Bicycles

[Vardinhio]

Keen to start biking on a regular basis now and was wondering where to start.

 

I havn't owned a bike since I was a kid but I guess I want one primarily for road use, however now and again it might be nice to do the trails around rutland water etc so should I opt for a mountain bike set up instead?

 

Criteria other than the above is cheap, don't care about the branding etc.

[Carl the Llama]

I'm admittedly not a bike expert, but I always go for mountain bikes and just deal with having to exert a bit more energy than people with road bikes.  All terrain > one specific terrain imo.

[Larry_LCFC]

Lets be honest, most of Britains roads are the same as an offroad trail. Full of holes and lumps. Stick with a mountain bike!

[Guest BlueBrett]

You can get some pretty good value hybrids at the moment.  I'd probably go for one of those if you will predominantly use it on the road but want the option of a bit of off-roading

[Guest Roper]

I personal have this as a commuter http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_912141_langId_-1_categoryId_165710

and its a nice little bike. It goes over cobbly roads just find, though my arse isn't too happy about it
 

If you want to go offroad, a mountain bike is the way forward, but you're going to feel a difference on the road between a mountain and a road bike. Hybrids are a reasonable option if the roads you're riding on are shit, but I wouldn't want to ride one off road! 

If its primarily for road use, I'd get a road bike - they're so much quicker and more pleasant to ride- provided you get some padded shorts! 

[broughtonblue]

Go for a hybrid, but also buy a pair of road slick tyres. Takes about 20 mins to change a pair of tyres so can easily swap before you ride to suit your needs.

I always wear a helmet, wouldnt want to get knocked off and end up with brain damage or worse and leave my family thinking, if only he had worn an helmet!