Cycle Advice Please

[martyn64]

hello everybody my name is matyn i am 49 years old from gilfach goch south wales and im looking to get some advice on what sort of bike would suit my needs.
i am into wildlife photography so i carry quite a bit of kit with me and im finding it hard going has i have to walk quite a few miles to get to where the action is.
the last few months has been realy hard on my feet i can walk 10 miles but when i stop for a couple of hours and try to start walking home again my ankles and heels are realy painfull so im restricted in how far i can travel.
the last time i owned a bike was 40 years ago so im a bit stuck with what type of bike would suit my needs.
most of the places i go are tarmac or gravel tracks/trails with a few offroad bits aswell.i will be popping into halfords one day this comming week to see what size frame would be suitable for me.
i would like something thats not to heavy but strong enough to carry me and my gear about three or 4 times a week i guess my budget will be £350.00 maximum and i dont mind buying a used bike.
hopefully you guys and gals can point me in the right direction.

thanks

martyn

 

[themosquitoking]

I reckon you need some sort of cx or cyclocross bike, like a road bike but a bit beefed up with offroadish tyres and usually disc brakes and room for panniers. Used would be a better bet then trying to find new in that price bracket.

 

[vickster]

A Carrera Subway would work well from Halfords

I wouldn't use Halfords for sizing unless you plan to buy a bike from Halfords as every manufacturer and indeed bike varies in size a bit even if they all say M on the frame for example

 

[Gravity Aided]

Being where you are, you may enjoy a mountain bike or a cyclocross bike, as I figure you are in quite a hilly region. Being in the states, all I really have is Richard Llewellyn and some current photos to go by. With your foot problems, lower gearing and some supportive cycling shoes and pedals will be helpful. SPDs and mountain biking shoes will allow you to walk more than racing bike shoes and Look pedal systems will. Suspension may not be as necessary as a well fitted bicycle. I agree with the Mosquito King, CX may be a good way to get the best of all possible cycling worlds. Cyclo-Cross bikes are built heavier than racing bike, and are made to conquer terrain and roads, just not quite as quickly as road cycles.

 

[martyn64]

thanks for the replys and sorry for the slow response.

i popped into halfords today to view a couple of bikes they seem pretty good but im not sure they are what i realy want the bikes i looked at are the
carrera vengence £299.00
carrera valour £249.00
voodoo hoodoo £449.00
voodoo bantu £349.00
i wanted to look at a carrera kracken £449.00 but there where none in stock.

on the way home i popped into a shop called the bicycle doctor in porth they didnt have many bikes in stock
as they are waiting for the 2014 bikes to arrive but i found the advice i recieved was top notch unfortunatley every bike was over my maximum budget so i have upped the budget to £500.00.these are the bikes he suggested in the new price bracket.
cube aim sl 26 £479.00
cube aim sl 29 £499.00
cube aim disc 26 £429.00.
so my next question for you people in the know are the cube bikes better than the other bikes i have mentioned above or are they pretty similar

thanks

martyn

 

[BAtoo]

thanks for the replys and sorry for the slow response.

i popped into halfords today to view a couple of bikes they seem pretty good but im not sure they are what i realy want the bikes i looked at are the
carrera vengence £299.00
carrera valour £249.00
voodoo hoodoo £449.00
voodoo bantu £349.00
i wanted to look at a carrera kracken £449.00 but there where none in stock.

on the way home i popped into a shop called the bicycle doctor in porth they didnt have many bikes in stock
as they are waiting for the 2014 bikes to arrive but i found the advice i recieved was top notch unfortunatley every bike was over my maximum budget so i have upped the budget to £500.00.these are the bikes he suggested in the new price bracket.
cube aim sl 26 £479.00
cube aim sl 29 £499.00
cube aim disc 26 £429.00.
so my next question for you people in the know are the cube bikes better than the other bikes i have mentioned above or are they pretty similar

thanks

martyn

Or here:- http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/55324/Cube_Aim_29Inch_2013_Bike

 

[Easytigers]

Or here:- http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/55324/Cube_Aim_29Inch_2013_Bike

That looks like a great deal and well within your budget. A couple of my friends have cubes and swear by them.

 

[martyn64]

thanks for the link but i think i have made my mind up now i am going to get this one
http://www.cube.eu/bikes/mtb-hardtail/aim/aim-sl-29-blue-white/
unfortunatley the ones from winstanleys dont have the right frame size for me
im 5ft 10 inches tall and when i tried a cube bike today the bloke said i would need a 16inch frame but when i sat on a voodoo hoodoo in halfords i was told i needed a 22 inch frame.
i just got to wait for it to be in stock i hope its not to long

thanks again

martyn