Buying a Bike, Suggestions?

Damien · 14-08-2007, 13:37

I am looking to buy a bike, I am pretty sure I want a standard mountain Bike. I.E hardtail/rigid. I do not want suspension or anything like that. Unless you think its worthwhile?

Other than that I have no idea what makes a good bike and what I should be on the look out for? Does anyone have any advice on looking for bikes?

Cheers

danielf · 14-08-2007, 13:40

Get a cheap one, or it'll get nicked. Sorry to be so negative, but it's the truth.

Oh, and invest in a decent lock.

mrmistoffelees · 14-08-2007, 13:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien

I am looking to buy a bike, I am pretty sure I want a standard mountain Bike. I.E hardtail/rigid. I do not want suspension or anything like that. Unless you think its worthwhile?

Other than that I have no idea what makes a good bike and what I should be on the look out for? Does anyone have any advice on looking for bikes?

Cheers

Depends on

a) Budget
b) What type of riding are you looking at doing ? gravel/occasional off road use , light cross country or heavy cross country ?

Full suspension bikes are rubbsih until you get to the thousand pound or so mark. (also very tiring to ride on tarmac/gravel unless you can lock off the rear suspension)

Front suspension is well worth having if you are going for say light XC usage.

Pay more attention to the quality of the components.

Disc brakes are an absoloute waste of money on anything under £500

danielf · 14-08-2007, 13:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmistoffelees

Disc brakes are an absoloute waste of money on anything under £500

Why? I love the disc brakes on my £300 bike...

mrmistoffelees · 14-08-2007, 13:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

Why? I love the disc brakes on my £300 bike...

Because for the money you are spending on disc brakes, you can get decent v brakes and have much better components on the bike

(only my opinion of course)

Druchii · 14-08-2007, 13:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

Why? I love the disc brakes on my £300 bike...

Gonna say the same about my old £200 bike, but it's just the quality of them i guess.

As for the comment about buying a cheap one, it'll get nicked otherwise is definitely speaking the truth, either that or take 2 decent chains with you and secure both wheels to an inanimate object as well as the bikes frame.

Halfords do cheap bikes, like the Carrera Vulcan for example, decent sturdy bike, hardtail last time i checked, medium quality components.

danielf · 14-08-2007, 13:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmistoffelees

Because for the money you are spending on disc brakes, you can get decent v brakes and have much better components on the bike

(only my opinion of course)

My bike was £250 with v-brakes and £300 with disc brakes. Not that big a difference in price imo, and the discs are deffo worth it (particularly when it's raining).

---------- Post added at 13:52 ---------- Previous post was at 13:51 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Druchii

As for the comment about buying a cheap one, it'll get nicked otherwise is definitely speaking the truth, either that or take 2 decent chains with you and secure both wheels to an inanimate object as well as the bikes frame.

Good point about the wheels. Most decent bikes have 'quick release wheels'. If you don't lock your wheels you may find them missing after 3 minutes inside Tesco's.

mrmistoffelees · 14-08-2007, 13:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

My bike was £250 with v-brakes and £300 with disc brakes. Not that big a difference in price imo, and the discs are deffo worth it (particularly when it's raining).

---------- Post added at 13:52 ---------- Previous post was at 13:51 ----------

Good point about the wheels. Most decent bikes have 'quick release wheels'. If you don't lock your wheels you may find them missing after 3 minutes inside Tesco's.

Are they Hydraulic disc brakes ? just out of interest ?

Extra fifty quid ?? Thats another XBOX 360 game !!!!!

Damien · 14-08-2007, 13:56

It will town/city riding along with some mild grass/mud riding. It will be used to get around town and also to go back and forth to Uni. My University is atop a big hill so it will be climbing and descending a lot.

Druchii · 14-08-2007, 13:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien

It will town/city riding along with some mild grass/mud riding. It will be used to get around town and also to go back and forth to Uni. My University is atop a big hill so it will be climbing and descending a lot.

Definitely go hardtail with front suspension then. Make sure it has decent brakes though

danielf · 14-08-2007, 13:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmistoffelees

Are they Hydraulic disc brakes ? just out of interest ?

Nope, cabled.

Quote:

Extra fifty quid ?? Thats another XBOX 360 game !!!!!

Now there's a waste of money

Honestly, it was £50 well spent imo.

Damien: What's you budget? Also, have a look at http://www.cycleguard.com.

www.evanscycles.com is a good place for bikes/bits.

altis · 14-08-2007, 14:09

Mrs A has some Avid cable-operated disc brakes on her Orbit expedition tourer. I am most impressed with them. Superb stopping power with just a little effort. However, getting the wheels back on can be troublesome. The disc doesn't always want to go back between the little shims inside the caliper.

I have hub brakes on my tourer. Nothing like the stopping power but, come rain or shine, they always work the same.

Having brakes NOT on the rim is definately an advantage when it comes to fixing a puncture. Rims brakes will always grind up the aluminium rim into a thin black paste that gets over everything.

Sadly, Orbit have finished. They made some very well built bikes - in the UK!
http://www.orbit-cycles.co.uk/

Damien · 14-08-2007, 14:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

Nope, cabled.

Now there's a waste of money

Honestly, it was £50 well spent imo.

Damien: What's you budget? Also, have a look at http://www.cycleguard.com.

www.evanscycles.com is a good place for bikes/bits.

I am unsure on the budget, I would say £200 but am willing to go above it if I find good cause.

---------- Post added at 14:49 ---------- Previous post was at 14:43 ----------

So decent brakes I should look at for, will a cycle shop know about different types and install them for me? or do they come with certain types of bike? What are the 'good' brakes called? I always had a problem with brakes, but I used to have cheap bikes so thats that.

danielf · 14-08-2007, 14:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien

I am unsure on the budget, I would say £200 but am willing to go above it if I find good cause.

Bear in mind that you will need accessoriers as well. You will need lights, mudguards, a lock plus chain/coil, and probably a helmet as well. These alone can easily set you back £100.

Disc brakes are good, but pricy. Particularly on a £200 bike.

mrmistoffelees · 14-08-2007, 15:00

There is a decent Muddy Fox at www.motor-world.co.uk for two hundred notes

There is also a one with front and rear pro-max disc brakes as well (not muddy fox)