"Steve L" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:
[email protected]...
> Say you only had around £150 to spend, which bike would you choose?
Well I guess that depends on what you want from your bike.
Cheapness in a bike is actually a good thing as you do not worry about
it being stolen, I bought my ("mountain") bike 5-6 years ago (an "Apollo")
for
less than £100 and basically I have had no problems with it (the gear cable
might
need a slight adjustment now, as it has probably stretched a touch after
5 years of no maintance, but that would be the same if you payed £500 for
a bike).
I was actually quite flattered that someone tried to steal it a few months
back!! (They damaged the U-bolt lock mechanism so I could not
unlock it, however I managed to open it using a hammer to hammer in the
key and a pair of plyers to turn it, the key remains in the lock which is
now
useless).
You will get lot of bike for £150 these days including aluminium framed
ones, mine is steel and hence pretty heavy :O(
But as you will be riding the bike rather than carrying it it won't make
much difference.
Aluminum wheel are pretty much bog standard as I have them, as well
as center pull brakes which is a "must".
You will also get as much suspension as you want for £150 (I don't have
any, but I suspect damped suspension is rather energy sapping on the legs
so you get a soft bottom but tired legs!!)
This looks like a nice general purpose bike
http://www.halfords.com/opd_product_details.asp?id=105&type=0&cat=90
I think "mountain bike" are actually the best bikes for use in the city,
they are
very robust so you don't end up with buckled wheels etc..
Urban cycling is pretty much a jungle fighting anyway!
Bikes have came a long way "since I were a lad" rattle and maintaince free
(oiled my chain once), never had to adjust or change brakes (which do not
squeal either), never had a problem with buckled wheels etc.. never had
cotter pin problems (they don't have cotter pins these days anyway).
And I have only had one puncture (other than the one already present
when I bought it!!) this is due to the nice thick chunky tires!!
Of course you can pay a whole lot more for a bike but the extra money
gives you very little extra in functionality, you will still get from A to B
just
as fast. You will however get a lot of extra worry in that when you lock
your bike up will it still be there when you return?
I have never had to replace anything on the bike, and when it comes to the
time to do that, well I will probably just dump it and buy a new bike, they
really are dirty cheap these days!
I might even go for the one I listed, cos when I was a lad it would have
cost me £500!!!