First Bike in 3-4 Years - 22 year old

chri592

Hi Guys,

Just signed up as I'm looking for some advice from some keen bikers, and not biased or made up rubbish from sales guys!

I'm a 6ft 2 ish, slim built 22 year old guy, rarely exercise so I'm keen to get a Bike and get started! Haven't had a bike in a few years so looking for some advice.

I will mainly be using my Bike on cycle paths and on the road but I think it would be good to do some forest cycling now and then but nothing too testing. Considering possibly cycling to and from work aswell, which is nearly 5 miles away.

I've been looking at the "Specialized Rockhopper '14" and "Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc '14". Also had a look at some Trax bikes too but only briefly.

In short, I am clueless as to what I need. I think we've established I'm going to need the biggest frame available, being 21 or 22" (Extra large frame in Specialized Bikes I believe). Also think I'll need to go for the 29" wheels/tyres too.

Looking for some advice with whether I should be going for a Hybrid Bike/Tyres or if I should be looking at mountain bike/tyres? I obviously like the look of the 2 bikes mentioned above if that helps, it's the tyres I'm unsure about.

Recommendations of Bikes would be good too! I'm going to get my bike using the 'cycle scheme' we have here in the UK and I'd say my budget is £400-500 Max. I'll need to get it from one of the following local stores too, if anyone would like to see what's available to me:

http://www.alpinebikes.com/

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/

http://foundrycycles.com/

Halfords


Any advice and recommendations would be great!

Cheers
Chris

Long_Time_Lurker

First thing is to decide where you are riding.
If you want to ride on the road and on trails, any bike you choose will have to be a comprimise.
For example, I ride mountain bikes - they are great in the dirt but are slow and tiring on tarmac (a road bike or cyclo-cross bike isn't even ridable where I go).
At 6ft 2, you don't necessarily need the largest frame. I'm 6ft 2 and ride a Large frame on my two MTBs.

Personally...
I would avoid the Specialized bikes. They are over-priced/under-specced at that price point.
I would also avoid 'hybrids'.
If I wanted to a do everything bike, I would probably go for a cyclocross bike at the moment.
The Revolution Cross from Edinburgh bikes is a decent machine:
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-cross-disc-14?bct=browse%2fbicycles%2fcyclocross-bikes
Friend has just bought one and I quite enjoyed the hour or so that I spent messing about on it.
£25 out of your price-range though.
Have you taken into account accessories and bike clothing into your budget?

markis

Have a look at the Boardman range of bikes, the MX and the Hybrids. I'm switching from a MTB because I no longer go onto country tracks and hills. Either of these should suit your needs. They also have 10% offers on regular .

The Rookie

2 firends have Voodoo marassas from halfords for similar usage to your first description, it's basically a 29er mountain bike with an 'all surface' type of tyre, heavier and draggier than a road tyre but will handle gravel tracks without issue, one has then bought some narrower (32mm) road tyres for use for commuting and road rides and then swaps back to the hybrid tyres when he wants to go round the local country parks on gravel tracks.

Trax are aweful, Spcialised just aweful value, the best value brands are Boardman, Carrera, Voodoo (Halfords) and the various names used by Decathlon for it's bikes, Evans have some decent offering in it's own brands as well.

Be sure you really understand what is offered by your ride to work scheme BEFORE you sign up.

snowster

Have a look at the Carrera Gryphon Hybrid great bike less than the voodoo and weights less as well http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165534