Why don’t you get a bike? (The story so far).

[Nightman]

After quitting smoking last year I have started to gain a little extra weight. I mentioned to my wife that I might start walking to work once, or twice a week. My office is about five miles away from home.

“Why don’t you get a bike”? was her answer.

Oh, if only it was that easy!

Turn the computer on, look up bicycles, loads of info, loads of advice. Don’t get a cheap bike: You need to be an engineer to assemble some flat-pack bikes. Poor reviews for Halfords, can’t go there then! Lots of companies selling bikes at various stages of assembly, with a huge range of price for the same bike.

Ah-ha here’s a nice looking web-site. DiscoverCycling.com, bikes sent “ready to ride”, despatched within forty-eight hours of your payment clearing, all bikes are fully assembled, test ridden, and safety checked before despatch. With a forty-eight hour delivery to your address. Lots of praise from happy customers.

Right then,this is it. Order my new bike, chose frame size (good info on web-site), in stock, add to basket, marvelous! Hang about, “Would you like a bike?”

My wife replies “Yes please”.

Same bike, ladies version, in stock, add to basket. Credit card details etc. Order accepted, print off invoice, sorted.

Book a couple of days off work for the delivery.

Six days later nothing. Phone call to DiscoverCycling.com, mumble, mumble, out of stock.

Seven days later, nothing.

Eight days later at lunch time I couldn’t get though by ‘phone so I send an e-mail to DiscoverCycling.com to express my concern. NOTHING.

To paraphrase their slogan “It stops here”.

First thing in the morning I will be canceling my order with DiscoverCycling.com. Hopefully I will be able to get a refund on my credit card. Then I can take my wife out for a good meal and perhaps buy a cheap exercise bike for the spare room.

 

[ufkacbln]

Which is where the ubiquitous Local Bike Shop fits in.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Sorry you've had a bad start but really - don't buy an exercise bike. A clothes horse is much cheaper and does the same job. You'll get bored after 2 miles equivalent.

Recoup your money. you paid credit card so you have some recourse, get past this small obstacle and have another look around.

You'll regret buying an exercise bike, whereas if you buy a bike you may end up buying a trainer too so you can cycle indoors!

 

[subaqua]

the novelty of the cheap exercise bike will fade within a month. you will not enjoy not having the wind in your face it will be a clothes horse. get the real thing .

have no idea where you are from but try decathlon if htere is one near you. failing that Local Bike Shop.

 

[Arch]

First thing in the morning I will be canceling my order with DiscoverCycling.com. Hopefully I will be able to get a refund on my credit card. Then I can take my wife out for a good meal and perhaps buy a cheap exercise bike for the spare room.

Nah. Get your money back, get a couple of bikes from elsewhere, and once you get a nice warm spring day, take the missis out and cycle to a really nice country pub for lunch...

I'm sure you'll get a host of suggestions for reputable online bike shops now, or as Cunobelin suggests, go to a real shop - bikes are like clothes, you need to try them on really.

Oh, and well done on quitting smoking, and good luck with shifting the weight. Cycling is a very good way to to do it, but walking is good too.

 

[addictfreak]

Dont give up!

Get your refund, and then get yourself along to a good LBS. If you post your location im sure there will be someone on here who can recommend a good shop.
They will give you sound advice and you will be able to try a few different makes/styles of bike.

But be warned, once you start you may be seriously bitten by the cycling bug!

 

[the snail]

Went to bikeshop, test ride, paid, waited 1/2 hr for safety-check, rode new bike home, simples. I wouldn't buy anything without seeing it, picking it up to see how heavy it is, and a test-ride if possible. Besides which I'm too impatient to wait for a courier.
Get your refund, visit the local shops, buy the bike that you like the most within your budget. If you avoid the ones like they put by the door at halfords, it's hard to go wrong, the rest of their bikes are ok from what I've seen. Exercise bikes are just SAD.

 

[2Loose]

But be warned, once you start you may be seriously bitten by the cycling bug!

Especially if there is a lovely pub garden and grub within a few miles. Always works to build up saliva motivation for me.

 

[marinyork]

Just view it as a false start. Won't matter once you've got started, and I really hope you enjoy it.

 

[Deb13b]

I've been trying to buy a bike for about 6 weeks. I'm only just over 5ft and want a trad style bike. But to get one in my size isn't easy, unless I have almost 700 quid to spend, which I don't. I am mad keen to get into cycling.
Anyway, don't give up. I'm not going to !

 

[jig-sore]

halfords can be a problem, not the bikes.

boardman bikes are very good, but they only sell them at Halfords !!!

 

[lordjenks]

some halfords are good, some are bad.
but the bikes are pretty much the best value around

 

[mike-L]

some halfords are good, some are bad.
but the bikes are pretty much the best value around

... that you can try out. Ribble and Planet X are possibly better value (plus setup should be good) - but you have to know enough to un-flatpack the bikes. If you can find a friend (or a local Cyclechatter?) who knows bikes then you're not limited to Halfrauds.

 

[youngoldbloke]

I went to Preston to get measured before ordering my Ribble - if you are spending a lot of money it is sensible to make sure the frame is the right size and that the bike fits. Planet X now have showrooms in a couple of places as well as Rotherham and I understand you can get a comprehensive fitting - the way to go obviously. Halfords would sell thousands of Boardmans if they got their act together and offered a similar service.

 

[jugglingphil]

Buying a new bike (or two) should be an enjoyable experience, don't be put-off.
Go to a Local Bike Shop (LBS), if they don't give you friendly advice, then leave and go to another.

Pretty soon you and your wife will have a bike each. In the mean time I'm sure you'll be able to get lots of helpful advice on this forum.