Cycling

[goose2010]

Go for a mountain bike, Evans cycles is a good web site but like most are saying don't spend a fortune no point! I have a specialized rock hopper it is great easy to ride pretty light weight as well, I would recommend disc brakes no maintenance and never let you down!

[MC Prussian]

...and an Ergoracer GT

For a moment, I thought it spelled "Egoracer" with me being on a winner.

[Daggers]

For a moment, I thought it spelled "Egoracer" with me being on a winner.

[Rincewind]

[z-layrex]

Thanks for all the advice everyone, have pretty much decided on getting a Trek Hybrid. Turns out the hospital i'm moving to has a cycle to work scheme where I can get the tax off, they'll pay for part of my bike and take the rest out in small amounts from my salary. Not bad!!

[Anish]

Good move getting a hybrid. I bought a Scott Sub hybrid last November and I love it, it's so quick and lightweight (well when I don't have a pannier bag on the back) and it's so satisfying pedalling past cyclists on mountain bikes on the road. I'd definitely recommend getting a pannier - it's much better than wearing a backpack and stops you getting a sweaty back.

[Daggers]

Thanks for all the advice everyone, have pretty much decided on getting a Trek Hybrid. Turns out the hospital i'm moving to has a cycle to work scheme where I can get the tax off, they'll pay for part of my bike and take the rest out in small amounts from my salary. Not bad!!

The scheme covers extras too - so if you have enough on it to get some rechargeable lights (powerful enough to burn a hole in reality) you might want to consider adding them on.

[Finnegan]

I recently found a new job much closer to home, about 3 miles away so I thought I would cycle in, save on petrol/parking and get healthier. I have absolutely no clue what bike to get though. Do I go hybrid or road bike? And how much does someone need to spend on a bike that's just for commuting and the odd leisure ride?

Thanks for all the advice everyone, have pretty much decided on getting a Trek Hybrid. Turns out the hospital i'm moving to has a cycle to work scheme where I can get the tax off, they'll pay for part of my bike and take the rest out in small amounts from my salary. Not bad!!

Wise choice in picking up a hybrid but if you're only doing a casual bit of commuting then a Trek seems a little bit steep even on the cycle to work scheme. You should be able to pick up something like a Claud Butler for about half the price and they're really light but really sturdy bikes, well styled, well put together.

[Saxondale]

I wish I'd bought a hybrid instead of my needlessly well-equipped mountain bike.

When I have more money and space, I will definitely get a hybrid. Specialized do some beauties. Not cheap though.

[z-layrex]

Wise choice in picking up a hybrid but if you're only doing a casual bit of commuting then a Trek seems a little bit steep even on the cycle to work scheme. You should be able to pick up something like a Claud Butler for about half the price and they're really light but really sturdy bikes, well styled, well put together.

Well I was only thinking Trek because I know it's a reliable make and Evans have a T10 on offer for £280. Had a look at the Claud Butler bikes, they look very nice too and about the same price point, thanks for the recommendation. Also really like the Carrera Evil Tux mentioned, saw that in Halfords for about the same price too, Problem is a ****ing hate giving Halfords business, .

At the end of the day as it's Redhill I just hope it doesn't get nicked.

[Daggers]

I've never had a problem with wiggle.co.uk , very quick to refund on any problem and they've been very few and far between.

Also, if you join the CTC you get 20% off everything in the Wiggle store.

[Christoph]

Got that bike for 99 quid. Not too bad and does the job. Really fast but the tires puncture easy (Stopped since i've got slime inner tubes). You gotta be really delicate with a racer so smart move on the hybrid. Think i'm going to be getting a hybrid soon, I like to rag my bikes a bit and you really can't do that with a racer.

Invest in a lock...get a cheap 5 quid lock and a good d lock so you can put them on your wheels...people will probably steal your wheels .

[Daggers]

Northampton General has a secure bike park for staff - maybe your new place has one too?

[Finnegan]

Well I was only thinking Trek because I know it's a reliable make and Evans have a T10 on offer for £280. Had a look at the Claud Butler bikes, they look very nice too and about the same price point, thanks for the recommendation. Also really like the Carrera Evil Tux mentioned, saw that in Halfords for about the same price too, Problem is a ****ing hate giving Halfords business, .

At the end of the day as it's Redhill I just hope it doesn't get nicked.

Don't go to Halfords, you'll pay needlessly more than you need to, your bike will be put together by sixteen year olds and you'll end up with a somewhat limited range.

Evans is a tidy retailer that deals in tidy brands. If you can get a Trek you like for cheap then go ahead, you're right, it's a strong brand as are names like Specialized, Cannondale, Fuji, Scott, etc. It's worth just shopping about to find something you like. Probably be loads of sales on for top brands this time of year with the summer coming up?

[Daggers]

The CTC shop is cheaper than Evans.

[FoxesAreBlue]

Been wanting to start cycling for a while, any good websites for beginners that can explain about what type of bikes, what brands, etc...

[Daggers]

Been wanting to start cycling for a while, any good websites for beginners that can explain about what type of bikes, what brands, etc...

Buy a top of the range Trek roadbike, get bored of cycling and sell it to me for fifty quid.

[adam1]

Been wanting to start cycling for a while, any good websites for beginners that can explain about what type of bikes, what brands, etc...

Well what do you want to do with your bike? Commute/leisure/road/offroad?

[FoxesAreBlue]

Would mainly be for commuting (just over 20mile round trip). But a little bit of leisure too as I would use it for cross training as I prepare for my next marathon.

Buy a top of the range Trek roadbike, get bored of cycling and sell it to me for fifty quid.

Done deal

[adam1]

Would mainly be for commuting (just over 20mile round trip). But a little bit of leisure too as I would use it for cross training as I prepare for my next marathon.

Probably a hybrid or a road bike.

I commute 8.7 miles round trip on a heavy mountain bike (hard work but thats why I do it). Not recommended for 20 mile round trips.

Hybrids are more robust then road bikes and are lighter then mountain bikes. Boardman do a few good ones.

Have a look on the ctc forum: http://forum.ctc.org.uk/

[FoxesAreBlue]

Probably a hybrid or a road bike.

I commute 8.7 miles round trip on a heavy mountain bike (hard work but thats why I do it). Not recommended for 20 mile round trips.

Hybrids are more robust then road bikes and are lighter then mountain bikes. Boardman do a few good ones.

Have a look on the ctc forum: http://forum.ctc.org.uk/

Nice one - I'll have a butchers hook

[FoxesAreBlue]

Embarrassing as it is, although I have a driving Licence and was halfway to getting a Pilots licence too - I never passed my cycling proficiency!

To be fair I and everybody else in my year at Primamry school missed out because the woman was I'll the year we were due to do it. We were all gutted as it was the one week in the year where everyone was allowed to turn up on their wheels this ensuring you didn't have to go home after school - you could just go and play out straight away!

[stix]

Daggers recommended a decent hybrid a few weeks ago, not sure whether it was in this thread or not.

Carrera Subway i think it was.

[Daggers]

Honestly - I really wouldn't buy anything over £300 until you've decided it's for you. After you've proved it to yourself that you'd like to go for something carbon-sexy and lighter than a nipple then go for it.