First time rider....(since youth)

ted-on-tour

Ok I was just wondering if any advice could be offered on what bike I should opt for....

So, I'm new to cycling, I need some help on deciding which bike would be the wisest choice for a first time buy, I've got a relatively low budget of around £250 because the other half would sh*t a brick if she found I'd spent any more than that for a first bike.

I've seen a few:

http://www.rutlandcycling.com/30786/Vik ... Bike-.html

http://www.rutlandcycling.com/27153/Bar ... Bike-.html

http://www.rutlandcycling.com/28866/Cro ... Bike-.html

http://www.rutlandcycling.com/28851/Ral ... Bike-.html

Or any someone else might suggest?

Needless to say there's a few to choose from, and I realise that they're not the best bikes in the world but I would really appreciate any advice more experianced people might be able to offer.

Many thanks.

mapei

To best advise you, we'd need to know what are your intentions for resuming cycling - do you have a particular goal? Perhaps riding a certain distance (to work, or a local path, or a tour, or???) or any particular type of riding? Or perhaps a bit about yourself?

That will solve the "horses for courses" question so that the advice will be useful for whatever it is that you are seeking, instead of something that could be entirely a blind assumption.

For example. I'd pick a different bike for a tiny woman riding to the shops vs. a big bruiser doing an off-road path regularly.

ted-on-tour

Ok, sounds sensible. Well I'd be looking for more of a keep fit/leisure purpose with a view to something a bit more serious if it turns out well....I've recently stopped running mid-fair distances as my knees have packed up and I'm in need of a fairly low impact sport, so its a toss up between swimming and cycling...and I've already got a pair of trunks.

Thing is I don't want to spend over the odds just incase it turns out I'm not a fan, and I've had a look round the forums with various different bike's being suggested, i.e. Decathalon B Twin, as well as the ones I've posted.

Hope this might give you a more informed view.

Cheers

mapei

Of the four you've linked, the first 3 have near identical spec, which honestly aren't something I'd recommend, they're a bit of a throwback.

The fourth Raleigh has proper modern shifters so you'd likely find it much more pleasant to ride. The wheels are also a bit better.

The Btwin Sport one is quite similar, but offers a tiny bit lower gears, which are nice if there are quite steep hills where you are; other than that the two are quite similar and you won't go far wrong with either of them.

They're also more weel known makes than the first 3, so would bring a higher resale value if you (God forbid!) din't turn out to enjoy cycling. But you have that running history, you'll do well, go have fun!

ted-on-tour

Oh ok, yeah know what you're saying about the re-sale value if it doesn't work out well.

I'll get down to the bike shop to see if I can get a test ride on either.

Thanks for the input and advice.

unixnerd

With your budget I'd get a used bike. Loads of people in your exact situation buy a new bike and then seldom use it. I've had some huge bargains for that very reason. Try ebay and gumtree. For 250 you might get something worth 4-600 new.

danowat

unixnerd wrote:

With your budget I'd get a used bike.

Agreed, £250 would probably buy you a pretty decent used bike, but £250 would more than likely buy you a new P.O.S.

ted-on-tour

P.O.S? You mean a new Point Of Sale? I don't understand, is this cycling lingo I need to catch up on? Or am I missing something?

unixnerd

I think he means Piece Of Smelly brown stuff.

The other one you might hear in this context is BSO. Bicycle Shaped Object, meaning something that looks like a bike but is make so badly and from such poor components as to be a total misery to the owner. Supermarkets sell them I'm told.

neeb

If the £250 budget is non-negotiable, I'd definitely go for a used bike. Anything you will get new for that price will be rubbish quite frankly, and won't help endear you to the sport...

You need to spend about £500 to get something half-decent new, but second-hand you could get a competent bike for your £250 budget.

Now, if you spent £500 on a used bike you could get something really nice, and if you decided that cycling wasn't for you in a few months time you could probably sell it for around the same price.... any chance of getting that past the other half?

ted-on-tour

Yeah I've had a look around for something that I think might be half decent, trouble Is I don't actually know what it is I'm looking for....need to do some home work I think.

The Mrs wont budge on the price, she says I'm too whimsical to warrent me spending any more, plus I don't really want to spend too much as I've never ridden a road bike before, and don't want too much money to end up in the shed if it turns out I'm not a fan (unlikely, but still a worry)

If it gets to the summer and I'm still well into cycling then I'll be able to get myself something a bit more up market, the Mrs wont be able to moan at me either.

As for the new lingo, thanks for pointing that out, makes sense now.

danowat

You can't really go far wrong with anything from any of the big manufacturers, Trek, Giant, Specialized etc etc

ted-on-tour

Oh ok sound, well thanks all for the input, and I'll let you all know how I get on and what I end up with.

CHEERS!!

mapei

Just do a web search for you closes t cycling club, no doubt the members will have nice bikes they're selling off as they get their next years' kit sorted. Perfect time of year.

fastbatard

I would recommend Decathlons B'Twin Sport 1 at £270. This was my first road bike and it was ideal, very comfortable and I thoroughly enjoyed it. You get 5 years guarantee on the frame and 2 years on components.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/sport-1-54-57-69567468/

giant_man

There are other places you could look apart from Rutland Cycles btw, they're not the only LBS in the area FWIW

paulnettles

fastbatard wrote:

I would recommend Decathlons B'Twin Sport 1 at £270.

+1

Another thing the big guy win the red suit brought me this year. I couldn't convince my missus to spend any more, and decided that shiny and new was better than second-hand due to warranty/guarantees/etc.

I've ridden it every day since the 25th, and I absolutely love it. I've nothing to compare it against, mind, as I had a MTB before, but it's comparitively light, fast-rolling, and a pleasure to ride.

Plus, it has the Shimano 2300 series componentry. In my (limited) technical opinion, is basically the same spec as, say, a Spesh Allez and/or most other bikes at the £500-£600 price point, which in my book makes it pretty good VFM