Is my budget too low?

[Cfnteabag]

I am currently injured so cycling is about the only phiz I can do at the moment and I use a land rover mountain bike to ride to and from work, about 3.6 miles each way. I have had this bike for about 6 years and the increase in milage is starting to show and it is dying beneath me!

My wife has offered to buy me a road bike for my birthday but we only have a limited budget of about £260. For this we have found a carrera road bike discounted at halfords.

My boss, who races with the army team, doesn't have many good things to say about them but then again her getting too and from work bike costs more than my car!

I also want to start doing longer rides with some of the guys at work.

Is my budget too small to get something decent or will the carrera suit me fine?

Many thanks in advance

[SydneyBridge]

Have a look on ebay for anything decent locally

[kiethton]

Bought a second hand carrera to commute on (locked outside in london) and hate it, so much so I don't even use it.

My suggestion would be to head to decathlon and look at a B-twin, better bikes and you may even pick up a discounted demo/discontinued model

[rs4al]

My friend got a giant defy on the bay of e for around your budget.

[SixPotBelly]

Standard PH answer to this question, but this is what I'd get on that sort of budget:

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-500-road-bike-bl...

More than not half bad for the money, by all accounts.

[Cfnteabag]

I had actually looked at decathlon and at that actual bike. Seems good and just outside my budget.

Do btwin have a good name, googling them just seems to take me back to their own website or decathlon!

Or would I be better off for my budget with another mountain bike?

Edited by Cfnteabag on Tuesday 30th June 19:53

[JustinF]

how tall are you? the power of PH can probably hunt you down a 2nd hand bargain that'll knock spots off a new for same price.

[Cfnteabag]

175cm tall

The only thing that puts me off a second hand bike is you don't know how its been looked after

[kiethton]

Cfnteabag said:

I had actually looked at decathlon and at that actual bike. Seems good and just outside my budget.

Do btwin have a good name, googling them just seems to take me back to their own website or decathlon!

Or would I be better off for my budget with another mountain bike?

Edited by Cfnteabag on Tuesday 30th June 19:53

From what I've heard it's worth it, go into a decathlon store and they often have a numer of them on reduced - shop stock

They're even cheaper and may allow you to get one in budget

[BoRED S2upid]

Go second hand at that budget you can always replace stuff in the future avoid halfords at all costs I had one if their bikes it ended up in the skip within 2 years.

[JustinF]

Cfnteabag said:

175cm tall

The only thing that puts me off a second hand bike is you don't know how its been looked after

Understandable ofc but it's like car depreciation, a couple of year old mid level bike vs a new 'Dacia Sandero' bike.
Second hand you're looking at Specialized Allez, Trek 1.1's etc, these bikes come with pretty durable parts and if they need refreshing the parts are from the cheaper end of the scale. To return to the car analogy it's Mondeo parts not M5 parts, so the risk is low.

Edited by JustinF on Tuesday 30th June 20:50

[anonymous-user]

JustinF said:

how tall are you? the power of PH can probably hunt you down a 2nd hand bargain that'll knock spots off a new for same price.

That's never happened though has it...

[numtumfutunch]

I have a 'best' bike which cost as much as some (non PH) people spend on cars

In light of this Id like to add that Ive just been looking at Decathlon bikes as I have a gap in the current fleet for something I can comfortably leave locked outside work with minimal stress

When I last visited Decathlon I was impressed with the level of knowledge of the first random staff member I stopped to ask advice of and found the whole experience a lot more satisfying than my local snobby 'proper' shop

Cheers

[Daveyraveygravey]

Cfnteabag said:

175cm tall

The only thing that puts me off a second hand bike is you don't know how its been looked after

You'll be surprised at what is on the market. I got my son a Specialized Allez for about £300 from someone who bought it to try road riding, and didn't like it. The bike was virtually new and is a fantastic starter bike. If you don't like it, or when you want to upgrade they are easy to sell and won't have gone down much more.

[ecsrobin]

Decathlon triban has just gone on sale £250 http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-300-road-bike-wh...

[SixPotBelly]

^ I think the 300's been on sale for a while? Anyway, only one size is left. My guess is it's being run out in favour of the 500 I linked to above.

Edited by SixPotBelly on Wednesday 1st July 10:15

[IroningMan]

I've used a second-hand Specialized Allez as my main bike for the past five or six years - I think it's a 2005 model. Bikes aren't very complicated, and any bits that have suffered at the hands of the previous owner will be easy to identify and cheap to replace - as above, better a used Ford than a new Dacia.

[bakerstreet]

I would just go to a Decathlon and get a new bike for £200-£300. Will be a lot better than the Carrera.

Personally I wouldn't bother pissing about with a used bike.

So you get a used £300 bike on Ebay. You then have to go and get it and chances are you will have to get it serviced and that could then throw up more issues.

I'd also expect bits to be missing on a used bike, which then costs you more money to put right.

I just do see the point in wasting your time trawling Ebay and to be honest sometimes the prices just aren't competitive enough.

[griffter]

I've got two b'twin - a red triban 3, and a full carbon 105 summer bike. They're excellent value for money. Don't rely on the shop for spannering though, you'll need to do that yourself. Ime your local bike shop won't like the b'twin because they're decathlon only.

[With these feet]

numtumfutunch said:

I have a 'best' bike which cost as much as some (non PH) people spend on cars


Cheers

That is simply one of "The Rules". If I put my bikes on my car, they out value the car 3:1

The Rules said:

Rule #25 //
The bikes on top of your car should be worth more than the car.

Or at least be relatively more expensive. Basically, if you’re putting your Huffy on your Rolls, you’re in trouble, mister. Remember what Sean said.

In fact, in the last 2 or 3 years Ive spent more on bikes than cars, must be around £7 or £8k. Probably because I get so much enjoyment from the bikes and little from driving in the UK from the cars! Even my track day car is being sold...

Edited by With these feet on Wednesday 1st July 11:03