i know nothing! please help

[chris390]

looking for a bike for cycling with family just round parks etc nothing to hard core and found this near me http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am... so no postage, anyway is it worth it or have you got any other recomendations.
thanks in anticipation, chris.

[BadgerBenji]

Don't buy it, you will get a very heavy bike in a box, that you will have to assemble, sounds simple, but trust me having worked in a bike shop with a lot of workshop time spent, the amount of people who buy a bike in a box and then either find a piece missing, or make it unroadworthy is a very scary number, the french government were so concerned by this, they outlawed the selling of bikes in boxes.

Back to the bike you mentioned, yes full suspension looks attractive, but pivot points wear, shock absorbers are nothing more of a friction damper, doesn't sound so bad at the minute, but given a few months, the pivot points will develop slop, which means the whole bike will feel very wobbly not to mention be dangerous, with nowhere to buy spares as everyone of these cheap bikes are different, at that point you have a pile of scrap.

Disc brakes at that point will be cable actuated, and probably of a very small diameter with poor pad material. I have tried brakes like this on some, and the performance was shocking to the point of being dangerous due to there inability to retard any amount of speed. The pads will wear who will supply them? Probably unavailable.

Best advice, find your local bike shop, buy a basic bike, something along the lines of a giant rock, if you want a mtb, or a giant cypress if you want a hybrid. But buy it fully assembled, a good shop will include a first free service after a month, at this time they will readjust the gears and give it a good once over.

[chris390]

thanks badgerbenji
so to summarise - rear suspension is pointless and will wear , front suspension is probablly not neccessary , nothing to be gained with disk brakes at this price level.
feeling a bit more confident about parting with my cash,
if anybody else has advice im still listening.
chris

[Dr Bob]

If you're looking on eBay...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/kona-muna-mula_W0QQitemZ3301...

see also the other thread about Kona bikes.

CH

[A - W]

Depends how much you want to spend.

[W00DY]

Get down halfords and get a carrera subway very good bike with a light frame, good sram gears and no useless suspension. 10% off if you b uy a box of frosties

[Tim S]

BadgerBenji said:

...loads of good stuff...

Spot on.

Evans can be a good source of discounted bikes as they flog off last year's models cheaply - it does depend on them having the size you need though.

Decathlon's own brand bikes are very good value for money too.

Get down to your local bike shop and sit on some bikes to find out what size you need - this is quite important as the wrong size at best will make the bike hard/tiring to ride and at worst could lead to joint problems or back & knee pain which will put you of cycling.

A good bike shop ought to let you have a test ride before you buy and should set the bike up properly for you when you buy it.

[chris390]

thanks all, going to try local indipendant bike shop and keep it simple but quality.
chris

[mk1fan]

Just to clarify to you. At your price point (sub £200) suspension of any sort is going to be pretty inaffectual. As are disc brakes.

If all you are going to do is ride around the park or canal paths with your wife and kids, then a rigid bike with V brakes and semi-slick tyres would suit your needs better. Additionally, a rigid bike would have better componentry and frame for the price. It will also be simpler to maintain.

Decathalon bikes are ridiculously cheap for what you end up getting and well worth considering.