Help please, tying myself in knots deciding which bike to buy!!!

[happy2bhere]

Firstly hello, from a very excited newbie. Been bit but the biking bug and full of enthusiam!!!

As a newbie, i'm finding it a massive learning curve and being easily confused, i'm a little well, confused! Spent too many hours looking and just can't make a decision. Any advice, direction, suggestions or good old fashioned kicks up the arse are welcome. I really like the retro look hybirds, but they don't seem to have that many gears. No idea what number of gears makes a ride more enjoyable and trying not to be swayed by free baskets!!!

I've narrowed it down to 9, no easy feat as intially had over 30 favourites! If you're reading this and a little bored, perhaps you could have a quick look over. It would be really appreciated. Right i'll stop rambling now, but before i do (typical woman!) should say that i want it for cycle paths and roads more than hardcore mountain rides....here are the final 9 (feel free to add damatic x-factor type music for effect!)....


Falcon City 6 reduced to £180 http://www.all-about-the-bike.co.uk...n-bike---free-basket--free-delivery-272-p.asp

***love the look of this one***

Dawes Mirage £205 http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B2776.html

Dawes Mojave £217 http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B2778.html

Dawes Saraha £210 http://www.all-about-the-bike.co.uk...e---fully-assembled--free-delivery-3593-p.asp

ORTLER Lindau women £200 http://www.bikester.co.uk/bicycles/bicycle/touring-bikes/womens-bikes-up-to-500/14278.html

Mongoose Crossway 125 £160 http://www.all-about-the-bike.co.uk...n-bike---free-basket--free-delivery-272-p.asp

Claud Butler Windermere £180 http://www.damianharriscycles.co.uk/prod/lhy_0026_cb/Claud-Butler/Windermere-Ladies-2010

Pro-bike classic bundle £200 http://www.discountbicycles.co.uk/biz/product.php/1853/0/

***bundle includes lots of free goodies***




If you have got to the bottom of this post, then wow and thank you

x

 

[uphillstruggler]

Hello and welcome to the site.

The first thing most people on here would recommend is to try the bikes first before making a purely cosmetic (and free gift driven) decision

Good luck and well done for jumping in.

 

[happy2bhere]

Thanks for the reply. My preference would obviously be to try before i buy, however there are only two bike shops near me and both tend to stock high end bikes, that are beyond my budget. Hurray for internet shopping!!!

ps....hybird??? Damn typos!!!

 

[CopperBrompton]

With that kind of budget, I would always recommend buying secondhand rather than new. £200 will get you a £400-ish bike 5-10 years old, many of which will have seen only light use.

 

[happy2bhere]

I've been keeping an eye out for a second hand one for a couple of months. Surprisingly (given the quality of bikes sold at my local bike shops) bikes being sold secondhand in my area are all of a very poor quality. Very annoying, as this was my first plan of action!