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Original poster

Help me ! DH wants a bike for Christmas I have done zero about it yet !

18 replies

thedayismine · 17/12/2017 11:38

Can anyone help me draw up a shortlist of budget hybrid bikes for DH ?

I don't know where to start unless I just go to Halfords and panic buy !
He wants to start cycling again after a long gap and initially it will just be around the village mostly - so some roads and some pathways.
He wants to get fitter and we want to start getting out with the kids on bikes when the weather improves.
He has only said it needs to be a hybrid and not too spend too much - he thinks about £250 .
Can anyone help me with some brands / spec I need to look at for him ?
I would like to give him maybe a shortlist to choose from then I can order it for him...
Thanks if you can help me

OP posts:
Atalune · 17/12/2017 11:42

If you have a small independent bike shop then go there now and chat to the owner who will be able to give rey good advice.

You’ll get an amazing second hand for that money but you might be out of time.

Shortofideas · 17/12/2017 11:42

I would recommend a proper bike shop - even if you just have a chat with them. Or do some research online. I've found Halfords to be rubbish when it comes to advice. That money won't buy much though.

niknac1 · 17/12/2017 11:47

I know this isn’t what you asked but here goes, we are thinking of getting our children bikes and went to look and decided to wait until the spring as a bike would likely be fairly unused till the weather improves. You could discuss this and perhaps give him the money so you can look later. You perhaps need his measurements and preferably to try the bikes for size. I know it’s different with children because they are constantly growing. Food for thought.

jedenfalls · 17/12/2017 11:48

Don't buy one now

Give him a homemade voucher for one, then take him to a bike shop in the new year. A bike needs to fit properly, if you get him a £250 bike without getting advice and having it fitter for him I guarantee it will be used once and the sit in the shed up perpituity.

I'd look to get him a £500 bike in last years colours (they usually come in a lot cheaper ) £250 isn't enough for a ridable bike. 5-600 is the starting price range for an 'Ok' bike

And go to a local independent, not Halfords.

NotMeNoNo · 17/12/2017 11:55

A bike from Halfords won't be any pleasure to ride. Try Decathlon? Or a good bike shop to get an idea of brand/size, then look for one secondhand. I would not buy a bike for an adult untried any more than a car without test driving.

A good secondhand dealer might be an option, we have had several bikes from Uni Cycles in Loughborough, there must be similar everywhere there are a lot of students!

SussexBonfireViking · 17/12/2017 11:59

i totally disagree with the halfords and price comments -

i got a carrera crossfit from there, the man who served us knew what he was talking about and helped with sizing and its a really good bike (for me who hadnt ridden for around 30 years) - i paid about £260 for it

i would second the 'homemade voucher' *(not a specific shop) to go get a bike though, as it needs to be fitted to him and they will be cheaper in sale

Original poster
thedayismine · 21/12/2017 16:28

Thank you everyone - I managed to get to a Halfords and an independent yesterday .
The lady in Halfords was lovely and as PP already said she hinted that there will be offers straight after Christmas.she suggested the Carrera crossfire I think it was called .
The independent guy was also really helpful -
He recommended a Tiger legend 2.

Anyway I am going to do a
Bit more research and then probably go and look at them again with DH.

Meanwhile if any one can recommend any safe accessories he will definitely need / use that I could still buy in time for Christmas Day that would be amazing !
Thanks again

OP posts:
Original poster
thedayismine · 21/12/2017 16:30

sussex I see the Halfords one is the same as you have - glad to hear you are happy with it.
I think DHs expectations are currently quite low as he last had a heavy steel
Framed bike!

OP posts:
snowgirl1 · 21/12/2017 19:41

Do either you or your DH work for a company that offer a 'cycle to work' scheme? Despite the name, you don't actually have to cycle to work to use the scheme and you get tax relief on the cost of the bike - so 20% if you're a basic rate tax payer, 40% if you're a higher rate tax payer. Most schemes also cover accessories. It can be q good way to afford a slightly better bike which will be better to ride.

Floralnomad · 21/12/2017 19:49

My dh is a very casual hobby cyclist and he has a Carrera from Halfords , it’s a crossfire 2 and he is very happy with it . Previously he had a British eagle bike but he got knocked off it and it was trashed .

catsofa · 21/12/2017 19:53

Lights front and back, high vis waistcoat, really warm gloves, something to hold in his right trouser leg.

jedenfalls · 21/12/2017 22:48

You can get excellent advice in Halfords, my local one is bloody amazing. The cycle bit is staffed by a pair of bikefreaks who know everything.

BUT my next nearest is staffed by the most disinterested in cycling bunch of people I have ever met.

The trouble with Halfords is it is incredibly hit an miss. If the person on the till is a petrolhead who has been relegated to the bike section as a n you ain't going to get much useful, they will just try and sell you whatever they have been told to push that week. but if it is staffed by a genuine cyclist then you will get good advice.

As a novice bike buyer it is going to be hard for you to filter out the crap advice.

Fiona1984 · 21/12/2017 22:57

I'm getting a bike through cycle to work, and my agreement states that I do have to use the bike to commute at least 50% of the time. This is through Evans, and other retailers may vary, I've not checked.
It means I can afford a better bike, pay monthly, and save some money.
As for ideas for accessories, a waterproof high vis jacket would be useful, padded shorts/tights and a helmet. Oh, and gloves.

Etymology23 · 21/12/2017 23:02

I would also say that you can definitely get a perfectly decent bike for £250. The problem is that you can also get many terrible bikes for that much money so trying to filter which is which can be unpleasant.

I have an old fashioned (but light and well made) steel framed bike that I got for £17 off eBay. It rides well, and was selected by my DF who owns approx £20k of bikes. No, it’s not going to win me a road race, but it’s also not a bicycle shaped object instead of a bike.

A £250 bike won’t be as nice as a £600 bike but to say it will be unrideable is absurd.

JoJoSM2 · 21/12/2017 23:07

DH who's bike mad says 'don't go to Halfords'. He reckons Evans is a better place out of big chain places. Or to check out Canyon Bikes or Decathlon. Your husband will also need a helmet and a chain if he intends to leave the bike unattended.

Fiona1984 · 21/12/2017 23:38

I second Decathlon. Their budget bikes aren't bad, you get a lot for your money. No doubt if he gets the cycling bug, he'll upgrade as he gets into it anyway.
I'm a mountain bike girl, so can't advise on hybrids specifically, but my second bike was from Decathlon and it lasted me a good couple of years and over 2500 miles. TBH I only got rid when I got knocked off by a car and the frame got bent :(

Original poster
thedayismine · 22/12/2017 23:23

Thanks everyone I am taking notes and we will do more homework before we buy !

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