Choosing a bike?

[Olle]

Originally Posted by big_si

How dumb am I??? Diving, Mountainbiking and fcuking photography!!! What shall I take up next? Eating Faberge eggs???

I hear Faberge eggs are a bit crunchy with a distinct 'powdery' aftertaste.

but if turns out you like mountain bikes and suddenly you may suddenly find you've added a racer and a hybrid to the collection...

Then you can always add climbing...
And then look longingly at kitesurfers having seemingly endless fun at a blown out divesite...

[Tunicates]

Originally Posted by big_si

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OO!!!!!!!!!!!! More redundancy!!! It's not cheap this biking stuff, is it!

I will have to make sure I ride in a three so have team redundancy!

Thats all very well underwater, but you try riding offroad trying to use just the light of two other riders. Its terrifying!
It wont matter that your eyeballs are bouncing around in their sockets, cos you wont be able to see anything any way. All you can do is hope they stay close enough - but not too close - and that the force is strong within you!

It'll be a while before you'll need any serious off-road lights, and only pussies carry serious back-ups for night riding anyway. Where's the thrill in being super safe all the time?
oops, sorry wrong forum........isnt this STW?

[big_si]

Update... Voucher FINALLY came through and yesterday I went to the bike shop and ordered a sparkly new Kona Cindercone and various bits and pieces! In "about a week" I will be a member of the wheeled masses!!!

REALLY excited! Thanks to all for your help!!!

[nic]

I'm looking at bikes around that price for my girlfriend at the moment and a not bad one if you want to buy one new is the Specialized Hardrock as they're doing £50 off at the moment making it £250. It's not a bad setup for the money and if you want the option of some XC riding as well as using it on roads then just pick up a set of slick tyres for about £30. With any luck you might find something that has lockable suspension making it a rigid bike for road use and nice and bouncy off road.
As for second hand, there's a lot out there but I'm finding it a real pain trying to find anything half decent. Ebay doesn't seem the best place to look but if you put a post on somewhere like southerndownhill.com or bikeradar.com you might have some luck.
As for Hybrids, i've never been a fan as they're basically average on road and are about as useful offroad as a reasonably strong touring bike.

[nic]

Ah, too late i see! I think we posted at the same time!
Nice choice though, that should last you and you can have some fun too!

[big_si]

Originally Posted by nic

Ah, too late i see! I think we posted at the same time!
Nice choice though, that should last you and you can have some fun too!

Thanks! I really can't wait!

And thanks for the (attempted) input too!

[Naomi S]

Havent read whole thread so someone may have posted this already but i must have got lucky with halfords cos i got a Carrera Kraken which is an absolutely cracking bike for the price which is around what you have budgeted for. I use to get around town and for going off road and getting muddy. I've replaced the riser bars with a nice carbon flat job and got a new chain but otherwise kept everything else as it does the job. Love the big chunky tires it just eats up the miles off road really effortlessly. Great fun.

[big_si]

Originally Posted by Naomi S

Havent read whole thread...

Sorry! 24 hours too slow Looooooooooovely Kona Cindercone ordered yesterday... More than the original budget (about double!!!) but more suited to my..... erm...... generous proportions

[Naomi S]

lol yeah should have read last few posts! Get yourself a gel seat too is my advise. Forgot that was the first thing to get replaced on mine as orignal one was the most uncomfortable thing ever. I also got some padded riding gloves after realised i get pins and needles in my wrists after about 10 miles off road if it's really bumpy!

[Sparky750]

Originally Posted by Naomi S

lol yeah should have read last few posts! Get yourself a gel seat too is my advise. Forgot that was the first thing to get replaced on mine as orignal one was the most uncomfortable thing ever. I also got some padded riding gloves after realised i get pins and needles in my wrists after about 10 miles off road if it's really bumpy!

It would have to be a seat like a park bench otherwise it'll be swallowed







Never actually met Si but i pride myself of being indiscriminant with my fat jokes