Entries Tagged 'buying' ↓

Be wary of 2nd hand bikes

There is a temptation to buy a bike second hand because it could save you a lot of money. However, it is also more risky as the bike will come without guarantees. Another concern is whether the bike is stolen. If you do decide to buy second hand these are some tips to make sure you don’t end up with a lemon.

Ride the Bike.

Any genuine seller would be willing to let you test ride the bike. Test riding in a variety of gears. Also try riding the bike uphill in a big gear with lots of pressure. Listen for signs of creaking and clicking - which could be any number of things. Offer to leave a deposit, equal to half the price of the bike.

Ride with hands off Handlebars.

Ride without hands off handlebars, if you cannot maintain the bike in a straight line, this is a signal that something is wrong with the frame and not worth buying

Check wheel alignment

With the bike held vertical. Look along the wheels from front to back. If they are out of alignment this is a bad sign.

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Mountain Bike

Usually starts from £400 for a decent mountain bike. These are designed for use off road. They can be used on road, but, they will be significantly slower than a road bike, due to their thick tires. If you use a mountain bike predominantly on the road, you can choose thiner tyres. However, if you don’t plan to go off road, you would be better off choosing a hybrid or town bike.

Hybrid - Town Bike.

These are designed primarily for short distance commuting. They have fairly thick tyres like mountain bikes, but, also have features such as mudguards, panniers for helping with shopping e.t.c. Hybrid bikes are mass produced and can start at quite low prices. However, if possible, it is worth spending an extra £100 to get a really good solid purchase.

If you value speed whilst commuting, buy a road bike and add the necessary extras. This means you get the benefits of the speed, plus the option to use it as a commuting bike.

Touring Bike

As the name suggests geared towards touring, with panniers and an extensive range of gears. Similar to a hybrid bike, but, usually better quality and more expensive. Tyres may be a little thinner.

Road Bike

If you value speed a road bike, will give you the best experience. Significantly faster than a hybrid or mountain bike. Some people may be put off by the very thin tyres. But, if you are careful in wet weather, they are just as stable.

Raleigh Chopper.

Well, it looks cool.

If you go into a bike shop, they may ask you your budget. If you say £200, they may say, if you spend £300 you can get a really good bike. If you say your budget is £100, they may say, if you only spend £200 you can get a much better deal. There is an old saying that you get what you pay for. With bikes this is quite true. For a town bike, I would want to spend £300. Yet, for some bikes I can easily spend £500 on just a wheel. These are some things to consider when deciding how much to spend on a bike.

How much will you use it?

Try and be honest with yourself. Some people get excited about cycling, spend £1000 on a bike then only ride it twice. If you are uncertain, buy a cheaper bike to start off.
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Road bikes have advanced a lot in recent years, but, the essential aspects of a good road bike remain the same. These are some of the most important things to bear in mind when choosing a road bike.

Frame

It is easy to upgrade components, but, more difficult to upgrade a frame. Therefore, buy the best frame that you can. In a frame you are looking for a combination of stiffness and lightness. Carbon fibre is increasingly popular, however, it is significantly more expensive. A better deal may be got through a scandium or aluminium frame. Titanium frames also offer good value for money and performance

After sales Service.

When buying a bike it is important to be aware of the after sales service that they offer. If the after sales service is not available (i.e. from mail order) make sure that you are able to make small adjustments to the gears and brakes e.t.c. Generally speaking if it is your first road bike, I would advise buying from a local shop, rather than mail order. Even if it is 10% more expensive it is worth it due to the increased peace of mind.