A bike recommendation for me please...

[dac]

I am based in central Cambs - if any local members can help.
I am constantly searching Ebay and Gumtree for a suitable bike but after three weeks no suitable bikes are appearing for collection in a 45 minute drive radius, I know I've only been searching for three weeks but if I delay any longer I am missing valuable time where I could be enjoying riding.
Okay, so unless a suitable seond-hand bike comes up for grabs I have whittled it down to one of the following (links below):
Viking Notting Hill for £214 delivered (22 inch frame)
Rightback Comet for £210 delivered (23 inch frame)
Carerra Subway 1 for £240 delivered (22 inch frame)
Carrera Subway 2 for £300 delivered (22 inch frame)

Yes the Subways do have 27.5 inch wheels and the other two both have 900 but width varying width. I am buying at the cheaper end of the market just to have a bike to so can work out for myself what I want in a bike. If the bike I buy turns out not to be the one then I've only spent little. Please help me choose one from the above - which is the best (components and quality) (regardless of the price)??

Thank you.

 

[Pale Rider]

The Viking is 21 speed so has a freewheel rather than a freehub - freehubs are much more reliable, so rule out the Viking.

The Subway 2 has what will be cheap Clark's hydraulic discs - I would avoid those.

Not much to choose between the other two - both should do the job for you.

 

[MichaelW2]

Which slick, commuter 27.5 tyres do you intend to use after your Subway mixed use tyres wear down?

 

[dac]

Which slick, commuter 27.5 tyres do you intend to use after your Subway mixed use tyres wear down?

If that was a question directed at me then, I would just purchase some more online. Shouldn't be too difficult.

I was so close to pulling the trigger on the Ridgeback Comet then at the final moment I just couldn't get my head past the narrow tyres (700x37c). Just don't think they could handle grass riverbanks, etc.. At the moment it is the Subway 1. Need to pay another visit to Halfords.

Even in my short time researching I can see the Ridgeback bikes provide 'good bang for buck'. I'm now wondering if it is worth stepping up in their range of bike, maybe the Ridgeback Momentum.

 

[Cyclist33]

700 x 37 would be more than adequate.

 

[Custom24]

Sorry to restrict your choice, but Tektro Novela brakes (on the Subway 1) don't have a good reputation. Mine failed after a few months - the ball bearings inside the calliper wore out their ramp races. Similar stories if you search for online reviews, e.g Amazon. Plus, they needed a lot of fiddling even before then.

 

[mr messy]

Go to helfrauds and sit on some bikes, see if they have something that fits. Try not to get too wrapped up in specs. If a Carrera feels comfortable, you probably won't go far wrong. Just make sure it's not one of the days they're marked up as full price

Don't spend lots if you're not even sure you'll like cycling....as long as the tyres are inflated and brakes work, get out in the fresh air and enjoy

 

[dac]

Yes, I'm very dubious about these bikes (i.e. the Subway 1) that was £450 but now down to £280. Are they really worth £450 because if yes then this is a good deal but I suspect they put up the price to be able to reduce them to lead people into thinking they are getting a deal. This puts me off. How often do Halfords have their bikes at full price (half a year, ten months of the year, etc..)?

Is the Btwin Rockerrider 5.1 worth £100 second hand in vgc?

I'm probably driving you guys mad but I will choose one, and soon. Thank you.

 

[cyberknight]

The subway is worth the £280 , its a just a pricing trick where they have the bike on for sale for a little bit to look like its reduced .Im sure many retailers do it with lots of other products .
I have the subway one and its a solid bike but as others have said the brakes are not the best ,but i have used it over winter and they have been fine .They did need a of fiddling to get them to run sweetly mind.

Yes, I'm very dubious about these bikes (i.e. the Subway 1) that was £450 but now down to £280. Are they really worth £450 because if yes then this is a good deal but I suspect they put up the price to be able to reduce them to lead people into thinking they are getting a deal. This puts me off. How often do Halfords have their bikes at full price (half a year, ten months of the year, etc..)?

Is the Btwin Rockerrider 5.1 worth £100 second hand in vgc?

I'm probably driving you guys mad but I will choose one, and soon. Thank you.

You can get a new entry level bwtin "kemmel " which a replacemnt for an entry level rockrider at £85 atm
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/kemmel-mountain-bike-id_8294692.html

 

[cyberknight]

Roll that back !
What sort of riding does @dac want to do ?
Do you want to ride on roads,commuting, tracks or off road ? as it can alter the choice of bike recommendations .
what size as well ?

 

[swee'pea99]

Is the Btwin Rockerrider 5.1 worth £100 second hand in vgc?

It seems to get some fairly positive reviews, but I'd check it out quite carefully before parting with any cash - things like whether all the gears engage, whether you can go up & down smoothly, do the brakes work well, are the wheels true (hold the bike off the ground and spin, while watching where the rim passes the brake pads), any signs of damage or wear generally...£100 isn't a bad price for any decent bike, but since they're only £160 brand new (including comeback if anything goes pear-shaped), it's not exactly a bargain.

(Judging by reviews, it would be a better bet than the kemmel, which really does look like a cheap 'n nasty.)

It's worth checking on ebay 'completed listings' to see what the going rate is for anything like this. In this case, most seem to go for £60 +/- - this one fetched a bit over £50. Any bike's worth what it's worth to you, but I'd probably want to pay no more than £75 for that.

 

[dac]

That Kemmel is cheap, but too cheap. Forgive me but I have stated my cycling intentions in the first post. I've also stated my height and size, and due to my height I feel 27.5 wheels or above is what I require. If the Subway 1 is worth the reduced £280 and no more then I'd rather buy another brand bike (GIANT, or so) for £280 as I feel they would use better components. I am enoying this cycling research and I'm certainly getting clued up.

I will give the Btwin 5.1 a miss too.

My budget is £300 and if I can get a bike worth, say, £400+ that is genuinely worth £400+ at the price of £300 then I shall go with that. No fussed about brand, just 22 inch above bigger frame, 27.5 and bigger tyre size, decent components (Shimano would be nice), slighty wider than road tyres to handle bumpy grasslands, not fussed about suspension - and suspension in my price range won't be any good I would imagine.

Thank you.

 

[cyberknight]

That Kemmel is cheap, but too cheap. Forgive me but I have stated my cycling intentions in the first post. I've also stated my height and size, and due to my height I feel 27.5 wheels or above is what I require. If the Subway 1 is worth the reduced £280 and no more then I'd rather buy another brand bike (GIANT, or so) for £280 as I feel they would use better components. I am enoying this cycling research and I'm certainly getting clued up.

I will give the Btwin 5.1 a miss too.

My budget is £300 and if I can get a bike worth, say, £400+ that is genuinely worth £400+ at the price of £300 then I shall go with that. No fussed about brand, just 22 inch above bigger frame, 27.5 and bigger tyre size, decent components (Shimano would be nice), slighty wider than road tyres to handle bumpy grasslands, not fussed about suspension - and suspension in my price range won't be any good I would imagine.

Thank you.

Fair enough for some reason i came into the thread at page 2

 

[Custom24]

Have you considered Decathlon? I think the nearest to you is Harlow.

 

[dac]

Have you considered Decathlon? I think the nearest to you is Harlow.

I have looked at their website, plus every website going. I have just found DiscountCyclesDirect that have ex-display bikes at a good price. No winners so far. Quite excited by the site though. There have a Cannondale Quick 5 in my size for £350. What do you reckon? They are priced at £500 new but this is an old model.