ooh guess what? I need advice on a new bike!

[Woodsy]

Hello everybody,

Basically I've signed up to do a 60 mile charity ride in June and have decided that my £100 bike (with missing seat and seatpost) is probably not up to the job. Obviously I want to make the bike ride as painfree and easy as possible on the various part of my unfit body so I've decided to buy something a bit more appropriate but I have a budget of £250.
I actually don't cycle that often (this could all change of course) so spending any more I think wouldn't be worth it.

As a newbie...I've only been working on the criteria of buying something with a light frame and having road tyres so I've been looking at brand new Hybrids.
I realise that buying the 'best bike' is a combination of what feels right for me and buying something with some quality but I would just like to make sure I'm on the right track and take advantage of the huge knowledge base here. I am actually edging towards the 2008 Scott Sub 30.

Scott Sub 30 '08
£250

Carerra Subway 1
£230

Giant CRS 4.0
£225 approx

Ridgeback Velocity '08
£270 approx (arrggh gone over my budget)

As people have said on this forum buying second hand is good when having a limited budget but trying to find a good bike, in the right condition with the right frame size (about 21") is proving quite difficult and I'm quite keen to get out there and start training. A month has passed already

Any advice gratefully recieved!
Also many thanks to the nice people on this forum which have helped me thus far. I have been lurking alot!

 

[amnesia]

I don't think I've read a bad thing about the Carrera on here, only about the place it comes from

 

[stoatsngroats]

Hi Woodsy,

My Carrera is brilliant - I bought it used from TMS in Worthing, for 200 or 250, can't remember now! I did the L2B the first year on it (2006 - 3hrs 45 mins!), and since, many rides of 30 miles+, it really hasn't played up at all.

I'm hoping to do a Littlehampton/Portsmouth, IoW Randonee, and then Portsmouth/Littlehampton in May, which'll be my longest distance so far, and I've no qualms about using my carrera..! (Pic in my gallery.)

Good luck with your choice, ride as many as you can first tho'! Don't forget about helmet, gloves, wet/dry clothing, lock, lights etc too.

And good luck for the L2B, if that's what you're doing - it's a great event!

 

[just4fun]

i wish you all the best for the L2B cycle.
the Carrera always gets good right ups on this forum but it might be worth considering the giant as its the cheapest so you can put the money towards a better saddle or other bike equipment

 

[Sittingduck]

The Scott is quite sexy looking
Do you want 26" wheels or 700's?

 

[Woodsy]

Actually I'm doing the Capital to Coast run from Esher to Brighton but thanks for the support guys

If I've got this right then the 700's are the skinny racer type wheels and the 26" are the fatter rims?
I'm going to be using it on-road 99% of the time but possibly the odd trail so I've been swaying towards the 700's especially for the charity ride.

Thanks for the advice so far. I've been reading on this forum about Halfords alot I've just seen this Carrera Gryphon V-Spec which looks pretty nice. If I do buy from Halfords then I will def get it checked over by an independant bike shop afterwards.

Cheers