CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help

What bike to buy

(73 posts)
  • Started 12 years ago by andy_1
  • Latest reply from chdot
  • This topic is not resolved

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  1. andy_1
    Member

    Hi. My name is Andy and I've just signed up to the forum.
    Sorry if the topic is in the wrong place...

    As the title says, I am looking to purchase a bike. I've not owned one for over 12 years (my last bike was a Raleigh M-Trax) and having just turned 30, I want to get fit and lead a healthier lifestyle! I will be using it for both commuting to work and for leisure. So would a hybrid one would be best??

    I like the look of the Carrera Subway 2, currently at halfords at £229 and the Raleigh Grande at £169 looks nice too. Don't really want to spend more than that first off.
    I live near Colinton and work at the Royal Infirmary.

    As I said above, My last one was a Raleigh M-trax mountain bike and I used that for road and off-road cycling.
    I've only looked at Halfords so far. I used to live down south so not really clued up on smaller bike shops in the area.
    Thanks for taking the time to read my post, and I will appreciate all help offered.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    Welcome

    Start here - http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15

    Study the cartoon (click on it to get bigger verions) and then click the link above it.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. gembo
    Member

    OK Andy, sounds like you are right in looking for a hybrid. If going for 26 in wheels, don't get tyres that are too fat, 1.5 inch max for commuting? Still fine for mudslide known as Water of Leith path. I wouldn't go for too many gears, turns out lots of them overlap anyway. The Edinburgh Bike Co-op Courier is in the price range, i have always fanciedthe one just with eight gears. Less to wear out.

    if youndo't fancy EBC other shops near Colinton - Freewheelin at Slateford or Pedals just down from EBC.

    if you aren't fussed about anew bike then second hand bargains at soul cycles in tollcross, or the bike station at causeway side.

    If going for your bike to work scheme you can up the cost of the bike at no cost to you. The Bike Chain of Rodney Streetbremains my fave small bike shop but a bit out your way.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. Morningsider
    Member

    Hi Andy - I agree with gembo. You probably want some kind of hybrid commuter bike. As a minimum you would probably want semi-slick tyres (lower rolling resistance than tractor style), mudguards (essential on a decent commute), a decent range of gears (at least 21, some of those hills can be pretty hard going after a day at work) and something that feels comfortable to ride.

    I would recommend not going to Halfords, as they have a pretty poor reputation for customer service and for setting up bikes incorrectly (although they do offer pretty good value for money on some bikes - don't be tempted by some of the cheaper options though, you tend to get what you pay for). Better to go to a local bike shop - see recommendations above.

    Cash could be your biggest barrier for a brand new bike - £300 doesn't buy too much in the way of decent new bike. If this is your maximum then it could be worth checking out the Bike Station on Casuwayside - which sells a wide range of reconditioned bikes for good prices.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. gembo
    Member

    Andy, just to say I am not saying you don't need a decent range of gears. Thus if you had 8 gears, the easiest gear no 1 should get you back up onto braid hills road from little France on the way home (in my head that is the only ascent on your commute, or similar if you are going via fairmilehead, though that route is not so nice as braid hills) and the top gear say no 8 doesn't leave you freewheeling on the flat after a descent? Total no. Of gears however is not necessarily the same as the range of gears, with much overlap. In 21 -27 geared bikes however, I suppose it is a reasonable indicator of range and there aren't that many bikes these days with less than ten gears.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. chdot
    Admin

    http://sheldonbrown.com/gears

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. chdot
    Admin

    http://edinburgh.cyclestreets.net/journey/3326831

    Bit fanciful to call that route "quietest".

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. andy_1
    Member

    Wow thanks for all the help.
    I really couldn't afford to spend over £250 for my first bike in years. Especially as I need to also buy helmet, locks, lights clothing etc too. I can always upgrade later on if I feel I need too.
    That's why I fancied the Carrera Subway 2 at halfords as the original price was £399, and online reviews are very good. I will definitely try the shops you have mentioned too.
    http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_840919_langId_-1_categoryId_165534?shouldCachePage=true&msg=#tab2

    Posted 12 years ago #

  9. chdot
    Admin

    Don't forget mudguards...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  10. custard
    Member

    just what I was about to post
    a bike with 'proper' mudguards makes a big diference

    Posted 12 years ago #

  11. custard
    Member

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=80857

    If you want cheap get you started wheels
    Im betting this is as close to best bang for your buck as you will get

    Posted 12 years ago #

  12. gembo
    Member

    Looks good, very fat tyres for commuting but easily swapped, halfords do let you order on line but pick up in shop I think which lets you see what you are getting? If you go for it, you should do it that way if you can and give it a very close check before going out the door. As morningsider and CHdot have said you should get the mudguards if commuting, thus if switching to 1.5 inch semi slicks to help with the commie then the mudguards may be slightly narrower. however, could be more crud catcher style mudguards on this bike rather than full length fenders

    Posted 12 years ago #

  13. andy_1
    Member

    Yeah I went to halfords today at straiton and it looks nice. I will check out the other shops on thurs when it is my day off. But so far its my first choice. Could always take it to get serviced at one of the ones you suggested to.be double sure.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  14. Its_Me_Knees
    Member

    The Bike Chain have recently started retailing these.

    I confess to knowing nowt about the brand, but TBC seem quite adept at finding good quality stuff that doesn't give your bank manager a coronary (although they also sell stuff that *will* blow a hole in your current account, if you're so inclined, but maybe that's for when you've got the n+1 bug...).

    I've no connection with TBC by the way (other than as a customer).

    Posted 12 years ago #

  15. gembo
    Member

    Andy - you can do that, but it doesn't always go down so well, dependent on circumstances

    E.g. - I bought this off the Internet can you fix it for me?

    A. OK (in good mood, might attract some custom etc)
    B. Why don't you take it back to the Internet?
    C. Sorry too busy

    I used to use wiggle but I stopped.

    Local bike shops are important for the commute (you need somewhere that can fix your bike that day to keep you going). I think it must be pretty tough for them just now as so many shops in Edinburgh. Thus as someone coming back to cycling you could be fortunate and get the response A above.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  16. thebikechain
    Member

    Hey Andy - we are neighbours - i live in Colinton too. well Woodhall Road anyway.

    You would be very welcome to take the Prime out for a spin to really get a handle of the gears. May we suggest a ride up Broughton Street and Leith Street to test them?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  17. andy_1
    Member

    I might pop along on Thursday sometime as I'm on nights at the moment.Although looking at my finances I think I might have to go for a second hand option or the Raleigh Grande 2012 from halfords I like the look of.

    http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_871769_langId_-1_categoryId_165534

    Posted 12 years ago #

  18. reikimikey
    Member

    Does your employer do a Bike to Work scheme? Might be a good idea for a decent bike without crippling the wallet. And the payments come off before tax so you can get it a bit cheaper in the long run.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  19. DaveC
    Member

    @thebikechain. Broughton st & Leith st? Are you wanting to get Andy fit or just kill the poor guy? Those are pretty steep hills :-)

    Andy, I read a message the otherday about Halfords service.

    I went into Halfords the otherday, asked if I could buy that bike in the box. The assistant said sute collect it tomorrow, we'll unbox it and set it up for you. The buyer replied 'leave it in the box I'll take it now'.

    Goes some way to show how much people trust Halfords to setup a new bike. I'm a big fan of doing your homework, searching for whats out there, waiting a wee bit longer & then buying your first bike second hand, having seen whats on offer. You don't get the expense of a new bike & when you finally figure out what you actually want after you have been cycling for a while, if you sell your old bike to help pay for a new one, you don't loose too much cash as a result.

    DaveC

    Posted 12 years ago #

  20. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Carrera Subway 2

    This was my first cheapo commuting bike. Did the job for about a year, but I ended up spending a good couple of hundred more pounds on it; mudguards, pannier rack, non-rubbish saddle, tougher tyres etc. to really turn it into a commuter. So you may find a £350-400 commuter bike that already has a rack and guards and tyres like Marathon plus actually works out cheaper walking away price.

    I also had the headseat crack on me (parts of it were plastic, not up to the job of commuting in my opinion) and the suspension fork fail, requiring a replacement (I put a solid fork on in replacement as it was rubbish in the first place) after around a year of pretty non-heavy duty commuting. I've never had component failures like these on other bikes.

    Halfords were utterly useless so I waived their 6-week free service offer and took it elsewhere for all further service and work.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  21. fimm
    Member

    I get the impression that the bikes available in Decathlon are better "cheap and cheerful" bikes than the Halfords equivalents. I have no experience of the bikes, but I do have a decathlon front bar bag which didn't cost much and is doing fine so far...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  22. crowriver
    Member

    Yes, Decathlon is worth a look for your budget. They have a store out at the Gyle.

    I would also really recommend checking out Edinburgh Bike Co-op. Their Trailfinder (26" wheels, £249.99) or Streetfinder (700c, £274.99) hybrid bikes come with mudguards as standard, and the Streetfinder has a rear rack.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  23. andy_1
    Member

    Thanks for all your help so far. I'm going to go into town tomorrow, first to the second hand ones to try and find a bargain. If not then I will try the other independent ones in town. Failing that I will try decathlon and halfords, then hopefully by Thursday I will have bought a bike!

    I work for the NHS. Not sure if they do the buy a bike scheme?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  24. SRD
    Moderator

    Andy - been following this all with interest. wish i'd had advice from these guys when I got back into cycle commuting 3 years ago. I got a trailfinder and my husband got a streetfinder then. My main regret is not realizing how heavy the trailfinder was. Also, I wanted wide wheels, and didn't appreciate that I could get wideish tyres but without the heavy mountainbike treads. With street appropriate tyres, the trailfinder would've been better. As it is, the streetfinder is a lot lighter. both bikes held up reasonably well. And I'd recommend them over the Halfords etc bikes, but I'd go for something different now. Still, decent entry-level bikes.

    If the NHS doesn't do bike to work, they should!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  25. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Decathlon do bikes at entry level and I think their European links mean most of them come already with racks and guards. Can't comment on how tough they are for regular, every-day commuting but I guess time will tell.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  26. ExcitableBoy
    Member

    Andy, NHS Lothian do do one of the bike schemes, I forget which, but I believe it's one that gives you flexibility over where you buy your bike. Apparently you can find the info on your eorks intranet, under staff benefits.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  27. ARobComp
    Member

    NHS Bike to work for sure. I googled it a minute ago There were quite a few links but I suspect that it might depend on the NHS board you're attached to.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  28. andy_1
    Member

    Yeah, I've just checked on work's intranet and I can get a bike through cycle scheme. So is this right? I go to a participating shop, pick a bike and gear etc. Get a quote, wait for a voucher to come, buy the bike and the cost, minus tax, will be deducted from my wages monthly for 12 months?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  29. ARobComp
    Member

    That sounds about right. Some are more generous but I think the NHS one is the bare bones version.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  30. andy_1
    Member

    Think I can have up to a £1000 with NHS from what I've read. What I don't get is this:
    If I don't want to continue using the bike after the 12 months (which is unlikely) do the NHS just take it off me and payment stops? If I want to buy it outright, do I just pay the remainder of the total plus tax/discount I got in the 1st place? And if I want to keep using it do I keep on paying monthly? Thanks!

    Posted 12 years ago #

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