thecyclenovice
New Member
Hello i'm Mick and this will be my first post here. Found this site while trying to get reviews on a couple of bikes that i'm considering purchasing through my company's cycle to work scheme. I have a budget of £500 tops and would welcome any suggestions. With the scheme I seem to be stuck with Halfords who seem to do a limited range of bikes but i'm sure i'll find one for my needs. Recently started biking to work after trashing my car a month ago or so. Currently using my bike mountain bike which I got free with a Land Rover which I bought 10 years ago or so. It had been in garden shed for around 4-5 years and both wheels seem to be buckled. I have slackened the V-style brakes right off, rendering them virtually useless and the cable keeps slipping out the hand brakes 1 in 10 times of braking. If I tighten them up then they rub heavily on rims and riding it is ridiculous.
Anyway, my trip to work is between 15-35 max depending on what route I take. The shortest route which I have been using to ride home in the afternoon only takes 15 minutes and consists of little road, a bit of nicely laid tarmac path, a horendous 1/4 mile dirt track full of stones, holes, 1/2 foot deep muddy puddles and a hump back bridge! Followed buy a road through an industrial estate where some parts are full of smashed glass where some yobs at night obviously congregate.
The route I take in the morning usually is about 20-25 mins and is mostly pathways as no-one is about 5:30am and a short trip by a newly laid path next to a canal. This route though is 70% no lighting but a co-worker of mine rides in with me so we feel a bit safer to this route together in morning in darker light. The first route is 90% no lighting and a bit notorious for muggins and assaults etc, so defo no no in early morning.
The other route in the morning about 30-35 min is all road mostly, main town roads. I could ride 90% on path but not in afternoon as is quite pedestrian heavy. Good street lighting though and is the way I have ridden only twice since had no car and was on own in Morning.
I am not too confident on road at minute hence why I take the mud soaking dirt track route home, though touch wood still haven't had punture yet with all that glass. It's a short journey too
Been looking at VooDoo hybrids and a Boardman but haven't got a clue really.
Anyway, my trip to work is between 15-35 max depending on what route I take. The shortest route which I have been using to ride home in the afternoon only takes 15 minutes and consists of little road, a bit of nicely laid tarmac path, a horendous 1/4 mile dirt track full of stones, holes, 1/2 foot deep muddy puddles and a hump back bridge! Followed buy a road through an industrial estate where some parts are full of smashed glass where some yobs at night obviously congregate.
The route I take in the morning usually is about 20-25 mins and is mostly pathways as no-one is about 5:30am and a short trip by a newly laid path next to a canal. This route though is 70% no lighting but a co-worker of mine rides in with me so we feel a bit safer to this route together in morning in darker light. The first route is 90% no lighting and a bit notorious for muggins and assaults etc, so defo no no in early morning.
The other route in the morning about 30-35 min is all road mostly, main town roads. I could ride 90% on path but not in afternoon as is quite pedestrian heavy. Good street lighting though and is the way I have ridden only twice since had no car and was on own in Morning.
I am not too confident on road at minute hence why I take the mud soaking dirt track route home, though touch wood still haven't had punture yet with all that glass. It's a short journey too
Been looking at VooDoo hybrids and a Boardman but haven't got a clue really.
Sorry to end on a moan but if you venture on the road , PLEASE assume 50% of drivers are blind, 60% are thick,and about 70% are out to kill you!! ENJOY!!!
