Hey I'm new to this forum but I'm not entirely new to 1) cycling or 2) internet forums so hopefully I'm not gonna be too much of a n00b, got a few questions though.
I'm considering getting a new bike now that I've finished uni and started earning some cash. I currently have a not-very-good Apollo full sus that I bought a good few years ago as a misguided teenager, didn't use for a while but I've started getting back into cycling so have just been using that as it's a working bike. However it's not that great, it's quite heavy and clunky and I worry if I took it out on too long a journey it might let me down. I reckon it's a bit of a lost cause/emergency backup and there's not much point in spending money on it, if anyone begs to differ then say...
So yeah, my budget will probably be something in the region of £300, don't want to splash out more than that at this stage (especially with thefts being fairly common and so on...) but that seems like the minimum for a 'decent bike' as far as I can see.
I'm thinking a hybrid as I cycle on roads fairly often but at the same time I like to hit slightly rougher terrains like gravelly canal paths, maybe the odd woodland route or patch of grass, etc. so I don't think a full-on road bike is really appropriate, as nice as it would be to have one. I'd be using it for recreational cycling, hopefully up to a few days a week (although with the approaching winter that might be optimistic...) and also for odd things like cycling to friend's houses or to the shops. Not commuting at this stage cos my office is only 15 minutes walk but I'd definitely consider it if I ended up moving a bit further away. Guess I'm probably after a 'jack of all trades master of none'...
Anything else just ask, specific bike recommendations or more general advice welcome... will pop down my local shop for a wee chat but it's always good to ask the internet too.
EDIT: also thought I'd say that I sadly missed out on the cycle2work scheme this year having only just started
don't want to wait till next year to get a new bike though!
I'm considering getting a new bike now that I've finished uni and started earning some cash. I currently have a not-very-good Apollo full sus that I bought a good few years ago as a misguided teenager, didn't use for a while but I've started getting back into cycling so have just been using that as it's a working bike. However it's not that great, it's quite heavy and clunky and I worry if I took it out on too long a journey it might let me down. I reckon it's a bit of a lost cause/emergency backup and there's not much point in spending money on it, if anyone begs to differ then say...
So yeah, my budget will probably be something in the region of £300, don't want to splash out more than that at this stage (especially with thefts being fairly common and so on...) but that seems like the minimum for a 'decent bike' as far as I can see.
I'm thinking a hybrid as I cycle on roads fairly often but at the same time I like to hit slightly rougher terrains like gravelly canal paths, maybe the odd woodland route or patch of grass, etc. so I don't think a full-on road bike is really appropriate, as nice as it would be to have one. I'd be using it for recreational cycling, hopefully up to a few days a week (although with the approaching winter that might be optimistic...) and also for odd things like cycling to friend's houses or to the shops. Not commuting at this stage cos my office is only 15 minutes walk but I'd definitely consider it if I ended up moving a bit further away. Guess I'm probably after a 'jack of all trades master of none'...
Anything else just ask, specific bike recommendations or more general advice welcome... will pop down my local shop for a wee chat but it's always good to ask the internet too.
EDIT: also thought I'd say that I sadly missed out on the cycle2work scheme this year having only just started
don't want to wait till next year to get a new bike though!
don't want to wait till next year to get a new bike though!
