Advice on buying bike on Internet ?

big_drive

I've been promising to buy a bike with about a year. Would probably get a hybrid and would only do a few miles. Maybe 10 miles on a Saturday, that type of thing. Up and down to shop, etc. just see it as something to incorporate a bit of exercise in daily routine.
Now the price of bikes seems high and I don't want to spend a fortune.
Have seen a few online, mainly UK based sites. Could get something around the €220 mark. Now I realise these are very basic bikes but that's all I need.
One thing with buying online is the bikes are mostly boxed and need a certain amount of assembly.
How easy would they be to assemble?
How much would a bike shop charge to do the assembly for me?

Any other advice/help appreciated?

route66

big_drive wrote: »

I've been promising to buy a bike with about a year. Would probably get a hybrid and would only do a few miles. Maybe 10 miles on a Saturday, that type of thing. Up and down to shop, etc. just see it as something to incorporate a bit of exercise in daily routine.
Now the price of bikes seems high and I don't want to spend a fortune.
Have seen a few online, mainly UK based sites. Could get something around the €220 mark. Now I realise these are very basic bikes but that's all I need.
One thing with buying online is the bikes are mostly boxed and need a certain amount of assembly.
How easy would they be to assemble?
How much would a bike shop charge to do the assembly for me?

Any other advice/help appreciated?

Generally, the amount of assembly is minimal. You're looking at straightening the handlebars and a few other bits - depends on what you are getting and from whom. With that budget, you could also consider something secondhand. This is a good bike and you should be able to haggle the price down: link

By the way, asking here for advice on spending 220 on a Hybrid is not a great idea. You'll be told:

• Buy a road bike (drop handlebars)
• 220 only buys you a BSO
• Use the BTW scheme and spend the full €1,000 and add something to it
• Spend more
• You need to spend at least €2,000 to get something good
• Don't buy a hybrid
• You'll get hooked on cycling so buy your perfect bike from the outset and don't mess about with a starter bike
• Perfect bikes start from €5,000, but to get something really good, you'll need to stretch to about €10,000
• Spend the €10,000 to get you going - you can upgrade the wheels to something good when you can afford it - good wheels start at about €5,000. Each

Only joking, but only a little.;)

kincsem

Opening the cardboard box is the most difficult part of the assembly. You just need to turn the handlebars, tighten a few bolts and go.

If you ever park the bike anywhere get a lock like this
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=28854
If you don't you will be buying your second bike. A cable lock is useless.

Muckers

route66 wrote: »

Generally, the amount of assembly is minimal. You're looking at straightening the handlebars and a few other bits - depends on what you are getting and from whom. With that budget, you could also consider something secondhand. This is a good bike and you should be able to haggle the price down: link


By the way, asking here for advice on spending 220 on a Hybrid is not a great idea. You'll be told:

• Buy a road bike (drop handlebars)
• 220 only buys you a BSO
• Use the BTW scheme and spend the full €1,000 and add something to it
• Spend more
• You need to spend at least €2,000 to get something good
• Don't buy a hybrid
• You'll get hooked on cycling so buy your perfect bike from the outset and don't mess about with a starter bike
• Perfect bikes start from €5,000, but to get something really good, you'll need to stretch to about €10,000
• Spend the €10,000 to get you going - you can upgrade the wheels to something good when you can afford it - good wheels start at about €5,000. Each

Only joking, but only a little.;)

hee hee