Bikes

[-LG-]

In an attempt to get fitter, I want to get a bike to use to travel to work, around 4 miles altogether. No idea what I'm looking at though, will be riding on roads and pavements, and maybe some dirt tracks.

Looking at spending around £250-£300.

I'm guessing I want to stay away from full suspension as its a cheap bike?

[MinhDinh]

A bicycle and 4 miles will only do so much for your fitness. Your thighs may be stronger but you'll need to ride a lot more for a significant improvement of cardio.

300 could get you a good secondhand front suspension bike or a decent new one.
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Hit the G spot.

[Banned]

It will make you much fitter than not doing it imo, get one of these for about 3oo .. !!

https://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e53/covdude/2011/11032011.jpg
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BLUEX5 wrote: Good to have you back covdude.
Ariel Badger - I like the moss and the hole !

[-LG-]

[MinhDinh]

Kona, GT and Specialized are good bikes.

Ebay, Gumtree etc...
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Hit the G spot.

[-LG-]

[Marcg868]

Carrera Vulcan from Halfords! I have one and it handles Trail Centres like Lee Quarry and Gisburn forest with ease and it will handle the road and commutes, but my Maxxis Tyres are crap on the road.

https://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m314/bwfc4eva86/DecemberJanuary201011006.jpg

Specialized Hardrocks are good bikes also, just not as well specced as the Carrera.

Voodoo Bantu fo £80 more, another very good bike.

GT Avalanches for the £300 price mark are also good.

Don't buy anything by the name of Apollo, they are cheap tat. Also if buying one of the Carrera's or Voodoo's from Halfords, double check everything is tight. Quality bikes distributed by Halfords, just put together by brainless Numpties.
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JACK, MISS YOU LOADS YOU LEGEND.

[-LG-]

Thanks!

Funny enough was just looking at Specialized Hardrocks. Reviews seem to be good as well.

Want to try and avoid Halfords...heard nothing but bad things about them in the past.

[Marcg868]

The bikes are fine at Halfords, they are very well specced. For example I bought the Carrera Vulcan V brake.

Specs: https://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_518233_langId_-1_categoryId_165499#dtab

And a mate Bought a Spesh Hardrock https://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/hardrock-2011-mountain-bike-ec024187

Now yes Halfords customer service can be a bit hit and miss however, The Carrera is better specced.

SRAM X4 8 speed is alot better than Shimano Atlus. The Shimano Equivalent is Shimano Alivo. Also the Tektro V brakes on the Carrera are better quality. Also from using my mates Hardrock, i found my Suntour 100 mm felt alot better than his Suntour fork
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JACK, MISS YOU LOADS YOU LEGEND.

[MinhDinh]

Do not pay for the service thing if you go Halfords. Days of waiting at times, and the ones I have been to, they know F all.

I have a Basic GT from them, and they cocked up on a suspension part under warranty. It took one staff 2 months to get the part, many wasted trips, a damn parking fine! When I finally got the part, it didn't fit... Wrong model!

I juat gave up! It's only the part where I turn the suspension on and off as well! Useless!
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Hit the G spot.

[0ddball]

Another for the vulcan. There are a lot of snobs who will say you cant even buy a decent pair of rims for 300. But i do Gisburn, canal paths and about 120 miles of road per week which it handles with ease. I picked up one for 100 off ebay and its a great bike for 300, for 100 quid its a total bargain.
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ZXR750L

[Marcg868]

[Banned]

You use the gym, so doing 4 miles on a racer / decent mountain bike will be too easy for you, get a oversized retro bmx ... way cooler and will be more exertion doing said 4 miles ... !!!!
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BLUEX5 wrote: Good to have you back covdude.
Ariel Badger - I like the moss and the hole !

[-LG-]

[Banned]

Alright then, get a fucking big bike and enjoy yha 4 miles, don't forget yha high vis and toolkit !!!
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BLUEX5 wrote: Good to have you back covdude.
Ariel Badger - I like the moss and the hole !

[The Disapproving Brit]

Halfords bikes do seem to have improved over the last few years. In a nutshell, Apollo are the cheap shit they've always done. Carrera are a respectable mid-range bike that's usually worth the money if there's a discount on (which there often is), and Boardman are the top of the range line with a price to match.

I had a Carrera Subway Ltd, bought in Jan for £200 (RRP £450). It lasted 3 weeks before some pikey twat nicked it.
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Current Bikes: 1983 Honda VF400FD / 2003 Honda VT750 Shadow
Bike Test Passed 18/03/09, Car Test Passed 14/05/13

[JonB]

BMX's are for 12 year olds with an attitude problem.

As always, I recommend a Specialized Hardrock for that budget, the frames are generally the same throughout the whole range, just will have cheaper components on a cheaper bike.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Ditto]

Id recommend getting a hybrid bike, if you will be on roads but sometimes tracks.

Wouldn't bother with suspension as it reduces efficiency quite a bit, especially if you want to commute.

I recently got into road biking, so got a proper Boardman road bike, which is the nuts on the road, but would be horrible to ride on anything other than tarmac.

Compared to my old mountain bike which was great off road with its chunky tyres but horrible on the road.

So you can either decide that you do much more miles on the road and get a road bike like I did, or get a hybrid which is a good compromise.

It would have no suspension, and thinner tyres like a road bike, but with some tread for tracks. A more upright position like a mountain bike. And a weight between the 2.
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CG 125 > Bandit 600 > CBR 600 FY > Street Triple R

[-LG-]

[crowe]

I bought a 2002 carrera Kraken SE a few years ago for £200 (mint condition though). I cycle between 16-20 miles round trip to work which is offroad, on trails and also on the road.

The front suspension is pretty much seized solid (offroad abuse!) but this helps maintain forward momentum. I pump the tyres fully so it's more like a hybrid plus my tyres are worn on the 'tops' but have grip at the 'sides' (in case i slide).

Don't waste your money on a pricey bike for 4 miles. Just buy something cheap/second hand and use the saved cash for safety gear and renewables.
As long as your fit you'll be fine. I often see fat cyclists puffing and panting on their £1000 bikes. silly sods

Crowe
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Kawasaki ER-5

[Ditto]

[Banned]

BMX's are for 12 year olds with an attitude problem

Boring fucker, look up style over substance ... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

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BLUEX5 wrote: Good to have you back covdude.
Ariel Badger - I like the moss and the hole !

[N cee thirty]

covdude its nice your back,but being a grown man on a bmx is just wrong/made of fail (unless your matt hoffman).


i got a scott voltage a few years back for £100 off ebay,very light and pretty nimble.
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[Banned]

Scott Voltage, never heard of him, when i'm out meandering on my retro 26 INCH WHEELED bmx, with my cute dog, all the birds ... don't notice me attall ....

Need to do many many miles ...
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BLUEX5 wrote: Good to have you back covdude.
Ariel Badger - I like the moss and the hole !