Need help picking a Bike

[Matt Lee]

Hi All,

Apologies if this is yet another person using your expertise with very little to give in return.

At present I don't own a bike but would like to however I don't have the knowledge to make an informed choice which is why I'm asking for your help.

• I have a modest budget of £200 (I may be willing to go to £300 if what I was getting was a real bargain).
• I'd be riding casually, maybe once a week for anywhere between 2-8 hours.
• I live pretty much at the top of a valley so I'd expect to encounter some big hills at some point, it's semi-rural and I'd stick mostly to bridal ways, dirt tracks etc. where I can with some road use.

I'd appreciate any recommendations anyone can make or even tips on what I should be looking out for.
Thanks in advance,
Matt

 

[Matt Lee]

Also should you need to know anything else then please feel free to ask.

Matt

 

[smokeysmoo]

You need to be buying a second hand bike with your budget Matt. I wouldn't entertain a new bike TBH at £200.

If you can get to the £300 mark, and you must have a new bike, then the only one I'd recommend, (on the strength of others I should add), is the Triban 3 from Decathlon.

For that you get a carbon fork, a triple chainset, (unnecessary IMO but will help you get started with your local hills), Shimano gearing, and from all accounts a bike well set up as the Decathlon guys seem to know what they are doing, unlike most Halfords branches!)

Check it out HERE

Oh yes, and to CC

 

[vickster]

Maybe a flatbar hybrid? You'll get a good choice second hand, many come with hill friendly gearingand tyres good enough for both road and rougher stuff. A road bike may be troubled by bridleways and rural stuff

Decathlon do one new for £150, or the Carrera Subways from Halfords have a good rep (even if many of their staff don't) - the 2012 LTD is a bargainous £230
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_840919_langId_-1_categoryId_165534

 

[Matt Lee]

Thanks for the help - I realise it's not a lot of money to play with but I'm only looking for something to use leisurely.

I've found this at a local bike shop: http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-ascent-xc-disc-12 - Any thoughts?

Matt

 

[DanH]

How tall are you, Matt? The frame sizes shown in stock are pretty limited. 16" is likely to be too small. 22" likely to be too big.

 

[Matt Lee]

I'm about 5' 10" so would probably need something closer to 20" - They're not based far from where I work so I was tempted to go and see if they had one in the shop.

Apart from the size issue, what do you make of the actual bike?

 

[vickster]

Is it a hardtail MTB that you want? I am not sure I'd worry about disc brakes at that price but have a look, EBC have a good rep

Ditto Decathlon, also their MTBs

 

[The Jogger]

I would normally say triban but for mixed terrain I'd say the subway is the one for you.