PLEASE HELP - Advice on buying a bike needed

fraaaaanka

Hello, I am new to this forum so hello to you all.

I am looking to buy a new mountain bike as my current one is literately falling apart (it did only cost £30 a couple of years ago from a second hand shop)

To give you an idea on my usage:
I use my bike every day to commute to work, I firstly have to push my bike about a mile while walking my 5 year old to school and then ride about a mile to the train station and back home again after.
I also go for rides in country parks every so often with the family and I am the one who gets the pleasure in pulling along a carriage which my 2 year old sits in.
I never go serious off road mountain biking.

I have a budget of up to £300 tops and want to buy something via ebay.

I have seen two bikes which I am considering but cant find any comparable new prices so was wondering if anyone has any advice/reccomendations between these two:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161122985806?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161119525041?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Also if anyone has any other suggestions for bikes that would be suitable to buy on ebay I would really appreciate it.

Thanks
Andy

nicklouse

well one is a 20 year old road bike with flat bars and the other is a very big bike.

both will do what you want but the carbon one might not work to well with the carriage.

TBH get down to Halfords and buy a new bike for that money.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 0pccarrera

rockmonkeysc

A new Carrera hybrid will be better than either of those.

fraaaaanka

nicklouse wrote:

well one is a 20 year old road bike with flat bars and the other is a very big bike.

both will do what you want but the carbon one might not work to well with the carriage.

TBH get down to Halfords and buy a new bike for that money.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 0pccarrera

Hi Nick
Thanks for the reply, didnt really want a halfords bike for a couple of reasons:
1) didnt want a standard 'halfords' bike
2) I have £260 locked into paypal as I sold something via ebay and cant extract the money due to a historic issue with paypal.

If you have any ebay bike suggestions I would appreciate it, I am looking for something light as I have to walk and push my bike about a mile every day when walking my daughter to school.

kajjal

Try something like a recent Specialized HardRock or similar as they are solid bikes. Just make sure you get one in good condition and from the past couple of years. There are alot of ancient bikes for sale on Ebay which are often more trouble than they are worth.

winter_zombie

well my advise would be go to halfords and have a look, if you see something you like try one for a sizing then go online and order it and pay via paypal. simple

rockmonkeysc

Hardrocks are terrible, I had one.
If you need to buy used then look for a cannondale hybrid, you should get something reasonably modern and a hybrid will be better suited to your use than a mountain bike.

fraaaaanka

Kajjal wrote:

Try something like a recent Specialized HardRock or similar as they are solid bikes. Just make sure you get one in good condition and from the past couple of years. There are alot of ancient bikes for sale on Ebay which are often more trouble than they are worth.

Hi Kajjal,
What do you think out of these two
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/specialized-hardrock-2013-disc-brake-19-inch-frame-26-inch-wheel-/200970069386?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item2ecabfe58a

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/specialized-hardrock-pro-19inch-hydraulic-brakes-new-chain-cassette-/161121760936?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item25839af6a8

winter_zombie

also at the moment halfords on their website are doing half price apollo bikes if you want a cheaper bike in your budget or for your full £300 look at their carrera bikes because again their is 30% off so you could get this

Carrera Vengeance Mountain Bike 2011/2012 - Medium 18"
WAS £449.99
SAVE £150.00 (33%)
£299.99

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

The Rookie

Most Lardrocks are horrid things despite Kajjals obsession with recomending them, a carrera vulcan is a better bike and typically 2/3's the price on ebay. having said that the silver one you linked to looks reasonable, forks not the best but fine for your usage. Although for your usage I'd look for a Carrera Subway, tough as old boots and around £100-130 on ebay, make sure you get one with 8 gears at the rear as the rear wheel is much better quality.

winter_zombie

The Rookie wrote:

Most Lardrocks are horrid things despite Kajjals obsession with recomending them, a carrera vulcan is a better bike and typically 2/3's the price on ebay. having said that the silver one you linked to looks reasonable, forks not the best but fine for your usage. Although for your usage I'd look for a Carrera Subway, tough as old boots and around £100-130 on ebay, make sure you get one with 8 gears at the rear as the rear wheel is much better quality.

But if you do want to buy a new one halfords do take paypal as payment.

passout

I'd get a hybrid too. Maybe local bike shop or on line, see: http://www.realcycles.com/m49b0s307p433 ... rk%29_2013

passout

MTB here too: http://www.realcycles.com/m1b0s2p4699/S ... _Disc_2013

croptonboy

The Rookie wrote:

Most Lardrocks are horrid things despite Kajjals obsession with recomending them, a carrera vulcan is a better bike and typically 2/3's the price on ebay. having said that the silver one you linked to looks reasonable, forks not the best but fine for your usage. Although for your usage I'd look for a Carrera Subway, tough as old boots and around £100-130 on ebay, make sure you get one with 8 gears at the rear as the rear wheel is much better quality.

I know it's been rebuilt, but that silver Hardrock is a 2004 model I believe (maybe even 2003). Perhaps for your usage, you'd be better with a hybrid?

junglist_matty

I'm guessing you want a Large frame going by the bikes you've posted? ....How tall are you?

Something like this would be worth a punt....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kona-Splice-M ... 2330592f9a

In my opinion, a 29er is much better suited for what you want (others may disagree), but the bigger wheels on the road are much easier and faster to ride than 26". Off road for the stuff you're doing, a 29er will be more than adequate.

kajjal

The Rookie wrote:

Most Lardrocks are horrid things despite Kajjals obsession with recomending them, a carrera vulcan is a better bike and typically 2/3's the price on ebay. having said that the silver one you linked to looks reasonable, forks not the best but fine for your usage. Although for your usage I'd look for a Carrera Subway, tough as old boots and around £100-130 on ebay, make sure you get one with 8 gears at the rear as the rear wheel is much better quality.

I said a hardrock or something similar. I think you need to calm down a bit.

The Rookie

The point is use an example that is a decent bike 'Carrera Vulcan or something similar' for example!

Pick something similar to a rotten bike and it's still therefore a rotten bike!