Well that was jolly nice

[suityou01]

20 mile cycle ride, 8:30am through the villages - Luton to Hitchin and back again. Village duck ponds, chickens crossing the road, waving at "proper" cycling gangs. Watching people walking their dogs.

A whole different world at 8:30am on a Sunday morning.

Stepping it up bit by bit. 25 miles next.

Road tyres make a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge difference.

[OwlHoot]

Sounds great - I'd love to get into cycling again myself, but not in a racing lycra-clad sporty way.

Can anyone recommend a sturdy, tip-top quality, all round road bicycle for under say £2000, bearing in mind that I'm 17 stone ?

Also, does any make of tyre stand out in quality above all others?

[DaveB]

Sounds great - I'd love to get into cycling again myself, but not in a racing lycra-clad sporty way.

Can anyone recommend a sturdy, tip-top quality, all round road bicycle for under say £2000, bearing in mind that I'm 17 stone ?

Also, does any make of tyre stand out in quality above all others?

No point spending that sort of cash up front unless you are going to get serious about it.

Something like this will get you on your way and can be upgraded with better components as you go. It's a good all round road bike that will stand you in good stead for weekend riding.

Specialized Allez 2011

You can splash on a top of the line carbon jobbie once you know you are going to stick with it and start competing etc.

As far as tyres go, any of the branded ones will do you. The more you pay the more you tend to get. A £5 tyre is pointless, £25-£35 will get you something decent that will last.

[Moscow Mule]

Sounds great - I'd love to get into cycling again myself, but not in a racing lycra-clad sporty way.

Can anyone recommend a sturdy, tip-top quality, all round road bicycle for under say £2000, bearing in mind that I'm 17 stone ?

Also, does any make of tyre stand out in quality above all others?

Can't go wrong with a galaxy for touring, but the horizon is supposed to be "ok" too

Unless you want to do some actual racing, in which case the Allez will be lovely to get you started.

[realityhack]

Good advice - no point spending 2k until you know if it's properly for you, or what specialism you'd want (road/mtb/tourer/cross). Go for something solid and versatile - like a hybrid, for starters: Hybrid and Trekking Bikes WhyCycle? - The impartial cycling advice site

The generic brands like Giant/Boardman/Evans' own brand (can't remember the name) will do - start out with something sub £700 and get a 'Zen's Guide' for that type of bike so you know how to maintain it properly. Good call with the Dawes bikes above - they're very sturdy.

Tyres vary massively in quality - I'm currently using Continental Armadillos and they're a damn-sight less puncture prone than the Schwalbe Racing Ralphs I was on before.

[doodab]

For my road bike I like Vittoria tyres, but I couldn't honestly say they are "better" than the other brands.

I prefer folding ones as they are lighter and you can keep a folded one with you as a spare on longer rides. I also go for ones with some sort of puncture protection rather than the lightest fastest ones.

[DimPrawn]

If are going to spend £2K on a bicycle, FFS make sure it's well insured, because if you leave it anywhere for more than 10 minutes, it won't be there when you get back, and the police won't give a tulip either.

[TimberWolf]

My local auction usually has a selection of bikes going for under £20.

[DimPrawn]

My local auction usually has a selection of bikes going for under £20.

£2000 ones nicked last week probably.

[DimPrawn]

Talking of which, my bicycle is the most expensive transport I've ever travelled on.

Cost me £300 a year ago and I've done 5 miles on it.

£15 a mile makes a Veyron or private jet look like good value.