Bike for commute to work - £200 budget

Avoriaz

underhanded wrote: »

- Carerra Subway Ltd Edition, 18 inch with mountain bike style tyres - £175 - great fit, disck breaks, feels really nice to ride, idealy would have liked road style tyres, but still a really nice feel to it in my opinion.

- Raleigh town bike, think its the one linked below. Very good condition, seller said they guy he got it off only used it half a dozen times, and I think hes probably telling the truth, doesn't look used at all. Squeaky brakes, but said he'll fix that -£150
http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B5506.html

- Sirrus Sport 2013, After a bit of research, this seems like a really good deal, almost too good?? Asked for a ride tomorrow but if its in good nick, and fits, I feel inclined to go for this - £150
http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/sirrus-sport-2013/1038599293

- Raleigh Retro Bike, bit of a left field choice, but caught my eye for some reason, and the guys said I can give it a try tomorrow. A lot cheaper than the rest, just thought I'd see if anyone thought I might actually be saving a bit of cash by going for something like this? - £90
http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/raleigh-1980-retro-bike/1038382374#photo-content

The Subway is overpriced. The LE Subways have cheaper components than regular Subways and Halfords were discounting them to £200 not long ago.

The first Raleigh I know nothing about but they don't have a good reputation these days. Cheap frames and components generally.

The Sirrus looks a good buy but "Need to sell fast. Thats why its so cheap". Maybe, or maybe it is a stolen bike. Make sure you meet the seller at his home and not in a car park etc. Ask to see original invoice, documents etc. It is a newish bike and most people would still have that stuff. Check the frame for an engraved security mark from Bike Register or similar.

The second Raleigh may have a saddle post (or stem) rusted solid into the frame. Can it be easily removed and adjusted up and down? If not a new post isn't too much money but I'm not sure that even a price of £90 isn't a tad too high for an old bike. If the post is rusted in solid then don't buy the bike.

The Sirrus is the outstanding pick of those four in my opinion subject to my reservations above.


"I've got 5 options" What happened to the fifth bike?

thepigeon

Ctw scheme does allow you to spread the cost of a new bike over a year with a tax break BUT you don't own the bike the employer does and you need to pay a lump some at the end of the 12month term (although there are options to extend). If you have a savvy employer though they will run the scheme themselves rather than use a third party co. that way is more beneficial for 'er and 'ee

WiggyDiggyPoo

Sirrus.

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underhanded

Oh, sorry, here's the 5th option...

http://www.trade-it.co.uk/bristol/for-sale/sports-equipment-bicycles/bicycles/specialized-globe-vienna-TT342L93F

I'm going to see this later today, not sure of frame size, says its 'quite big', but will have to just check it out on arrival. Looks in good nick, so quite hopeful about this one!

WiggyDiggyPoo

Sirrus or Globe

Whichever is in the best condition for the £££

Avoriaz

underhanded wrote: »

Oh, sorry, here's the 5th option...

http://www.trade-it.co.uk/bristol/for-sale/sports-equipment-bicycles/bicycles/specialized-globe-vienna-TT342L93F

I'm going to see this later today, not sure of frame size, says its 'quite big', but will have to just check it out on arrival. Looks in good nick, so quite hopeful about this one!

But do you want to cycle on the ceiling?

underhanded

I went for the Globe in the end! The Sirrus had been sold before I got to view it, unfotunately...Yet I'm very satisfied with my purchase... £150.00, in pristine condition, the seller had bought it and only ridden it a handful of times, and you could really tell, loads of tred on the tires, hardly any damge to the paintwork, frame felt very solid, brakes good, and perfect height for me! All in all very good bike, and to top it off it was bought on the outskirts of Bristol, so I got to cycle all the way back home on the lovely smooth, picturesque Bristol to Bath cycle path.

Thanks for all your help, very informative, and I'm glad I followed all your advice in being patient and waiting for the right thing to come along, thanks!

Here she is!