Want to buy a cheap bike...

[wildcat45]

We've probably all got one, the fat single mate who eats burgers and rdinks helvily.

My fat single mate is shrinking. He's got into mountain biking, dumping the burgers and getting drunk less. Now my wife is urging me follow his lead on the biking front. (I still intend to drink and eat burgers)

I used to be into bikes back when I was a kid in the 80s - but know nothing about them now.

So, I want a cheap starter mountain bike. Cheap because if I find I hate it, I haven't wasted too much money.

I notice bikes these days even come with disk brakes! I thought Raleigh Rain Check blocks were the hight of sophisitcation!

I've seen 100 quid mark bikes in Halfords.

Any good?

There is a bike shop near me full of bikes the names of which mean nothign to me. Back in the day it was Raleigh, Peugeot, and Martin Dawes if you were a girl. Any brands to avoid?

I'm not against getting a second hand bike either.

[Cupramax]

wildcat45 said:

rdinks helvily.

Lol, sounds like he's not the only one...

[BoRED S2upid]

I wouldn't go for a cheapo Halford bike. Buy a mountain bike mag or similar and find someone selling their second or third bike.

[Cupramax]

From a non bike snob point of view I bought a cheapo Hlafords mountain bike back when the fuel strike happened (2001 was it?) and its still going strong, it gets used fairly regularly for my 4 mile treck to work during the summer and the odd evening and weekend ride.

[Gazzab]

If you want to try and get into mountain biking then I would buy a half decent bike. Take a look at the cheapest Specialised and Boardman (Halfords) bikes. A £100 bike will be rubbish for mountain biking. Dont worry about disc brakes etc these all add cost. Specialised Hard Rock is a good place to start. You will find bikes are generally too expensive on ebay and you are taking a risk on condition. some bike shops have second hand bikes that might be worth a punt. I would say £400 up is the min place to start. You will get all your money back on ebay if you dont like it.

[Gazzab]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Specialized-Hardrock-Sport-M...

Be quick !?! Not sure it is as young as claimed though.

[hman]

Gazzab said:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Specialized-Hardrock-Sport-M...

Be quick !?! Not sure it is as young as claimed though.

+1!, I bought one of these in black, its great!,

Cheap enough not to be bothered if I damage it - but in reality I've tried quite hard and its only ever banjoed the forks on a repeated downhilling!, but a couple of quid to re tension the gubbins inside and I was away.

The bike shown has the same frame forks etc as mine and I bought mine in 2005ish.

Ask the guy if the forks still retain maximum firmness and test before accepting as the assembly pings apart inside and the forks go to softest setting.

You can buy one new for 280-300ish! - http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/ha...

The only thing I would say about cable discs is that whilst they are pretty useless when compared to hydraulic discs, the wheels will come with disc mounts which allow other discs to be fitted, then you can add hydraulic brakes.

Of course brakes are for pussies anyway!

Edited by hman on Tuesday 16th June 09:33

[Gazzab]

I'd buy a new one at £290 quid if I was you ! A much safe bet.

[gradeAfailure]

Head on over to www.retrobike.co.uk and post up a wanted ad for a complete bike - £150-200 will get you something that was four times the price back in the '90s and will be far lighter and better made than anything sub-£400 these days.

[rykard]

do you have a decathlon near you? Their rock riders get good reviews. For around £300 yo should be able to get something decent that will be relatively light and last. Do not get something new for £100 - it will be heavy and put you off for life!!!

Bikeradar.com has some good reviews and a pretty good forum..

[g3rrd]

Ebay is your friend or as posted previously http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/rockrider-5-3-349638...

[wildcat45]

Great advice guys. Thanks, plenty of food for thought.

[SystemParanoia]

nom nom nom