Dear Lazyweb: Buying a new bike
I cycle to work and back every day, a journey of about 6 miles each way. This really shouldn't be a problem, but it actually is, due to how naff my current bike is. It's a bog standard off-the-shelf mountain bike from Halfords which cost about £90. That's enough of an issue on its own – just cycling along in a straight line requires far more exertion than it should. But add to this the extra problems that it's developed…
- Seat which refuses to stay level despite tightening the nut so hard that the spanner bent
- Brakes which don't work (the front one actually snapped off one day)
- Bizarre rattling noise
…and you might arrive at the same conclusion I have: it's time for a new bicycle.
Alright then, dear dear old Lazyweb, please advise me thus. I want to spend about £200 on a new bike for cycling around town. I guess I want a hybrid, right? But I quite obviously know nothing about this, so this is me soliciting recommendations. I want to know what I should be looking for in terms of features – there seems to be a wide range of options to choose from. If you commute by cycle, please recommend (or de-recommend) your model. Or, what manufacturers should I be looking at? Is it worth buying new or can I find a good deal second hand?
Tags: lazyweb
November 28th, 2009 at 3:58 am
Being in the States, I don't know what brands are available or reputable in England.
My own recommendation would be to find a reputable bike shop, and talk to the bike service people. Explain the situation regarding the bike you have now, and acknowledge that it it might not have been the best option, but with a limited budget you would like to know the opinion of someone who services bikes as to what issues they have seen with the various brands on sale out front.
Once you know about the service issues, you can go out front and discuss the budget and such.
Here in the states I think less than half the bikes sold are used for commuter purposes, and the rest are 'sport' or 'exercise' targeted bikes. I gather you are not looking for a racing or touring bicycle. A mountain bike seems to be a bit overkill as well. And from the sounds of things you've seen the problem of going with the 'budget' mountain bike that is more style than substance. (After seeing what happened with the brake, what would you say to someone considering riding that bike in actual mountains?)
While talking with the service tech, getting tips on tuning the bike you have can help yourself between annual service, (which you are expecting to provide them with the business for) once you have your new bike.
November 28th, 2009 at 4:19 am
Beware of supermarket bikes, they are the worst of the worst. Even more expensive ones usually have sub-par components compared to a similarly priced bike from a dedicated cycling shop, and most of the cheaper ones are downright dangerous to ride.
Beware of hybrids. They are overpriced and marketed towards people who have lots of money and little knowledge about bikes. If you KNOW you will be only using the bike for commuting, go for a road bike. If it's going to be mostly commuting and MAYBE some offroad recreational riding, go for a cyclocross bike. Riding a MTB on asphalt is inefficient and therefore exerting, and on top of that, bad for the tires.
Instead, find a friend who is into riding and get him to help you find a good deal on a used bike locally.
November 28th, 2009 at 5:30 am
I bought a used Lemond Propad. It's the first fancy bike I ever owned, and I love it. I haven't stopped riding it, rain or shine for the past month. It's above your budget, but a real treat.
November 28th, 2009 at 8:21 am
I used to commute everywhere by bike, and I asked many cyclists what features they recommend. Two things stood out more than any others. First, no shocks. Shocks just absorb energy that should be going into driving the bike. Remove the shock and more of your effort goes into propelling the bicycle forward. Second, get the right tires. I had a fellow that could just roll faster down a hill than I could because he had road tires and I had mountain tires. I changed out my tires and Viola! I was also going faster. If you ride road use road tires.
Out of my own experience using an actual road bike cut my 7 mile commute time down by 1/3. The gearing on a road bike is made for just that, the road. So unless your commute includes a mountain trail, do a road bike. I am in the USofA so I don't know that my brand recommendations would do any good. I have a Lemond racing bike that I absolutely love. Aside from that Specialized is my brand of choice.
November 28th, 2009 at 8:22 am
I would say: go to a real bike shop, ask their advice and act on it.
I had a Kona Hoo Ha (a hybrid) when I was in the UK (well, it's still in my dad's attic…) and really liked it. Cost a bit more than 200 if I remember right though.
My limited experience suggests that buying second hand is a route to never-ending annoying, niggling problems and you should at least see if you can get a decent new bike for your budget.
November 28th, 2009 at 8:24 am
Oh, and expect to spend 50-100 quid a year keeping your bike going. It's cheaper than getting everything and the kitchen sink replaced after your chain stretches and trashes the drivetrain!
November 28th, 2009 at 9:01 am
£200 isn't enough for a decent bike — I would personally recommend looking into a second hand brompton (I understand you said new) as you only appear to cycle for commuting.
November 28th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Thanks guys. I'll find more cash if 200 really isn't enough for what I need. I was just trying to be a cheapskate
November 28th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Some things to consider:
How rough your route is (up/down curbs, tree roots, broken aspahlt)
How much you weigh
How rough you ride the bike
Depending on the answers to the above you can choose a style of bike from a road bike to a hybrid to a proper mountain bike.
As with the general consensus – go to a proper bike shop and ask the staff. You will need to spend more than £200 (though not a huge amount more) – it's a false economy as you will just be replacing a cheap bike in a year's time after a lot of fustrating repairs.
Disc brakes are awesome. You know the sensensation you get just after you've fitted a new set of caliper brakes. The way they slam on? Disc brakes are like that _all the time_.
Consider security. More expensive bikes are a target. Buy two good D-locks and lock through the frame and both wheels every time. Consider whether you really need easy-remove wheels and saddle. If you get disc brakes padlock the cables together or to the frame and run the D-locks through the cable in such a way that it would destroy the disc brakes to remove them.
Enjoy!
November 28th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
About 12 years ago I bought a Dawes City Vision 7 for around £250. My main criteria as a town bike were ruggedness, hub gears (lower maintenance), slow release wheels (to reduce the risk of theft), kevlar-protected tyres and an upright riding position. I've found it to be excellent for the flatness of Cambridge, and have just had to spend money on the first repair apart from normal wear and tear after 12 years. OK it's never going to be as fast as my road bikes on account of the upright riding position, but that wasn't in the requirements spec.. My only minor gripe is that the gears are aimed at a slower rider than myself, but I could easily change the chainring if I could be bothered.
A hybrid would probably be adequate, but is by definition a compromise so won't be excellent at anything, just OK at a range of things.
November 28th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
The best bikes are from Gazelle, but I'm not sure if you can buy those in a regular English bike shop.
You could always try Union, they are sold at Halfords, if I'm correct.
In any case, I would advise against buying a mountainbike or hybrid. For work-home travel you should buy a proper bike, it is a lot more comfortable and easier when doing the shopping.
November 29th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
I live in the Netherlands and I have a Gazelle (dutch brand) city bike. I use it to go to work every day (about 8 kilometers one way).
Things that are important for me:
* roller brakes: completely encased, they work in any weather
* gears in the rear hub: my current bike has a Shimano Nexus 7; low maintenance, not affected by weather, allows for a completely-encased chain
* city-bike type: mud guards; upright position (good visibility)
* dynamo-powered lights (my current bike has the dynamo in the front wheel hub)
November 29th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
For a 200£ bike, don't look too much at what shimano/SRAM/etc. devices you should get… You should better look for a bike that look discreet (so it won't get stolen), practical (I prefer for a city bike the "women frame", it is easier to get on and off the bike, which happen a lot in a city).
Then, for a cool look and comfortable frame, try to look for Dutch like framed bike. They are amazingly nice to ride, especially in cities because you are seating slightly higher than on other bikes, thus seeing better the traffic. And they are well equipped against the rain
Good brands with entry level bikes (around the 200£) you should be able to get Gazelle or Batavia (for Dutch style bikes), for hybrid frames I would advise German brands like Steven or Bulls, or the French one La Pierre.
But for the neck and comfort, try the Dutch frame style rather than the hybrid one.
End note: I have also an hybrid bike, but I use it for bicycle trekking (long distance bike).
November 30th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
don't understand a thing about bikes, but many people in my office used the mayor of london cycle scheme to have a 50% discount on their bikes. you are entitled to do it if you use it to commute (and your employee has to do a simple form filling procedure). just google cycle scheme.
December 21st, 2009 at 4:35 pm
This is correct there is indeed a cycle scheme but it is dependant on your employer being part of this scheme. It involves some tax free benefits as well as the possibility of you employer contributing to your bike. I would check with then, if this is the case maybe you could get an even better bike, i know my dream bike would be a Lapierre bike.
January 11th, 2010 at 11:55 pm
Dont' bother with full-sus unless you're building your own bike. I'd stick to hardtail as they cover just about every terrain type unless you happen to have a delicate backside.
April 26th, 2010 at 9:29 am
Buy a second hand! There are second hand bikes in very good shape at very afordable price, it worth it.