Which bike from these would you recommend?

[Meable]

Ok, so I want to buy a bike with a very tight budget - £150. I'm going to use it for riding in a country park to get fit and use it to get to nearby places in my town (15 min one-way rides). I will probably ride mainly on pavements and not on the road for those trips. So I have been mainly looking at mountain bikes.

Stows: http://www.stows.co.uk/productdetails.asp?productid=14108

Halfords:
1. http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/apollo-spiral-womens-mountain-bike
2. http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/falcon-orchid-womens-mountain-bike-17
3. http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/apollo-elusion-womens-mountain-bike
4. http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/trax-tfs-1-womens-full-suspension-mountain-bike

I would be so grateful if you could tell me what is best out of those. I don't think I can get anything better with my budget and my budget is unlikely to change I think.

Thanks!

 

[AndyRM]

Out of those, I'd say the Stows Probike is your best bet.

At that price any suspension will be heavy and offer you no real benefit so you really don't need it.

Something like this might be a good bet too: http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes-and-classic-bikes/apollo-cafe-womens-hybrid-bike

 

[vickster]

I wouldn't go for any model from the Halfords Apollo or especially Trax ranges, Pendleton, Carrera, Boardman ok but more costly (because they are better)

I'd look at Decathlon

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-359112-mountain-bikes/N-153402-frame-type~hardtail

e.g.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-340-mountain-bike-grey-blue-id_8321326.html
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-300-ladies-mountain-bike-id_8284494.html


That said a friend of mine did London to Brighton on a £150 Apollo mountain bike...if you do choose from Halfords, do NOT buy one with full suspension, it will be really awful

Assuming you are an adult, when you say pavement, you do mean shared paths...and not pedestrian only footways as riding's not permitted there

 

[MartinQ]

If there is a decathlon near you, you can pick up a 500 or 300 hybrid for ~160
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-376962-hybrid-and-touring-bikes/T-69555_66687

 

[vickster]

This is being sold by @Julia9054, a member on here, if it's the right size, it would be absolutely perfect for you, and a much better quality bike

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321812581...49&clk_rvr_id=870562897829&afsrc=1&rmvSB=true

Although it looks like you are down south...although North Yorkshire is a wonderful place for a weekend away

 

[Shortmember]

All the bikes you are considering are heavy, unreliable clunkers and riding any of them would feel like you were pedalling a motorcycle.Save a few more pennies and buy something like this http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bik...ikes/carrera-subway-1-womens-hybrid-bike-2015

 

[Garry A]

Agree with above, subway is good my wife has one.

 

[mjr]

If you absolutely must stick under £150, ask local bike groups if they've seen anything decent second-hand that suits the sort of riding that you want to do.

Or check the decathlon or Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op (Revolution) sales to see what they've got left.

 

[Julia9054]

This is being sold by @Julia9054, a member on here, if it's the right size, it would be absolutely perfect for you, and a much better quality bike

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321812581...49&clk_rvr_id=870562897829&afsrc=1&rmvSB=true

Although it looks like you are down south...although North Yorkshire is a wonderful place for a weekend away

I am amenable to meeting up half way somewhere if it's not too far.
It has been a great bike - got me back into cycling 5 years ago, starting off with exactly the sort of riding the OP describes.

 

[Meable]

Out of those, I'd say the Stows Probike is your best bet.

At that price any suspension will be heavy and offer you no real benefit so you really don't need it.

Something like this might be a good bet too: http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes-and-classic-bikes/apollo-cafe-womens-hybrid-bike

Thanks for the info. If I can't get my hands on a bike from Decathlon I'll end up getting the Stows one.

I wouldn't go for any model from the Halfords Apollo or especially Trax ranges, Pendleton, Carrera, Boardman ok but more costly (because they are better)

I'd look at Decathlon

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-359112-mountain-bikes/N-153402-frame-type~hardtail

e.g.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-340-mountain-bike-grey-blue-id_8321326.html
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-300-ladies-mountain-bike-id_8284494.html


That said a friend of mine did London to Brighton on a £150 Apollo mountain bike...if you do choose from Halfords, do NOT buy one with full suspension, it will be really awful

Assuming you are an adult, when you say pavement, you do mean shared paths...and not pedestrian only footways as riding's not permitted there

If there is a decathlon near you, you can pick up a 500 or 300 hybrid for ~160
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-376962-hybrid-and-touring-bikes/T-69555_66687

Hi. Thanks for the help! Riding on a shared pavement ofc!

There isn't a nearby Decathalon from which I could take the bike home from but there is one in London that I can visit to see the bikes in person (they do have them out right?). Either way they are offering free delivery on their website so I could definitely buy a bike from there.

I am looking at the following based on your recommendations:
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-340-mountain-bike-grey-blue-id_8321326.html
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-300-ladies-mountain-bike-id_8284494.html

I did like the 300 and 500 hybrids but they don't have my size.

Out of the two you pointed out, which is better? Any key differences I should take into account?

Thanks again!

 

[Meable]

This is being sold by @Julia9054, a member on here, if it's the right size, it would be absolutely perfect for you, and a much better quality bike

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321812581...49&clk_rvr_id=870562897829&afsrc=1&rmvSB=true

Although it looks like you are down south...although North Yorkshire is a wonderful place for a weekend away

I am amenable to meeting up half way somewhere if it's not too far.
It has been a great bike - got me back into cycling 5 years ago, starting off with exactly the sort of riding the OP describes.

Hi. I'm really sorry, I wouldn't be able to go up there or even half way (I'm near London). Thanks anyway!

 

[Meable]

All the bikes you are considering are heavy, unreliable clunkers and riding any of them would feel like you were pedalling a motorcycle.Save a few more pennies and buy something like this http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bik...ikes/carrera-subway-1-womens-hybrid-bike-2015

Agree with above, subway is good my wife has one.

Hey. I'm not really able to save up more at the moment and want to start riding as soon as possible.

 

[Meable]

If you absolutely must stick under £150, ask local bike groups if they've seen anything decent second-hand that suits the sort of riding that you want to do.

Or check the decathlon or Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op (Revolution) sales to see what they've got left.

I don't know any local bike groups or even shops actually but the Decathlon shop seems do-able.

 

[vickster]

Hi. I'm really sorry, I wouldn't be able to go up there or even half way (I'm near London). Thanks anyway!

Sold now she says

 

[vickster]

I don't know any local bike groups or even shops actually but the Decathlon shop seems do-able.

Where in London are you?