please recommend a good bike

sunnydelight

Hi

from Jan, due to the budget new scheme i am going to buy a new bike and start cycling to work. Can anyone recommend a decent bike i am pretty clueless, all i know is that i would like something reliable and something not to heavy. I think the budget scheme lets you spend up to 1,000 euro. oh and which would be better a mountain bike or a racer. and is there any brand names that are good.

Thanks in advace

kenmc

A racer would be better, faster, lighter. There's some advice in the wiki

cuculainn

sunnydelight wrote: »

Hi

from Jan, due to the budget new scheme i am going to buy a new bike and start cycling to work. Can anyone recommend a decent bike i am pretty clueless, all i know is that i would like something reliable and something not to heavy. I think the budget scheme lets you spend up to 1,000 euro. oh and which would be better a mountain bike or a racer. and is there any brand names that are good.

Thanks in advace

How does this bike grant thing work?? I might do it also

rughdh

cuculainn wrote: »

How does this bike grant thing work?? I might do it also

There was an earlier thread on this here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055433038

cuculainn

rughdh wrote: »

There was an earlier thread on this here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055433038

Cheers Rughdh

sunnydelight

thanks for your replies much appreciated

brians947

Try chain reactions. They have just dropped the prices again on there racers. Have the briza 1 2008. Really nice bike.

Táck

going to get back into cycling after the new year, when santy gets my new bike down the chimney, just looking for recommendations please...

ideally i'm looking for something good on the roads and with the option of being able to do a bit of off-road but mainly road cycling. would like it to be light, strong, and no rear suspension as this ive heard this is "energy draining" on the roads.

would like to spend between €200 - €450 on a new or second hand one.

any recomendations?

Lumen

Táck wrote: »

going to get back into cycling after the new year, when santy gets my new bike down the chimney, just looking for recommendations please...

ideally i'm looking for something good on the roads and with the option of being able to do a bit of off-road but mainly road cycling. would like it to be light, strong, and no rear suspension as this ive heard this is "energy draining" on the roads.

would like to spend between €200 - €450 on a new or second hand one.

any recomendations?

Your requirements suggest a cyclocross bike. Unfortunately there aren't really any cheap cyclocross bikes (or if there are, they're hiding).

You may get a cheap hardtail MTB for that money, but it won't be light and the components won't be great.

You could get a hybrid with clearance for cyclocross tyres. There are plenty of cheapish hybrids around.

If you drop the off-road requirement, there are decent road bikes on sale within your budget.

When looking for used, make sure you're going for the right sized frame.

Táck

i'm 6ft 1" so which would be recomended?

Lumen

Táck wrote: »

i'm 6ft 1" so which would be recomended?

Somewhere around 58cm for a road bike, but it varies depending on what you want to achieve.

This is very comprehensive:

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO

A smaller frame will generally mean a greater drop to the bars, and a larger frame will be less "wieldy" and arguably less safe if it's so large that your bits hit the crossbar.

Cyclocross frame fitting is wierd, due to higher bottom bracket and taller tyres.

Remote bike fitting is a PITA but don't get it wrong.