Hello all and forgive my basic query but I really do not know what to buy for the best. I have recently had a very bad experience buying a Raleigh Hybrid off-line and it has taught me some expensive lessons:
1 Raleigh do not seem to produce the quality of bikes they used to.
2. If you buy on-line once the retailer has your dosh they do not want to know you when the product turns out to be defective.
3. I should have sought advice from local dealers about the price to pay and the sort of machinery that might suit me rather than think I can save a few quid on the net and
4. When you buy local they set up the bike and can respond immediatley to any problems you may have.
So regrouping now I am looking to buy a a not too expensive (say £2-£300) bike for commuting and some leisure riding at weekends and in the evening. I do not want to climb mountains, I do not want to do triathlons and I do not want to enter the Tour de France. I just want a nice comfortable piece of machinery that is reliable and will invite me to take it out (ie a pleasure to ride). In order to commute it also needs mudguards, a rack (to bungy my briefcase to) and ideally a little stand thingy to park it up at the office!! Having realised my £170 Raleigh was not the bargain I first thought, my two local dealers are inviting me to consider three makes in all of whihc they say are a siognifcant step up from the Raleigh Metro - a Giant Expression LX; a Trek 7.1 FX and a Dawes (cannot remember what its model name was but it was about £269). The Giant comes with all the bits but the Trek and the Dawes will require mudguards and rack etc. fitting. The dealers say they can do all this as a package if I am interested. Having had such a disappointment with the first bike I am now terrified of making any more mistakes. So boys and girls what advice would you give. Are any of the above worth the plunge? Does any one stand head and shoulders above the others? If none are any good what do I do next? Oh help, please help!! What was supposed to be an enjoyable way for me to get some exercise is turning into a complete nightmare.
Yours expectantly
TC
1 Raleigh do not seem to produce the quality of bikes they used to.
2. If you buy on-line once the retailer has your dosh they do not want to know you when the product turns out to be defective.
3. I should have sought advice from local dealers about the price to pay and the sort of machinery that might suit me rather than think I can save a few quid on the net and
4. When you buy local they set up the bike and can respond immediatley to any problems you may have.
So regrouping now I am looking to buy a a not too expensive (say £2-£300) bike for commuting and some leisure riding at weekends and in the evening. I do not want to climb mountains, I do not want to do triathlons and I do not want to enter the Tour de France. I just want a nice comfortable piece of machinery that is reliable and will invite me to take it out (ie a pleasure to ride). In order to commute it also needs mudguards, a rack (to bungy my briefcase to) and ideally a little stand thingy to park it up at the office!! Having realised my £170 Raleigh was not the bargain I first thought, my two local dealers are inviting me to consider three makes in all of whihc they say are a siognifcant step up from the Raleigh Metro - a Giant Expression LX; a Trek 7.1 FX and a Dawes (cannot remember what its model name was but it was about £269). The Giant comes with all the bits but the Trek and the Dawes will require mudguards and rack etc. fitting. The dealers say they can do all this as a package if I am interested. Having had such a disappointment with the first bike I am now terrified of making any more mistakes. So boys and girls what advice would you give. Are any of the above worth the plunge? Does any one stand head and shoulders above the others? If none are any good what do I do next? Oh help, please help!! What was supposed to be an enjoyable way for me to get some exercise is turning into a complete nightmare.
Yours expectantly
TC
