Matt H Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Me and the girlfriend fancy going on some bike rides. Nothing serious, just going on nice trips when the weather's better; around such places like Delamere forest. We picked up a nice bike for her today from Halfords, but I'm still not sure about what I should get. I've spotted something in Halfords which I quite fancied, but It doesn't have rear suspension, which I think might be needed if I'm going to be spending a few hours on a bike going over bumpy terrain. Ideally, I don't want to spend over £300. So I quess my budget is 300 or less. I want something that looks good and is suitable for the mentioned purpose. Any ideas? Recommendations? This is the one they had in Halfords, which tickled my fancy: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_518255_langId_-1_categoryId_165499 Ta Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skim41 Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 You only want a fully when you do a lot of downhill and big jumps. I would go for a good second hand bike with good components. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Restorer Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Forget the rear suspension, I think you may need some pedals more! With regards to your budget I wouldn't recommend a full suspension bike. From the research I've done in the past a full suspension with good components is going to cost you £1k. Personally I feel new bikes have gone up around 20% in price this year. The one you've seen doesn't look too bad or if you have the time as the previous poster suggested you could just scout around for a second hand bike with good components. I did the same last Autumn for a run around and got a good deal off this very forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted January 24, 2010 Author Share Posted January 24, 2010 You only want a fully when you do a lot of downhill and big jumps. I would go for a good second hand bike with good components. Well I won't be hitting any big air that's for sure! I wouldn't know what to look for in a second hand bike though, I'd be worried about getting something that's half bust... Not that I wouldn't get one second hand though, I'd just need to know that it was 100% Forget the rear suspension, I think you may need some pedals more! With regards to your budget I wouldn't recommend a full suspension bike. From the research I've done in the past a full suspension with good components is going to cost you £1k. Personally I feel new bikes have gone up around 20% in price this year. The one you've seen doesn't look too bad or if you have the time as the previous poster suggested you could just scout around for a second hand bike with good components. I did the same last Autumn for a run around and got a good deal off this very forum. I noticed the pic didn't have pedals either! haha, maybe they sell them as an add on for another £100! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 I too would say don't bother with full suspension: it adds weight, and that's not good. If it were me I'd go for a lightweight MTB-style bike, possibly with front suspension only. I'd look for a ligthweight aluminium frame. Lift them up in the shop: if they're heavy, they'll be hard work to pedal. Look for good components. It's been a long time since I looked at bikes, but hopefully my info still mostly applies. Shimano do a range of bike components (gear shifters on handlebar, front gear mech, rear gear mech, brakes), and it doesn't take long to figure out what the cheap ones of the range are called. If the rear derailleur says "Shimano SIS" on it, that's the entry level one and best avoided if your budget allows you to. Deore is one of the upper levels. I can't remember the ones in between. The better groupsets are often lighter, provide more gears (although that's not massively important), and work better (e.g. cheap ones have plastic brake levers with too much flex, better ones have metal/rigid brake levers). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 the entire time ive had bikes they have been fairly cheap, except my gt, and fairly heavy but they put up with my abuse and constant crazy of roading just fine ive always had stuff like this and they survived well to the huge punishment of jumping off rocks and high verges plus its cheap so if it breaks just get another 1 http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_752213_langId_-1_categoryId_165499 although saying that i was looking at 1 of these also, i dont think its suited realy for offroading like i do as id need rear suspension so my spine doesnt explode hitting the ground http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_712167_categoryId_165499_langId_-1?cm_vc=IOV4PDPZ1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a98pmalcolm Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 those disks are pretty ribbish mate! got them on some of our bikes at work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 again in english? ive found the discs were much more useful when stopping at high speed coming down hills than the v's on my other bikes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nevins Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 I have a dual slalom for sale. Its a sarcen exess, which I have upgraded quite a bit. Has some heavy duty 4 pot brakes on it lol, Hope enduro 4 the brakes are. will be putting a sale thread with pics up over the next couple of days. Great bike for casual riding or down hill racing as its a hard tail. Its also extremely light weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 im just wondering which to go for this time around.. a hardtail or full suspension.. to be honest i probly wont be as extreme this time around as it got very painful last time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 When I last looked at bikes, disc brakes were only on the very best (> £2000) and v-brakes hadn't been invented, so that puts my advice in context. IMO if you're going on roads, tracks, gently wooded paths etc then v-brakes would be fine. I'm sure disc brakes work well, but they add extra complexity and expense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 What about the rougher stuff? what would say about that? all i use a bike for is to go to work and offroading mainly so i think id benefit more from them just unsure whether full suspension is realy needed or a hardtail will cater for it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 at that price, i'd look at any of the cheaper specilaised or the Carrera bikes as there fantastic value for money, I have one of there road bikes, ok, cost £450, the equivilent big brand bike was £700 for the same spec. My girly also has one of their mountian bikes, cost £225 - damn good for the cost. Dont be put off by the name, as the company which makes the carerra frames also makes GT and other big brand frames. I wouldnt even consider rear susspension until the £1k region - at this price it works, and can last more than 5 minutes. I personally have a Santa Cruz Blur... If you really interested do a search and be shocked in to the cost of them! - and its my 3rd Santa Cruz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 crikey there not cheap i think im leaning more to the carrera as it seems a better option for what it will be used for.. possibly be ok without the disc brakes aswel! good input in here you can have your thread back now matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 There are many good second hand bikes about for that money as a lot of people use them a few times and give up. If you re worried about the rough stuff get a good light hardtailed frame and buy a suspension seatpost. Don't bother paying more for disc brakes as good v-brakes will be more than adequate for casual riding. Just remember the lighter the better:thumbs: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil-NA Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Matt, forget going to Halfords, your not too far from me, i have a shop in Bolton, come along and i will show you some of the 'better' bikes out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted January 25, 2010 Author Share Posted January 25, 2010 Matt, forget going to Halfords, your not too far from me, i have a shop in Bolton, come along and i will show you some of the 'better' bikes out there. What shop is it Neil, and what's the address? Ta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colsoop Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Matt see if your work are in the cycle 2 work scheme you may be able to gwt a better spec bike within that deal. I have just bought myself a kona Kula had great fun on Cannock chase today getting covered in mud Kula: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Kona_Kula_2009/5360039349/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martini Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 I'm only having a laugh, Matt! :-] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted January 25, 2010 Author Share Posted January 25, 2010 Matt see if your work are in the cycle 2 work scheme you may be able to gwt a better spec bike within that deal. I have just bought myself a kona Kula had great fun on Cannock chase today getting covered in mud Kula: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Kona_Kula_2009/5360039349/ That's a great point Col, I think they are actually..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martini Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Matt see if your work are in the cycle 2 work scheme you may be able to gwt a better spec bike within that deal. I have just bought myself a kona Kula had great fun on Cannock chase today getting covered in mud Someone here at work got an excellent road bike through that scheme. Pretty cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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