Yet another Newbie "What Bike" question

stevecol

Hi Guys/Girls,

I have spent all weekend online and visiting bike shops, and i am now "Totally Confused.com"
I want to replace my ageing rusty bike and get back into the saddle, (15 years out of it) So apart from an extremely comfy saddle what should i go for? Some shops have said steer clear of full suspension unless you pay mega bucks, same again for disc brakes, some shops (Halfords) so no go for full susspension and discs and here's agreat bargain! (Guy got really Pi**ed when i said i will go away and think about it!)
I have seen CBR's, Saracens, Carrea, Montana's, and as for the online choice WOW!!

So my budget is £300-500 (I know the old adage of spend as much as you can) but i have clothing and safety gear to buy as well. I don't want to spend a 1000 to 1500 notes if i find i don't really take to it as much as i think i might.

Any advice would be most welcome as i have bikes spinning round in my head!

Very many Thanks

Rich Hcp

You should be able to get an older model year hardtail for that money.

I'd not bother with full suspension.

A half decent hardtail will teach you more and weigh a lot less!

I'd look at a Specialized Rockhopper, you can fit discs later if you want or something from the Specialized Hardrock range.

Decent bikes that you can upgrade if you want

biker24

I have a Cannondale F5 my first decent bike and its great value for money £550

bluechair84

You can maximise your cash by huning around the stores for a last seasons model. You can get an even better deal if you find a shop that is selling its hire bikes off - they will be used bikes but regularly serviced by the store mechanic and will be half the price of buying it new. You can always take it back if you feel it wasn't as good a quality as you thought it should be too. Check these out:
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... m1b4s2p722
£75 off RRP and comes with Hydraulic discs
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 1b4s2p1266
£100 off RRP with better forks than the other Giant.
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/produ ... _Bike_2007
£200 off, great fork and brilliant disc brakes - probably the one i'd recomend.

If you call, or even better - visit the store, you should be able to haggle down a bike and helmet and gloves etc getting even more value out of your pound.
Cannondales are high end bikes not usually known for their budget, I'd stick to brands like Giant, Specialized, Merrida or Focus. The Halfords Careera Kraken is a good value bike.
You mustn't get full suspension at this price point but you can find bikes with hydraulic disc brakes - even budget hydraulic discs are great these days and will do you well but avoid cable disc brakes.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/rockrider-8-1-34963132/
If you live near a decathalon, check out this bike. Their gear is fairly good value but not reduced in price - and their helmets and clothing is high quality for very budget price. Everything in store is own brand but highly recommended.
Hunt for cheap GT avalanches, Specialised Hardrocks - but that reduced Dawes linked above looks like a stonking bike, almost double your lower budget. Thats the one i'd get.

Felix-da-house-mouse

gt avalanche?

supersonic

What Bike thread lists a few popular options. Visiting a shop and seeing them for yourself will pay its dividends.

stevecol

Well Guys thank you all very much for your Advice. In the end i decided on not shopping online, despite some big savings i was worried about "What do i do if it goes wrong". As a newbie i decided that this was important to me, more than saving £50-£100.

When i am more experienced and know the difference between a Toys are us special and a decent bike (Before buying it!) i will quite happily buy online.

In the end i bought a Carrera Fury from a different Halfords to the guy who tried to pressuize me into buying something i did not want.

Thanks again
Steve

sc999cs

The Carrera Fury is a good bike. I really enjoyed riding my four year old Kraken until it got stolen . I had to buy a replacement through Halfords (insurance replacement) and I had no hesitation in getting another Carrera bike (this time a Zelos).

Have fun on it.

supersonic

Excellent choice, and I am really glad you saw the benefits of buying from a local shop.