£300 set budget for a new bike - suggestions?
- Thread starter infinityleague
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
vickster
Squire
£349 (plus a fiver for membership which you can use for accessories too) if Large isn’t too big for you (says 5’10+)
It is a rather basic spec albeit Shimano but has low gearing (11-34 cassette), could certainly be upgraded in future
https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/16245370/calibre-lost-lad-gravel-bike-16245370
The website says there’s one available to collect today in Thurrock branch
It is a rather basic spec albeit Shimano but has low gearing (11-34 cassette), could certainly be upgraded in future
https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/16245370/calibre-lost-lad-gravel-bike-16245370
The website says there’s one available to collect today in Thurrock branch
Last edited:
That's great to hear :-)
I think the majority of posters on here are concerned you'll spend your heard earned ~£300, and then find it's not up to the job for such major events, or not without modifications.
You're then in the position of having committed £300, so it's then whether you try and adapt what you have to make it fit for purpose, which if you have bike mechanical experience you can do on a budget, but if not, you'll need to be paying labour charges to a bike shop.
The alternative is to buy a more expensive bike, but then you'll lose money on selling the initial purchase, plus finding even more sums to buy a replacement that is fit for purpose.
My suggestion for your budget would be rim brakes, and 2nd hand - I suspect you're looking at 9spd for your budget, if you can squeeze it to £400, I reckon you'll stray into 105 10spd territory.
Cycle 2 work is a great shout though, if it's available to you.
Last edited:
infinityleague
Member
- Location
- London
Will look into it but I thought I should try & improve my basic cycling skills before I take the plunge into the world of serious cycling.
Noted down the website and will keep an eye on more offers. Thank you.
vickster
Squire
C2W is to enable more people to access a bike for cycling to work, it's not about serious cycling (whatever that is
) If your employer is offers it to non commuters, and you can afford the payments (monthly and end of hire), it is a way to get a better bike for less money.Just to add 'Cycle2work' is one brand (and the generic name of the scheme), your employer might use a different supplier, eg Halfords
Entirely up to you of course!
infinityleague
Member
- Location
- London
The few things I could work out so far are :
1) any bike will do (for now)
2) need a large frame as I’m 5’10” (56-60 frame size)
3) helmet, lights, bottle carrier, padded saddle & shorts.
4) no idea if I need front and back discs with gears - back, yes. Front - no idea.
5) do I need to know anything else before I go into Decathlon to check out a few bikes?
6) any questions that I need to ask regarding the discs, cassettes and gears as all of this is being done with just two things in mind - BHF London to Brighton ride & dragon devil ride, wales in June 2026.
7) The reason I mentioned the rides in 6 so the questions that need to be asked can be specific.
8) what type of cassette do I need?
One final and the most important question - can the above rides / challenges be done only on a specialised bike or any make & model bike will do ? That’s very important to me.
Going to decathlon in about 2 hours from now so any questions I need to ask are welcome. Thank you everyone.
vickster
Squire
You can use any bike for a sportive but make sure the gearing and tyres are right for the terrain.
Ultimately, it's down to you and your fitness (although L2B really is possible on anything, for
most it's a fun fundraiser, friend of mine did it years ago on an Apollo basic front suspension mountain bike that was probably £100 new!)
Dragon based on the figures above is much more a challenge and will be more sports/distance cyclists) and probably not for flat bars
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
Absolutely any bike is fine for London to Brighton. Actually, riding from London to Brighton isn't really all that challenging and the BHF thingy is more about fun (and fundraising) than physical challenge.
I don't know the Dragon ride, but looking at the figures it's significantly tougher. But you don't need a particular type of bike, you just need the legs (and probably the bottom gear - see my post above on gearing) for it.
All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
Have a look on sites like this one for well-maintained enthusiast owned bikes.
You might just find a lovely Spa Aubisque for example
You might just find a lovely Spa Aubisque for example
vickster
Squire
If that's Thurrock Decathlon, go to Go Outdoors too. The bike I've listed will be as good as anything for £350 from Decathlon
infinityleague
Member
- Location
- London
Yes, that’s the one. Will check it out. I’m not a member though would I still get the bike at that discounted price?
infinityleague
Member
- Location
- London
I’m looking at what they mean online but these are pretty confusing the technical terms are to me.
infinityleague
Member
- Location
- London
Attachments
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
Also add a pump , inner tubes saddle bag and tyre levers to your shopping list and learn to change a tube in the comfort of home rather than trying to do it for the 1st time on the road
