Help buying first bikes!

Superdon

Hi all,

A newbie in need of some help.....

Me and the wife want to buy bikes mainly for fun so we can go out for rides with our two toddles (will buy a trailer as well). It will be fairly light off road stuff, country lanes, fields and trails. Would be nice to have the option of something a bit more interesting though. Not very much true road riding, but a but of riding about town and I may commute to work in mine, but it's only about a mile or so. We are both about 5' 8 tall.

I originally thought we should look at hybrids. I was thinking of the Boardman MX Comp for me and hadn't really found anything for the wife. But then I thought we might be better with mountain bikes to give more flexibility on the off road side. I was thinking that if we do find ourselves doing more road riding we could get a set of more road friendly tyres on the mountain bike and swap them around as and when?

I don't want to spend too much money, but prefer to buy decent quality if I can.

So, on the mountain bike side, I found the Voodoo Bizango for me (£419 after all discounts and cashback) and a Carrera Vulcan for my wife (£263 after discounts).

I know the names not so good, and it means giving Halfords the business but it seems like a good deal for two seemingly well specd and reviewed bikes?

Going back to the hybrids. If you think that is a better option, I can get the Boardman MX Comp for the same price as the Bizango, but I haven't got a clue for the wife.

Any help would be great as I am going around in circles and confusing myself.

cooldad

Why does she get the cheap bike?

Superdon

Why not? Basically, mine will be used quite a bit more, especially with potentially using it to get to work.

cooldad

Because the Vulcan has rubbish forks and will spoil any ride. I ask because I often see guys on fancy bikes dragging their miserable looking ladies around the trails riding BSOs.

Superdon

Ok, so if the Vulcans no good, do you have any similar priced suggestions?

Superdon

Anyone give any advice?

How's about a Felt Six 90 for the wife? Just under £300 for the 2014 model.

I need to make some decisions.

cooldad

Same as the Vulcan - rubbish forks, 7 speed. Posting links helps.
At that price range, this
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-53 ... ctFeatures

Angus Young

It's a little more but might be worth it. She'll ride more if it's a nicer experience...

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/calibre-two ... ke-p275612

Check out the review...

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/cate ... -13-47865/

Levi_501

Couple of things:
At that sort of level, you may be best getting a used bikes. Even an older 90s bike may be a better option. Obviously you need to be a bit careful but the likes of a good Trek, Orange Clockwork etc for the £100-£150 mark

Wifey's bike; make sure you chose the correct colour - trust me.

Trailers; go to the family section loads of talk on these. I use the Chariot Cougar 2 - fantastic trailer.

Superdon

cooldad wrote:

Same as the Vulcan - rubbish forks, 7 speed. Posting links helps.
At that price range, this
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-53 ... ctFeatures

Thanks I did look at this but unfortunately the medium size is out of stock.

Superdon

Angus Young wrote:

It's a little more but might be worth it. She'll ride more if it's a nicer experience...

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/calibre-two ... ke-p275612

Check out the review...

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/cate ... -13-47865/

Thanks. Again I did look at this. Obviously that one review is great bit I don't see many other reviews around. Will have a think on it though.

Superdon

No ones mentioned the Bizango. Am I right in thinking that's a good one for the money? It was just my choice of the Vulcan that didn't seem to go down very well.

cooldad

Bizango is fine - it is a £600 bike though.
That Calibre is a good deal as well.

cooldad

Levi_501 makes sense if you are confident buying second hand.

cooldad

The problem with the really cheap ones is they normally come with a nasty, heavy, undamped fork, so basically a porky pogo stick on the front. Add in some cheap shifters and mechs, and you get a ride bad enough to put people off riding.
Which is excellent if you want her to stay home and let you ride in peace, but not if you love her.

Angus Young

Superdon wrote:

Angus Young wrote:

It's a little more but might be worth it. She'll ride more if it's a nicer experience...

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/calibre-two ... ke-p275612

Check out the review...

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/cate ... -13-47865/

Thanks. Again I did look at this. Obviously that one review is great bit I don't see many other reviews around. Will have a think on it though.

Probably going to get one for my other half once I've sorted my own bike out.

Levi_501 wrote:

Wifey's bike; make sure you chose the correct colour - trust me.

I do hope that was a joke.

Superdon

Thanks again.

I don't think I would trust myself buying second hand really. I wouldnt know what to look atand would end up with a dud.

I know the Bizangobis a £600 bike, but there are some great discounts to be had bringing the price right down.

So, calibre for the wife and bizango for me?

97th choice

Bizango is a great bike for the money, I have one for my second bike.

Also echo the points above regarding your wife's bike.

Angus Young

The Bizango seems to be one of only a small handful of bikes down at that price level that is still the real deal so it's a pretty safe bet. Plenty of fun for a reasonable outlay.

Levi_501

Angus Young wrote:

Levi_501 wrote:

Wifey's bike; make sure you chose the correct colour - trust me.

I do hope that was a joke.

Definitely not a joke.