Noob New Bike Recomemndation

[Ozzrahog]

Hi coming back to biking for the first time in 20 years and looking for advice.

Have a low budget (around £300) and will be riding mainly on road and trails in local woods etc so guess a hybrid is a good bet any thoughts on these two bikes

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_810737_langId_-1_categoryId_165534

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_786861_langId_-1_categoryId_165534


Thanks

 

[Fab Foodie]

They both look fine.
I don't know much about Voodoo bike, but I do know that the Carrera Subway is an excellent all-rounder especially if rough tracks are a large part of your riding. People commute, tour and leisure ride on them without any issues. It'll take a rack and mudguards for all weather and utility use too. They've got a lot of people hooked on cycling and that's errr... maybe a good thing!
Halfrauds are not the best people to buy bikes from, but they're getting better.

Oh, and Welcome to Cycle-chat, where no question is too dumb to ask, though some replies might be too dumb to read!

 

[MrJamie]

Have a look at something like http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/7000-2011-hybrid-bike-ec023927 and http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/71-fx-2011-hybrid-bike-ec025531 too. Theres probably plenty more discount last season bikes around and the halfords "reduced prices" are probably their normal price.

 

[User16625]

They both look fine.
I don't know much about Voodoo bike, but I do know that the Carrera Subway is an excellent all-rounder especially if rough tracks are a large part of your riding. People commute, tour and leisure ride on them without any issues. It'll take a rack and mudguards for all weather and utility use too. They've got a lot of people hooked on cycling and that's errr... maybe a good thing!
Halfrauds are not the best people to buy bikes from, but they're getting better.

Oh, and Welcome to Cycle-chat, where no question is too dumb to ask, though some replies might be too dumb to read!

Which color bike am I likely to get the most speed from? I know that red bikes are more aerodynamic and more mechanically efficient than green ones. Dont know why tho.


To the OP, I may not know much about bikes but I know enough about them to advise you to avoid ones associated with halfords.

 

[Pauluk]

I bought carrera crossfires and a crossfire 2 from halfords and they are very good bikes and as already been said the subway are good bikes for the price. Just make sure halfords set it up correctly and if your not happy go back and tell them. They can be variable in terms of service and set up quality but their bikes are not bad by any means.

 

[Peteaud]

Have a look at something like http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/7000-2011-hybrid-bike-ec023927 and http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/71-fx-2011-hybrid-bike-ec025531 too. Theres probably plenty more discount last season bikes around and the halfords "reduced prices" are probably their normal price.

+1

 

[Fab Foodie]

To the OP, I may not know much about bikes .

I think that says it all ....

 

[Pauluk]

I know that red bikes are more aerodynamic and more mechanically efficient than green ones. Dont know why tho.

Its because red bikes absorb blue and green photons and reflect red ones and as everyone knows blue and green photons are lighter than red ones. So if you have a red bike it bounces the red, heavy, photons off and makes you go like the stig.

Unless you are riding in the dark then they are all the same.

So when I buy a bike from Halfords in future I'll always ask if they do it in red.

 

[Peteaud]

Its because red bikes absorb blue and green photons and reflect red ones and as everyone knows blue and green photons are lighter than red ones. So if you have a red bike it bounces the red, heavy, photons off and makes you go like the stig.

Unless you are riding in the dark then they are all the same.

So when I buy a bike from Halfords in future I'll always ask if they do it in red.

I feel i do need to correct you somewhat.

Riding in the dark is not the same.

Red paint (or powder coat) has a much lower light refraction density, thus is smoother than other colours. At any given speed, and even in the dark it will be more aerodynamic due to the air to weight friction coertion. Add this to the photon issue other colours have and there you are. Red bikes are faster

 

[Pauluk]

At any given speed, and even in the dark it will be more aerodynamic ...

What, even if your fat

Oh just noticed, well done on the quit smoking

 

[Ozzrahog]

I need to pull this thread back on topic.

The bikes I linked to are grey and black so this discussion about red and green does not help, what we need to be thinking about is the relative gravitational density as they may exhibit a black hole effect

 

[vickster]

I'd go to Hellfrauds, sit on them, pick them up - see which feels better and is lighter

I would say that the Treks are better on road than bumpy woodland trails - that said most UK roads are like woodland trails

 

[Peteaud]

If you prefer the halfords over the treks, go for the voodoo

 

[brandon]

Hi coming back to biking for the first time in 20 years and looking for advice.

Have a low budget (around £300) and will be riding mainly on road and trails in local woods etc so guess a hybrid is a good bet any thoughts on these two bikes

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_810737_langId_-1_categoryId_165534

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_786861_langId_-1_categoryId_165534


Thanks

well i have taken a look on both and they both have 24-speed so are both close and properly both equal in potential but in my opinion carrera bikes are more reliable and better. but it all depends on what you prefer, i am just saying in my opinion i would go for the carrera.

 

[Ozzrahog]

Thanks for all the advice guys, after looking at the 2 bikes I linked and doing some reading I came to the conclusion they were effectively rigid Mountain bikes (especially looking at the wheel/tyre sizes) so have decided to go for a hard tail MTB with lockable forks and put city jet tyres on until until I want to get it muddy

Going for this

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/hardtails/trailx/12_trailx3_wh.html

from Evans, it's less than a kilo heavier than the Voodoo and I reckon a bit more versatile, also given where I live is very hilly knowing what the gearing is before I buy was handy.

Of course, taking into consideration the comments above, I am not getting teh green one as we have proved green bikes are slow