What "first" bike?

[Petrol Only]

Well having put on a few pounds recently and living in a very cycle friendly area. Seems like a good idea to pedal to lose some pounds.

Im after my "first" bike since I was err 15?

Requirements are purely recreational for "off road" use trails etc.

Don't want to spend a fortune.

Any pointers so I don't go into a cycle shop and get mugged.

Im 6'5 with a fat arse so it needs to be big and comfortable .

What about second hand bikes?

Cheers all.

[curlie467]

Do you have a budget in mind and is it for proper off road use or just canal towpaths/parks etc?

[Petrol Only]

To start with it will be purely tow paths parks etc. With maybe a little bit of easy proper off-roading after a while?

As cheap as possible ideally.

But I appreciate that buy cheap buy twice...

[Roman]

Kona Hoss would be perfect as they are designed for bigger, heavier riders, PHer looking to sell one here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Think you would need a 20" or 21" frame.

Specialized Hardrocks are similarly beefy in the frame dept and ubiquitous so a good budget choice.

New, I think the Boardman Comp is pretty unbeatable for £550.

[Engineer1]

Decathlon's rockriders seem to do ok on bike radar tests, but you need to be spending £300+ to get a bike that you will ride and enjoy riding rather than end up locking in the shed as yet another ride has been ruined by the chain coming off the suspension bottoming out etc. I had a truely ste Apollo thing that was unrideable really, fortunately swapped it for a GT aggressor which is a much nicer ride.

[anonymous-user]

"easy proper off roading" ?!....

just go for a specialized hardrock, its pedal powered's answer to the MX5!....