help buying a bike

horhi

hi,

i have just been given the chance to buy a new bike fhrough the bike to work scheme.

i have picked out these 4 bikes. my budget is around £250. i cycle about 40miles a week, maybe 1 5miler during the week and a 30-35miler on a saturday.

its a cycle path so nearly all my cycling is on tarmac, or the road, with some going up and down kerbs.

can anyone advise me on the best of these 4 bikes or are they much of the same? its just i only have really taken up bike in the last couple of years.

thanks i appreciate any help or advice

http://www.singletra..._Urban_ESC_Bike



http://www.tredz.co....-Bike_34211.htm



http://www.tredz.co....-Bike_32986.htm



http://www.realcycle...s287p2702&rs=gb

kelsen

I'd say the first step is to get those links working!

And welcome btw

horhi

sorry. hope this works :oops:

http://www.singletrackbikes.co.uk/produ ... n_ESC_Bike

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Claud-Butler-Ex ... _34211.htm

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Dawes-Discovery ... _32986.htm

http://www.realcycles.com/products.php? ... 2702&rs=gb

jeremyrundle

At those low prices just buy it, why worry about cycle to work.

UndercoverElephant

jeremyrundle wrote:

At those low prices just buy it, why worry about cycle to work.

Perception of low prices does somewhat depend on how much money you have, Jeremy.

OP, they all look OK. None of them will be particularly fast, nor do they have the higher quality components you'll want for reliability/longevity if you're doing high mileages. You have side-stepped the suspension mistake, though, for which I commend you.

davis

They look like they'll, work yes.
I'd avoid the Saracen as it doesn't list any spec on that site -- instead it just says "A mixture of mountain bike style with the practicalities of city riding dressed with a hint of fixie style."

If possible can you increase the budget a bit? You're only just starting to get to what might be called "bikes" at that price range and given that it's on a C2W scheme can you afford the extra ~7 GBP/month effective that it'll cost you to get to e.g. £350?

kelsen

Check out these guys as well. They have good rep on their own brand bikes.

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com

jeremyrundle

UndercoverElephant wrote:

jeremyrundle wrote:

At those low prices just buy it, why worry about cycle to work.

Perception of low prices does somewhat depend on how much money you have, Jeremy..

Whilst I agree somewhat that £10 to a poor man is a lot of money, you also need to consider that £250 is a small sum for a bike, and I agree that I could have put it better, however, what I am guessing is that taken over the period of the scheme, surely such a "low cost" bike would be almost worthless (sorry) at the end ofthe scheme.

I know of a number of people locally who have complaned that they would like to ride to work to save money but can't afford a decent bike, these same people spend £40 a week smoking or going to the pub or both!.

By the way, We have three Saracens, A "One" a "DX" and a "Mantra", all modified, nice bikes.

IF and I stress IF you can stretch to it, I personally would say this is as good a bike as you will ever need, in my opinion.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/can ... e-ec020195

Marcus_C

@OP: There is a thread about fork judder in the workshop forum at the moment in a bike that's (apart from the name) the same as the claud butler one you linked. It's far from a bad bike but I can't help thinking rather than going the cycle scheme route you invest about £80 wisely in an ebay auction. There is a lot of elitism on this forum but unless you are a complete idiot there's very little that can go wrong on a bike that you can't fix very cheaply.

You mention that you cycle rather than you're going to cycle, does that mean you have a bike already? What's wrong with it in that case?

jeremyrundle

Marcus_C wrote:

There is a lot of elitism on this forum

I agree with your statement regarding a used bike, like cars, I had a Mk 2/3 Cortina, and did everything onit, from clutches t suspension, bought a new Scenic a couple of years ago and don't even change the oil.

However, "elitisim", possibly, but not always, just because someone buys a good bike does not mean they are showing off, I spend £3k last year on two bikes, my car has since done just 3000 miles, I am fitter, have saved almost £2k in diesel, let alone wear and tear, and an improved environment, I spent what I did on a bike because like my car, I wanted comfort, ease and quality NOT to show off. And in fact the bikes have actually cost just £500, as I have not used tha car!.

I simply found when I bought my first bike I knew nothing and later added sus, then new cranks and so on, learning my lesson in how to waste money, my two new bikes have been built. Again not showing off, and once built need to spend any more on them.

Marcus_C

That comment wasn't directed at you jeremy, but at bike forums in general. I am aware that more expensive bikes are nicer to ride, I have two of them myself, but someone could just as easily spend £300 on two bikes and still leave the car at home.

dhope

Marcus_C wrote:

That comment wasn't directed at you jeremy, but at bike forums in general. I am aware that more expensive bikes are nicer to ride, I have two of them myself, but someone could just as easily spend £300 on two bikes and still leave the car at home.

+1
2yr old Langster was £180 on eBay and hasn't put a foot wrong.
I'm now thinking of spending >£1000 on a fancy pants single speed, but that's only because I want to, not that I need to. There's no requirement to spend lots to get something completely usable.

The Rookie

Depending on which scheme you are on, but the carrera Subway from Halfords is a good solid bike, and only just over your £250 budget.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165534

Simon

jeremyrundle

Marcus_C wrote:

That comment wasn't directed at you jeremy, but at bike forums in general. I am aware that more expensive bikes are nicer to ride, I have two of them myself, but someone could just as easily spend £300 on two bikes and still leave the car at home.

Never thought it was, and anyway I have broad sholders (chest, hips, waist, ass).

t4tomo

The Beginner wrote:

Depending on which scheme you are on, but the carrera Subway from Halfords is a good solid bike, and only just over your £250 budget.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165534

Simon

And you'll find a good number of 2nd hand ones on Ebay and gumtree well under your £250 budget.

clairelc

If it helps, I have jad the saracen urban esc (ladies frame) for just over a couple of weeks as an insurance replacement.

Specs are easy to find on the saracen website: http://www.saracen.co.uk/bikes/urban/urban-esc-mens

I like it. It's quite nippy, and light (compared to my previous bike), and perfect for the sorts of distances I go - on a busy day around 10 miles.

go for what you like. it's going to be you riding it!

horhi

for your replies.......

http://www.tredz.co.uk/productdetail.as ... code=36826

this seems to get good reviews so thinking about it.

thanks again everyone.

The Rookie

Looks like a good buy for the money.

Simon

vorsprung

Out of the bikes you originally listed I'd get the Ridgeback
I got my daughter a Ridgeback at a similar price point a couple of years ago and it was great

Dunno about the Norco, never seen one