Newbie cycling wannabe bike buying advice please

Tish_P

There are a few charity bike shops that refurbish wrecked bikes (giving experience to trainee mechanics in the process) and sell them at low cost. BikeWorks is one I know of in Scotland but there are others - try those?

Dave_C_2

Just my 2d worth,
If you are just riding on the road, avoid knobbly tyres and get some hybrid tyres. Much, much easier on the legs as the knobbly tyres create too much rolling resistance.
Puncture resistance is a big bonus

Dave

rev_henry

Dave_C wrote: »

Just my 2d worth,
If you are just riding on the road, avoid knobbly tyres and get some hybrid tyres. Much, much easier on the legs as the knobbly tyres create too much rolling resistance.
Puncture resistance is a big bonus

Dave

+1
Marathon Plus are the best you can buy I believe, pricey though.

Does irritate me when I see someone with a reasonably expensive thing with silly MTB tyres making loads of noise, hence me usually overtaking them!

grizzly1911

Dave_C wrote: »

Just my 2d worth,
If you are just riding on the road, avoid knobbly tyres and get some hybrid tyres. Much, much easier on the legs as the knobbly tyres create too much rolling resistance.
Puncture resistance is a big bonus

Dave

Agreed,.


Ensure you go to hybrid bike/700c wheels with out the nobbly tyres. Steer clear of Mountain Bikes with 26" wheels if you are using on road or good paths. Too much tyre friction on Mountain Bikes and the gearing isn't much cop for all road use.

I would try a few for size too as frames are linked to inside leg measurement. To big or to small and it will be a pain and potentially more dangerous.

You don't say how old you are, male/female, when you last rode a bike, how far your journey is and over what sort of contours.

I wouldn't splash out too much until you know this is something you will keep up.

Whilst bikes are cheap transport, parts can be disproportionately expensive even for basics so buy used wisely.

Once you decide what you think you would like have a look at the web there are good deals to be had. They will need to be assembled slightly but it isn't rocket science. Recently sourced a road bike and a hybrid from different sites and they were delivered direct from the manufacturers/importers next day.

On run of the mill bikes they are all pretty much similar. the difference between a £400 bike and a £200 or less bike is that the frame and fittings will tend to be alloy rather than steel - less (relatively) weight and less rust.