Bike for commute to work - £200 budget

underhanded

Thanks for all the info guys - very much appreciated. Unfortunately the cycle savvy friend is not around - however I've just found out and old friend of mine now runs his own little business doing bike services, as well as doing up bikes to sell on, so an even better contact in many ways! Its very much a side project of his, and he hasnt got any bikes at the moment, but I'm going to meet up and ask a few questions, try get myself a bit more clued up!

WatsonNimrod - thats a lot further than my commute each day, I'll be doing a 7-8 mile round trip but still feel a bike is a good idea nonetheless. In regards to the Carerra, I've read in a few places this isn't actually a bad bike, but gets tarred with the anti-halfords brush, so will definately consider it.

Avoriaz - thanks for the links, I'm 5'11 with small legs so the 1st might be a touch too big and I'll keep tabs on the second, ask a few questions and possibly make an offer! In regards to being 'one of those people' lets hope not! To be fair a couple of years back I was commuting to and from university every day and loved it. My wheel falling off, having no money and a bit of a lack of ambition to buy a new bike was the only thing that put a stop to it!

All in all the job doesn't start for a couple of weeks, so I'm in no rush, but feel I'm at least a little more clued up on what to go for, Thanks

Strider590

The only way to get a decent enough bike for <£200, is to buy 2nd hand.....

AndyBSG

For the budget you're talking about then second hand really is the only option.

You may be able to pick one up new but it will be cheaply made junk with rubbish components so you'll get much better value second hand.

If you're going for a hybrid avoid getting one with suspension. Unless you're doing real off road all suspension does is add weight and slow you down with little benefit.

Also, i'd invest in a decent set of slick tyres rather than the bobblies that Mountain Bikes come with.

Scott, Giant, Claude Butler Urban or Specialized Sirrus are all ones to look out for.

You could also look at a Cyclocross bike as opposed to a strict hybrid(although that's more road based with little room for off road use)

I'll second the suggestion of a Giant Cyprus earlier in the thread because Giant make VERY good entry level bikes(especially the Defy) and a Giant Roam or Escape will also fit your needs

You can actually pick up last years entry level Escape brand new for less than £300. It's a pretty decent frame with reasonable components that will allow you to upgrade them over time.

http://www.reveloutdoors.co.uk/2013-Giant-Escape-3-Hybrid-Bike-(Black)/cycledetail/2-2677?gclid=CJuKy_Knw7oCFfHItAodDXoAcw

Hanky_Panky

AndyBSG wrote: »

I'll second the suggestion of a Giant Cyprus earlier in the thread because Giant make VERY good entry level bikes(especially the Defy) and a Giant Roam or Escape will also fit your needs

I'd also add the Giant Rapid to that list.

Bought mine as my first bike (since childhood!) last year for £250 off ebay. It was hardly used and still had the injection mouldings on the tyres.

I bought a Defy this year and love it even more but still use the Rapid in wet weather having now fitted mudguards.

underhanded

Thanks guys, I'm pretty much sold on the second hand idea - It may add a slight expense but I'm in touch with a few people (including the guy mentioned above) about buying refurbished second hand bikes off of them. I've been offered a Gary Fisher Wingra that has been given a full service, new brake pads, cables etc, and any worn out parts have been replaced. Its being offered at £175 (picture below). Is this a good deal do you reckon?

http://blog.ingsendai.com/images/08-Gary-Wingra-01.jpg

underhanded

p.s thats not the picture of the actual bike being offered, jist the model, hes currently refurbing and will send me a pic once refurbed.

AndyBSG

That's a pretty good bike providing it's in a reasonable, especially for that price.

Frame on it looks to have good geometry, quick release wheels. I'd be quite happy with that bike.

Some nice thin wheels with slicks on and that should be a pretty speedy commuting bike while still allowing you to do some low level off road.

Would recommend getting some mudguards fitted though but apart from those, a bottle cage and some lights you should be good to go.

Avoriaz

underhanded wrote: »

.. I've been offered a Gary Fisher Wingra that has been given a full service, new brake pads, cables etc, and any worn out parts have been replaced. Its being offered at £175 (picture below). Is this a good deal do you reckon?

http://blog.ingsendai.com/images/08-Gary-Wingra-01.jpg

That looks like excellent value, probably a lot better than that Ridgeback that didn't sell at £200 on Ebay.

http://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/men-gary-fisher-wingra-reviews

http://richardsleegers.blogspot.co.uk/2007/07/my-new-commuter-bike-gary-fisher-wingra.html

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gary-fisher/wingra-2010-hybrid-bike-ec017196#features

If the frame is the right size for you; 18 to 20 inches is probably about right for you; I doubt if you would be disappointed with that bike.

You should check that any replacement parts are of similar quality to the originals.

maxheadroom

Try one of the social enterprise bike recycling projects, possibly not as cheap as ebay/gumtree but you do get a fully serviced bike usually with some kind of warranty (bikes donated and they are fixed up buy vounteers orsometimes disadvantaged people as training under supervision of a qualified bike mechanic) - the cardiff one and swansea one are pretty friendly places bit hit and miss what you find but perhaps worth a look.

Bristol One
http://www.lifecycleuk.org.uk/bike-recycling

looks as though they have a sale in a few weeks

http://www.lifecycleuk.org.uk/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=2244

If you fancy a trip to cardiff they have a sale on the 7th december

http://www.cycletrainingwales.org.uk/cardiffcycleworkshop/?p=842

Examples of what the cardiff one sells

http://www.flickr.com/photos/87847725@N00/sets/72157625493560922/

underhanded

Thanks for the info - I'm going down to check this place tomorrow and is very similar to what you've linked http://www.thebristolbikeproject.org/

In regards to the Wingra, the guy who is selling it has told me its a 17 inch - to me sounds a little on the small side, but he said I can of cours try it first to see how it feels - would a slightly small bike be a big disadvantage if I did decide to go for it?

Thanks again peoples!