubles, so you can climb steeper hills more comfortably, but can require a little more care in tuning (so they shift nicely). Maroubra and surrounds are not especially steep, though you might want to go ride Royal National Park which is hilly (but again, not especially steep).

There is racing at Heffron Park, turn up on a Saturday afternoon around 2pm and say hello to the Randwick-Botany CC people. Apart from racing, they can offer all kinds of valuable advice for beginning cyclists and you can bet there will be some Giant OCRs floating around.

Good luck
Ritch

ChrisW said:

Hi,

I'm a 29yo beginner who hasn't cycled much before. I'm looking for a
nice road cycle for general fitness. I will probably just be doing laps
around my local cycle park - Heffron Park in Maroubra. Anyone familiar
with this track? It's a little hilly and at times quite windy. I was
riding a Giant hybrid a few years back and it felt like I was peddling
in mud.

Any thoughts on the Giant OCR or TCR cycles? There's such a large range
I just can't get my head around them. The OCR looks good. Can spend up
to $2000. Do I need a triple-crankset since I'm a beginner? Also,
should I get a custom-fit cycle to prevent injury or are those standard
sizes ok?

thanks,
Chris

Have a look at the OCR 2, put some good tyres on and you're away. A good entry level bike with a tripple at about $1200 plus $100 for a good set of tyres.

Tripples are handy but not necessary, providing their are not a lot of hills (steeeep and long) in the area that you ride. If you get a double then maybe replace the 23 on the rear with a 25 or 27.

Hi Chris,

I've had a TCR for over 10 years and its done a great job - just had it
serviced and its in good nick, shame about the rider though!

IMO if you can aford the $2000, spend it - the nicer the bike, the more
enjoyment you'll get out of it.

You don't necessarily need a triple, but as a beginner make sure they
gear it up appropriately - you won't want too high gear ratios - you
can always change the rear cassette when your riding is stronger.

Karl aka Stomper

"ChrisW" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I'm a 29yo beginner who hasn't cycled much before. I'm looking for a
nice road cycle for general fitness. I will probably just be doing laps
around my local cycle park - Heffron Park in Maroubra. Anyone familiar
with this track? It's a little hilly and at times quite windy. I was
riding a Giant hybrid a few years back and it felt like I was peddling
in mud.

Any thoughts on the Giant OCR or TCR cycles? There's such a large range
I just can't get my head around them. The OCR looks good. Can spend up
to $2000. Do I need a triple-crankset since I'm a beginner? Also,
should I get a custom-fit cycle to prevent injury or are those standard
sizes ok?

thanks,
Chris

Come down and see Randwick Botany Cycling club at 1pm at the club house on
the east side of the park near the pool. Racing starts 2pm for D,E, F grades
which sounds like you may fit into one of these. Many Giant OCR's about and
you can have a look at racing. Yes it can be a bit windy and i reckon today
will be as well. Although it will be a southerly which gives you great
assistance over the back half of the course and over the "pimples". Just
make sure you get a lead out for the sprint into the headwind. Don't be put
off by racing though, DEF grades have small bunhes with more emphasis on
riding not winning the tour de france. It will teach you good bike skills,
bunch skills and cornering.

Come see me down the desk. I will probably be on it over the next few weeks.
I also race D grade. I am the bloke with the brown dog (club mascot!!)

Talk to your local bike shop regarding bike fit and sizing. Generally off
the shelf should fit with adjustment to seats, stem, etc unless you have a
"custom" body. This will also be your cheaper option.

Cheers

Matt

Bought a OCR C2 (full carbon frame and 10sp 105) just over 3 weeks ago and
is going great (500+km). Got it for just over $2000 (RRP $2500) from the
LBS, how the haggling skills?. It has taken a number of adjustment to seat
height and position to get it spot on, but nothing dramatic over how the LBS
set it up for me. I was brand new to road cycling so I had some additional
expenses such as shoes, computer and clothing etc, so take this in to
consideration in your budgeting if the same for you. My budget was a fair
bit less than $2000 but the carbon frame was to good to pass up.

Cheers

Simon

"Beanzy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"ChrisW" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I'm a 29yo beginner who hasn't cycled much before. I'm looking for a
nice road cycle for general fitness. I will probably just be doing laps
around my local cycle park - Heffron Park in Maroubra. Anyone familiar
with this track? It's a little hilly and at times quite windy. I was
riding a Giant hybrid a few years back and it felt like I was peddling
in mud.

Any thoughts on the Giant OCR or TCR cycles? There's such a large range
I just can't get my head around them. The OCR looks good. Can spend up
to $2000. Do I need a triple-crankset since I'm a beginner? Also,
should I get a custom-fit cycle to prevent injury or are those standard
sizes ok?

thanks,
Chris

Come down and see Randwick Botany Cycling club at 1pm at the club house on
the east side of the park near the pool. Racing starts 2pm for D,E, F
grades which sounds like you may fit into one of these. Many Giant OCR's
about and you can have a look at racing. Yes it can be a bit windy and i
reckon today will be as well. Although it will be a southerly which gives
you great assistance over the back half of the course and over the
"pimples". Just make sure you get a lead out for the sprint into the
headwind. Don't be put off by racing though, DEF grades have small bunhes
with more emphasis on riding not winning the tour de france. It will teach
you good bike skills, bunch skills and cornering.

Come see me down the desk. I will probably be on it over the next few
weeks. I also race D grade. I am the bloke with the brown dog (club
mascot!!)

Talk to your local bike shop regarding bike fit and sizing. Generally off
the shelf should fit with adjustment to seats, stem, etc unless you have a
"custom" body. This will also be your cheaper option.

Cheers

Matt

Thanks for all the help. Heading off to the shops to check them out in
person. May check out the meet sometime once I muster up the courage
hehe.

regards,
Chris