What bike to get me started?

[Xiorell]

Hi

I've decided that getting a cycle again would be a really good plan. I do not drive a car (I am working on it but it's sooooo expensive for new drivers at the moment, and I need not talk about fuel costs!) so I am on foot everywhere at the moment.
I work about 1.5miles from home, my girlfriend is moving to the area but will be about 2-3 miles out of town in one of the villages (She drives but can't expect here to do all the running!).
Also I go fishing anywhere from 2miles from home, sometimes walking 5 or 6 miles to get to nice stretches of water, I was considering getting a back-pack for my tackle and devising a means of fixing my pole to a bike/me and occassionally riding to go fishing.

SO !! Here goes the n00b question, what to buy?!

For now I NEED cheap cheap cheap - the idea is to get something to at least go to and from work, to get my gander up for the hobby/sport (As I do not enjoy jogging for cardio exercise) and eventually get a much better bike. So this new bike is just like a taster so to speak.

Terrains I will ride on:

To work - roads/tarmac, average town inclines, nothing taxing
To the misses - 2 routes - Going via the roads, obviously tarmaced, some steep hills in both directions -AND- going across the fields, various inclines both ways, foot paths/beaten track, farm roads etc
For Fishing - would be roads followed by canal toe-paths.

Constant qustions in my head are -
Should I be looking at full suspension or hardtail?
V or Disk breaks? Maybe half/half there?
Bare in mind for this "taster bike" I'm looking around 200 quid ish and I understand full suspension bike at the price is gonna have cheaper bits than a similar price hardtail and that I aint gonna be all Tour De France at this end of the market lol

I've been looking in Halfords (SORRY, but it's just over from my work). I did like the Look of the Apollo Slant, Phaze and Ridge althought the first 2 has really really bouncy front forks. There was a Trax TSF.1D that seemed to have all the timmings but surely must be total junk for all that with such a low price? Also a Diamondback M05 looked alright to me.

So anyway, help! hehe

 

[biggs682]

sounds like you need 2 bikes at least , like the rest of us , you can never have to many

 

[Xiorell]

lol 2 bikes is out of the question right now (money) but maybe at some point

 

[Fab Foodie]

lol 2 bikes is out of the question right now (money) but maybe at some point

Unless you really NEED suspension (and it sound like you really don't), the the Carerra Subway in Halfrauds is a good a bike as any. OK, a few quid above your budget, but worth it for a superior riding experience and it'll pretty much go anywhere (people underestimate where a basic quality bike can go).
You probably don't NEED disc brakes (not breaks) either.



If however, you think you needs those things, then get a decent brand hardtail, but it'll cost more than £200

 

[Xiorell]

Unless you really NEED suspension (and it sound like you really don't), the the Carerra Subway in Halfrauds is a good a bike as any. OK, a few quid above your budget, but worth it for a superior riding experience and it'll pretty much go anywhere (people underestimate where a basic quality bike can go).
You probably don't NEED disc brakes (not breaks) either.



If however, you think you needs those things, then get a decent brand hardtail, but it'll cost more than £200

Thanks for the input.
The offroad stuff I'll do isn't heavy terrain it's your average british country, hills, bumps, bit of woodland etc but not exactley everest. I HAD been leaning toward Hardtail anyway just wasn't sure today if maybe full suspension would suit THAT terrain much better?

With the disk breaks, are they MUCH better or just a bit? There's some pretty killer hills between here and where my misses will be living and I'd like to be able to a controlled stop when I get to the bottom lol. Plus I hear they are not as affected when they get wet?

 

[david1701]

why 2 bikes, thats within the remit of a hardtail mtb with not too knobbly tyres on it or a hybrid if you can run to it

I'd be looking at secondhand for getting something decent and cheap, think about mounting points for a rack and mudguards, then a set of cheap panniers for carrying stuff about (backpacks suck) I can take laptops and shopping and stuff and they won't fall off on normal trails (I often take one on the ride into town).

Fishing rods are the only really long bit? I'd sling that bandolier style or stand it up in a pannier if that works (I've done both with my tripod and the pannier is comfier by far)

My mtb came from freecycle and it needed new bars a crank and tbh could use some faster tyres (but I cba to buy them). I spent 35 quid on panniers, had a shitty lock from before and bought some lights/clothes thats it on costs (though the bb bearing is a bit tired) and I do 8 miles minimum almost always at least 10 on a day I need to be in town (usually carrying stuff), I've also done 10 mile each way rides carrying stuff (pretty easily) and 40 mile trips out (with just a lunch and bits in the panniers) on it. I generally hold a 10 mph average over very hilly terrain so speed is shitty.

I am however looking forward to my lovely tricross next month to be faster in every way and comfier for the 100k and 100 mile rides I'd like to have done by the end of the year

 

[slowmotion]

My two cents..

Forget suspension and disc brakes...you don't need them. Get a lightweight hybrid and spend a bit more than you want to. That way, you feel a bit guilty if you don't ride it.

Then addiction sets in

Good luck.

 

[Fab Foodie]

You're right about Disc brakes .... good ones work better in the wet and cruddy conditions, but cheap ones, like cheap suspension can be crap. You're only gonna get so much bang for £200 new, so keep the spec simple.
If you must go the hardtail route... Decathlon do good basic bikes:

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/rockrider-5-2-grey-69566845/

 

[Xiorell]

You're right about Disc brakes .... good ones work better in the wet and cruddy conditions, but cheap ones, like cheap suspension can be crap. You're only gonna get so much bang for £200 new, so keep the spec simple.
If you must go the hardtail route... Decathlon do good basic bikes:

http://www.decathlon...-grey-69566845/

you thinking full suspension might be better then?

 

[david1701]

you thinking full suspension might be better then?

I think he meant no suspension

 

[marzjennings]

If you're just looking for the one bike for starting out, then I'd suggest a single speed 29er. Nothing much to go wrong or fix. Ride over hill 'n' dale, road or path, easy. And the single speed will only make you stronger.


For just under 400, this gary fisher from Evans is a cheap bargain.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gary-fisher/marlin-29er-2011-single-speed-mountain-bike-ec023850

Don't buy a hybrid, it's bike useless in two worlds; on and off road.

 

[slowmotion]

If you're just looking for the one bike for starting out, then I'd suggest a single speed 29er. Nothing much to go wrong or fix. Ride over hill 'n' dale, road or path, easy. And the single speed will only make you stronger.


For just under 400, this gary fisher from Evans is a cheap bargain.

http://www.evanscycl...n-bike-ec023850

Don't buy a hybrid, it's bike useless in two worlds; on and off road.

Yeah, but there's the pink sock budget to consider...

 

[Fab Foodie]

If you're just looking for the one bike for starting out, then I'd suggest a single speed 29er. Nothing much to go wrong or fix. Ride over hill 'n' dale, road or path, easy. And the single speed will only make you stronger.


For just under 400, this gary fisher from Evans is a cheap bargain.

http://www.evanscycl...n-bike-ec023850

Don't buy a hybrid, it's bike useless in two worlds; on and off road.

Unfortunately the OP only has £200 and seems like some hilly stuff and maybe carry some fishing gear.

We'll have to agree to disagree about hybrids ....

 

[Fab Foodie]

you thinking full suspension might be better then?

Nooooo Front suspension ONLY if you really need it. Cheap full-sus is the spawn of the devil.

Look the more complex you want the bike to be, the less quality you'll get for your budget, so keep it simple. marzjennings gone to extremes with a £400 single speed, but I take his point.

Blimey, as kids nearly 40 years ago in Devon we went everywhere, flippin' miles across woods, fields, moors etc on gas-pipe bikes, bar-lever brakes with either 1 gear or a 3spd hub without too much difficulty.
Keep it simple.

 

[Xiorell]

well I might be willing to stretch the budget out some more IF it seems like there's gonna be a worthwhile increase in quality for what I want.

To me looking at things today, there didn't seem a great difference between 200 and 300quid bikes aside from more shiney paint! I looked as though things only really started getting interesting at the 450-500 mark which at this time is over-spending for what I am trying to achieve.
At the moment this is a "get to work and short trips" bike that way if serious cycling IS for me, it's served the job of getting me into it. If I find for some reason I am not getting on with heavy cycling, I've not chucked several hundred quid away.

Is there something I am missing?