Buying a Bike

[adrenalize]

Now that I am moving nearer to the city centre, and therfore closer to work, I have decided that I want to buy a Bike.

But i need some advice. My budget is about £200-250 for this, apart from that, I have no idea what to look for.

Anyone got some reccomendations?

[~LEE~]

depends what you are gonna use it for mate, if you are gonna use the bike to commute, you may be best to buy a town or road bike. Used primarily for distance cycling.

You can pick up a decent mountain bike for your budget, just keep it clean, look after your tyres and keep everything tight and it will run for years.

Mountain bikes are a lot more rugged obviously and will give a lot more leeway for wear and tear, road bikes are more kinda long distance bikes. you can cover great distance in them but they are a lot more restricted with where you can take them.

get a swatch here

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...5555_langId_-1

also, if its your first one, best to go into a shop to buy it so you can actually see. touch/sit in it, y'know.

[Largest of Gregs]

maybe take a look at hybrids, but I don't know if you could get something new in your budget!

[Rev Scapegoat]

I highly recommend http://billybilslandcycles.co.uk/ - I got a great deal on my bike from there.
Billy, the owner, is happy to cut folk a deal - Chances are he'll have some previous-year models you could look at.

[yummy mummy]

I have a gent's Cannondale M500 gathering dust if you're interested? Make me an offer!
here it is here -
http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/00/ce/model-0MR5.html

[judy0]

I highly recommend http://billybilslandcycles.co.uk/ - I got a great deal on my bike from there.
Billy, the owner, is happy to cut folk a deal - Chances are he'll have some previous-year models you could look at.

That looks like a nice place to go.

[adrenalize]

Bit of a Bump on this one. Since this fell to the wayside.

Getting a bike through work in January. Will have £600 to spend on it, but need to spend it in Halfords.

I like the look of...

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_165534

[djtoast]

i would definitely go for a hybrid.

i've got a racing bike that would probably cost about £3000 to buy now and it's a dream to ride in that it flies and you never feel like you're wasting any effort - and by comparison my old mountain bike felt clunky, slow and wasteful of all my hard work pedaling. but a racing bike isn't a great proposition for commuting, they do get a bit uncomfortable and the steering is kinda twitchy.

that one at halfords looks decent, the deore derailleurs are certainly a good bet (i prefer campagnolo to shimano, but i'm in an increasingly small minority). i'd probably put different pedals on, at some point those'll make your shin look like you had an encounter with vinnie jones's studs.