Looking To Buy A Bike-Need Advice

shuffles03

I'm looking to buy a bike over the summer but not sure what I should go for. This is what I'll be using it for:

- Fitness
- Cycling on road
- Up Mountains
- Hopefully some trail cycling as well

My needs are a bit all round really. I've never really dabbled with bikes before so not sure what type I should go for. Hardtail, full suspension, road etc?

Budget: I'd rather spend more to get a really good bike than to initially buy a starter and have to upgrade at a later date.

Where should I look?

Thanks in advance.

Lumen

You cannot buy one bike that will be lots of fun both on and off-road.

Darkglasses

Lumen wrote: »

You cannot buy one bike that will be lots of fun both on and off-road.

I disagree! I have a great time on my hybrid, and it'll go over nearly anything.

What's your budget op?

Lusk_Doyle

Are you going to come down the mountains too?

shuffles03

Darkglasses wrote: »

What's your budget op?

Around €1500.

Lumen

Darkglasses wrote: »

I disagree! I have a great time on my hybrid, and it'll go over nearly anything.

How does it feel descending twisty roads at 80kph?

Darkglasses

Lumen wrote: »

How does it feel descending twisty roads at 80kph?

It has never descended twisty roads at 80kph, and that isn't my idea of fun.

Cast Iron

shuffles03 wrote: »

Around €1500.

For that money you could get both an excellent hardtail mountain bike and a decent starter road bike. Get 2 bikes!

07Lapierre

shuffles03 wrote: »

I'm looking to buy a bike over the summer but not sure what I should go for. This is what I'll be using it for:

- Fitness
- Cycling on road
- Up Mountains
- Hopefully some trail cycling as well

My needs are a bit all round really. I've never really dabbled with bikes before so not sure what type I should go for. Hardtail, full suspension, road etc?

Budget: I'd rather spend more to get a really good bike than to initially buy a starter and have to upgrade at a later date.

Where should I look?

Thanks in advance.

A cyclocross bike maybe?

muckwarrior

If it were me I'd probably get a 29er hard tail XC bike and a spare set of wheels with road tyres. Would be fit for almost any trail and shouldn't be too slow on the road.

shuffles03

Something like one of these?:

Lapierre Cycle Cross
http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=67238

Lapierre Hardtail
http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=66969

Lapierre Full Suspension
http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=54892

Budawanny

Darkglasses wrote: »

I disagree! I have a great time on my hybrid, and it'll go over nearly anything.

What's your budget op?

Nah. A hybrid will do road and fire road. Not a proper mtb trail.
oh it'll do it at a push. but it will simply not be enjoyable.

Pushing through a rock garden with 60psi and no front suspension is just not fun.

I have both hybrid and a mountain bike.

on saying that sounds like a hybrid might be the closest thing.

Darkglasses

I'd go with a cyclo-cross bike with disc brakes, like this one - http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=69465

Won't be as fast as a normal road bike on-road, but I think it's an excellent compromise and a fun bike to ride.

Darkglasses

Budawanny wrote: »

Nah. A hybrid will do road and fire road. Not a proper mtb trail.
oh it'll do it at a push. but it will simply not be enjoyable.

Pushing through a rock garden with 60psi and no front suspension is just not fun.

I have both hybrid and a mountain bike.

on saying that sounds like a hybrid might be the closest thing.

To be honest I'm having fun whenever I'm on a bike, easily pleased maybe

Lumen

Darkglasses wrote: »

I'd go with a cyclo-cross bike with disc brakes, like this one - http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=69465

The Giant TCX SLR 2 has dual-piston brakes and through-axles*. It's also €50 cheaper.

http://www.giant-dublin.ie/en-gb/bikes/model/2014.giant.tcx.slr.2/14989/66573/#features

* Actually maybe just on the front.

dave_o_brien

Cross bike with disc brakes and a spare set of wheels with the same disc size and road tyres.

shuffles03

Think I'm going to get a Hardtail. I'm currently looking through Cyclesuperstore and Chainreactioncycles. To be honest, I don't know what I should be looking for - some are €300, others are over €1,000. What are the key things I should be watching out for? Is there a preferable brand I should try to get? Cube, Lapierre etc?

Cast Iron

shuffles03 wrote: »

Think I'm going to get a Hardtail. I'm currently looking through Cyclesuperstore and Chainreactioncycles. To be honest, I don't know what I should be looking for - some are €300, others are over €1,000. What are the key things I should be watching out for? Is there a preferable brand I should try to get? Cube, Lapierre etc?

Try bikeradar.com for their annual rundown if the best sub 1000 MTB. Via the reviews it'll at least give you a good quick education on what you should be looking for. (if it applies use the Bike to Work tax scheme to save yourself €€€!)

muckwarrior

Roughly speaking, you get what you pay for. If you're looking for a capable mountain bike then you can forget about everything at the €300 end of the spectrum. In or around a grand should get you something decent though. Perhaps something like this http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=68165