http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Office mate buying a bike! en Wed, 13 May 2026 01:57:50 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515&page=2#post-87139 Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:04:53 +0000 lionfish 87139@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hey Sarah! That's fantastic :D I can't wait to see it :) (and maybe have a go ;)</p> <p>This will make minimoth so jealous.</p> <p>btw: I'll be back in the office on Monday (I'm working on thesis from a remote, secret location!). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515&page=2#post-87131 Tue, 09 Oct 2012 14:20:39 +0000 DaveC 87131@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hi Sarah,</p> <p>Lush the <a href="http://lovelybike.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/bobbin-birdie-lands-in-america.html">Bobbin Birdie</a> lookes fab!</p> <p>I think you might like <a href="http://www.thebikechain.co.uk/store/filtered/3/c_64/">these paniers for your things</a>. I have seen a couple of laydee riderz with Jada Mirte and they always turn my head... ...the panniers! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515&page=2#post-87126 Tue, 09 Oct 2012 13:43:06 +0000 Sarah 87126@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hi all,<br /> Just to let you know, I will shortly be the proud owner of a red Bobbin Birdie!</p> <p>Thank you all so much for your help, I have learnt a lot about bikes during my reading and hunting. See you around the city....</p> <p>Sarah </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515&page=2#post-86417 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 22:39:04 +0000 lionfish 86417@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks for all the help people :)<br /> - I'll obviously be happy to check it over and make sure vital things are working!<br /> - And the Bike Works is my favourite bike shop too: They're really friendly and not patronising! I'm sure there's other good ones though. Last time I went they fixed something for free :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515&page=2#post-86393 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 18:58:28 +0000 crowriver 86393@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Sarah, the Bobbin Birdie is a good choice: quality bike but not too expensive. Should last a while if well looked after.</p> <p>Raleigh do a similar bike, the <a href="http://www.raleigh.co.uk/ProductType/ProductRange/Product/Default.aspx?pc=1&amp;pt=15&amp;pg=8234">Classic De Luxe</a>, but it's higher price reflects an alloy frame, leather sprung saddle, 5 speed hub gears, and hub brakes. Apparently it sells well in Denmark so I presume it's a good bike... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515&page=2#post-86386 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 17:02:08 +0000 SRD 86386@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sarah, my advice would be not to worry too much about where you buy it, but get lionfishy to check it over and make sure everything is put together properly. And then investigate local shops for repairs -- my pref is the bike works on argyle place - but key is to find somwhere you feel you can trust to maintain it and that you feel comfortable in. Benefit to buying a new bike is that you shouldn't need too much work for a while. (nice username btw :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515&page=2#post-86385 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 16:56:45 +0000 sallyhinch 86385@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>yay! Can you get the bike on the Bike to Work scheme? That might take some of the sting out of the price. </p> <p>There's a review here <a href="http://lovelybike.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/bobbin-birdie-lands-in-america.html" rel="nofollow">http://lovelybike.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/bobbin-birdie-lands-in-america.html</a> if you haven't found it already. Lovely Bike has also reviewed the Paper Bike and the Brompton and her judgement seems sound </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515&page=2#post-86363 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 13:33:48 +0000 chdot 86363@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Welcome Sarah</p> <p>(Not to be confused with someone called Sara - whose user name isn't Sara...)</p> <p>"I have read such mixed opinions!"</p> <p>Yes. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515&page=2#post-86361 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 13:26:43 +0000 Sarah 86361@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hello everyone,</p> <p>I'm the office mate lionfish has kindly been posting about. </p> <p>Thank you all for your help and suggestions, I have been happily reading and researching. The Bobbin Birdie is lovely (thanks sallyhinch) and I'm debating whether I can afford it!</p> <p>I have a question... is buying a bike from Halfords likely to end badly? I have read such mixed opinions!</p> <p>Thank you</p> <p>Sarah </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515&page=2#post-86345 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 11:45:17 +0000 lionfish 86345@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>update: I think it's the bobbin she's going for! But I'll find out properly later :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515#post-86333 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 09:53:38 +0000 DaveC 86333@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Late to this but.... .. my first bike had those rod brakes and solid rubber tyres. It was a real bone shaker! A mate insisted I pump up my tures for the Three Glens on Sunday and I was reminded of what the solid rubber tures were like [numb bum] </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515#post-86323 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 09:28:18 +0000 lionfish 86323@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think this might be the bike she's thinking of going for...</p> <p>...I'll just send her a message to see how the bike-buying is going! She spent Saturday looking around different bike shops, etc. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515#post-86285 Mon, 01 Oct 2012 19:49:37 +0000 Nelly 86285@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Nah, she wants a Guvnor, innit </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515#post-86284 Mon, 01 Oct 2012 19:47:59 +0000 gembo 86284@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Liz Hurley might nick it, watch out </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515#post-86282 Mon, 01 Oct 2012 19:46:44 +0000 Nelly 86282@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8175/8044328215_2a481645e6.jpg"></p> <p>This Pendleton Somerby appeared in the office bike park today - looks rather nice.</p> <p>Secured with a real cheapo lock though, so glad its only £279, for the inevitable repurchase. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515#post-85772 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 10:31:39 +0000 crowriver 85772@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I saw a young man on a white Pendleton step through bike just off Easter Road a couple of weeks back. Despite it being a 'ladies bike' he seemed happy enough with it. Looked reasonable build quality as far as I could tell. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515#post-85771 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 10:25:18 +0000 Chimpofdoom 85771@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Just to throw another one into the mix.. halfords have a range of bikes endorsed by Victoria Pendleton.</p> <p>Not sure if they are any good, but seem to be getting reasonable reviews</p> <p><a href="http://tinyurl.com/ca5b9bb" rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/ca5b9bb</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515#post-85770 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 10:24:32 +0000 crowriver 85770@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If she likes the Trek Belleville she may want to look at the <a href="http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/globe/">Specialized Globe Bikes series</a> of urban hybrids. Very nice, not expensive, and I can vouch for the quality having owned a Globe Vienna 2 for 3 years now. </p> <p>The <a href="http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/Detaig/13daily/daily/Globe%20Daily%201%20Step%20Through">Globe Daily 1 step-through</a> may be of interest? A bit more than she was thinking about, but a nice bike. If she shops around may get a better price...</p> <p>(They seem to have trimmed their range a bit, they used to have nice mini-cargo bikes with either built in rear rack or front porteur rack, but no longer...) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515#post-85764 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 10:05:27 +0000 lionfish 85764@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks all for these suggestions! I think she's now overwhelmed :)</p> <p>It seems like the rev heritage has the most votes so far.</p> <p>I don't think she's investigated the popiel yet - again that might be just above her price range?</p> <p>She's also started taking an interest in slightly different bikes: <a href="http://bikereviews.com/2011/11/2012-trek-belleville-urban-bike/" rel="nofollow">http://bikereviews.com/2011/11/2012-trek-belleville-urban-bike/</a></p> <p>She's got most excited though by the Bobbins (thanks sallyhinch!)*. </p> <p>I'll try to report back the choice she makes...</p> <p>*Bobbins "Transform a Journey Into a <strong>Magical Adventure</strong>": I'm not sure that's what I want! How annoying when you just want to cycle to work and you have to have a magical adventure instead! :P </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515#post-85687 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 21:17:09 +0000 tammytroot 85687@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Also try Decathlon out at HG. Good specs and should have something in her price range. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515#post-85660 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:43:56 +0000 Uberuce 85660@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Fimm - "Though see Uberuce as someone who has ridden a bike that isn't really the right size for him for some time."</p> <p>True, but now when I get back on the too-small road bike, it feels horrible.</p> <p>I can lend her my iron horse until Soul/Eastside/BikeStation come through. The brakes are extremely poor in the wet, but the 3-speed is still grand. If she's tall the size ought to be fine. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515#post-85657 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 17:13:09 +0000 sallyhinch 85657@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ooh, I could waste the rest of the afternoon on this. Also a Gazelle, which is a properly Dutch brand <a href="http://www.popiel.co.uk/en/gazelle-basic-r3t.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.popiel.co.uk/en/gazelle-basic-r3t.html</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515#post-85656 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 17:10:35 +0000 earthowned 85656@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>For what it's worth my other half bought a revolution heritage 11 from EBC last week and seems very happy with it. </p> <p>I had great fun riding it around town, although got a few strange looks and comments ;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515#post-85655 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 17:07:05 +0000 crowriver 85655@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If she needs 19" frame then the <a href="http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-heritage-12">2012 Revolution Heritage</a> is the one they have in 18" size, only 16" for the 2011 model. Same price as the Raleigh Caprice, which comes in 19" size. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515#post-85654 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 17:04:44 +0000 steveo 85654@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Nothing like a "spend someone else's money" thread to garner lots of replies :D </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515#post-85653 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 17:04:04 +0000 lionfish 85653@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@steveo: yeah, the paper bicycles are wonderful, but I think they're a bit too expensive from what I remember. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515#post-85652 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 17:03:45 +0000 sallyhinch 85652@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Paper Bikes start at £600 for the single speed. Worth every penny, of course, but you'd probably have to be riding a while to know that.</p> <p>I'm seriously tempted by one of those Dutchies now... they do have back-pedal brakes though </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515#post-85651 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 17:03:45 +0000 sallyhinch 85651@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Paper Bikes start at £600 for the single speed. Worth every penny, of course, but you'd probably have to be riding a while to know that.</p> <p>I'm seriously tempted by one of those Dutchies now... they do have back-pedal brakes though </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515#post-85650 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 17:01:44 +0000 lionfish 85650@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@fimm: She tried some in the bike-station and she said a 19" frame was ok, but I'm surprised as she's quite tall. I'll maybe suggests she checks again - maybe if she goes to the EBC to ask about the revolution...</p> <p>...also I'm aware that an uncomfortable/annoying bike can put someone off cycling quicker than almost anything.</p> <p>@wfb: ty :) I always wondered what was so amazing about alloy. Cool stuff about the hub gears being so robust. The brakes do look more interesting though.</p> <p>thanks all :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8515#post-85649 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 16:59:09 +0000 crowriver 85649@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Eastside Bikes have the <a href="http://eastsidebikes.com/new-bikes/raleigh-caprice">Raleigh Caprice</a>, which has 3 speed hub gears and is a bit lighter than the Viking and Probike options. No assembly required, after sales service no problem. Another £99 though. </p> <p>Edinburgh Bike Co-op have a very good deal on their <a href="http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-heritage-11">2011 Revolution Heritage ladies' bike</a>. Only £20 more than her price level. It's a good bike for the money, 7 speed derailleur gears rather than hub, but sports a decent rear rack as well as what looks like a Klickfix basket, plus a steering stabiliser spring to stop a loaded basket affecting the steering too much. Also a "deluxe Japanese brass bell".</p> <p>Slightly different bikes, the Raleigh's front basket is lower down, attached to the brake bosses, but lacks a rear rack and some of the Revolution's extras. However the hub gears should be easier to look after.</p> <p>On price alone the Revolution looks like a winner, and is a far better bike than the ones your friend has been looking at for only a couple of tenners more.</p> <p>She can order online and select either free delivery or collect from store. Personally I prefer the latter, you just pay a deposit and the balance when you collect. </p>