For reasons that make perfect sense to me, I gave up cycling a few years ago after an accident my son had from which he will be affected by for the rest of his life.
I was never a serious cyclist, mostly commuting and riding on sunny days to discover the country but my desire to do that again has returned and I need your advice.
The last bike I had was a very heavy city bike to which I added extra gears but it was still a monster to ride and way too tank like to be entirely comfortable. I've been looking at buying a much lighter frame, second hand, for no more than £150 and I'm utterly confused at what's available.
What specs should I be looking out for? What are your recommendations? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I paid 980 for my hybrid road bike, it's carbon fibre and ideal for commuting, you could try eBay but if you want a light frame you will have to pay for it. |
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"I paid 980 for my hybrid road bike, it's carbon fibre and ideal for commuting, you could try eBay but if you want a light frame you will have to pay for it."
I know, but as I said, I have about £150 and even then the choice is confusing and I don't know the difference between a good bike that's a bargain or being ripped off for a lemon. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I paid 980 for my hybrid road bike, it's carbon fibre and ideal for commuting, you could try eBay but if you want a light frame you will have to pay for it.
I know, but as I said, I have about £150 and even then the choice is confusing and I don't know the difference between a good bike that's a bargain or being ripped off for a lemon."
Look on interweb and get people's reviews on their bikes, then try and find something within your budget the will meet your requirements, even go to halfords and have a look there, can at least feel the weight and get some advice before making any purchase, but personally I'd find an independent cycle shop as they're more savvy and proper geek about cycling so will understand what you're looking for. |
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"I paid 980 for my hybrid road bike, it's carbon fibre and ideal for commuting, you could try eBay but if you want a light frame you will have to pay for it.
I know, but as I said, I have about £150 and even then the choice is confusing and I don't know the difference between a good bike that's a bargain or being ripped off for a lemon.
Look on interweb and get people's reviews on their bikes, then try and find something within your budget the will meet your requirements, even go to halfords and have a look there, can at least feel the weight and get some advice before making any purchase, but personally I'd find an independent cycle shop as they're more savvy and proper geek about cycling so will understand what you're looking for."
Thanks. I know what you mean about Halfrauds but I'm not going there. We have some fantastic bike shops in Leicester I'm planning on visiting. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I paid 980 for my hybrid road bike, it's carbon fibre and ideal for commuting, you could try eBay but if you want a light frame you will have to pay for it.
I know, but as I said, I have about £150 and even then the choice is confusing and I don't know the difference between a good bike that's a bargain or being ripped off for a lemon.
Look on interweb and get people's reviews on their bikes, then try and find something within your budget the will meet your requirements, even go to halfords and have a look there, can at least feel the weight and get some advice before making any purchase, but personally I'd find an independent cycle shop as they're more savvy and proper geek about cycling so will understand what you're looking for.
Thanks. I know what you mean about Halfrauds but I'm not going there. We have some fantastic bike shops in Leicester I'm planning on visiting. "
Sorry for mentioning halfords, any serious cyclist will tell you to avoid the place if purchasing a bike, they're bloody hopeless, I only ever go there for inner tubes if the shop I got my bike from is shut. |
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"If I want quality without rhe price tag I buy second hand off ebay or similar.
You'll find it hard to get a good light bike new for 150 but you could easily get that second hand."
Thanks. In order to buy from eBay, I need to know what I'm looking for, hence the post!
I don't want to buy stolen goods either. |
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"I paid 980 for my hybrid road bike, it's carbon fibre and ideal for commuting, you could try eBay but if you want a light frame you will have to pay for it.
I know, but as I said, I have about £150 and even then the choice is confusing and I don't know the difference between a good bike that's a bargain or being ripped off for a lemon.
Look on interweb and get people's reviews on their bikes, then try and find something within your budget the will meet your requirements, even go to halfords and have a look there, can at least feel the weight and get some advice before making any purchase, but personally I'd find an independent cycle shop as they're more savvy and proper geek about cycling so will understand what you're looking for.
Thanks. I know what you mean about Halfrauds but I'm not going there. We have some fantastic bike shops in Leicester I'm planning on visiting.
Sorry for mentioning halfords, any serious cyclist will tell you to avoid the place if purchasing a bike, they're bloody hopeless, I only ever go there for inner tubes if the shop I got my bike from is shut."
My son, who still cycles despite what happened, won't use the free repair kit I got from them |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I paid 980 for my hybrid road bike, it's carbon fibre and ideal for commuting, you could try eBay but if you want a light frame you will have to pay for it.
I know, but as I said, I have about £150 and even then the choice is confusing and I don't know the difference between a good bike that's a bargain or being ripped off for a lemon.
Look on interweb and get people's reviews on their bikes, then try and find something within your budget the will meet your requirements, even go to halfords and have a look there, can at least feel the weight and get some advice before making any purchase, but personally I'd find an independent cycle shop as they're more savvy and proper geek about cycling so will understand what you're looking for.
Thanks. I know what you mean about Halfrauds but I'm not going there. We have some fantastic bike shops in Leicester I'm planning on visiting.
Sorry for mentioning halfords, any serious cyclist will tell you to avoid the place if purchasing a bike, they're bloody hopeless, I only ever go there for inner tubes if the shop I got my bike from is shut.
My son, who still cycles despite what happened, won't use the free repair kit I got from them"
Haha very wise |
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I bought a Fuji hybrid from Chain Reaction on the interment, it's a great bike for road and occasional off road riding, it was around £350 though but I would recommend a hybrid as you don't feel like you are peddling through mud like you do on a mountain bike |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Sadly £150 won't give you much choice. Cycling is my thing and I could bore the arse of you all day long!
If you're riding on and off road, then a cyclocross bike is ideal and try and getting the right size frame for your height is important.
Don't worry about the weight of the bike, the more you ride it, the fitter you'll get and losing weight yourself goes to making it easier.
I know plenty of riders who obsess about losing a few grammes off their bikes, but don't consider the extra weight they're carrying on themselves.
Find a clean and well maintained bike and just get out and enjoy it.
  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Sadly £150 won't give you much choice. Cycling is my thing and I could bore the arse of you all day long!
If you're riding on and off road, then a cyclocross bike is ideal and try and getting the right size frame for your height is important.
Don't worry about the weight of the bike, the more you ride it, the fitter you'll get and losing weight yourself goes to making it easier.
I know plenty of riders who obsess about losing a few grammes off their bikes, but don't consider the extra weight they're carrying on themselves.
Find a clean and well maintained bike and just get out and enjoy it.
"
Couldn't agree more. I used to race bikes and stopped racing last season,
Its then that you go out and enjoy your bike rather than blowing out your arse trying to hang on to the guy in fronts wheel.
So take that good advice and just enjoy the ride. xx |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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pfft. You should see my bike. 2000 vintage yamaha pedelec. Light she is not. .. 
knackered knee means powered pedal assist is needed. but my god... pedalling without the power assist is murder.
not going to knock it though. .a path back into cycling for £100 spares or repair off eBay, with a damaged wiring loom compared well with the going rate. . |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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For your budget I would definitely recommend that you go for a second hand better quality and thus lighter bike than getting a hundred and fifty quids worth of bike from say the likes of halfords etc.
Unless your after a drop bar road bike specifically which it doesn't sound like you are or you would have stated that then I would recommend a hybrid along the lines of a trek 7*00 series or a specialized sirrus. A nice little starter hybrid available at a lower budget second hand is a carrera subway etc. Not going to set the world on fire but a decent little starter at quick a reasonable weight compared to bikes of many years ago.
I ride road bikes for fun but I commute on my trek 7200 hybrid and its a great sleek go pretty much anywhere other than extremely rough terrain.
The other great thing about second hand is that it doesn't break your heart too much money wise to then sell on and trade up or just try something else as if you choose fairly wisely you can often recoup quite a bit of your initial spend.
Good luck whatever you decide to go with!! |
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"Sadly £150 won't give you much choice. Cycling is my thing and I could bore the arse of you all day long!
If you're riding on and off road, then a cyclocross bike is ideal and try and getting the right size frame for your height is important.
Don't worry about the weight of the bike, the more you ride it, the fitter you'll get and losing weight yourself goes to making it easier.
I know plenty of riders who obsess about losing a few grammes off their bikes, but don't consider the extra weight they're carrying on themselves.
Find a clean and well maintained bike and just get out and enjoy it.
"
I won't be off-roading and I rode for years so fairly fit. My last bike was simply a tank, it was too heavy to lift up and down the garden steps but it was a cardio workout to the max!
I'm tall with disprotional short arms, hence the more sit up and beg type. |
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Ok you need a hybrid
Wheels at least 29 inch and road tyres not bumpy ones
Certainly no rear suspension and I'd avoid front suspension too
The problem with finding such a bike second hand is sensible people buy them to use and keep unlike the high end mountain and road bike crew who many must have this season's bike
That said the format is timeless and there will be good lightish bikes maybe 6 7 years old
Remember cheap suspensions that you don't need weigh a ton xxx |
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"Ok you need a hybrid
Wheels at least 29 inch and road tyres not bumpy ones
Certainly no rear suspension and I'd avoid front suspension too
The problem with finding such a bike second hand is sensible people buy them to use and keep unlike the high end mountain and road bike crew who many must have this season's bike
That said the format is timeless and there will be good lightish bikes maybe 6 7 years old
Remember cheap suspensions that you don't need weigh a ton xxx"
Thank you |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I'd echo those saying get a hybrid. And avoid suspension, you don;t need it and at that budget it will offer no benefit. Look for something with an aluminium frame and I'd personally avoid discbrakes due to the budget you have
Brand wise, Trek, Giant, Specialised, Boardman, will all be fine, |
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"I'd echo those saying get a hybrid. And avoid suspension, you don;t need it and at that budget it will offer no benefit. Look for something with an aluminium frame and I'd personally avoid discbrakes due to the budget you have
Brand wise, Trek, Giant, Specialised, Boardman, will all be fine, "
Thanks my lovely. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Also, depending on your job, it's worth asking your HR department if they do Cyclescheme. I bought my bike that way. You get to pay the bike off in installments over 12 months, but as the payment is deducted before tax, you save a fair amount of cash. |
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In my youth I used to race and had road, track and cyclocross optimised bikes. Those days are long gone, but I've had the same basic MTB for the last 20 years. It cost £90 new (on sale at halfrauds - yes I know, but it was half price). It's a basic 15 speed, alloy chain set, basic cantilever brakes, and it has bar ends which I find great for out of the saddle work. The only mods I've made are fitting toeclip pedals (old rat trap types so no special shoes needed), and a rear spray guard. It's heavier than a road bike, but way lighter than one of those city bikes, and I don't mind the extra weight as it means I burn more calories. My point being, that unless you are going to do some serious cycling, or have plenty of spare money, then a basic bike will suffice, and if properly maintained, will last forever. |
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"U N I Cycles UK.
In Loughborough. Sell serviced, secondhand bikes. Have a wide range.
Maybe an idea to go have a look at different models."
There's one similar in Leicester I'm going to visit tomorrow. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I've just discovered my ebike has blown the controller, so I've got to sort something there, but on the basic theme, I'm restoring my ancient hard tail Raleigh MTB from the 90's..18 speed, tough as nails.
many fond memories of doing the wrekin on it, back in the day.... |
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Definitely go to a proper bike shop, in fact, go to as many as you can fairly locally. Most are friendly but beware them being overly friendly, lots of these guys just want your $!
Make sure you tell them what yuou want it for(commuting/ training(, and on what type of surface. Then get them to measure you up properly.
Second hand on Ebay you can get some right bargains, agreed, but you can also get something which might have a fault with the frame or something which could end up costing loads of mulah to repair.
ALso: check out Cycle to work: your employers might run it and it basiclly gets you a hefty percentage off the rrp.
I'd recommend buying from a local shop which you can go back to when things need adjusting and so forth. More money but bigger piece of mind.
Saying that, if you know what type of bike you want, and which size after going to the bike shops, then chances are you'll be fine getting something for around the price you want from EBay.
To echo someone else: AVOID Halfords at all costs.
Evans too, for that matter. |
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