Hello!

Im looking to buy a bike for no more than £250. Just to go 1.7 miles to work and back 5 days a week. It needs to look funky (not like im some sort of eco friendly "omg i hate the car" sort of person) and be fun to ride. I will be riding to work through some woodland, so I dont want a hard road bike.

Im male, 6 foot 3 and weigh 12 stone. Does anyone have any suggestions of what to go for?

I know nothing about bikes other than I shouldnt buy a Raleigh or an Appollo from Halfords

What you have discribed is an old, but very reliable,
Raleigh 3 speed bike. From your post I'd guess that
you are British so this bike should be easy to find
where you live. No flash at all just solid reliable
wheels for your everyday ride, mate.

I thought raleigh made really cappy bikes?

Mate, I said OLD RALEIGH 3 SPEED. You know the stuff made in
Nottingham before they closed up shop. The "new" Raleigh stuff
IS junk compared to the bulletproof quality of the older Nottingham
stuff. To find one you're going to have to shop USED.

This is what I'm talking about. These bikes carried lot's of folk's
milions of miles everyday.

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/retroraleighs/

I'm not a huge fan of old. I prefer shiny and new

To bad mate. Anyone of these bikes can be cleaned up into "shiny and new"
However, I'd guess you really don't want quality do you? You also don't
want to keep your "new" bike for long either. Thieves just love new easy
to resell stuff.

Your money, your choice.

After a month, I just love my Giant Cypress SX. It comes with a 700 X 40 tire which works well on paved and lumpy gravel paths. It also has you riding in an upright position. You would need fenders for wet weather, however. I'm not up on the currency exchange rates, but it might be towards the top of your price range, if it's available in your area, which I take to be UK. Funk, of course, is in the eye of the beholder.

I dont plan on riding in the wet I have a car for that

Me too! And I don't like to ride around dusk, either. Drivers around here are considerate of cycles, but only when they can see you.

Oh, the SX I mention might be a little much for your distance. I mean, a little too much money. That's a personal consideration, though.

You don't need anything too fancy. If all you want the bike for is the occassional commute of 1.7 miles, get a funky fixed gear or something. I'm your height and a good bit heavier than you and my hybrid works fine for me. Make sure you get something that fits.

I use a Schwinn S/S cruiser with a front basket that my wife found used for $50. New, they're about $150-200. They're great if you're not in a hurry.

What do you mean by "funky"?

Ill be using it daily

Pashley make bikes in the traditional mould with nice styling. Lots of 3-speeds with mudguards and chainguards, ideal for short-range urban hops.
I like this one:
https://www.pashley.co.uk/products/cl...ce/splash.html