public school boy
Banned
Willing to spend £300 to £500 on new bike. Marin, Trek, Sirrus or Giant. Any advice
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Bicycle advice
- Thread starter public school boy
- Start date
alofbrighton
Member
Assuming this is a mountain bike (judging by the brand names) and it's for proper off road use you should be buying either a Diamondback Response Sport (£500) or a Carrera Fury (around £550 from Halfords). Don't be put off by the not so trendy brand names here, at this price point it's all about getting the absolute best frame and kit possible. If you just want the rufty tufty look of an mtb then a Trek 3500 (£300) which will also take a bit of abuse off road but you could fit slicks for road use.
Straight out of What Mountain Bike, hope it helps!
Straight out of What Mountain Bike, hope it helps!
Which ever brand you choose check out :biketoworkscheme.co.uk before you buy, you can save about 30% of the cost of the bike and all accesories through this scheme.
The Trek 4300 (have a look at the Trek website) is £500. That is the bike I would buy with that budget.
Weststander
Well-known member
Get an amazing padlock if bringing it the Amex for the visit of CPFC.
All good advice from the posters above. One thing I would add though is to take your time over the purchase, go to a bunch of different bike shops and test ride as many bikes as you can, all good bike shops will allow you to do this. On paper there are loads of bikes that are good at this price point but you need to try them to be certain that they are the right bike for you. One thing I will say is beware buying bikes from Halfords, they are often poorly set up as they do not employ proper cytech qualified mechanics at least they didn't a few years ago.
Although this post is tongue in cheek, it does raise a valid point. You need to budget for the extras you may need, lock, helmet, water proof jacket, water bottle etc. If you spend all the money you have spare on the bike you will end up scrimping on these other things. A cheap lock for example is a completely pointless purchase.
BUTTERBALL
East Stand Brighton Boyz
Buy a car
Weststander
Well-known member
Locks. That's true. The better the bike, the more the worry.
Crossed my mind about having a good bike, and a cheapo if ever biked to the Amex.
Budget £250 for a good second hand bike. £50 lock. £50 tune up and some bits at your LBS and the rest pimping it up.
or this is quite reduced, previous seasons stock always worth a look.
Saracen Mantra X27 Bike 2010 : Bikes | Mountain Bikes | Road Bikes| Winstanleys
or this is quite reduced, previous seasons stock always worth a look.
Saracen Mantra X27 Bike 2010 : Bikes | Mountain Bikes | Road Bikes| Winstanleys
Pantani is 100% right, and God forbid I ever go against him.
But the Boardman range is exclusive to Halfords and the best specced bikes, throughout the entire range, road, mountain & hybrid.
But as my esteemed friend says buy at your peril.
If you got one, then take it to your local 'fella' to the give it a FULL service, just to make sure. (they will understand)
But the Boardman range is exclusive to Halfords and the best specced bikes, throughout the entire range, road, mountain & hybrid.
But as my esteemed friend says buy at your peril.
If you got one, then take it to your local 'fella' to the give it a FULL service, just to make sure. (they will understand)
We went to the new Giant bike shop in Shoreham and heres my tip - take out a mortgage before you walk in the door! 
My budget extended to a tyre repair kit for my dodgy freebie bike someone gave me...There were bikes in there worth more than my car!!
Nice shop though!
My budget extended to a tyre repair kit for my dodgy freebie bike someone gave me...There were bikes in there worth more than my car!!Nice shop though!
public school boy
Banned
- Thread starter
- #13
Thanks for all the advise. I went into in-gear in Uckfield who were very helpful. Some fab bikes but very expensive, one costing £8000. I'm after a road/sports bike. We have a great bike shop in Heathfield so there are plenty of places to get good advice from. Can anyone recommend a good bike shop in Brighton?
Make sure it has two wheels.
Still 3k less than my dream bike!.
I've been sourced to buy a first road bike, for a mate, from ebay, your price point is spot on his, and there is plenty about.
Obviously I don't know you and what you want from the bike, but road is definitely the way to go, unless you do ride on mud.
But the riding position etc means it might not be for you and your useage.
Whereas a hybrid might be better.
(Oh and reading that back means I feel I have to include the fact I'm a little pi$$ed)
£1.99
Well-known member
- Mar 3, 2008
- 1,233
Why not get a small wheeled bike something like a Brompton. You can pick a used one on ebay for £400-£500 and there fantastic.
Look here The Path Less Pedaled at what you can carry on one and how small they fold!
Look here The Path Less Pedaled at what you can carry on one and how small they fold!
Comedy Steve
We're f'ing brilliant
Lots of good shops - Freedom bikes are excellent, and bike wise I did the Priestfield to Amex (via Withdean) ride on a Trek FX and it was brilliant. Bought it from Evans who are knowledgable, good value and rude.
adrian29uk
New member
- Sep 10, 2003
- 3,389
Agree with you here. I bought a Carrera racing bike from Halfords about 7 years ago. Its cost me about £299 and its been brilliant. Paid me back over and over again. Good quality bike.
Quite a light bike and does the job.
I'd go for a Ridgeback hybrid at that price - no good for serious off-road stuff or racing but a good steady roadbike - I did the Gillingham to Amex on a Ridgeback and it was fine.
Best bike shop in Brighton IMHO is Baker Street Bikes opposite St Peter's