What/Where to get a starter bike??

full_irish

Well hello boardies!

Can I just say that you are all looking particularly handsome/pretty/dashing etc today!

Now that I've buttered you up with some exquisite flattery, I have a question which I'm hoping some of ye may be able to help me with.

I'm looking to purchase a road bike and have a budget of about €250/£200. (I include sterling price cus I'm based in Scotland in uni at the moment and that's where I'm primarily going to be using it)

The bike will be used as a commuter bike but I also want something that I can get started on some longer cycles. Plan is to to do a stage or so of tour de france in a 2014 with a mate, although I will buy a better bike before then. I just want something to get started with and am quite a poor student.

Where would be the best place to look? New or 2nd hand? I was looking on ebay there and saw what appeared to be some well priced bikes around the £200-ish mark. e.g http:// www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Race-Lite-Tour-of-Britain-road-racing-bike-/160737574471?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&var=&hash=item256cb4be47#ht_1000wt_1037
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2011-VIKING-GIRO-DITALIA-ROAD-RACING-BIKE-NEW-14-SPEED-/380350796664?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&var=&hash=item588eac9378
Is ebay even where I want to look?

Also being 6ft, what size frame should I be looking at?

Thanks in advance for any help guys.

Tonyandthewhale

You'll need to raise your budget substantially (double it at least) if you want to buy a new road-bike that's actually worth owning.

You can get decent stuff second hand for roughly that kind of money (an entry level bike from a few years back such as the giant SCR 4 would be the kind of thing you might find at that price or slightly above it). However, if you're going the second-hand route you need to do your research or get help from someone who knows bikes, just because the ad says the bikes worth a 1000e doesn't mean it's ever been worth anything north of 50 quid.

As regards what size you need, at 6foot you're probably looking at around a 56cm or 58cm frame although it'll depend on your exact measurements. If you google bike size calculator you'll be able to figure this out more accurately.

Mycroft H

You are wasting you time looking in the new territory for that money. Second hand all the way here.

The viking isn't a bad bike, its basic, very basic. Not particularly nice to ride. Incidentally, I've a silly friend who payed more then 350 for one of them. I would spend my money on something good second hand.

I've a 26 year old touring bike thats lighter then the viking

Something like this would be many times better then the viking/other thing, these were built to last.

Size? I would be looking at 23" frame (probably get away with an inch either side)

Whats the problem with bikes of these price range new is the quality of the components - your paying for the cheapest brakes, hubs, bottom brackets, wheels, frame meterial and quality. They may look good, but there a pain in the arse to maintain. I've seen exploded cartridge bearing hubs on cheap bikes like these

full_irish

thanks for the advice guys. I won't be looking to actually purchase til after the summer as I need to earn some money this summer.

Regards to doubling my budget... I could blow my overdraft but I will end up on the beans toast diet for the year I think, so not so sure.

It seems 2nd hand is definitely the way to go then... and you are absolutely right that I will need someone who knows bikes to check them over for me. i see 'Shimano gears' and go ''ooooh I recognise that brand, must be good'' so I could easily be sold a piece of scrap. A tad cagey buying 2nd hand as I got a Dawes hybrid bike 2nd hand (which has since been stolen, but that's anohter story) which seemed in perfect nick when trying it out prior to purchase but then proceed to fall to pieces. And hadn't the fella I bought it from left the country to go home... I spent nearly the same on fixing it as I did buying it.

Mycroft H

full_irish wrote: »

thanks for the advice guys. I won't be looking to actually purchase til after the summer as I need to earn some money this summer.

Regards to doubling my budget... I could blow my overdraft but I will end up on the beans toast diet for the year I think, so not so sure.

It seems 2nd hand is definitely the way to go then... and you are absolutely right that I will need someone who knows bikes to check them over for me. i see 'Shimano gears' and go ''ooooh I recognise that brand, must be good'' so I could easily be sold a piece of scrap. A tad cagey buying 2nd hand as I got a Dawes hybrid bike 2nd hand (which has since been stolen, but that's anohter story) which seemed in perfect nick when trying it out prior to purchase but then proceed to fall to pieces. And hadn't the fella I bought it from left the country to go home... I spent nearly the same on fixing it as I did buying it.

Shimano make everything. From the bottom of the barrel to the tour de france winning dura ace stuff. And the you get people copying shimano stuff (even the bottom of the barrel stuff too) :P

A little bit of knowledge of bike mechanics can go a long way when buying a bike and spotting potential problems in the long run. Are the wheels true? How well do the brakes work? And weird noises from the bearings? Any play in the breaings? Any noise in the drivetrain. And so forth.

Buying a second hand bike is much easier then a second hand car as all the things are in front of you to see if you know what I mean. Mostly

Have a read of this website before parting cash so you will know how to spot a lemon.

smacl

full_irish wrote: »

I spent nearly the same on fixing it as I did buying it.

Bought a 2nd hand bike myself recently and also spent a fair bit extra doing it up, although still very happy with what I've now got. For a 2nd hand bike, I'd recommend inspecting it thoroughly as well as taking a test spin. When you try cycling it go through all the gears and make sure they change reasonably smoothly, check that you can stop the bike using just the back and just the front brakes, listen for noises that shouldn't be there as you cycle. Read up the sheldon brown site that BX19 linked, and look for wear and tear on the cogs, wheels, tyres, etc... A 2nd hand bike won't be perfect but its good to know where the problems lie, and a good inspection might give you some more bargaining power on price. Like buying anything you don't know much about 2nd hand, looking at a few before buying anything gives you an idea what's available for your budget. See what's on offer now so you'll be better prepared when you come to spend your money.

dave_o_brien

Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative have a store in Edinburgh (near the Meadows) and in Aberdeen (I have no idea where!) and do some really good value entry level own brand stuff like this:

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-continental-11?bct=categories%2fbicycles%2froad-bikes

I haven't been there in a while, but last time I was there, they were sound.

When buying a second hand bike, you accept that there is a chance of everything falling apart quickly, and that risk is part of the payoff in getting a cheap bike. I have picked up (and sold) a few bargains second hand, but have had one particular bike and a few parts turn out to be ducks. It happens. It is also more likely to happen if you aren't pretty knowledgeable about bikes to begin with.