Buying a bike can be a daunting experience. There are a dazzling range of bikes available from a number of retailers, ranging from less than £100, to significantly more than £1,000. With this in mind, this page will hopefully guide you towards the type of bike that most suits your needs.
TYPES OF BIKE
Mountain Bike - originally designed for off-road cycling, mountain bikes offer a wide range of gears, suspension, and high levels of manoeuvrability. The knobbly tyres add to the rugged appeal, but are less efficient when used on paved/road surfaces. Mountain bikes also tend not to come with luggage racks.
Hybrid Bike - usually modified mountain bikes, hybrids are adapted for more urban use. A more upright riding position, lower frames, and often with accessories such as luggage racks as standard. Hybrids have thinner tyres than mountain bikes, more suited to paved surfaces.
Road/Racing Bikes - the ultimate if you want to go fast on paved surfaces, road bikes have dropped handlebars and thin slick tyres. They are the fastest way forwards on paved surfaces, but their thin tyres are more prone to punctures and their riding position can be less comfortable.
Folding - perfect for those who use a bike as well as other forms of transport (primarily trains), folding bikes come with tiny wheels, fewer gears, and can often fold into a space the size of a briefcase. Only really suitable for shorter urban journeys!
Now you have decided what type best suits your needs, why not have a look at our shops and outlets section for your closest bike shops?
USED BICYCLE BUYERS GUIDE:
Buying a second hand bicycle is a great way to get a bike at a low cost price. You could buy a reconditioned bicycle from recycling shops, or simply load up your laptop; there are plenty of sites where you can buy used bicycles and grab yourself a bargain.
However, before parting with any cash it is vital to assess whether you are buying a stolen bike. If you buy a stolen bike not only could you have the bike seized - meaning you lose the money you paid for the bike, but you could be prosecuted by the Police for handling stolen goods.
So before you buy a second hand bike, there are a number of assessments you can ask yourself both when viewing the bike online and in person:
These are just precautions worth taking, so please do not be put off. With a bit of careful hunting you can save £££'s!