Best bike for a 10 yr old - Is £150 much too much?

[Maudy]

No one was answering my other thread so i have started a new one - feeling a bit impatient today!

Where should i go to get a good bike for a 10yr old? Is Halfords any good or should i go to a speacialist bike shop? I know nothing about bikes.

Does he ride a lot?
My boys like to have a current bike (i.e. one that's big enough), but don't ride them a lot.
I've just bought a bike of a mate for my 10 yr-old: she won it in a competition, and only wanted £50 for it.
In the past I have bought reconditioned bikes too from bike shop, as a good deal.
Have also bought a bike from Tescos.
I wouldn't expect a particularly good deal from Halfords at this time of year.

Guess it depends how much use it gets. Personally I think it is a lot and there are some great discount deals around atm at Toys r us and Halfords.

I went to our local bike shop yesterday and they only had 2 choices in his size - one was £90 and the other was £150. They both seemed very expensive. The £150 did seem alot better that the other one as it had an aluminium frame and metal brakes - rather than the other which had plastic.

He doesn't ride that much at the mo as his bike is tiny but he LOVES riding and I'm hoping that in a couple of years he will ride it to secondary school. I think he will ride a lot more with a big bike. I am prepared to spend money on it but i just wondered if the more expensive ones were worth it or if i was just better off getting a cheaper one.

I got DS2's bike from Toys R Us last year. I had to put it together myself on Christmas Eve and then the brakes didn't fit properly. I had to take to to the local bike shop to make it work. It was cheap which is fine for a 4 yr old but not particularly well made and won't last.

I know nothing about bikes, but would definitely get a 'proper' bike rather than a 'fashionable' bike that is more a toy. I would steer clear of any parts made of plastic.

I just looked up some bikes I have seen bike-aware MN-ers recommend (Islabikes) and they are £299!!!
I know £150 is a lot of cash, but I don't think it's too much for a good bike - if you want it to last a long time, be easy and pleasurable to ride, be safe etc.You could sell it once he has grown out of it, too.

And don't go to Halfords - go to a proper bike shop with knowledgeable assistants, and explain what sort of use, unless it is a surprise get them to 'fit' him. Proper bike shops will help you with maintenance and advice if you need to pop back from time to time.

yes thats what i origianally thought. I am now undecided as we went to a friends yesterday and their daughter, who is in the same class as DS1, had a bike in the correct size. DS rode it up and down and loved it and said he was more than happy to have one like that. I think it was probably about £80 and from Halfords!

So do i go for pricey/quality/bike shop or cheaper/ok/Halfords?