What bike would people recommend?

[rickyhad]

Basically i'm wanting a bike to ride to work on as getting the tube everyday is a real pain expecially as it gets hotter. The problem is i don't really know what i'm looking for when i comes to the specs of different bikes.

I'm after what i think is termed a hybrid - a road bike with straight bars and a slightly less forward leaning seating position, if you see what i mean.

I've had a look around and seen these ones, but has anyone got any other suggestions.

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=70755

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=70422

I could maybe stretch to this one

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=70423

Sorry not sure how to make them proper links.

[bga]

Until recently I used one of these to commute through town:

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?...

Simple (single chainring at front), light & quick, the spec was pretty decent for it's price.

[mk1fan]

I'd have to recommend the Revolution bike from Edinburgh too. As you're only riding in London you don't need all the gears on the other bikes. Plus it's a bargain price.

[Pigfarmer3]

Alright there.

I'll be honest with you I'm a real believer in spending that amount of money on a second hander. I've bought so many bikes as a cyclist that when I'm buying something to train on or not use in comp then I'll happily spend up to a G on a senond hand bike.

There really is absolutely no point in buying a brand new bike at these prices. The frame is the expensive part so your paying for that. You may say that a used bike is going to be worn, but it's not like a car. Anything that needs replacing, especially on a commuter, will be dirt cheap.

On a used bike, make sure your not buying a kipper (which is fairly easy as you can see pretty much all the working parts (and you can definately FEEL them all)), then have it fully serviced by a good bike shop. I can promise you that if you've made sure the frame is immaculate (i.e no rust bubbles or dents) then the most you'll have to spend, including the service, will be £60, and thats the MAX.

You'll have a much classier bike than you would have got for your money which will in term be a better/longer runner due to the added quality!

Good luck

[Pappa Lurve]

I have the ridgeback genisis which is not massivly different to the one you are looking at. Upgraded it now but I still use it and regularly did 10-20 mile rides on it. Lovely bike, not too heavy, tough as nails, looks good and is comfortable. Gear set could be a tad beeter though which I think it is on the one you are looking at. You could do a lot worse than that. Bought it from Evans as well. Not the best bike shop I have been too, but certainly not bad at all.

[Sarkmeister]

I bought a Genesis Day 01 about a month ago. Since then i have done about 400 miles on it. Cant fault it so far. It looks good, is tough, and I managed to keep up with all the race bikes on the Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride yesterday.

Id say its perfect for commuting. I got mine for £399 from Cyclehouse (luckily the alu forks were damaged in transit so the shop replaced them with the carbon forks from the Day 02 free of charge)