annedonnelly
Girl from the North Country
- Location
- Canonbie
Ooooh! That's exciting news! I love my Streetfinder so I hope you have as much fun with yours...
First bike to buy alone £200 budget
- Thread starter rianon
- Start date
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- Location
- Glasgow
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rianon
Active Member
Ordered a 19" Streetfinder....... arriving on 7th April....... waiting.....
Thanks for the welcome Pat. I am still nervous as I could not try it before buying. I can return it for free so that's reassuring. Hope it all goes well and it will be nice to know I am riding the same bike as @annedonnelly.
Digged out my old, second hand vintage 3 gears bike and took the kids out in the trailer. It was hard work!! I had to push the bike upwards a couple of times. Hope it will be easier with the Streetfinder. They both fell asleep and looked very cute but it didn't look overly comfortable. But that's a whole new thread I guess.
Thanks everyone for the replies and your patience I am pretty sure you got asked the exact same question zillion times already. I have to admit due to being short of time I did not read other threads just posted.
Rianon
Thanks for the welcome Pat. I am still nervous as I could not try it before buying. I can return it for free so that's reassuring. Hope it all goes well and it will be nice to know I am riding the same bike as @annedonnelly.
Digged out my old, second hand vintage 3 gears bike and took the kids out in the trailer. It was hard work!! I had to push the bike upwards a couple of times. Hope it will be easier with the Streetfinder. They both fell asleep and looked very cute but it didn't look overly comfortable. But that's a whole new thread I guess.
Thanks everyone for the replies and your patience I am pretty sure you got asked the exact same question zillion times already. I have to admit due to being short of time I did not read other threads just posted.
Rianon
SteCenturion
I am your Father
- Location
- The Dark Side of the Moon.
Hope you (and your little ones) enjoy your outings on your new steed.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
I don't understand much of the techy stuff in your tablebut the Carrera has suspension & the others don't. Generally you don't need it unless you're doing a lot of off-road stuff and it makes the bike heavier - especially at the cheaper end of the range. Can't imagine that you'll need more than 18 gears either.
Beware that the standard of service in Halfords seems to vary widely from shop to shop. Might be worth asking if anyone has experience of your local branch.
You should expect to get a free six-week check-up if you buy from a shop - they check for cable stretch, etc.
Might be worth finding out if there is a local cycling charity near you. There are a couple near me and both refurbish second-hand bikes and sell them on. That'd be a good place to get a real bargain.
Its irrelevant now but the carrera doesn't have suspension, infact its the only one that clearly states this, suspension type 'rigid' but you are spot on about the Hellfrauds service
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OP
rianon
Active Member
Hi, yes sorry forgot to add that rigid suspension seems to mean no suspension. We went to Halfords and I actually tried this bike and it was very comfy my only problem was that it is unisex so struggled getting on and off. Just in case someone else is looking now that the price dropped to £200.
Thanks SteCenturion my daughter must have liked it as wanted to use the bike today as well. I will see how many days in a row we can do without using the bus when the new steed arrives.
Thanks SteCenturion my daughter must have liked it as wanted to use the bike today as well. I will see how many days in a row we can do without using the bus when the new steed arrives.
annedonnelly
Girl from the North Country
- Location
- Canonbie
OP
OP
rianon
Active Member
Hi annedonnelly,
Thanks for asking this bike is amazing (but you probably know). My best bike ever so far. I am also glad I went for the 19''. My only worry is that I can imagine it is very attractive for bike thieves as well. So off to making photos and recording frame number etc. I won't even use it tomorrow for work as I have to find out where the safe cycle storage is and don't want to deal with it in the morning rush.
Thanks again for all the help I am really proud I bought a good bike alone but in reality it is thanks to all of you here especially annedonnelly and vickster.
I hope to use it at least 3 days a week, walk on other days and use the bus only as a last resort.
Thanks for asking this bike is amazing (but you probably know). My best bike ever so far. I am also glad I went for the 19''. My only worry is that I can imagine it is very attractive for bike thieves as well. So off to making photos and recording frame number etc. I won't even use it tomorrow for work as I have to find out where the safe cycle storage is and don't want to deal with it in the morning rush.
Thanks again for all the help I am really proud I bought a good bike alone but in reality it is thanks to all of you here especially annedonnelly and vickster.
I hope to use it at least 3 days a week, walk on other days and use the bus only as a last resort.
vickster
Squire
Get yourself a couple of good locks, unfortunately will cost a few quid. Too many tales of secure storage at work / home not being secure 
Something like this is a good deterrent for use in 'secure' parking (on the street you'd want beefier)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Kryptonite-Series-2-D-Bike-Lock-With-4-Ft-Cable-GK001072-/360765079982
Get in touch with your local police station and ask if / when they are next doing cycle marking
Something like this is a good deterrent for use in 'secure' parking (on the street you'd want beefier)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Kryptonite-Series-2-D-Bike-Lock-With-4-Ft-Cable-GK001072-/360765079982
Get in touch with your local police station and ask if / when they are next doing cycle marking
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cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
Good luck with the streetfinder , i know its a bit late but whoever told you the subway will last 5-6 years talked utter snot, my carrera road bike has been used as a commuter for about 5 years and apart from replaceable s such as cassettes,chains, brake pads etc its still running smoothly .
annedonnelly
Girl from the North Country
- Location
- Canonbie
Fantastic! I'm so pleased that you like it!
You can log your frame number, etc. at Immobolise so that there's a record centrally. Get it locked up nice and secure every time you leave it. I shudder when I see people leaving a bike unlocked while they just nip into the shop for a couple of minutes.
Good idea about checking out the cycle storage first
Take it easy at first if you haven't done much riding lately, but I bet you'll soon want to be using it everyday. Especially now that spring is here and it's light in the evenings.
You can log your frame number, etc. at Immobolise so that there's a record centrally. Get it locked up nice and secure every time you leave it. I shudder when I see people leaving a bike unlocked while they just nip into the shop for a couple of minutes.
Good idea about checking out the cycle storage first
Take it easy at first if you haven't done much riding lately, but I bet you'll soon want to be using it everyday. Especially now that spring is here and it's light in the evenings.
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
The commuter is only ever on my property chained to an anchor inside storage or at work withing a locked bike shed with 2 locks on but thats a good site !Fantastic! I'm so pleased that you like it!
You can log your frame number, etc. at Immobolise so that there's a record centrally. Get it locked up nice and secure every time you leave it. I shudder when I see people leaving a bike unlocked while they just nip into the shop for a couple of minutes.
Good idea about checking out the cycle storage first
Take it easy at first if you haven't done much riding lately, but I bet you'll soon want to be using it everyday. Especially now that spring is here and it's light in the evenings.
OP
OP
rianon
Active Member
Thanks for further advice :-)
I have already ventured out with the bike but never dared to leave it anywhere, it is still in our living room... Anchor inside storage sounds good, how did you do that cyberknight? The secure storage at work has a code so anyone knowing the code can get in. It's a pretty scary place too! Still better than outside though. I had this lock lying around: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000R566XS/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1 so intend to use this one for now. Is it better, worse or equivalent to the D-lock + cable-lock combo?
cyberknight: I liked the Carrera bike, only problem it was unisex and I struggled getting on and off without falling especially with a bike-seat on the back. (although I mostly use the trailer). Plus the Streetfinder came with nice extras.
Since joining this forum I cycled many days a week (ok some days only a 10 minute ride both ways but still) but funnily most of the time still on the old bike.
Happy cycling everyone in this perfect cycling weather.
I have already ventured out with the bike but never dared to leave it anywhere, it is still in our living room... Anchor inside storage sounds good, how did you do that cyberknight? The secure storage at work has a code so anyone knowing the code can get in. It's a pretty scary place too! Still better than outside though. I had this lock lying around: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000R566XS/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1 so intend to use this one for now. Is it better, worse or equivalent to the D-lock + cable-lock combo?
cyberknight: I liked the Carrera bike, only problem it was unisex and I struggled getting on and off without falling especially with a bike-seat on the back. (although I mostly use the trailer). Plus the Streetfinder came with nice extras
.Since joining this forum I cycled many days a week (ok some days only a 10 minute ride both ways but still) but funnily most of the time still on the old bike.
Happy cycling everyone in this perfect cycling weather.
OP
OP
rianon
Active Member
Update:
With more than a year on I am still loving this bike! Or shall I say we? I have to admit than the bike is indeed a tiny bit on the big side at 19'' but all along I was secretly hoping that my husband would get inspired. And he did!! We started off bike-sharing and the bike is now officially his. Luckily he is not bothered that it is a womens bike which is very useful as we can still bike-share if we need (I am struggling with the top tube on mens bikes). I really hope it is our children next (on smaller bikes though) ;-)
With more than a year on I am still loving this bike! Or shall I say we? I have to admit than the bike is indeed a tiny bit on the big side at 19'' but all along I was secretly hoping that my husband would get inspired. And he did!! We started off bike-sharing and the bike is now officially his. Luckily he is not bothered that it is a womens bike which is very useful as we can still bike-share if we need (I am struggling with the top tube on mens bikes). I really hope it is our children next (on smaller bikes though) ;-)
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
Sorry i did not reply about the anchorThanks for further advice :-)
I have already ventured out with the bike but never dared to leave it anywhere, it is still in our living room... Anchor inside storage sounds good, how did you do that cyberknight? The secure storage at work has a code so anyone knowing the code can get in. It's a pretty scary place too! Still better than outside though. I had this lock lying around: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000R566XS/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1 so intend to use this one for now. Is it better, worse or equivalent to the D-lock + cable-lock combo?
cyberknight: I liked the Carrera bike, only problem it was unisex and I struggled getting on and off without falling especially with a bike-seat on the back. (although I mostly use the trailer). Plus the Streetfinder came with nice extras
Since joining this forum I cycled many days a week (ok some days only a 10 minute ride both ways but still) but funnily most of the time still on the old bike.
Happy cycling everyone in this perfect cycling weather.
Something like this ...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/motorcycl...951?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2a4f54d887
Cut hole in floor of storage into concrete hard standing which i then used a masonary drill to drill holes, put anchor over holes so you can insert them bolts which then hammer in untill tight then you screw them as tight as you can to ensure they are strong.Dependant on the sort you buy you can get bolts that are hard to unscrew , mine are below the level of the storage .You could also fill the bolt head with glue/ball bearing if its a allen key top to stop anyone getting your mitts on it .
heres mine,
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/new-store-for-the-bikes.172457/#post-3480271
Its has a motorbike chain/padlock on it .
