newbie !!

[wayne gannon]

Hello everyone,

Well i have decided to give the cycle bug a go and signed up to a cycle to work scheme through my work!

The only problem is with so many bikes out there, which do i go for !!

So far i have decided that a road bike would be best and my top end budget is £800
(hopefully this will include accessories)

Any help, tips and advice would be very much welcome !!

Cheers

 

[vickster]

Which retailer can you use?

Are you sure you want to spend that much on a bike that you might be paying for for up to 3 years when you are totally new to biking? Make sure you get a couple of strong locks and also insurance

The most important thing is to make sure that whatever bike you buy fits you properly, if it's uncomfortable, you won't ride it

What is your health and fitness like, where do you live - flat, hilly?

 

[wayne gannon]

Which retailer can you use?

Are you sure you want to spend that much on a bike that you might be paying for for up to 3 years when you are totally new to biking? Make sure you get a couple of strong locks and also insurance

The most important thing is to make sure that whatever bike you buy fits you properly, if it's uncomfortable, you won't ride it

What is your health and fitness like, where do you live - flat, hilly?

Thank you for the reply, it is over a year and i fort about the amount for a couple of weeks and decided that £800 would be a good starting point plus also i can manage what i will be paying each month, its the halfords scheme so i can use them and also 3 independant retailers in my area (huddersfield) quite flat where i am also in good health and a regular gym user.

 

[vickster]

Do you have to pay a fee at the end of the year to own the bike? Still get insurance

The Boardman bikes are very well regarded, if it's flat then a double chainset from either Shimano (Tiagra or 2013 Sora) or SRAM (Apex) will do you well

Otherwise, you won't go wrong with a bike from Cannondale,Giant, Specialized or Trek (you'll pay the same for a less good spec with the latter two)

If commuting, you may want to check how easy to fit mudguards and a pannier rack

 

[wayne gannon]

Do you have to pay a fee at the end of the year to own the bike? Still get insurance

The Boardman bikes are very well regarded, if it's flat then a double chainset from either Shimano (Tiagra or 2013 Sora) or SRAM (Apex) will do you well

Otherwise, you won't go wrong with a bike from Cannondale,Giant, Specialized or Trek (you'll pay the same for a less good spec with the latter two)

If commuting, you may want to check hbut onw easy to fit mudguards and a pannier rack

A fee at the end but only a small one, defo will be getting insurence.

So far i am keen on Specialized and also Merida

 

[vickster]

You'll get a better frame with Specialized but higher components on the Merida

If you want something different, go Merida

 

[wayne gannon]

that

You'll get a better frame with Specialized but higher components on the Merida

If you want something different, go Merida

Well at the moment i think i am gonna go that way !!! thanks for your insight !

 

[Dave Carey]

Hello everyone,

Well i have decided to give the cycle bug a go and signed up to a cycle to work scheme through my work!

The only problem is with so many bikes out there, which do i go for !!

So far i have decided that a road bike would be best and my top end budget is £800
(hopefully this will include accessories)

Any help, tips and advice would be very much welcome !!

Cheers

I bought a Boardman Comp on the cycle to work scheme 7 months ago and love it. Great bike have had no problems with it so far. I believe the price has also gone down from £950 to around £800.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Wayne
I cant comment on bikes, I just have a cheap Viking, but if you think Huddersfield is flat, you cant have done much riding, you are in the foothills of the Pennines, The A62 east out Huddersfield is about as flat as it gets I think, (I think it follows the river Calder).
So if you haven't ridden much you might be in for a shock.
If you have ignore the above.
Whatever you choice I hope you enjoy riding it.

 

[matthat]

A fee at the end but only a small one, defo will be getting insurence.

So far i am keen on Specialized and also Merida

I've got a spesh hybrid which is a good ride and a merida mtb which is heavy but still reliable and trouble free!! Realistically you'll be looking at 650 to 700 for bike because reasonable locks lights and helmet etc all mount up to your 800 budget!!

 

[Kestevan]

I've heard Huddersfield described as many things (often ending in ".....hole") but flat was never one of them.

Don't know which bike shops are the "independent retailers", but from personal experience I'd think very carefully before I used Wheelspin again.
Velocity cycles in Lindley, TryCycling in Kirkburton and (my favourite) V cycles in Brighouse are pretty decent bike shops.