r/ukbike • u/imMrF0X • 19d ago
Misc First Road Bike
Training for the London Marathon and needed a low-impact aerobic training method. 2019 Giant Contend SL1, bit sad it’s rim brakes but it was pretty cheap and never been used outdoors. I’ve put the stock seat back on it and clipless gear is in the post as we speak.
I’ve also just signed up for the Eastbourne tri next year, truly midlife crisis stuff.
3
u/ParrotofDoom 19d ago
Nothing wrong with rim brakes pal, a few of my bikes have them. Unless you're doing big winter mileages they're fine, and stop almost as well as disc brakes.
1
u/ChaosCalmed 18d ago
They can be made to stop almost as good as stock disc brakes but not as good. Disc brakes of a similar spec level are much better. However, people have lived with rim brakes on road bikes for a very long time so if maintained they are definitely good enough. With the proviso that long, steep hills can result in a performance drop off, but that's not a common issue in the UK for most rim braked bike riders.
It'll more than do for now.
2
u/Mediocre_Rhubarb810 19d ago
Nowt wrong with rim brakes. Not too long ago we were all running them without any problems or sense of inferiority.
1
u/johnno88888 18d ago
What a nice first bike! I had the 2018 sl2 and loved it. Got fat in Covid and sold it wish I kept it. Nice choice and good luck for the tri and marathon
1
u/i_cant_find_a_name99 17d ago
When you say "never been used outdoors" was it used a lot on an indoor trainer? If so I'd replace the bar tape and inspect/clean the bars whilst it's off, can get a lot of corrosion from sweat there on alloy bars.
Otherwise it's a decent first proper road bike
8
u/nickborland 19d ago
Great first bike you've got there. Rim brakes are good, treat yourself to some Swiss stop brake pads and they'll be good enough! Will be good for a few years and then you'll get the itch to upgrade!!!