Total Newbie - please help with bike choice out of these two

[swoshbuck]

I am planning on cycling to work soon and I have seen a couple of bikes I may buy.

First is a mountain bike:


View: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2166972223552693/


Second one:


View: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/330144580868163/


I know it says sold but the seller has advised it is still available.

I’m absolutely clueless on what to get, I’m going to be travelling about 4 miles to work and 4 miles back every day 5 days a week. I am a bit apprehensive that winter is coming but I think I’ll be ok if I am prepared and do my research.

Thanks in advance, really appreciate any help given

 

[annedonnelly]

Someone will come along with more advice soon but you don't want anything with suspension - at the cheap end of the range it makes the bike heavy and you use extra energy riding because of the bounciness. The second bike you link to is an Apollo - that's the Halford's own brand which is not very good even when new. I had one myself and it was rubbish.

It's worth thinking about where you'll be riding - is it all on tarmac? Or on muddy tracks? For commuting I'd always have mudguards. I also like a rack to carry stuff as I don't like rucksacks. You'll also need to budget for lights - and locks unless there's somewhere at work to bring it indoors.

I guess you want to do this as cheaply as possibly but if you buy a really cheap bike it will probably be rubbish, you won't enjoy riding it and you'll not use it. If you don't get a bike will you be using public transport? How much will that cost you? Think about what you'll save and put that towards a bike.

Also, if you don't know what you're buying try to get someone more knowledgable to check it over for you. You might end up having to spend money to get it fixed.

Hope you find something you like. Cycling to work is great - even in the cold & dark

 

[Racing roadkill]

I am planning on cycling to work soon and I have seen a couple of bikes I may buy.

First is a mountain bike:


View: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2166972223552693/


Second one:


View: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/330144580868163/


I know it says sold but the seller has advised it is still available.

I’m absolutely clueless on what to get, I’m going to be travelling about 4 miles to work and 4 miles back every day 5 days a week. I am a bit apprehensive that winter is coming but I think I’ll be ok if I am prepared and do my research.

Thanks in advance, really appreciate any help given

If it has to be one of those, go for the second one, the first one has totally unnecessary front suspension, which will make it much heavier and more ‘wallowy’ than the second one.

 

[swoshbuck]

It doesn’t have to be one of those but I don’t earn much money so I’m on a budget. I guess if it would be more beneficial in the long run I could spend more.

The roads are mostly tarmac, I live in south Leeds and work in the city centre. It is quite hill around here.

I’m going to find the best cycle route which might involve going through a park but nothing extreme.

I’m mainly doing this for health and to reduce my carbon footprint.

Plus, I get quite bad travel anxiety when I get on the bus especially when it is full in rush hour.

It would be good if somewhere offered a ‘beginners pack’ with helmet, bike, lights, hi vis etc, or would that make things too easy? XD

My work do a cycle to work scheme, but it’s rubbish and a total rip off.

Thanks again for the help and apologies for the daft questions! I guess I just want to make sure I am doing this right.

 

[Drago]

The second one if you really must, but it's a bit like choosing between a firing squad or the noose.

 

[DCLane]

Of the two, the Apollo Excelle primarily because you don't need front suspension for commuting to work. However both are at the budget end: OK for a start. For the winter you'll need mudguards, lights and warm clothing.

Whichever you choose there's routes through south Leeds. Have a look at the train station for the Leeds Cycling Map: https://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/Middleton to City Centre Cycle Route.pdf

Also, there's an interactive version here: https://fourpointmapping.sustrans.org.uk/westyorkshirecyclemap/westyorkshire.html

My commute takes me from Dewsbury, through Middleton and Belle Isle onto just past the LGI. I've been riding this for about 7 years now in all weathers with only a few issues.

 

[tom73]

Community bike projects maybe a good place to start to find a low cost useable bike.
https://pedallers-arms.org based in leeds they don't sell bike's but help people to repair them.
They may know of ones going cheep or help you repair one in need of bit TLC.

 

[Shortandcrisp]

How tall are you? I’m up in Leeds this weekend as my two lads are running the Leeds 10k.
I’m hoping to do a bit of riding along the canal, so I’m bringing my Specialised Sirrus hybrid (small). Triple chainset so lots of lower gears for those Leeds hills and, more importantly, some puncture resistant tyres ( Schwalbe Marathon plus) for all that winter riding. Your more than welcome to give it a try. Not for sale, but it might give you some idea of what you want. I picked it up for £150 on eBay.

 

[gbb]

The first one, the green Entice, was only £50 New at Halfords, although no longer available. It's a mtb with fatter tyres which will make it feel a bit sluggish.
Like other posters, the Excelle looks a better. It's a hybrid, a bit thinner tyres which will be better on the road. It was also a slightly more expensive bike when new, but not by much.

2nd one for me if that's your budget.
Bear in mind if you're going to start using it for commuting, you'll want mudgards to stop the wet flying around and lights, neither need be too expensive, a cheap pair of led lights to be seen with will do at the minimum and mudgards needn't be too expensive.

 

[sleuthey]

A 20 second search on Gumtree reveals 111 bikes under £50 within a 5 mile radius of Leeds city centre. Have a look.

 

[Cycleops]

Please please don't buy either. This is the sort of thing you should be looking for;
https://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/pinnacle-2018-hybrid-bike-near-new-condition/1318884218
Suspiously cheap so make sure the seller has proper title to it.
Make sure you get the correct size. How tall are you?
Anything around a hundred quid will likely need work due to worn components so might not be a bargain. Unless you can be assured on the mechanical integrity of the bike buy from a dealer in used bikes, at least you'll have some assurance and cone back.

 

[swoshbuck]

A 20 second search on Gumtree reveals 111 bikes under £50 within a 5 mile radius of Leeds city centre. Have a look.

Hiya,

Yeah but as I’m so rubbish at knowing what will be decent I thought I’d ask for help XD

It’s easy to search for something when you know what you’re looking for.

I don’t wanna buy something that will be no use in a month or two.

It looks a like the two I thought would be good are actually a bit rubbish but maybe that’s due to my budget...

 

[swoshbuck]

Please please don't buy either. This is the sort of thing you should be looking for;
https://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/pinnacle-2018-hybrid-bike-near-new-condition/1318884218
Suspiously cheap so make sure the seller has proper title to it.
Make sure you get the correct size. How tall are you?
Anything around a hundred quid will likely need work due to worn components so might not be a bargain. Unless you can be assured on the mechanical integrity of the bike buy from a dealer in used bikes, at least you'll have some assurance and cone back.

Hiya,

Useful response - thank you.

I am 5’6” but my legs are quite short, haha.

I’ll have a look at the link you have sent.

I’m very anxious about getting this right so thank you for the help.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Hiya,

Useful response - thank you.

I am 5’6” but my legs are quite short, haha.

I’ll have a look at the link you have sent.

I’m very anxious about getting this right so thank you for the help.

That’s right, if you get a BSO ( bicycle shaped object / rubbish bike ) you won’t enjoy it, and that won’t auger well for keeping it up.

 

[vickster]

Is there a bike recycling place in Leeds, where they do up donated bikes?

Assume you don't have any similar sized friends who may have a bike they no longer use?