looking to buy my first adult cycle...

[Kieranheb1]

I'm 21, and have been considering trying out cycling as a way to exercise daily after work.

The problem is I had no idea how many types of bikes there are so I figured someone might be able to point me in the right direction.

I am based in a small village in the midlands with country lanes surrounding the area which is loose gravel, stoney etc.. with hills, and some muddy paths.. (just so you know the sort of surface I would be riding around!!)

Im looking to do around a 10 mile journey through these country roads 5-7 days a week to give you an idea on the mileage and usage for what I want. I used to ride front & rear suspension mountain bikes when I was a lot younger and seen a 'Apollo Paradox' which I thought would do the job for now.

If I was to get that (if it is suitable) would upgrading it part by part be a problem or would I have to upgrade altogether? As my budget is around £200 - £220.

Could really appreciate the help
thanks

 

[MikeW-71]

Seems like an MTB is what you need

However, full suspension at that budget is, frankly, utter crap and not worth buying. If you take that on any serious off-road, it will probably be trashed before the year is out. You would be better off going for a hardtail. Your budget is highly restrictive here, so you may get more by going secondhand. The Apollo frames are not worth upgrading.

Although it's still right at the low end of MTB's, get the budget to £250 and go for this:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_810729_langId_-1_categoryId_165499
Much better bike and a decent frame that will last a damn sight longer.

Of course your other option is road riding, but that would also need a bit more budget for something decent and suitable.

Good luck!

 

[Born2die]

I'm 21, and have been considering trying out cycling as a way to exercise daily after work.

The problem is I had no idea how many types of bikes there are so I figured someone might be able to point me in the right direction.

I am based in a small village in the midlands with country lanes surrounding the area which is loose gravel, stoney etc.. with hills, and some muddy paths.. (just so you know the sort of surface I would be riding around!!)

Im looking to do around a 10 mile journey through these country roads 5-7 days a week to give you an idea on the mileage and usage for what I want. I used to ride front & rear suspension mountain bikes when I was a lot younger and seen a 'Apollo Paradox' which I thought would do the job for now.

If I was to get that (if it is suitable) would upgrading it part by part be a problem or would I have to upgrade altogether? As my budget is around £200 - £220.

Could really appreciate the help
thanks

When you get a bike I will have to come for some rides was through stoke yesterday it. Pretty little village. Try the bay for some 2nd hand bargains I got a kraken nearly new for 300 not so long ago if you could stick to the roads halfords have the tdf at £250 at the moment.

Hills it's all b.....hills I was on the IDE out to bosworth then loop through Hinckley must have been 20 ish good climbs in there

 

[Kies]

I would say a hybrid bike with 700c wheels would be better for the roads. Allows you to switch tyres if you want more off road riding in the winter and skinny slicks for the summer.
The bigger wheels also mean you can ride further as you get more into cycling and fitness improves.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I would say a hybrid bike with 700c wheels would be better for the roads. Allows you to switch tyres if you want more off road riding in the winter and skinny slicks for the summer.
The bigger wheels also mean you can ride further as you get more into cycling and fitness improves.

This.
Look at the Specialized Sirrus as a Benchmark for this kind of bike.
H'frauds used to do a fabulous Carerra Subway with wider road tyres which has morphed into this which might just fit your needs to a tee (and no crap cheap suspension):

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_912131_langId_-1_categoryId_165534

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I would say a hybrid bike with 700c wheels would be better for the roads. Allows you to switch tyres if you want more off road riding in the winter and skinny slicks for the summer.
The bigger wheels also mean you can ride further as you get more into cycling and fitness improves.

This.
Look at the Specialized Sirrus as a Benchmark for this kind of bike.
H'frauds used to do a fabulous Carerra Subway with wider road tyres which has morphed into this which might just fit your needs to a tee (and no crap cheap suspension):

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_912131_langId_-1_categoryId_165534

I agree with these two, especially the Sirrus, but you will be lucky to get one in your budget. The budget you are quoting I would be looking for a second hand bike.

Regarding upgrading, I wouldn't worry about it at all, one of two things will happen, you won't get bitten by the bug and whatever bike you buy will be sufficient as it will end up in the shed, or you get bitten by the bug and you will be saving up to get a much better bike anyway

 

[Kieranheb1]

Seems like an MTB is what you need
[quote="Supersuperleeds, post:266
However, full suspension at that budget is, frankly, utter crap and not worth buying. If you take that on any serious off-road, it will probably be trashed before the year is out. You would be better off going for a hardtail. Your budget is highly restrictive here, so you may get more by going secondhand. The Apollo frames are not worth upgrading.

Although it's still right at the low end of MTB's, get the budget to £250 and go for this:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_810729_langId_-1_categoryId_165499
Much better bike and a decent frame that will last a damn sight longer.

Of course your other option is road riding, but that would also need a bit more budget for something decent and suitable.

Good luck!

this would be in the price range and does look like something that could work with what is around my area,
but would with the roads aswell would this be suitable?

I am just confused as to which bike I should use now as 'supersuperleeds' 'fabfoodie' & 'kies' think a hybrid would be better.
I was under the impression that hybrids were more for commuting rather than riding for fun & exercise? then again I am a total newbie to this.
would the hybrid cope with the hills and more difficult lanes around the area in which Ill be riding?

sorry if im being overly curious, just wanted to make sure I know all the details haha. (tried tagging all of your posts but new to this aswell)
Thanks for all your help guys

 

[Born2die]

I ride the lanes round you and my roadbike Copes fine you only really need a mtb if your serious about off roading ie hartshill Hayes bosworth battlefield and any of the local woods. There are some killer hills round your way and a mtb would be a struggle unless you put some slicks on it.

Hybrids a mtb racer combo racer size wheels and frame mtb bars and toughness with flat bars you loose so much energy trying to push knobbly off road tyres along on a mtb if you get bitten by the bug expect to gain bikes I have a mtb and road bike I really don't like riding the mtb on the road now I'm so used to the bigger wheels and better gearing of the roadie. Also hybrids weigh a bit more which you then have to pedal uphill.

I would say a cx bike but your budget is limited and your unlikely to find even a secondhand one in your budget.

By the sounds of it your just worried about the state of the local lanes they are a little rough but there mostly good Tarmac if your not going off road there's decathlons triban 3 halfords carrera tdf around your budget for road bikes I had the tdf was a tidy 1st bike reasonable gearing light ish frame etc the triban 3 gets rave reviews.

The good thing round our way is there are some fast descents to be had I left bosworth out towards nailstone/Barton in the beans way Wednesday saw 45mph on the GPS at the bottom of that hill

 

[Fab Foodie]

this would be in the price range and does look like something that could work with what is around my area,
but would with the roads aswell would this be suitable?

I am just confused as to which bike I should use now as 'supersuperleeds' 'fabfoodie' & 'kies' think a hybrid would be better.
I was under the impression that hybrids were more for commuting rather than riding for fun & exercise? then again I am a total newbie to this.
would the hybrid cope with the hills and more difficult lanes around the area in which Ill be riding?

sorry if im being overly curious, just wanted to make sure I know all the details haha. (tried tagging all of your posts but new to this aswell)
Thanks for all your help guys

Hi, no worries, the array of bikes out there is vast!
No bike can do everything (that's why some of us have several bikes in the garage) so you have to accept some compromises.
All bikes are fun, all bikes are good for excercising and all bikes within reason can be used for commuting.
Of all the bike types a 'Hybrid' or a Cyclo-cross bike will be the nearest to a one bike does all.

The starting point is what you need the bike to be able to do?
From what you've said, 10 mile rides of mixed terrain, a slightly fatter tyred (with some tread) hybrid would be perfect. Unless you're tackling really rough terrain you don't need suspension or Knobbly tyres. That's why something like the Carrera woould fit the bill, within budget and no suspension, wide range of gears, fatter treaded tyres for the muddy tracks which should still roll fairly well on gravelly roads as well.
OK, you won't be threatening any roadies times on the roads, but they'd not be able to do the muddy tracks either.

Next questions:
Do you need to fit Mudguards?
Do you need to fit a rack?

So as a first bike, within your budget the right type of hybrid is the sensible way forward.

 

[MikeW-71]

this would be in the price range and does look like something that could work with what is around my area,
but would with the roads aswell would this be suitable?

If by "gravel and stoney" you are talking about bridleways, then the MTB is the way to go. If you are on tarmac then it's not the best choice and a Hybrid would be a good start.

The MTB can handle roads, but change the tyres to slicks. You will also find that the suspension will then work against you as you will lose some energy as it compresses with each pedal stroke (unless it has a lock-out, which that one does not).

 

[sand]

You need to prioritise what you will mainly be buying your bike for and buy one suited to that, for a 10 mile journey I would go more towards road than MTB if most of it is on roads.

I think there is a huge amount of overkill about what kind of bike you need for "rough" conditions and it gets worse the newer to cycling you are. It's how halfords make a fortune selling cheap apollo full suspension bikes on the basis the suspension makes them more comfortable, even if they're never going to be used off road. The truth is that frames are much stronger than most people think, My racing bike has one of the lightest aluminium frames you can buy and I've even ridden it on single track tails and it copes fine. The main reason for stronger MTB frames is to survive drops and big bumps in the road, unless you encounter these on your commute you don't need a MTB and getting one will just make you less efficient on tarmac roads.

The most important choice you need to make for different conditions is what tyre to use. For you I would recommend something like a 32mm semi slick tyre, It will cope best with gravel but still be fast on the road and is fine in light mud if you're careful but for the heavy stuff you will need some tread.

As for the frame, it's your choice really and I don't want to start a hybrid vs road bike debate but for an only £200 budget (Everyone on this forum would recommend spending slightly more so consider it) hybrids are likely better value. Things like eyelets for mudguards and a rack is something you might want to consider and if you go down the road bike route be sure to get one that has clearance for wider tyres, most road bikes these days are designed to look racy but a second hand old steel road bike has a good chance of being more functional and in your budget. If you triple what you want to spend I'd say cross bike

 

[Kieranheb1]

You need to prioritise what you will mainly be buying your bike for and buy one suited to that, for a 10 mile journey I would go more towards road than MTB if most of it is on roads.

I think there is a huge amount of overkill about what kind of bike you need for "rough" conditions and it gets worse the newer to cycling you are. It's how halfords make a fortune selling cheap apollo full suspension bikes on the basis the suspension makes them more comfortable, even if they're never going to be used off road. The truth is that frames are much stronger than most people think, My racing bike has one of the lightest aluminium frames you can buy and I've even ridden it on single track tails and it copes fine. The main reason for stronger MTB frames is to survive drops and big bumps in the road, unless you encounter these on your commute you don't need a MTB and getting one will just make you less efficient on tarmac roads.

Hi guys thanks for all the information. I have tried out since I last spoke a friends road bike which was a careera (dont know which) and I seemed to get on with it fine on all the roads around my area.
As I enjoyed it and getting more into the idea, my budget I can stretch to 300 (which I know isnt a huge amount for a road bike)
would this carerra TDF fit the bill for a beginner on a road bike??

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_810691_langId_-1_categoryId_165710[/quote]

 

[Born2die]

Yup that was what I started on you will love it there is the triban 3 at decathlon that gets rave reviews but the tdf at £250 is great then you have £50 for shorts tools etc. I used mine all over where you live and further a couple of the Whitestone wheelers use them as winter bikes.

 

[Kieranheb1]

cool, I think I am just gonna go for it and try it out. ill let you know once I get it! thanks for everyones help

 

[Born2die]

No worries if you want to team up at any point let me know at the moment I couldn't outpace a snail. The Nuneaton halfords lads are great at building and setting up bikes so no worries there