New Bike Advice Please

[nufc2009]

Hello, i havnt had a bike for about 6 yrs now and to be fair, carrying more weight then i would like (16st )

anyway i dont want to spend too much on a bike if im just getting back into it, i do know though you get what you pay for. well im looking for a bike that can be used mainly on roads, footpaths, country lanes etc and that can take me 10-20 miles a day. Also would the bikes be ok considering my weight, will tires go flat easy etc or is it not a problem?

Ive seen a few bikes so far, please tell me if they are rubbish for what i need because honestly im clueless, all i know is shimano do good brakes and not to get dual suspension unless the bike is worth more then 1k.

here is what ive seen:

BeOne Aspire 2.0 Hardtail Bike 2008
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=25442

Claud Butler Mercury Mountain Bike 08
http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/claud-butler-mercury-mountain-bike-id42369.html

Claud Butler Pinelake Gents Mountain Bike
http://www.holcroscycles.com/produc...tler-Pinelake-Gents-Mountain-Bike-(2009).html

CLAUD BUTLER URBAN 100 MENS
http://www.falconcycles.co.uk/Corporate/URBAN/Urban100.shtml

CLAUD BUTLER URBAN CITY MENS
http://www.falconcycles.co.uk/Corporate/URBAN/UrbanCity.shtml

Dawes Saratoga Rigid Mens Bike (2009)
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/21850/Dawes_Saratoga_Rigid_Mens_Bike_2009

Dawes XC 1.0 Gents Hardtail Mountain Bike
http://www.holcroscycles.com/produc...-1.0-Gents-Hardtail-Mountain-Bike-(2009).html

Dawes XC 1.1 Gents Hardtail Mountain Bike
http://www.holcroscycles.com/produc...-1.1-Gents-Hardtail-Mountain-Bike-(2009).html

Diamondback Quantum Bike (2007)
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/9171/Diamondback_Quantum_Bike_2007

Fuji Nevada 4.0 (2007)
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/16368/Fuji_Nevada_40_2007

Kona LanaI Bike (2006)
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/7495/Kona_LanaI_Bike_2006

MONGOOSE Rockadile AL
http://paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s2p2151&z=2500

Mongoose Rockadile Mens Bike (2009)
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/19721/Mongoose_Rockadile_Mens_Bike_2009

Saracen Element 2 2008 Mountain Bike
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/saracen/element-2-2008-mountain-bike-ec001172

SCORPION ANGER
http://www.falconcycles.co.uk/Corporate/MOUNTAIN/Anger.shtml

SCORPION CULT
http://www.falconcycles.co.uk/Corporate/MOUNTAIN/Cult.shtml

SCORPION FEAR
http://www.falconcycles.co.uk/Corporate/MOUNTAIN/Fear.shtml

Would these be suitable for what i need? If not please find me some, price between £150-£280

Thanks in advance!!

 

[summerdays]

I'm not much good at choosing between bikes but are you sure you want front suspension? It certainly will make the front of the bike heavier, and some pay more than those bikes for their suspension forks.

 

[nufc2009]

i prefer no suspension yeah, the only one ive seen is the Dawes XC 1.0 Gents Hardtail Mountain Bike and the Claud Butler Mercury Mountain Bike 08, not sure if they are right for me though

 

[nufc2009]

Help! I have no clue about these bikes, are the parts good or crap???!

Thanks


EDIT:

ok ive eliminated them down to 3 of which i like:

1) Diamondback Quantum V Mountain Bike
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=360162752864

2) Dawes Saratoga Rigid Mens Bike (2009)
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/21850/Dawes_Saratoga_Rigid_Mens_Bike_2009

3) Dawes XC 1.2 Hardtail Mountain Bike 20"
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....em=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT&salenotsupported

 

[Ant]

Well, I've no personal experience with any of those bikes, so just going off the links:

I'd count out the bikes with suspension. You won't need it for what you say you're doing, and at that price point it won't be great suspension anyway and will just add weight. That counts out the Dawes XC 1.2. The remaining four all look pretty similar, and I'm sure will be suitable for your needs.

If it was my choice I'd go with the Diamondback Quantum. I think it just looks a bit better than the others, and it's also the only one with disk brakes. I, very recently, bought my first bike with disk brakes and I think they're great. It also seems to have better gear ratios than the others (although the Claude Butler Mercury doesn't specify, so I'm guessing with that one)

BTW I'm assuming that with that username I may see you around some Championship football grounds next season I'm already looking forward to my trip to Crystal Palace on the 22nd

 

[Ant]

EDIT:

ok ive eliminated them down to 3 of which i like (in no order)

Eh? I'm sure there were five there when I wrote my post

If it's just down to those three then definitely the Quantum. The Dawes XC has suspension, which I'd avoid, and the Saratoga has worse gear ratios than the quantum.

 

[nufc2009]

Yes the quantum one is the best choice looking at it, the one on ebay has seat suspension whether that is any good!

So its down to the Quantums now, any difference which is best apart from disc brakes or both the same?! also i cant see on the 2007 version where a water bottle cage would go on

1) Diamond Back Quantom Mountain Bike
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=360162752864
also here cheaper
http://www.ashcycles.com/power/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1441&currency=BP

2) Diamondback Quantum Bike (2007)
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/9171/Diamondback_Quantum_Bike_2007

well ive only been to say 8 or 9 toon matches because it costs so much, been in the championship can only be a good thing for cheaper ticket prices it might be a good thing because we can get rid of the crap like owen, guttierez, collocini and most the others! i would be happy if oba martins stays, he will devastate defences for us

Cheers for your help!

 

[peanut]

there are many hundreds of threads about first bike choices every year on this and other forums. if you use the search buttons you will find lots of useful information and advice.

There is no soft way of putting this so I may as well be straight with you.

new bikes like this under £300 are basically rubbish. You are wasting your time and money considering them. They are very heavy, use cheap no-name components often in steel .
The simple fact is you would get 5x the better bike deal by buying a used bike for the same price in good condition that cost around £750 new . But I know that isn't going to sway you from buying one of these cheap rubbish bikes is it?

If you are intending riding 75% + on the roads or footpaths then get a road bike or hybrid ,thats what they are intended for.
If you are intending riding 75%+ off road then get a MTB its as simple as that.
You don't need any suspension components on the road especially forks and seatposts You don't need 32c or wider tyres on the road either.
These bikes will be very heavy with poor manoeverbility and hard to pedal and you'll soon get fed up with them. The bike will get left in the garage or worse still in the garden and you'll get nothing for it when you come to sell it .It will be worthless.

if you want a cheap bike get a bike from Asda theyt are selling them currently for £50.00

 

[nufc2009]

i want to avoid trashy bikes yes, but as im starting to get back into riding i dont want to pay a ton if i can, well not yet anyway

are these road bikes good, and can they sustain my weight on the skinny tyres ??

1) 2009 VIKING GIRO D'ITALIA 14 SPEED ROAD BIKE
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=310140189729

2) Barracuda CS-100 Medium Lightweight Sports Road Bike
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=270408573200

if the diamondback ones are no good, how about those 2?

 

[peanut]

i want to avoid trashy bikes yes, but as im starting to get back into riding i dont want to pay a ton if i can, well not yet anyway

then take my advice and forget this rubbish and buy a decent quality used bike for £200-£250
You'll get a quality bike costing £500+ which will be lighter work better last longer and have the same value when you come to sell it as when you bought it. It will be a pleasure to ride and not give you loads of aggravation

I know you'll continue to look at these cheap bikes which will lose 3/4 of their value the moment you leave the shop.
Try looking for a used version of these cheap bikes and see what they are selling for.

Look at your choice for example .

It has steel forks which will weigh in excess of 1.2kgs
The chainset has heavy steel chainrings which will rust like crazy the first time you get them wet.
The components are so cheap and nasty that they don't even carry makers names . What can I say ?
The wheels will weigh a further 3.5 Kgs and they are no name as well.
The gear levers are on the down tubes for crissakes.You have to take one hand off the handlebars every time you want to change gear ! This went obsolete in 1980's .

Its complete and utter rubbish . It would have no resale value whatsoever and you would soon be utterly fed up with it .

Sorry but I know this is harsh but you asked for advice and I'm trying to save you wasting your time and money

 

[nufc2009]

no thats good advice, i prefer harsh honesty im clueless about this area.

do you know any good places i could look at?

Thanks mate

 

[peanut]

There are lots of places.
I would start by looking in the yellow pages for all your local bike shops and check out what they have. Many will have plenty of dross but some will have some med /high spec used bikes too. You can usually negotiate price and change saddle, tyres etc and they will advise on correct size and adjust the bike to fit you.
next you could look in Cycling Weekly magazine or look online Gumtree etc, try local papers and even exchange and mart.
Best bet is ebay because you can see a lot more choice.

If we are to advise you on a suitable bike we need to know more about you and your intended riding.
distance, how often, type of surfaces, commuting , leisure, training weightloss ? etc plus your height and inner leg length would be useful too

 

[accountantpete]

Have a look on eBay - if you see one on there that you like then just post it up with the link and the generous folks on here will take a look for you.

 

[nufc2009]

ok my intentions:

bike will be used mainly for fitness/weight loss but also for leisure - mostly the fitness.

i weigh 16stone, my ideal weight would be to get back to 12stone (not sure over what time period)

i intend to do maybe 8-15 miles a day everyday, as i get fitter would love to do 15-30 miles a day

i would primarily be riding on roads, footpaths and country lane roads, i would doubt i would ever go on rough terrain etc.

im 5ft 10" and inner leg is about 30cm

Im aware cheap bikes can be nasty, i would like to get a quality bike for over £400 but at this moment in time i really would like to only spend £200-£300 if possible. Thanks for your help peanut, i will check out yellow pages and gumtree.

And thanks pete, ill keep looking. i was put off road bikes because they look like they were made for lighter people, im scared they wont hold my weight!

Here are 3 hybrid bikes ive seen, again it could be pants:

Ridgeback Cyclone 2009 Hybrid Bike
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/ridgeback/cyclone-2009-hybrid-bike-ec001140

Specialized Centrum Sport 2008 Hybrid Bike
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/centrum-sport-2008-hybrid-bike-ec001472

Dawes Discovery 201 2008 Hybrid Bike
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/dawes/discovery-201-2008-hybrid-bike-ec000414

 

[Sittingduck]

Hi

I think you need a Hybrid (you COULD afford a new one) or a Road bike (you can't afford a DECENT new one)

Check these hybrids out. I believe both are within budget (all be it at the top end). Alternatively - scour eBay for bargains. Good luck with it and have fun

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kona/dew-2009-hybrid-bike-ec017268?query=kona dew

http://www.evanscycles.com/products...oad-bike-ec016920?query=specialized sirrus 09

Another option - slightly cheaper but make sure you tighten all the fixings AFTER collection, if you go down this route:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_240361_langId_-1_categoryId_208956

Cheers,
SD