Threetowners cycling thread

[bonzo]

Aye Meg I like them. They're a bit more geared like a road bike than a mountain bike. With upright handlebars and thicker tyres than a road bike.

[Meg]

Keep hearing good reports Bonzo - am going to Halfords and have a wee shot I think.

Mx

[Bruce]

If you’re buying a bike costing more than 300 pounds from Halfords, it’s worthwhile joining British Cycling - cost £30, but you get a 10% discount on anything from Halfords (not just bike)

Also worth trying a proper local bike shop. I got mine from Billy Bilsland cycles in the Saltmarket in Glasgow - told them roughly what I was looking for, and what sort of price I wanted to play - they suggested 5 different bikes, and let me take each one out around Glasgow Green. Most local bike shops will have a few demo or hire bikes - or will be able to get them in.

Locally, I quite like Irvine Cycles, opposite the Turf, and the guy in Glengarnock (RT cycles, near the station) - he’s also got a place at Castle Temple loch in Lochwinnoch that does repairs and hires.

[Bruce]

Also, maybe have a chat with “On Yer Bike” at the Dirrans pavilion in Kilwinning. It’s a charity that does up old bikes and sells them on at very reasonable prices. Good workshop, and a cafe too. Opening hours can be a bit random... I think they also have a shop front in Ayr. If nothing else, it would let you try various styles.

[Bruce]

Just thinking - by “hybrid”, do you mean a conventional hybrid-style one, or an electric one? Maybe we’ve been answering the wrong question!

[Meg]

Just thinking - by “hybrid”, do you mean a conventional hybrid-style one, or an electric one? Maybe we’ve been answering the wrong question!

Conventional hybrid style one Bruce - reckon I've got another ten years before I need an electric one
The reason I mentioned Halfords is because for me now, they are the local bike shop. The other two we used in Ayr before are both now gone. If anything goes wrong, I could literally walk my bike to Heathfield.

Thanks for the suggestions though.

Meg

[bonzo]

Halfords bikes fall in to 3 main makers.
Apollo, which come in from around £130 to £300.(my wife has an apollo mountain bike and it's a solid piece of kit)

Carrera,which is their mid range bikes £200 to £500.

Boardman is the top of the range they sell £500 to silly money.

I'm quite sure you'll be able to pick up a decent hybrid probably with full mudguards and a rear rack if you want that sort of thing for under £300. Good hunting Meg

[Vivc113]

My bike cost 20 pounds. Got it from a local farm. Guy was doing up the bikes there.

It is a very old fashioned appliance and far too heavy for me. Really should get a lighter number.

Have to very careful because of the weight of it.

[bonzo]

The start of another month can't believe the year is half beat already.

Castlepark to Portencross this afternoon. Ravenspark, dubbs Rd, the quarry then hugged the coast through the 3 toons.

Along the north shore up the hill at Seamill and turned down to Portencross. It was a beautiful afternoon, here's a picture of Portencross castle.

https://goo.gl/photos/vQ6G3ncjT3NJTfrx9

From there I just headed back to Irvine the same way as I went out. 30 miles of tread wear today.

[bonzo]

Down to Prestwick today, just followed route 7 until the cut off at Bruce's well then turned back through Prestwick town and picked up route 7 again and followed my tracks back to castlepark. 32 miles.

[MANBEAR]

To al the threetowners cyclist please be careful I had a friend killed on Tuesday last while out with his North down cycling club just 40years old the car that struck him and 2 other cyclist had just past the main pack and pulled into the inside lane and didn't see the front runners.

[bonzo]

Terrible manbear, I take it it's the same guy, I was reading about his funeral at the weekend with all his club cycling behind the hearse.