Cycling - A new endeavour

Ingenious TROLL · 5 Sep 2013 at 11:03

Hello GD,

Looking for some advice on a good bike, and equipment.

I would suggest spending no more than £300 on the bike alone.

The bike will be used for cycling to and from work daily, and for around 3 long routes a week as I'll be using this to keep my cardio up as I've gotten very bored of running to be honest!

So any advice, suggestions and help on where to start would be much appreciated. I am not against a road bike but a hybrid would probably be more suitable for me on this occasion.

Cheers.

* EDIT * - The vast majority of cycling will be on roads with some off road occasionally.

DJMK4 · 5 Sep 2013 at 11:07

I would suggest seeing if you can get a little test or trial by either someone who owns one, or maybe a shop.

What you want to do is ensure that the type of bike is really suited for you, and your usage, you may find that a road bike is better, or you may find that a hybrid is better

Also when searching, take the frame size, frame quality (you want to try and get a light frame) ride quality, build quality etc.

Ingenious TROLL · 5 Sep 2013 at 11:09

DJMK4 said:
I would suggest seeing if you can get a little test or trial by either someone who owns one, or maybe a shop.

What you want to do is ensure that the type of bike is really suited for you, and your usage, you may find that a road bike is better, or you may find that a hybrid is better

Also when searching, take the frame size, frame quality (you want to try and get a light frame) ride quality, build quality etc.

Cheers - that's some good info to take into consideration. There are some local cyclist shops around that I'll check in.

Would anyone be against cycles from Halfords?

DaleTheWhale · 5 Sep 2013 at 11:11

These guys in here will be better, GD is dangerous.

The1nonly1 · 5 Sep 2013 at 11:11

have a look here http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18159043&page=1056

Nexus · 5 Sep 2013 at 11:13

You realise we have a separate forum for sports and all things cycling:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=13

matt_fsr · 5 Sep 2013 at 11:15

Appropriate username choice

Ingenious TROLL · 5 Sep 2013 at 11:18

matt_fsr said:
Appropriate username choice

Not trolling, honest!

I have had a look in there but couldn't really find a definitive answer to what I was looking for, but this can be moved if a mod sees fit nevertheless

uv · 5 Sep 2013 at 11:22

At £300, the red triban3 at Decathlon is your only choice unless you go second hand.

Scougar · 5 Sep 2013 at 11:28

£300 is quite a low budget for a decent new bike in todays market (fuel and material costs have soared

)

I would suggest £400 minimum. You may find your work has a cycle to work scheme that gives you an interest free loan.

Also... don't forget to budget in cycling kit (prioritise the helmet, everything else you can get away without).

DJMK4 · 5 Sep 2013 at 11:29

Hmmm (thinks of the £1020 Diamond Back Sortie) mountain bike I got from my last employment cycletowork scheme, I paid ziltch, not even through my pay, they picked up the entire cost.

Then I left, and they never asked for it back.

, they never asked for any other employee's bikes back that left.

Kind of wish I went for a road bike now though, although my instincts was to pick the most expensive bike

Outline · 5 Sep 2013 at 11:34

As noted, use the forum, those guys are brilliant.

My recommendation is to get a Btwin Triban 3. £300, worth closer to £700.

Don't get a hybrid. Don't.

Ingenious TROLL · 5 Sep 2013 at 11:40

DJMK4 said:
Hmmm (thinks of the £1020 Diamond Back Sortie) mountain bike I got from my last employment cycletowork scheme, I paid ziltch, not even through my pay, they picked up the entire cost.

Then I left, and they never asked for it back. , they never asked for any other employee's bikes back that left.

Kind of wish I went for a road bike now though, although my instincts was to pick the most expensive bike

My employer no longer operates a cycle2work scheme otherwise I'd definitely have used it, thing it stopped last year

Aside from that, I would perhaps increase my budget depending on the benefits of doing so - after all this is a long term venture.

I don't know much about bikes, so if hybrids are no good I'll avoid.

Cheers.

uv · 5 Sep 2013 at 11:50

Outline said:
My recommendation is to get a Btwin Triban 3. £300, worth closer to £700.

Make sure it's the red through - the white has crappier shifters and steel forks (unless you'd rather steel than carbon).

AHarvey · 5 Sep 2013 at 11:51

Outline said:
My recommendation is to get a Btwin Triban 3. £300, worth closer to £700.

For a road bike, the RED Triban 3 earlier model is superior to the new White Triban 3 and is very good for an starter bike and is there for the £300 budget you have.

The problem is getting your hands on them, so rare I ended up going up a model to the Triban 5.