Buying (Second Hand) Bike Advice

The_One_Who

I am thinking of starting to cycle to work one or two days a week, especially with the summer coming in. However, I haven't been on a bike in years and do not have a clue about them. I've done a cursory Google, but my mind has been boggled with it all. I always thought you bought a bike based on frame size (I'm female, and 5'3), but a quick run around Gumtree has things being advertised as wheel size(?).

Ideally I'm looking to buy a second-hand bike, for no more than £150. My route is roughly half road and half parkland, with the muddy, bumpy tracks rather than the paved ones. So, I'm thinking hybrid or mountain bike. I don't need or want suspension (my days of downhilling in the rain are over!), and I don't need loads of gears as after an initial hill climb it is mostly flat(ish).

Can anyone help me with an idea for what sort of thing I should be looking for? And where to look, or where to avoid? What about accessories, does anyone have any recommendations as to where to get them, and what is considered essential other than helmet, lights and lock?

I'm sorry this isn't very specific, but as I say, my mind has been boggled with it all. I should probably also say that my employer do not participate in the cycle to work scheme.

Babbawah

You do seem to come across as someone who knows an awful lot about cycles though my dear !

Retrogamer

The bike wheel sizes are a bit strange.

Conventional /classic mountain bike is 26"
Some of the newer ones though are 29" or 27.5" (also know as 650b)
Most hybrids and road bikes are 700cc (which i believe is 28")

For your height and terrain i think a conventional 26" wheel mountain bike would be good.
You can pick up the Carrera subway's for around that price as well. It's a bit between a mountain bike and hybrid. It uses mountain bike parts, but is rigid forked and comes with city tyres. It's more robust than most hybrids at similar price and good bang for buck

(one below)




As for accessories, good lock, pump, spare tube, multi tool and some tyre levers is good in case you have a puncture on route for a speedy repair.

Norman_Castle

I always thought you bought a bike based on frame size (I'm female, and 5'3), but a quick run around Gumtree has things being advertised as wheel size(?).

You obviously know more than the average Gumtree seller. Visit a few larger shops to see what frame size fits you.

Searching locally on ebay could be worthwhile.

For a muddy commute mudguards would be wise.

The_One_Who

Babbawah wrote: »

You do seem to come across as someone who knows an awful lot about cycles though my dear !

I know how to ride a bike, that's about it! My friend used to do all my bike maintenance after bashing it up on a trail. I can put the chain back on and pump up a tyre, that's about it.

Retrogamer wrote: »

The bike wheel sizes are a bit strange.

Conventional /classic mountain bike is 26"
Some of the newer ones though are 29" or 27.5" (also know as 650b)
Most hybrids and road bikes are 700cc (which i believe is 28")

For your height and terrain i think a conventional 26" wheel mountain bike would be good.
You can pick up the Carrera subway's for around that price as well. It's a bit between a mountain bike and hybrid. It uses mountain bike parts, but is rigid forked and comes with city tyres. It's more robust than most hybrids at similar price and good bang for buck

(one below)




As for accessories, good lock, pump, spare tube, multi tool and some tyre levers is good in case you have a puncture on route for a speedy repair.

Many thanks. Once I have an idea of what I'm looking for I can narrow the search and not be quite so boggled with it all! So many variables!

Norman_Castle wrote: »

You obviously know more than the average Gumtree seller. Visit a few larger shops to see what frame size fits you.

Searching locally on ebay could be worthwhile.

For a muddy commute mudguards would be wise.

Thanks, yep, mudguards are on the list! I'm planning on going to a few shops soon just to have a nose around and try some out for size. I know that I don't have a lot of spend, so the likes of Evans (which is the closest to me) is out of my price range.

jbainbridge

Irritatingly ... most Gumtree adverts fail to mention the frame size, which does make things more difficult.

Atleast on ebay most do and you can narrow you search based on it.