Advice on what bike to buy.

[Grantschildcare]

Hi there this is my 1st post so I am officially a newbie.

I have always used mountain bikes in the past, but now think its time to move to a hybrid.

I need something that is going to be quite versatile and can handle country roads and hills. It needs to have racks for panniers a fair range of gears and good reactive brakes and reasonably light frame, but I have a budget of about £200.

Can anyone advise on a good bike that meets these specs and the price range. I live in the South West but am moving up to Birmingham tomorrow. (UK)

 

[Rob3rt]

Country roads and hill's........... a road bike? Won't get much for £200, if you can push your budget to £300 there is the BTwin Triban 3, I find it hard to recommend bikes at such a low price point, partly through lack of taking notice of them in order to give educated advice and partly because I think pretty much cheap bikes are a false economy.

 

[AndyRM]

With that budget you're best off going second hand. Gumtree, eBay etc.

Depending on what sort of mountain bike you have, you may be able to modify it with a rack - I've got one on my wife's Trek. You can also get slicker tyres for a better ride on the road.

Alternatively, save for a bit longer!

 

[Mo1959]

Yes, second the advice for second hand from the likes of ebay. I got my Dawes Discovery off ebay. Paid £200 for it which was maybe slightly too much but it was excellent condition and local for pick up. Actually my most used bike and very comfy. Takes mudguards and, as far as I know, would take racks for panniers too. Although heavier than my road bike, it isn't that much slower.

 

[Grantschildcare]

The bike I have is quite old it got given to me after my very nice careers got stolen. Unfortunately the wheels are a bit bent as is the derailer meaning that either the brakes rub or they don't work. I'm a real newbie and can just about change a tyre. Long term plan is to build one of those pedicab attachments.

 

[AndyRM]

Age isn't an issue for a bicycle.

Take it to your local bike shop and ask them to service it for you. They'll sort the wheels and the derailleur no problem. Expect to pay between £30 - £50.

Have a look on Youtube and here for advice on just about everything to do with your bike and you'll be sorted!

What is a pedicab? A rickshaw?

 

[Cyclist33]

Country roads and hill's........... a road bike? Won't get much for £200, if you can push your budget to £300 there is the BTwin Triban 3, I find it hard to recommend bikes at such a low price point, partly through lack of taking notice of them in order to give educated advice and partly because I think pretty much cheap bikes are a false economy.

To be fair, he said he wanted a hybrid.
Stu

 

[Grantschildcare]

Yeah a pedicab is a rickshaw. I have just got a job as a nanny and all the extra space of a rickshaw would help carry sports kits instruments etc

 

[Grantschildcare]

If you change bike wheels what's the deal with the gears do they come with the wheel or do they come off and go on new wheel?

 

[AndyRM]

Yes, the gears come off the hub. You would need to use a lockring tool to loosen the cap which holds them in place.

Buying wheels can be expensive so again would recommend you look second hand. Also, it may be that your wheel just needs re-trued. It would be worth taking to a shop to see what they could do. Am sure there are some Birmingham based folk who could recommend somewhere.

 

[Monsieur]

I've just bought a decent used Trek 7.5fx from ebay - good bike at a good secnd-hand price

 

[Rob3rt]

To be fair, he said he wanted a hybrid.
Stu

Yes he did, so I questioned why given the OP's intended use. It was not until later he started going on about rickshaw's, all of the original post's requirement's could be fulfilled by pretty much any bike type, including a road bike, the Triban is fairly light weight, has brakes that work, has mounts for a rack, has a triple chainset (so a fair range of gears) and can be used on country roads and hills. People's initial "want" isn't always the best option, nothing wrong with suggesting other options.

Doesn't matter the type of bike, cheap bikes are a false economy.