http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: What bike to buy en Wed, 13 May 2026 04:02:54 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=3#post-82036 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:53:45 +0000 chdot 82036@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I hope you're glad you joined CCE and started <a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034">this thread</a>. </p> <p>You <em>were</em> looking for bikes about £200! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=3#post-82033 Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:45:02 +0000 andy_1 82033@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've chose the bike! Hopefully picking it up tomorrow. Gone for the Giant escape 2. Didn't get the sale price unfortunately. Bought a kryptonite lock separately as was half pice but accessories with the voucher, I got gloves, mudguards, ights, helmet Allen keys, innertube pump and lube! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=3#post-81785 Mon, 20 Aug 2012 00:26:20 +0000 Instography 81785@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>You should go to the shop and talk to a person. I got my C2W bike discounted because they wanted the sale. Now's not a bad time. Mid-September would be better so they can make their Q3 sales figures look better. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=3#post-81778 Sun, 19 Aug 2012 22:42:39 +0000 andy_1 81778@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well that rules out that bike! Will have to go back tomorrow and start over. Is that the same for accessories too? When usually does the new stock come in? Says sale ends Sunday 9th of September, so will the new stock be in the Monday? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=3#post-81772 Sun, 19 Aug 2012 21:54:33 +0000 DaveC 81772@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>No it just means you have to buy it full price. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=3#post-81769 Sun, 19 Aug 2012 21:34:28 +0000 andy_1 81769@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Just read terms and conditions of this sale.</p> <p>Due to administrative costs, bicycles featured in the sale cannot be purchased through Cyclescheme.</p> <p>Does this mean I have to wait until new stock comes in? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=3#post-81767 Sun, 19 Aug 2012 21:28:16 +0000 chdot 81767@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Don't forget to see what mudguards will fit. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=3#post-81763 Sun, 19 Aug 2012 21:21:52 +0000 andy_1 81763@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My voucher came yesterday! Less than a week after I ordered it. Went to bike co-op today, and with the sale in full swing I didn't want to wait 4 hours for to be served. The place was heaving!</p> <p>The Ridgeback Velocity I wanted wasn't there but I did like the Giant Rapid 4. £100 off too. I'm going back tomorrow morning as hopefully It wont be as busy.<br /> <a href="http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/rapid.4/9318/49831/" rel="nofollow">http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/rapid.4/9318/49831/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=3#post-81024 Sat, 11 Aug 2012 15:15:39 +0000 Uberuce 81024@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I rode my be-racked bike minus pannier for the first time in ages today. I wouldn't say there was a dramatic difference, although I'd be a bad liar if I said there was none. Admittedly it's rarely got more than 3-4kg of stuff in it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=3#post-81019 Sat, 11 Aug 2012 12:21:39 +0000 ruggtomcat 81019@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>*looks at unused speshy sitting in the corner*</em> I second that!</p> <p>Have a look at racktop bags too, for me they are the uberconvenient way to take small loads around the place and are balanced because they sit in the middle. I am rarely seen without mine. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=3#post-81003 Fri, 10 Aug 2012 22:15:10 +0000 Uberuce 81003@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I would advise getting something with longterm durability, which basically means steel frame, because it's a common theme among cyclists to cling onto <em>the first bike they ever did XYZ</em> for dear life, regardless of how much they can afford to replace it with a vastly better one. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=3#post-80999 Fri, 10 Aug 2012 21:35:21 +0000 Smudge 80999@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>£400 is ok, remember, that's less than four fills of the tank on the average car!! Also if you then splash another £90 say on good led lights (did I say cherrybomb?) mudguards and rack you could buy a top line set of panniers or saddlebag and still have plenty change from £600, well inside bike to work voucher territory and with a bike that will last years not months, you also don't need to but gym membership and don't have to sit in traffic queues ;-)<br /> Only thing is... you'll <em>need</em> to bring it to PY one morning to let us admire it ;-)) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=3#post-80996 Fri, 10 Aug 2012 21:10:44 +0000 LivM 80996@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>One piece of info that might be useful is that the Edinburgh Bike Co-op usually have a bike sale at the end of August (runs over the bank holiday weekend) with some very good savings. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=2#post-80995 Fri, 10 Aug 2012 20:55:18 +0000 andy_1 80995@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Went to bike chain, Velo Eccose and Edinburgh bike after work today. Saw a few nice ones. Mainly Ridgeback. The Comet, Meteor and the Velocity on top of list. Velocity most expensive at £399 but my favourite! Basically they all said I can request an amount from NHS and I will receive the voucher in about 3/4 weeks to spend. So I don't have to decide now.except what shop I want to go with. Plus the helpful guy at Edinburgh bike said a lot of new models will be out In September. Thinking Edinburgh Bike for the voucher at the moment. Will try Decathlon tomorrow and then decide. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=2#post-80875 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:54:29 +0000 wingpig 80875@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Mudguards are not just there to protect your bottom from spray - anyone riding behind you in the damp is also grateful for them, which is why nonsenseflaps sticking up into the air at the back are unsuitable for city commuting use.</p> <p>Far from destroying the ride of a bike, panniers lend a bicycle a purposeful and useful feeling of weight being transported swiftly. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=2#post-80874 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:50:27 +0000 gembo 80874@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have a lovely ortlieb seat post bag, same design as their panniers, but I know carradice are nice. If going for a courier bag, get one with the side strap for stabilisation </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=2#post-80872 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:10:42 +0000 Nelly 80872@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Let me be 2nd to say Carradice - carries everything and more, never notice it on the seatpost. </p> <p>Old ideas are the best ! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=2#post-80871 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 19:17:04 +0000 Uberuce 80871@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Andy, I can give you a tired old pannier, if your hypothetical rear rack has a decent dogleg to it. The second of these two has a dogleg.</p> <p><a href="http://www.thebikechain.co.uk/Blackburn-EX1%2B-Black-Rack-8888888017981/" rel="nofollow">http://www.thebikechain.co.uk/Blackburn-EX1%2B-Black-Rack-8888888017981/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.thebikechain.co.uk/Blackburn-EX2-Black-Rack-0748071005578/" rel="nofollow">http://www.thebikechain.co.uk/Blackburn-EX2-Black-Rack-0748071005578/</a></p> <p>If you get a triangle one, it's not much use since the backing is so knackered it falls into the spokes when even half full. It's on the Multicoloured swapshop thread already, free to a good home. Not in bad nick except for the backing, but I admit it's not a high quality one.</p> <p>Bike Station is an excellent place to pick up a rack on the cheap. Got mine on my second try for £4 or something. There's a reasonable turnover there, so you can check once a fortnight and expect to see new ones. Well, secondhand, but different. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=2#post-80867 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 18:03:25 +0000 Smudge 80867@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Carradice are good but Ortlieb are great ;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=2#post-80822 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:38:32 +0000 steveo 80822@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It'll depend of the bike shop, the first time I did it the shop hadto order the bike so I had the voucher a week or so before the bike arrived the second time alpine held the bike in stock for about a month but they took a refundable deposit. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=2#post-80821 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:35:58 +0000 andy_1 80821@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I won't be carrying much as I keep a lot of things at work. Pretty sold on mud guards though now. I'll see what I can find. One more question about cycle scheme. Once I get a quote for what I want, I assume I have to wait a couple of weeks for the voucher. Are the bike/equipment saved or is it pot luck its all still there when I come to buy it? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=2#post-80819 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:28:48 +0000 steveo 80819@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Let me be the first to say Carradice. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=2#post-80817 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:23:25 +0000 kaputnik 80817@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>In defence of panniers, I've never found the ride of my bike being "destroyed" by them. Yes it changes, but I don't think anyone expects a bike carrying any sort of weight to ride like it would without.</p> <p>I generally carry all the weight on one side and your body quickly compensates for this and it doesn't make the bike ride lopsided or tip over. A lot of weight on the back can make goign up a steep hill interesting if you naturally sit back to go up hills - but again you get used to it and shift yourself forward to compensate and prevent the front wheel rising off the ground (or even becoming unloaded enough for steering to be affected)</p> <p>Steel frames noticably flex with weight on the back, but I find that quite pleasant. </p> <p>Certainly a courier bag is much preferable to a rucksack in my opinion (weight lower down, more stable on the back, doesn't restrict head movement or looking over your shoulder) if you want to carry stuff on your back, but a decent, large size bag will cost you more than a rack and pannier. A pannier carries the weight further down still on the bike, so should create the steadiest way to carry loads. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=2#post-80815 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:13:47 +0000 Bruce 80815@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I am looking at another bike for next year, I previously bought a Cullin Pro from Edinburgh Cycle. </p> <p>I have had it nearly 3 years now, I have only a rear half mudguard.</p> <p>I ride no matter what the weather except the snow of 2010.</p> <p>I have had to replace parts that I am sure full mudguards woudl have saved. If I had hindsight I would not have bought a MTB as I never really been off road with it. My next bike will be a Ribble winter trainer as my Allez only goes out in the dry </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=2#post-80791 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 09:45:27 +0000 Baldcyclist 80791@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Definitely yes to mudguards, I suffered, ahem, 'trench ar*e', for the best part of 20 years cycling into Edinburgh on a road bike with no guards. Got my first ever set of mudguards in April this year and must say I am converted. I still arrive to work in wonderment on a rainy day, how can it be possible to have a dry bottom in such weather??</p> <p>Rack, hmm mixed on that, again just got my first rack after years with a rucksack. Really nice not to have the weight on your back, but believe me an extra stone of weight hanging off the side of the bike really destroys, and I don't exaggerate, DESTROYS the ride of the bike. It also makes the bike so heavy to get in and out of the car (my comute it part car. part bike). Still undecided on racks... But get mudguards... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=2#post-80782 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 09:12:50 +0000 Uberuce 80782@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>andy_1 <em> Not bothered about luggage rack</em></p> <p>You will be. <strong>You will be.</strong> - Yoda, Empire Strikes Back</p> <p>I got pretty lucky and found an army surplus bag that I could bodge into sitting on my hip. I've not seen a bag that works as well, even cycling specific ones. [/luck]</p> <p>Most people sweat profusely within eighteen seconds of cycling with a rucksack covering the lumbar, myself included, but I'm okay with that bag on my hip. </p> <p>However, it's so much easier to be bagless that I've barely touched the non-racked bikes. </p> <p>Mudguards - full one on the front, no doubt. On the rear you can live with a 'catcher, but since guards are only sold as sets that's kinda academic unless you're Bike Stationing it.</p> <p>Welcome to the world of bikey stuff. I'm in your neck of the woods too, so give me anudge if you want route advice. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=2#post-80780 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 08:56:48 +0000 wee folding bike 80780@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well Bromptons used to be available in black or red so I suppose we could let red squeak past.</p> <p>Now they make a range of nasty colours and people spend hours worrying about them. One of mine is matte black so you don't even see the reflection of lesser colours on it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=2#post-80779 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 08:35:59 +0000 chdot 80779@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Red is good too. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=2#post-80778 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 08:35:27 +0000 chdot 80778@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Black is the only proper colour for a bike"</p> <p>Or white. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8034&page=2#post-80777 Thu, 09 Aug 2012 08:34:43 +0000 Instography 80777@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>What about the <a href="http://www.evanscycles.com/products/ridgeback/speed-2012-hybrid-bike-ec032052">Ridgeback </a>hybrid that comes with guards and rack for £299? Or a similar looking <a href="http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/t30-2011-hybrid-bike-ec001494">Trek</a>? </p>