Returning to cycling

[Animal drummer]

Hi could anyone offer me some advice on bike purchase. I am looking to get back into cgcling but have not ridden for about 10 years. I have about £500 to spend on a bike for commuting back and for work and slso some weekend rides to try and get fit. Would I be better of getting a road bike, mountain bike or an hybrid and which bikes give the best spec for the money. Eould be greatful for any advice

 

[biggs682]

depends on the terrain you are riding on .

but either way i would always advise going 2nd hand more choice costs less

 

[vickster]

If go for newer models - flat bar bikes are cheaper than drop bars as the STI levers are costly. A bike with a good rigid fork will cost less than a hardtail with a quality suspension fork with lockout

However, as biggs says, depends what surfaces you are riding on - you won't want a MTB if spending 90% of time on roads and you won't want a road bike if spending 90% on rough stuff

 

[Animal drummer]

Thanks for that it will be mainly roads unfortuntely because it is through a cyclevto work scheme it has to be new because I need to provide receipt when purchased. Sorry should have mentioned this in my post.

 

[vickster]

What retailers can you use?

If Halfords, look at the Boardman Race which is heavily discounted at the mo, or the hybrid comp

If more choice, look at Specialized Sirrus, Giant rapid, Trex 7.x, Ridgeback element

If only commuting on flat stuff around London, look at single speed, soon get fit

If you want drop bars, you should be able to get a lower Giant Defy. If you can use Decathlon and want drops, look at the Triban 5

Whatever you choose, make sure it's the right size

 

[Animal drummer]

Hi I live in south wales and there are lots of different cycle routes over different types of terrain. So mainly I will be riding on roads back and for work. But I also want to do some longer runs through some of the coastal cycle routes. On weekends. I only have an halfords and one independant cycle shop local. I went into halfords to ask advice but did not seem to want to offer advice the independant store is only open a few hours a day and whenever I try to contact them I dont get hold of them. So I think I will have to by online. Trouble with that is I cant test bike before purchase which is why I am lookung for advice.

 

[vickster]

The Halfords comp would be ideal

Go back to Halfords, mid week and ask to speak to the manager of the bike section

Perhaps you can travel to one of the bigger towns for more shops? Tredz are in Cardiff and Swansea for example

 

[Chris Norton]

I can recommend the trek 7.2 with disc brakes. Nice on roads and will take a decent bike path too with no problems. BUT you cannot buy a Trek online. But if I'm in the market for a 500 quid bike then a little bit of traveling to a bike shop is not out of the question. Your perfect bike may only need to be 300 quid rather than top end of the budget.

Don't forget the accessories in with your budget though.