New bike, sub £200 budget

[vickster]

I do have a potentially interested buyer, will keep you posted

Still available

 

[fletchcmj]

Having looked into it a bit more I could get a bike using my employers cycle to work scheme. Therefore could increase my budget to approx £450. Halfords and Decathlon don't participate in the scheme however Evans and Cycle Surgery do. With that in mind any new recommendations based on the revised budget?

 

[vickster]

Go to Evans with photo ID and a bank card for surety and get some test rides on bikes in your budget and that you like the look of. Worth looking at CS too but they don't let you take the bikes out and they tend to be more expensive with a smaller range (and essentially have the same bikes as Evans)

You do need to decide what type of bike you want, hard tail, rigid fork hybrid, road

Something like this would likely do if you don't want a drop bar road bike, leave you with enough to get a strong lock

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/norco/indie-2-2015-hybrid-bike-ec075289

 

[sanddancer]

Having looked into it a bit more I could get a bike using my employers cycle to work scheme. Therefore could increase my budget to approx £450. Halfords and Decathlon don't participate in the scheme however Evans and Cycle Surgery do. With that in mind any new recommendations based on the revised budget?

Decathlon do this.
http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/
I'm pretty sure Halford are still in the ctws.

I had a nightmare with my local cycle surgery when I tried to buy a giant defy 2 last year. They forgot to ship the bike then they sent it to the gateshead shop etc etc, when it finally arrived weeks later they had recommended the wrong size and didn't have one left in my size
I ended up getting a defy 1 from my lbs for £60 more £640 for defy 2 from cycle surgery £700 for the 1 at lbs in the autumn sales . no brainer and the owner knows his stuff. Told me what size I was as soon as I walked in lol.
be careful you get fitted out correctly

If you have a local decathlon you can pop along and just pick up the bikes in store and ride them around, at least give you an Idea of what type of bike you want

 

[vickster]

Companies normally have an agreement with one C2W provider which will influence which shops can be used

It looks like Evans and decathlon use cyclescheme which may not be the same as the OPs company

http://www.evanscycles.com/pages/tax-free-cycling

 

[fletchcmj]

Just to for reference my employer uses this bike to work scheme. www.cyclescheme.co.uk

 

[vickster]

You should be able to get the bike from decathlon then if they have the most suitable bike for you.
http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/retailer/decathlon-canada-water

Your increased budget definitely opens your options. Where in London are you? You might find you can support your local bike shop too

 

[fletchcmj]

Thanks Vickster. Couldn't see Decathlon but clearly it's there. I'm in Battersea. Currently looking at the Specialized Allez 2015 road bike which Evans have for £400.

 

[fletchcmj]

And the Giant Defy 5 2015, also £400.

 

[vickster]

There's a new decathlon at Wandsworth. The btwin 520 is better equipped than the specialized or defy, just depends what floats your boat

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-520-road-bike-sora-black-red-id_8322663.html