test rides around East Anglia?

M5_Phil

Hi all,

I'm in Suffolk, I've convinced myself I need a fast fun comfy mile easter that does XYZ etc, for £1000-2000. Problem is, I don't know what suits me yet.

Anyone recommend somewhere within an hour or so that'll let me try the beasts and compare (say) a £1500 bike with a £2K bike, or a stiff racer with something softer? Several local dealers will let me nip up the road for 5 minutes on their stock if it fits, but ...

Failing that, do any distributors have a test fleet that I can get at through my local showroom? Could easily swing my choice of brand.

cheers .. Phil

markos1963

I don't know if you can get to Hunstanton in an hour but I have had test rides at Fat Birds on their bikes before buying. They have a big selection of bikes in your price range and the test route is quite a reasonable length. Service is of the high quality you would expect for the quality of bikes.

M5_Phil

Hunstanton - hmm, hour and a half, that's on the radar.

tbh I have no idea what to spend. I've been tempted by many a clearance deal in the magazines but just don't know what I'm buying. I suspect whoever can indulge me for half a day gets my credit card.

markos1963

You'll have no problems there! I spent a whole morning there with the intention of buying an alu' beginners bike but ended up with an Orbea Onix carbon wonder(albeit an ex demo at half price) Nothing seemed too much trouble, and it wasn't just me. There was a steady stream of customers picking up builds and getting measured up so I was able to see it wasn't a show just for me.

oxford

Got my bike from Pauls Cycles up your way, plenty of Giant bikes there for good prices.

Got a SCR C3 (2007 carbon) for 1500 pounds there not so long ago, bike runs great!

They are more than pleased to set the bike up for you, test it etc.

I got a large frame (I am 6ft 3")

oxford

Must be on another planet! I paid 999 for it, (reduced from 1500)


link would help!

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 1b4s6p1252

Lagavulin

Wish I had Fatbirds within a couple of hours drive of me.
Hmm... Bottecchias. 8)

M5_Phil

markos1963 wrote:

... ended up with an Orbea Onix carbon wonder(albeit an ex demo at half price)

coincidentally I posted this question after the frustration of seeing an Onix in my LBS, the perfect bike on paper but it was a customer order so I couldn't have a play.

One hour north for road bikes, one hour west for recumbents, one hour east for SCUBA - anyone think of a good reason to go to Essex or London?

M5_Phil

oxford wrote:

Pauls Cycles ...

They didn't really 'do' road bikes last time I bought an MTB there (4ish years back). Thanks for the update!

Lagavulin wrote:

Wish I had Fatbirds within a couple of hours drive of me.
Hmm... Bottecchias. 8)

what, even if it meant living in Norfolk/Suffolk?

keef66

I'm on the Suffolk / Cambs border, but I'm heading southwest on a business trip in a couple of weeks. I'm taking the opportunity to call in at Epic Cycles because they'll let me properly test ride the bikes I'm interested in, and they'll fit the thing properly. (And their Orbeas are £100 cheaper than my LBS)
Sounds like FatBirds would do the same, but I don't have an excuse to visit Hunstanton