I Want to Ride my Bicycle

[IBM]

But first I need to buy one.

Fed up with the tube commute. Reckon I can do it in half the time on a bike.

Don't want to spend more than £125 on a bike with lights, helmet & a lock, so I reckon £25 for the helmet, £10 for the lock, and £75-£90 on something second hand.

Wouldn't even know where to start - any got any quick tips on what I can expect to get for the money?

Ta!

[Disturbedguy]

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_165499 - check the bundles section

[IBM]

I figure I'll get more bike for the money if I go second hand.

Hopefully it'll be a bit knackard looking too, so less temptation for all the theiving pillocks frequenting this part of London...

[jimbouk]

Second hand bikes can be hit and miss, you could easily spend £80 on parts to repair an old bike in the first couple of months. However if you can get a good one then go for it, my brother picked up a ex-hire bike for a steal; only used to ride round a lake, regularly serviced and a year old.

[scaryjim]

... £10 for the lock ...

Only buy a £10 lock if you want to be buying another bike within a month. I don't think bike thieves care how knackered-looking a bike is: if they can shift it on - even for £20 - then it's worth nicking. Get an Abus lock with a decent security rating and you're far more likely to keep your bike...

[Funkstar]

There's bound to be a few cycle cooperatives round about you. There is one I've heard of in Edinburgh that take used bikes, gives them a service and fixes them if need be, then they go for £50-100, or so I'm told. Might be worth looking into.

[TheAnimus]

I would say to look at second hand bikes, they don't all have to be nicked. £125 isn't much for a bike and everything.

Also have you considered the cycle to ride scheme? You might find you get a good deal with that.

There is also the other option, look at how much your tube pass costs you. If you spend 6 months of it on a nice hybrid you'll have no choice but to use it, because you won't be able to afford to take the underground

[Konan555]

I figure I'll get more bike for the money if I go second hand.

Absolutely. At £125 new, you're guaranteed to spend your life tightening up bearings and crank bolts or just give in as bits keep falling off. Never did get why people prefer to spend £150 on something that gets dumped after 2 years rather than £250 on something that'll be around for 15.

A national MTB champ once told me the best way to avoid getting your bike pinched is to have a luggage rack. He has one on his £1500 training bike and thieves always pilfer the full sus halfords specials around it

[format]

Only buy a £10 lock if you want to be buying another bike within a month. I don't think bike thieves care how knackered-looking a bike is: if they can shift it on - even for £20 - then it's worth nicking. Get an Abus lock with a decent security rating and you're far more likely to keep your bike...

This. Don't skimp on a lock.

[papap47]

I suggest getting a second hand bike, cheaper and convenient. If ever your bike got stolen, it won't hurt that much unlike if it's a brand new bike.