new bike recommendations

[terry_gardener]

i have read the sticky about this excellent read.

i am thinking of getting a bike for fitness and recreational use.

we have 2 bike stores near me halfords and skinnergate cycles.

mainly going to be used on roads, paths and cycle track.

i asked both shops the question starter bike for these terrains.

halfords - pointed me to a rigid mountain bike, front and back disc brakes and looked really think tryes. £220
after i asked the difference between MTB and town and trail bikes he pointed me to one which was also £220.

skinnergate cycles - pointed me to 2 bikes both hybrids one was £300 and the other £270. he recommended the £300 one as it had some extras other the other bike didn't have as in puncture resistant tyres and improved lower bar, 24 gears instead of 21 suspension on the seat.

the hybrids used semi slick tyres - do these tyres offer enough grip in bad weather conditions like rain etc.

both stores said dont get a cheap bike because the will break relative quickly and you wouldn't enjoy the bikes.

i think the halford town and trail bike they recommended was the carrera subway 1.

sorry i dont the make and models of the bikes.

any recommendations of which bike to get for a starter.

 

[I am Spartacus]

Read through the many 100s 100s of thread responses to 'what new bike'.
If I was going to give any advice myself... buy something thats is

good quality - from a recognised industry brand name
which has quality components
which is light!
which doesnt have unnecessary addons like full supension that add weight and complications
anything gimmicky like puncture resistant tyres. seat post suspension..... just have good tyre pressures to ping anything in the way out of the way..

if you do this .. when you some to sell it .. you stand a better chance of a a good resale value when you decide to upgrade..

 

[andyfromotley]

Hi Terry and welcome.

The carrera is an ok bike and there are many on here who have run them for years.

Get the model details of the bikes your looking at and post em on here (with a web link if poss) and you should get a decent response. If you can do that i'll certainly give u my tuppence worth and recommend others if i can.

But certainly some sort of rigid flat bar sounds about right. If there is nothing rough about your intended journey then go for the hybrid, if there is then go for the mtb. The main difference would be the weight (hybrid should be lighter) whilst the MTB should be more robust. Fatter tyres on the MTB will be more comfortable but somewhat slower.

Are you from Darlo? Should be up there visiting my mum in a week or two so if you havent decided by then i will happily spend a quick hour having a look with you.

Andy

 

[HJ]

the hybrids used semi slick tyres - do these tyres offer enough grip in bad weather conditions like rain etc.

I use Conti GatorSkins, year round, the only time I have had problems with grip is a muddy patch at the allotment. On roads and paths you will find they are fine...

both stores said dont get a cheap bike because the will break relative quickly and you wouldn't enjoy the bikes.

This is good advice, avoid the Bike Shaped Object (BSO).

 

[terry_gardener]

Are you from Darlo?

no i am from stockton on tees which is not far from darlo

I use Conti GatorSkins, year round, the only time I have had problems with grip is a muddy patch at the allotment. On roads and paths you will find they are fine..

just concerned because they didn't look like they had much grip on them.

i will try to get the make and models of the bikes in question.

thanks for the advice

 

[HJ]

...
just concerned because they didn't look like they had much grip on them.

...

No need to worry, with bikes slick tyres offer better grip that those with tread on, you can't aquaplane a bicycle...

 

[terry_gardener]

i have been into the shops again today and got the makes and models of the recommended bikes from them.

Releigh urban 1 - £260
http://www.raleigh.co.uk/b_details.aspx?id=336&brand=8&pt=15

Releigh urban 2 -£300
http://www.raleigh.co.uk/b_details.aspx?id=255&brand=8&pt=15

Carrera Subway 1 - £220
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...kjteljyQLdf_Nz0wtj8Yf2A0t2QXlILW9rcBSW8fzJRxl

Carrera Subway 2 - £280
http://http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&partNumber=960120&langId=-1&cm_mmc=GooglebaseAdult+Bikes%2FTown+%26+Trail+BikesNaCarrera+Subway+2+18%22+Hybrid+Commuter+Mens+Bike+09&%24%24tid=S-mxA39cYIzPWbUr2qg8lqI0gS_4ChRlxsfnJR5dJFD07zRTAvYp-n_jYoihLU69

Apollo X.C 26 SE - £220
http://http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_253605_langId_-1_categoryId_165499

please can anyone give me advice on which is best and what these bikes are like.

if anyone can think of another bike that you recommend under £300 for a starter please let me know.

 

[jay clock]

In general if you do not know much about bikes Halfords is left well alone. However I am one of the many on here who have a Subway 1 and it is an excellent all round bike. I have mine as one of six bikes so it sees limited use, but I have used it for touring, and for day rides of up to 100km+.

The Subway 1 is at the "tougher" end of the hybrid market, and will easily handle offroad within reason. You definitely do NOT need suspension from what you have said

 

[jay clock]

If you wanted a slightly more road oriented bike of a good quality this looks pretty good http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/globe-vienna-1-2010-hybrid-bike-ec019552

 

[g00se]

Knobbly bike tyres... They're for gripping in mud and loose gravel. For roads, you need slicks. Bikes tyres are narrow enough that they cut through standing water - unlike wide car tyres which need tread grooves to channel water away. Hybrids tend to have slick centres for road - and a few knobbles on the outside edges to grip any mild rough stuff you go over.

Big knobbles on roads will slow you down and make the bike feel more skittish.

 

[terry_gardener]

thank you all for your advice

i have narrowed the bike down to 2 now.

carrera subway 2
raleigh urban 2

i am going to see if i can get a test ride on them both and then make up my mind.

properly leading towards the carrera after reading so many good reviews.

 

[tmcd35]

I've been looking a lot into bikes around this price/style over the past month (waiting for an insurance payout).

Personally, I wouldn't go for the Carrera, to me the Raleigh looks a better bike. To me the choice between these to seems to be 26" MTB wheels vs. 700c Road wheels and Disc breaks vs V-breaks. For a road hybrid I prefer the larger (faster?) wheels and less complicated V-breaks.

I agree with a previous poster - the Specilised Globe Vienna 1 should be worthy of some serious consideration at this price point. I had it down to between the Vienna 1 and Vienna 3 depending on if the insurance co was charging excess on the claim. Thankfully they are not so it looks as if I may be in for a Vienna 3