Starting out in cycling

If you are considering starting your journey in cycling it can be quite difficult to navigate the cycling market and understand what you need to start with, choosing between disc brake bikes, gravel bikes and also answering the question 'do I need an aero frame?' Since I started cycling at the age of 10 the cycling industry has changed drastically, I still remember me and my dad riding aluminium frames and us both riding 9 speed groupsets both considered top tier bikes at the time.

In 2019 the market has now changed, with a choice of 12 speed groupsets and a whole range of materials for your bike frame. With this in mind it can be helpful to have some questions you must answer yourself in order to make sure the bike is right for you;

- Price - As is the case for the vast majority of us a key deciding factor in choosing your new bike can be price. For beginners a bike under £1k is generally desirable.

- Frame Material - Personally I, like many others, enjoy the feel of a carbon bicycle. With the price of these now coming under the £1k price mark they become widely available to all. The material properties mean these bikes are generally lighter, stiffer and in some cases more aesthetically pleasing than they're aluminium or steel counterparts. These properties make it ideal if you are planning to enter a sportive such as Ride London or maybe even race competitively. They can however be more susceptible to breaking or cracking if you are in the unfortunate position of having a crash.

- Aero or traditional? - Over recent years the word 'aero' seems to flood the market, aero frames, aero bars, etc. The science behind aerodynamics cannot be denied, there are some easy ways to save you both time and watts during your ride to go quicker and further. In my experience as a beginner it is not paramount to buy an aero frame, in fact the stiffer ride can be harsher to newer rides and may put you off enjoying the sport more! The Cannondale Supersix is one of the most accessible and admirable road bikes in the market in the minute, with subtle hints of both aerodynamics and lightweight climbing ability.

- Braking - Now the big question, discs or callipers? Disc breaks have been around for years, as seen on many mountain and cyclocross bikes, but have only been seen on road bikes for the past 3 years. But why has this been such a rapid introduction? There is no real argument against discs giving superior braking power, but they're tolerance is less meaning if you often take your wheels out your bike you can risk slightly offsetting your disc and causing an annoying rubbing noise, not desirable. This is also the case for getting grit or road debris in there too, getting a high . Calliper brakes however are more traditional, rim braking, style and have been used for many years. These however do struggle to maintain braking capability in the wet, especially when using carbon wheels. But through my personal experience for 99% of my riding I do not experience any issues with callipers.

I hope this has helped give you some indication on how to navigate the bike market in 2019, I hope to do some reviews and provide more information in the future.

Until next time, Ciao!!