New bike advice

[LunaLambBhuna]

Hello all.

Not sure if this is really the right place but here goes...

I would like to start cycling to work. Although I have a mountain bike already I think I would prefer to be more upright and also have a basket/storage for my work stuff.

I have been looking at the Pendleton bikes in Halfords but not sure I want to spend that much. Any recommendations for decent slightly cheaper alternatives?

Thanks!

£250 for a decent bike IS cheap.

Thanks but not that helpful!

How far is it?

What sort of terrain - will it be on roads etc?

I find a basket can be quite destabilising, so I would buy a backpack instead.

You probably want a hybrid - sort of in between a road bike and a mountain bike.

£250 is cheap - so maybe find something that you want and then have a look on e bay for a stolen second hand one.

Cheap bikes are bad value because they go nasty after about 100 miles. The parts literally wear in very badly & you won't want to ride it any more.

If you only want to ride it for 100 miles b4 you lose all interest then a Argos £90 special will do you ok.

having worked in a bike shop, I can tell you that the cheaper bikes are basically rubbish! They tend to be over heavy, with very poor quality components that either wear or break quickly.

The Pendleton bikes are on the cusp of being "cheap", I would suggest you look elsewhere. A basket looks nice, but can be cumbersome and downright dangerous if overloaded at low speeds, I suggest you look at a backpack or panniers.

Tell us about your journey (on the road, paths etc. how long, how hilly)?

As you intend to cycle to work, have you asked your employer if they are in a Ride to Work scheme? This will allow you to buy a bike, helmet, lights, clothes etc at least a 32% (if you are a basic rate tax-payer) cheaper.

Ooh good I was about to start a thread on the same thing. Does anyone know if claud butler explorer bikes are good for 10 miles of road and country lanes? Hope you don't mind me asking on this thread op rather than start a very similar one.

Thanks. That's a bit more of what i was looking for! I wondered if Pendleton was just paying for a name? I have been looking on eBay and gumtree but don't have much idea of what to look for.

Journey to work is literally about a mile and a half, through a town/residential area with a slight hill. It's walking distance but I would like to get there faster!! I'm a teacher so will have a laptop, iPad but not intending to take books. I have just bought a new back pack.

Ask away Just

Oh! I'm not sure about the ride to work scheme. A friend has done that with the London Fire Brigade but I don't think my school is participating.

You are totally paying for the name with the Pendleton. Liv are good bikes, and are about £300

I've got a ridgeback mountain bike.

I ride it about once a week but I want a more upright seating position. My lower back gives me a fair bit of jip.

I would look at getting a second hand Danish bike

Justdontaskhowiam

the claud butler explorer bikes look okish, but a but pricey for what they are? As to whether it could handle 10 miles, I'd be surprised if it couldn't.

One thing to bear in mind, don't feel pushed into getting a 'ladies' bike. Apart from obvious things like different saddles and sometimes absence of a crossbar, they only differ from unisex bikes by assuming the rider has a slightly shorter reach than a man, and go down to a smaller size. Try out the unisex version of a bike, if it fits you go for it, can always change the saddle.

LunaLambBhuna,
if your school is an academy, they may not have a ride to work scheme, but LEAs should? No harm is asking though - and they are quite easy to set up.

Thanks Ifailed. School is an academy. I will send an email to find out whether they do it or not.

Thanks ifailed :-)