Cycling Help (What Bike?)

[Dyched]

Been looking at buying a bike past few days. Don’t really know anything about them. But I’m after something for little road use, of roading mostly. Would it be best to go for a hybrid or mountain? Wouldn’t really want to spend more than £300 tbh. I think it’s mostly and impulse thing and won’t use it once the weather starts to turn. Thanks.

[claretnproud]

get yerself a used hybrid with disc brakes. Loads of different types available.

[claret2018]

Depends on the type of off-roading. If you want to use it on bike trails you’d be better off with a second hand hard tail mtb.

Stay away from bikes on amazon etc. Either go for a well known brand second hand, or a new one from a proper bike shop.

[bobinho]

£300 will buy you something made from either monkey metal or pig iron If buying new.
Sorry, but that’s just how it is.
If it’s gonna be a fad that will disappear once the weather turns, fair enough as that’s how long it’s likely to last.

[claptrappers_union]

I bought myself a Giant e-bike today...

[FactualFrank]

£300 will buy you something made from either monkey metal or pig iron If buying new.
Sorry, but that’s just how it is.
If it’s gonna be a fad that will disappear once the weather turns, fair enough as that’s how long it’s likely to last.

How much does a very decent bike cost these days?

I had my bike sat there for 12 months, and it was this thread that made me pump the tyres up and cycle to the shop and back - about 2 miles.... foooked!

[claret2018]

A VERY decent bike can set you back whatever you like. North of £10k anyway.

If you're going to get into it properly and want something that will last and serve you well, then for a decent hard-tail mountain bike I wouldn't look at spending less than £500.

For a full-suspension mountain bike there's nothing under £2k that I would recommend.

[Jamesy]

£300 budget is perhaps a little bit low. However for between £400-£500 you could buy a decent Trek hybrid. Look at FX range. Yes they are entry level at that price but should have 27 gears and reasonable components. One of these would last you years and would be good around town and also on moderate country trails.

[dushanbe]

I bought myself a Giant e-bike today...

You are in for a lot of fun. I sold a Haibike a couple of weeks ago and upgraded, they are brilliant.

[claret2018]

I bought myself a Giant e-bike today...

You must be very tall

[LoveCurryPies]

Stay away from bikes on amazon etc.

What is wrong with cycles off EBay or Amazon?

I’m thinking of a used cycle for no more than £100 just for short rides (a mile or two) to get the blood circulating.

[FactualFrank]

What is wrong with cycles off EBay or Amazon?

I’m thinking of a used cycle for no more than £100 just for short rides (a mile or two) to get the blood circulating.

That's about what mine is probably worth now, and as I put above, 2 miles to begin with had me panting. If you're getting back into it and not fit at all, I think £100 would be fine.

[claret2018]

What is wrong with cycles off EBay or Amazon?

I’m thinking of a used cycle for no more than £100 just for short rides (a mile or two) to get the blood circulating.

Nothing wrong with a second hand basic bike for very light use as you describe, in fact anything else would be unnecessary. The problem I have is with bikes on amazon being described as mountain bikes, which are cheap Chinese garbage sold for £150, and would be a death trap on mountain bike trails.

[claret2018]

In fact a professional rider took one of these cheap bikes mountain biking, and it practically fell to bits after a single ride. Worth a watch

https://youtu.be/1A6bKUCcDW0

[claptrappers_union]

You are in for a lot of fun. I sold a Haibike a couple of weeks ago and upgraded, they are brilliant.

I’ve not ridden a bike since I was 14. Had a bit of an early midlife crisis moment and took the plunge. Went on the road today with it (shitting myself). Hopefully I’ll get used to making part of my everyday commute to work and more...

[ChrisG]

I've got a Calibre 22 hard tail, cost me £400. Cracking bike with disc brakes, RockShox front suspension, and Shimano gears.

Probably a newer version now but it's rated very highly for the price.

https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bikes ... wo-review/

[Quickenthetempo]

I bought myself a Giant e-bike today...

I was struggling up an hill last week and two lads on e-bikes come whizzing past faster than cars.

I was a tad jealous at the time.

[claptrappers_union]

I was struggling up an hill last week and two lads on e-bikes come whizzing past faster than cars.

I was a tad jealous at the time.

It’s like someone pushing you along. Like pressing a turbo button

[FactualFrank]

It’s like someone pushing you along. Like pressing a turbo button

Or making you feel like an old tw*t.

[claptrappers_union]

Or making you feel like an old tw*t.

Fat and unfit...

[FactualFrank]

Fat and unfit...

No need for that, I was only posting.

[Pearcey]

For £300 I’d go secondhand for a hybrid. You get what you pay for with bikes so get a decent brand.

[williamjblazkowicz]

I'm one of many who have bought a bike during the lockdown. Got a Cannondale Trail 6 (hardtail) mountain bike the other week. Already been out on it a few times and loving it so far. Such a sense of freedom! Completely new hobby for me so I can't comment on specific bikes with any level of expertise.

If you're able to wait rather than make an impulse buy, I dare say there will be a fair few quality second hand mountain bikes available at a good price in the coming months as people look to sell following their own impulse purchases!

[Dyched]

Thanks all for the very erm...diverse replies. I’m even more puzzled than before.

I’d only be going 10 miles or so. Some road/some more loose roads/lanes/mud tracks. I won’t being fast or of cliffs or even up them. Like I say I’d probably use it 2/3 times a week until probably September than it’ll be away until next March/April. Maybe a hybrid is the way to go?

I don’t something to robust. Would be willing to pay maybe £500.

Maybe I’m just best buying a really cheap one say £100 and see if I enjoy/use it enough and buy something better if I do or just chuck it away if I don’t.

[Dyched]

I'm one of many who have bought a bike during the lockdown. Got a Cannondale Trail 6 (hardtail) mountain bike the other week. Already been out on it a few times and loving it so far. Such a sense of freedom! Completely new hobby for me so I can't comment on specific bikes with any level of expertise.

If you're able to wait rather than make an impulse buy, I dare say there will be a fair few quality second hand mountain bikes available at a good price in the coming months as people look to sell following their own impulse purchases!

I think that’s exactly what it is for me. An impulse buy. I probably won’t want one in a few months

[CombatClaret]

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyl ... to-cycling

I was in my local bike store last week to pick up some spares, the amount of people coming in looking for bikes was unreal.
Completely sold out of 2nd hand bikes, they usually have about 60 outside all lined up.

There was a ladies hybrid waiting to be picked up, it was the last of a dozen he'd gotten in 24 hours earlier. Selling as fast as they come in, the manufacturers are working double time. They know how many they should be making per year to satisfy demand but not leave overstocked, this must have blown all that out of the water.

Sadly all the budget bikes I'd recommend like the entry level Decathlon bikes are all out of stock.
You're a bit late to the party friend.

See whats local used on ebay, my first commuter was an £80 Claud Butler Hybrid second hand off eBay.
Then went to a mid range Decathalon Triban which I use to commute and still do, great bikes IMO though some purists turn their noses up at Decathalon in favour of the traditional big cycling brands. Don't know why, in house design team getting better every year and economy of scale allows them to set a really good price for the parts on them.
That said when it came to getting a fancy road bike i got a Giant.

[Quickenthetempo]

I think that’s exactly what it is for me. An impulse buy. I probably won’t want one in a few months

I started looking at E-bikes because of this thread and on one of the websites it mentioned the cycle to work scheme.
It might let you purchase a far better bike for your money. Worth looking into.

[CombatClaret]

Thanks all for the very erm...diverse replies. I’m even more puzzled than before.

I’d only be going 10 miles or so. Some road/some more loose roads/lanes/mud tracks. I won’t being fast or of cliffs or even up them. Like I say I’d probably use it 2/3 times a week until probably September than it’ll be away until next March/April. Maybe a hybrid is the way to go?

I don’t something to robust. Would be willing to pay maybe £500.

Maybe I’m just best buying a really cheap one say £100 and see if I enjoy/use it enough and buy something better if I do or just chuck it away if I don’t.

Given the market is so crazy right now, no stock, no discounts, I'd do the latter. I commuted 8 miles a day for months on an £80 Claud Butler hybrid off ebay, it was a bit heavy, rattled a little but solid build and I didn't care If it got nicked really (London) came to love the thing after a while.
If you stick with it for 6 months then buy yourself something fancier.

Find something second hand, ask to ride it round the block, look for rust and obvious wear (you'll find videos on youtube what to look for).

[claretnproud]

I have averaged 500 miles a month on my e bike since the covid 19 kicked off. Had my bike 2 years now. Some advice to anyone looking at e biking.
1....you will go much further on your e bike than your old bike so get the most powerful battery you can afford.
2.....crank driven bikes are recognised as the best so get one if it fits your budget.
3.....calorie burn is around 80 percent of a normal bike according to studies so if you do twice the miles you did on old bike you can expect to get fit and lose weight.
4.....you will get to know far more cycle routes than before and getting an e bike really opens up our lovely countryside.

[Carport]

Bought my first e bike in April a Haibike Sduro 5.0 Trekking. Love it. Going up hills or cycling into the wind is a pleasure! But the great thing is you can work as hard as you want. I normally have mine in ECO mode which is good enough to get me up quite a few of the hills near where I live in Macclesfield. I only put it into standard mode for longer or steeper hills like up the Buxton Rd via the Cat n Fiddle for those who know it. Hardly ever use the highest setting. Just for really steep hills. Great fun

[tim_noone]

A VERY decent bike can set you back whatever you like. North of £10k anyway.

If you're going to get into it properly and want something that will last and serve you well, then for a decent hard-tail mountain bike I wouldn't look at spending less than £500.

For a full-suspension mountain bike there's nothing under £2k that I would recommend.

Are you a bike salesman....? I've been cycling years.had a scott road bike for ten cost me nothing...was gifted to me plenty of comments to it still being a good looking bike and how light it is. Second bike just got it back paid £100 for a norco mountain bike 6 years ago. Brand new condition the owner couldn't take to riding it.again very light weight.the prices your talking are for professional cyclists or more likely someone wanting to tell you how much they paid for it. And The bike to work schemes imo are just a gimmick to have you spending a grand + ......they usually end up in the Shed after a couple of weeks.

[tim_noone]

Given the market is so crazy right now, no stock, no discounts, I'd do the latter. I commuted 8 miles a day for months on an £80 Claud Butler hybrid off ebay, it was a bit heavy, rattled a little but solid build and I didn't care If it got nicked really (London) came to love the thing after a while.
If you stick with it for 6 months then buy yourself something fancier.

Find something second hand, ask to ride it round the block, look for rust and obvious wear (you'll find videos on youtube what to look for).

Prior to having my latest bikes I also had given an old heavy hideous looking mountain bike.. I cycled regular Barnoldswick to Burnley on the canal route it got me back into cycling.

[HunterST_BFC]

Added another thread - FAO dyched and lovecurrypies re bike.

Another thread as it's an offer not advice on what bike is best.

I like the idea of an ebike next, if I get one, there seems to be some good info on this thread - certainly a sellers market at the moment on all bikes now. Don't get suckered into spending more than you want to pay is my only advice I'll offer on this.
Same applies to Golf Clubs...

[Dyched]

Added another thread - FAO dyched and lovecurrypies re bike.

Another thread as it's an offer not advice on what bike is best.

I like the idea of an ebike next, if I get one, there seems to be some good info on this thread - certainly a sellers market at the moment on all bikes now. Don't get suckered into spending more than you want to pay is my only advice I'll offer on this.
Same applies to Golf Clubs...

Tbh, that’s kinda how it’s felt reading this. I want it to go on instead of walks tbh. Some days walks, some days bike. Just to mix things up a bit. I find it very hard to believe that of all the hundreds of people I see a week on bikes they’ve all spent over £500 for a standard one. I get the golf club thing. It’s very hard to workout what advice is good and bad. But I appreciate everyones feedback.

Thanks again for the offer on the other thread.

[claret2018]

Are you a bike salesman....? I've been cycling years.had a scott road bike for ten cost me nothing...was gifted to me plenty of comments to it still being a good looking bike and how light it is. Second bike just got it back paid £100 for a norco mountain bike 6 years ago. Brand new condition the owner couldn't take to riding it.again very light weight.the prices your talking are for professional cyclists or more likely someone wanting to tell you how much they paid for it. And The bike to work schemes imo are just a gimmick to have you spending a grand + ......they usually end up in the Shed after a couple of weeks.

I think it depends on what you intend on doing with it. I throw myself down some pretty nasty terrain at high speed (and enjoy it!) so I feel better knowing the bike won’t fall apart underneath me, and the brakes will stop me when they need to.

For road biking or light off roading I agree you absolutely don’t need to spend a lot. I will never understand people who spend big on road bikes, I don’t get what the difference between them all is

[Wile E Coyote]

I genuinely admire the expertise on this board, tons of great advice on all manner of topics.
I hadnt ridden a bike since I was a kid, then just fancied one about five years ago. I bought the worlds worst bike apparently, some heap of scrap that supermarkets sold called a phoenix. I hadnt a clue. bought it second hand for just a few quid.
The thing is, I enjoyed riding it, too fearful of the roads initially, but it whetted my appetite a bit. once it fell apart on a canal towpath, i bought a second bike from someone locally it is called a ridgeback. Not a clue whether its a decent make or not. it seems a bit too small. Anyway, although I dont even know how to change gear, I still cycle here and there quite regularly. dont clock up tons of miles, but its an aid to keeping fit.

[MT03ALG]

I was planning to buy an e-bike but still have not decided which one is best.
Chevin Cycles of Skipton have none available but there is apparently one at Halfords, Burnley, which is as follows:
Raleigh Felix Step Through Hybrid E-Bike - does anyone know if this model is ok ?

[IanMcL]

Bikes get nicked!

[Pearcey]

I’ve got 4 bikes. A giant road bike, an old Raleigh Record Sprint, a Felt Hybrid and an e-bike for commuting. I love cycling but my knees don’t allow me to work a shift and cycle the 20 mile round trip so an e bike was a great option. I still work hard but when I’m struggling I’m able to ease off and let the motor work. I bought a Bergamont E Horizon with a Bosch motor and it’s excellent. It replaced the Scott one I had that was smashed up when I was hit by a car!

The Raleigh Helix is also Bosch I think so you can’t really go wrong. Raleigh have really poured everything into their e-bikes and they are a great option.

[Jamesy]

I’m 60 years old in 3 months time. I cycle almost daily, a hybrid in town and have a tourer for longer and continental trips. However I have knee problems and gradients are starting to take their toll. I will certainly consider an ebike when unable to ride my bicycles efficiently. Although they offer assistance up hills any bicycle is better than none at all. Keep riding guys.

[MT03ALG]

Thanks Pearcey

[FactualFrank]

Is this any good?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085RKJWP6/ ... 1EbNHEQVQB

[Dyched]

Is this any good?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085RKJWP6/ ... 1EbNHEQVQB

You’ll be better off with something a bit more subtle

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mafiabike-Blac ... B082MPGFY6

[Stanbill05]

A cheap second hand bike is all you need. I have an intermediate level specialised road bike (£225), a very decent Pinnacle hybrid bike with panniers (£200) and a £50 battered but once decent GT mountain bike. Over £2k worth of kit bought second hand for less than £500. I’m glad people like to constantly upgrade and can’t be arsed fixing their bikes.

I laugh at my mates spending thousands, neurotic about destroying them and not delivering any noticeable gains. I’m sure they are better in every way but ********. I don’t need a mountain bike that is designed to tackle massive drops and neither do they, and neither do I care about the margins associated with saving a few extra grams on my road bike. Cheaper to lose weight.

[claret2018]

Is this any good?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085RKJWP6/ ... 1EbNHEQVQB

That's overpriced by about £400. Complete tat. You could get a much better built bike for far less.

Seriously, avoid Amazon bikes like this.

[Billy Balfour]

There's going to be a lot of decent, hardly used, secondhand bikes hitting the market by autumn.

Also, I reckon that in the next few months there will be load of govt led initiatives to get people spending. Things like the car scrappage scheme and VAT reductions. If they want to get the nation spending and much fitter at the same time - then how about scrapping VAT on new bikes and some outdoor gear like hiking boots etc.

[Jamesy]

That's overpriced by about £400. Complete tat. You could get a much better built bike for far less.

Seriously, avoid Amazon bikes like this.

I agree, absolute pile of cheap sh1te that is.

[CombatClaret]

Handy article today. Best bikes £300-650 best bikes
https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers ... road-bikes