Hello all, I am a first-time poster. I will briefly introduce myself and my aims. I used to have a bicycle when I was a child and loved every minute of it. Sometime later, I moved on to the bicycle’s bigger cousin – motorbikes! Over the years, the weight has crept on. Well, the motorcycles have gone and now I am left using public transport. I have decided to buy a bicycle to lose the weight and cycle the journey once a week (at first) which is 11 miles each way (as well as visiting the gym).

Halfords currently have an offer on their website that ends on Wednesday. I would be very grateful for some advice on what bike would be ideal for me. I am fairly certain I want a hybrid and have a budget of £200-£300. The bike will only be used for commuting and the occasion ride out.

To Bike Forums, AdamI!


We'll do our very best to answer all of your cycling questions!

However, I'm afraid that we'll need more information.

Please answer these questions:

1) What bike size are you?

2) What is your height?

TIA

- Slim

Thanks for the reply. I am marginally under 6ft. From reading recommended bike sizes for someone of my height, I believe I require a 20" frame size.

Well Adam, at Halford's, both your budget and your size restrict you to only these two bicycles, one of which, I will not recommend:

The Carrera Subway Limited ~ 200 pounds

I would recommend the following:

1) The Voodoo Agwa ~ $430 pounds

2) The Voodoo Marasa ~ $350 pounds

3) The Carrera Subway ~ $280

Do Not Get The CrossPath or Crossfire Either!

Good Luck!

- Slim

Revised

I think I may have to push the boat out a little more then! Can I ask why you would not recommend the first two but the latter three?

The components are not that good at all. Actually, the ones that I recommended are just borderline acceptable. You really need to increase you budget by about 200 pounds for something really decent.

- Slim

If you were to Buy a Folding Bike,then You would not have to lock it up
on one end of your trip,
and not have access to it on the other end.
because it is back there where you Left it.

H version of Brompton's is for the 2M/6 footer. H6L , and a front carrier bag
on the clip will be really useful

foldsoc.co.uk is a place to check out..

Okay, well thanks for your advice. Just going to choose one of the three now.

Locking up and w hat not isn't too much of a concern, but I'll check it out, thanks.

Um, why just shop at Halford's? And aren't they more like a big box retail like Wal-Mart as opposed to a true LBS? If it's because they are having a sale, most bike shops have been/are offering 2011 (or older) models on sale. You might want to check out Evans- I just checked and they are having a sale as well. Here's the link to their hybrid selection, but I have the currency set as US$, so you might have to reset the currency if not automatically prompted by their server. You might also want to check out a couple of other UK based sites- wiggle and probikekit.

Well I've had a look at a few more bikes on the websites the were suggested. One that caught my eye was this. Does any one know if it is any good, or would I still be better of buying one suggested earlier?

If you could find a bicycle that is exactly like that one, without the suspension fork, it would be perfect!

Try to avoid suspension forks, at that price point. That was the main problem with the Crosspath and the Crossfire. However, this one is a step up from the bikes, above.

I've also been toying with the idea of getting a road bike and I just cannot make my mind up at all - especially when I saw the Carrera Virtuoso. With the online offer, it would drop to £360. Don't know what to do!?

This one has the worse components yet! Move on, my friend!

- Slim

PS.

Based upon your riding habits, you won't be in need of a road bike. Most certainly not a cheap road bike!

You could just get that GT Transeo and be prepared somewhere down the distant road to either replace it with a better suspension fork, or perhaps a rigid fork. Thus far, the GT is my pick, unless you get either one of the Voodoos.

If it weren't for the suspended fork, the GT would be at the absolute top of my list. It's still a worthwhile investment.

Looks pretty good. I've looked at a similar bike at Decathlon recently and I was impressed. Looks like a reasonable price, too.

Hi there Adam,

Apparently some people are easily impressed. Your components on this last bike shown here are at the very bottom of the totem pole. Your shifters are cheap, too. Like I said, your commute should be somewhat less than an hour. If you're going to mostly travel within an urban vicinity, then you don't really require a road bike, anyway.

What you need is a commuter bike or a bicycle where you can sit in an upright postion, so that you may better see the traffic.

Considering how much I've ridden on a similar spec bike in the past year without any mechanical difficulties, I have reason to be impressed.

A lot of people here do not realize how low end most of the bikes here in China are. Compared to what people here ride every day, the American x-mart stuff is pretty good.

My commuting bike here is a mid-grade Bike shop giant. In America it would be x-mart grade. No one would even try to sell the low end stuff in America. The Tiagra equipped bikes are the high end here and only come out in good weather.

Ah, yeah, good point. Think I'm set on the GT. Thanks for the advice all!

Just a little update. My shiny new bike came this afternoon. I took it out for a quick spin of about 1 mile whilst I went to the post office and I can't believe how unfit I am! I only averaged a speed of 6 MPH. I think it may be a few weeks before I cycle the full 11 miles!

Take it easy. Take it slow. There is no rush. It'll get better as you ride more, but don't push yourself. You don't want be in pain, that can be discouraging.

I think it was just the shock to the system. I normally walk about three or four miles a day but that is about it. I went for a cycle this morning whilst it was quiet and covered just under three miles in 16 minutes. One thing that is a problem however, is the hardness of the seat- it is quite painful, even after only four miles in total. Is it just because I am unused to it?

Hi there Adam!

Most people opt to get a replacement seat, almost immediately after purchase. Go to a bike shop and ask for the supervisor (boss). Ask questions about a saddle and how it's supposed to be situated.

Next, mount your bike and ask about your "fit" and how it looks.

You might get lucky with some extra pointers regarding fit.

I would suggest trying a few Serfas and Brooks Saddles while there...

- Slim

PS.

Which bike did you end up getting?

If you got a Specialized dealer around, ask them to measure your sit bones. You might also consider buying a saddle from them to compensate for their time doing so...

I wouldn't opt to buy a new seat so quickly, as the prior two posters suggest. I'm also insanely frugal, so that probably has something to do with it.

Your butt's gonna hurt if you haven't ridden in a while. Mine did for maybe 2 weeks on a bike that cost quite a lot (to me, at least). Stick it out and you will adapt to it. After you do you'll have a much better sense of what's comfortable or uncomfortable about the saddle and you can make a more informed decision at that time. You may even decide to keep it! But if you don't you'll have a better chance of keeping what you end up buying.