The £1,000 question...

ashleymp777

Been mountain biking for 20 years and am about to buy my 1st road bike through the cycle to waork scheme with Halfrauds (sadly).

I've got my eye on this bike but are there other makes that are any better for £1k that Halfords can order in?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165710

Any help is gratefully appreciated!

Spatulala

There's no better bike for £1k that Halfords can order in )

Chip \'oyler

I suggest you buy a bike for £1000

ashleymp777

Spatulala wrote:

There's no better bike for £1k that Halfords can order in )

They can if you ask them - Specialized, Willer etc.

Spatulala

Really? I thought they only sold what they offered. Trouble is how to try em out first i spose

cotti

You can also spend the Letter of collection at Leisure Lakes chain of stores.

ashleymp777

What, even Halfords 'LOC's?

kingrollo

Don't understand the politics of your scheme. - However with regards to the bike - you want do much better than that for £1000 - it is a good bike - and gets praise in all reviews. The only downsides I hear:-

1.It doesn't look brilliant
2.The build by halfords staff - can be suspect
3.Some people have an issue with the shifters

But overall one of the best £1000 bikes around.

cotti

ashleymp777 wrote:

What, even Halfords 'LOC's?

Yes even Halford LOC's I know for definate I did it just last week

gregster10217

I spent a long time last year comtemplating the same thing your are now, and I whittled it down to the Boardman Team Carbon, a couple of Spesh and Trek bikes. I went to various LBS and tried the Spesh and Trek bikes under the pretence that I was on the Cycle Scheme (and could therefore buy at their stores - sorry, but got to try them somewhere).
I eventually bought the Team Carbon (Ltd Edition) and love it, but that's just me. I managed to get a test ride at Halfords Maidstone, and while a lot of their stores are not great with the mechanics, the Maidstone branch seemed to have a number of Cytech trained mechanics and all seemed to know what they were doing.
You CAN order other bikes rather than just what they stock. Give the C2W number a ring and put a few makes to them and they'll tell you if they can get it. You CAN spend the LOC at Leisure Lakes, nearly went there, but was too far in the end.
If you ask the right questions, they may even tell you who they will get the bike from in your area and you can go direct to them. Trek cannot be couriered so they'll probably tell you which LBS they would get to supply and you can go direct.
Get what bike YOU like, and what feels comfortable. Get Halfords to supply it and then go to your LBS for a check up, and never go back to Halfords - I won't be!