choosing a bike (for the second time!)

[swampyseifer]

Hey all...

I had my Carerra Velour MTB stolen last weekend and it doesnt look like I've got any come back on insurance or anything so I'm looking to take up the cycleshceme that my employer is starting up in April.

The max budget is apparently £1000, but I am hoping we can sort this for no more than say £600!

Now the main thing is that I dont think a full-on MTB is really neccesary, based on my experience with the previous bike. It was heavy and clunky and the most "extreme conditions" I rode it in was a windy day in a grassy park! Also I would prefer to have a more upright riding position. I certainly dont want a road bike/commuter bike either as I will be riding mainly on loose gravel/parks/fields/tow-paths etc. So I was thinking maybe a Hybrid would be better? A trekking bike perhaps?

My only concern to going down to a "less substantial" frame is that I am quite a hefty guy still, not as hefty as I was when I got the MTB, but I expect at my current weight loss progress to be just over 18st by the time the cyclescheme becomes available.

 

[swampyseifer]

Just to say, something like this?

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/t10-2011-hybrid-bike-ec001493

 

[Tomba]

I know someone who got this Specialized Sirrus Elite looks a cracking bike for the money.

 

[bobcat]

No need to spend a fortune for a decent bike! From my experience trek make a good bike also worth considering are Dawes! £500 should get you something really nice, take into account the cycle to work scheme and you could get a real treat! P.s. Dawes Consulate £250ish at Evans then splash out on a Brooks saddle?

 

[swampyseifer]

Not a fan of the blue frame and brown handlebars/seat...but it seems cool, certainly a good price, 15.5kg sounds heavy tho, my MTB was only 17!

 

[bobcat]

I don't know so much on weight but I've been riding a similar Dawes for ten years (I have made a few modifications) and am very happy with it.

 

[lulubel]

That Sirrus is a nice looking bike. Nice range of gears too, for once you start wanting to go faster.

 

[bobcat]

The Sirrus IS a nice looking bike but are you paying for style or substance?

 

[Kiwiavenger]

I loved my ridgeback velocity, was £380 when I got it from an lbs. I think it's 12 kgs so nice and light ish plus has a triple front ring and biggest gear I think is 48 front 11 back so is similar to my new allez. Nice and quick if you want it to be!

 

[swampyseifer]

Thanks for the suggestions people

I think that I have to go to a certified LBS in my area and choose the bike and equipment, then get a paper invoice for the total price, I then submit this to my employer who agrees it and gives me a voucher to then go back and pick up the gear.

I think the main ones in my area are a Trek outlet place, an Evans Cycles, Cycleking (which seems to only really sell brands I've never heard of) or a place called Roy Pinks...which seems the best to me as he's been around for years and years and years and sells things like Specialised, Giant, Trek etc...So I probably cant get any mailorder ones or anything like that.

Just another question about the whole MTB/hybrid choice. A hybrid would be ok for loose gravel/towpaths/grass/fields etc? If I was to choose the hybrid, what sort of options would I be looking at? like for example on the MTB you've got no suspension, hardtails or full...then there's disc brakes...the gears being twisty ends on the handlebars instead of flicky switches (can you tell how untechnical I am?!)

 

[I like Skol]

MY advice would be a good mid range hybrid.

Too cheap and they are too heavy, too expensive and they are light but possibly not as robust for the 'larger' gentleman. My experience is to avoid suspension completely unless you are into fast, bumpy cross country or downhill MTB'ing. Disc brakes are nice but on cheaper bike they can be problematic and even dearer set-ups are a real pain if they start giving trouble. At least with V-brakes you get 80-90% of the disc brake performance but they are dead simple, cheap and easily maintained.

THIS BIKE came up in another thread the other day and looks to be a cracking road orientated hybrid that is light and well spec'ed. It would be on my consider list if that were my budget. It might be too much of a road bike for your intended use though?

Don't forget security! Having lost one bike I am sure you won't overlook this point but if you get a £500-700 bike where and how will it be parked? You have already lost one locked bike from your normal spot. Also, perhaps an unbranded bike like the Decathlon will be less attractive to thieves? Cycle scheme budget can be used to include accessories like locks and similar if I am not mistaken.

 

[swampyseifer]

Security yes...it will be my word of the day when I go to get a bike! Two D-locks (frame and wheel) plus a key-lock chain just to make sure? Also I think as part of the cycle scheme I get a reduction on bike insurance with www.cycleguard.co.uk, so I could take that out as well.

I think I would prefer a bike that leans more to off-road than road as I envisage me doing that more.

 

[swampyseifer]

Well, bit of thread ressurecting going on here...the scheme was delayed from April to May, so I should be able to order the bike within a few weeks! Hopefully this atrocious weather will be gone by then!

I have been kinda hanging about but hopeful to get back into posting more again over the next few weeks, get me worked up about biking again!

 

[uphillstruggler]

Hello Swampy

a word of warning, be carefull when visiting Pinks in Newport - they will sell you what they have - not what suits. it may be worth you making the trip to Chaineys in Shenley - they are not too bad.

Phil Corleys at Stacey Bushes are also worth a visit.

all of the above will accept the cycle scheme vouchers IIRC.

Halfrauds also take the vouchers but you will need to be a little more 'patient' with them i think.

try before you buy and dont rush into buying, there is plenty of choice in Milton keynes, good luck with the search.

 

[swampyseifer]

Hello Swampy

a word of warning, be carefull when visiting Pinks in Newport - they will sell you what they have - not what suits. it may be worth you making the trip to Chaineys in Shenley - they are not too bad.

Phil Corleys at Stacey Bushes are also worth a visit.

all of the above will accept the cycle scheme vouchers IIRC.

Halfrauds also take the vouchers but you will need to be a little more 'patient' with them i think.

try before you buy and dont rush into buying, there is plenty of choice in Milton keynes, good luck with the search.

Thanks very much for the advice! Had a quick glance at both Phil and Chaineys sites...Chaineys has next to no sales info on it (the 'bike' page just links to the manufactorers own page!) and phil's has a lot more information on it so I will probably browse that a bit more!