Help me choose new bike PLEASE

hodgey68

I have upto £250 to spend (i know it is not alot but all i can afford), i am after a hybrid (commuter) bike to get me to and from work (about 8 miles away!)
can anyone recommend me a good, reliable hybrid in the price range i have stated

require 20" frame

thanks

jonba

One of the Revolution bikes off this page?

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... 155c002910

Revolution are the Edinburgh Bike Coops own brand and used to come recommended by magazines (when I last read one). They have shops all over the UK not just Edinburgh.

Shadowduck

Welcome to the forum!

The Revolution Courier from Edinburgh Bicycle is pretty good as hybrids go and is bang on your budget, but I'd question the wisdom of buying a hybrid. I made that mistake, then tried a "proper" road bike and ended up buying one - the hybrid sits at the back of the garage and only gets used as a loaner or spare bike.

If you search the forum, you'll find hundreds of bike advice threads - may be worth you having a look at them.

Good luck!

hodgey68

Shadowduck wrote:

Welcome to the forum!

The Revolution Courier from Edinburgh Bicycle is pretty good as hybrids go and is bang on your budget, but I'd question the wisdom of buying a hybrid. I made that mistake, then tried a "proper" road bike and ended up buying one - the hybrid sits at the back of the garage and only gets used as a loaner or spare bike.

If you search the forum, you'll find hundreds of bike advice threads - may be worth you having a look at them.

Good luck!

what is the definition of a road bike then ? can you recommend me any in my price bracket ?

secretsam

I'd get yourself on the 'net and get into the sales

Try E-bay, got my Sirrus there for (all in) your budget, including lock and guards

Some might recommend Halfords "Carrera" bikes, which are OK by all accounts (but put together by muppets)

Shadowduck

hodgey68 wrote:

what is the definition of a road bike then ? can you recommend me any in my price bracket ?

It's not black and white, but a road bike will generally be lighter than a hybrid with narrower tyres and a more aerodynamic riding position. Usually (but not always) they'll have dropped handlebars which help with aerodynamics and give a wider choice of hand position than the flat bars found on hybrids.

If I had £250 to spend on a road bike I'd probably go second hand, but if you don't want to risk that I've heard the Carrera Virtuoso or Decathlon road bikes are pretty good for the money. Or if you can find a few extra quid the Giant SCR4 seems to be quite highly thought of.

Again, I'd recommend searching the forum and reading some of the "which bike" threads to get ideas.

hodgey68

whats your opinion on the ridgeback bike's ?

i have seen this one, is it any good ?

http://shop.devercycles.co.uk/images/prod_2918.jpg

Shadowduck

hodgey68 wrote:

whats your opinion on the ridgeback bike's ?

i have seen this one, is it any good ?

http://shop.devercycles.co.uk/images/prod_2918.jpg

From just a picture I have no idea.

If you go here and type in the make and model (remember to click "search for all terms"), the wisdom of the forum will be laid out before you. If there are any questions you can't answer by searching, feel free to ask again!

hodgey68

http://www.awcycles.co.uk/brands/Ridgeb ... index.aspx

http://www.devercycles.co.uk/dever-bike ... ad%20Bikes

what do you think about these 2 bikes ?

TheBoyBilly

If you want an good example of what's available for around your budget use the bikefinder ( Erica ) on the Evans Cycles website ( www.evanscycles.com ) .
Just by having a budget of between £200-250 left pages of bikes from leading manufactures such as Dawes, Ridgeback and Claud Butler. I don't think that for commuting purposes you will go far wrong with any of these and many come equipped with full mudguards and racks. You can always buy from someone else more local. You're not going to get top kit for that kind of money ( I suspect you know that already) but you will find the reliable workhorse that you need, and maybe save enough money for decent lights and a lock into the bargain.
Good luck.

dccok

i have got my paws on a specilzed globe sport recently for just under 300 quid.like yoursef i have a limited budget but i got a reasonable deal.
i would reccommand the bike..rides well...it feels like a cushion really
will be commuting on it soon..(12 miles each way..)
it will do the job

have a look
dave

mtbcommuter

[quote="Shadowduck Or if you can find a few extra quid the Giant SCR4 seems to be quite highly thought of.[/quote]

Just read an ad in "cycling weekly" (200308) for Giant SCR 4 for £345 but they're offerring £86.12 deposit & 36 months @ £7.19 ( 0%)
I just have to show the wife how much I'd save in petrol if I were to get this baby.

Shadowduck

mtbcommuter wrote:

Just read an ad in "cycling weekly" (200308) for Giant SCR 4 for £345 but they're offerring £86.12 deposit & 36 months @ £7.19 ( 0%)
I just have to show the wife how much I'd save in petrol if I were to get this baby.

But... But... You'd have to re-register with a different name! :shock:

Mombee

Hi,

if you can, get the bike through a Bike-To-Work scheme as it'll double your budget - a mate is buying a Trek 7500 (brand-new from a local bike shop), it retails for £500, but through the scheme he'll only pay about £250.

If your company doesn't have a scheme, then it's definitely worth asking them to get involved in one - it doesn't really cost them anything, apart (maybe) from a bit of admin overhead.

If you're self-employed it's even easier... just put the bike through as an expense and claim back the VAT (the tax gets deducted when you do the end of year accounts) - that's how I sorted my Cannondale hybrid.

Good luck, Mombee.

bear_bearson

I have cycled to work on a Claud Butler Urban 200 for the past three years.

Very good value for money and reliable.

I also have a Condor Italia road bike but I prefer to use that on weekends and not on the commute, due to comfort, ride feel etc etc.

Stick with a hybrid.