Big Adam
08-07-2003, 16:34
Ok, Background:
Having moved to Peterborough quite recently, the wife and I now have a lot more countryside to explore than when we lived in the big smoke.
Wanting to get our lardy a**es in shape, we've decided to invest in a couple of bicycles. I've still got my trusty old racer in the garage but the tow-paths and cycle routes round our way are more suited to something a bit more rugged.
So, this weekend, we are probably going to go out and purchase a couple of nice shiny mountain bikes. There's a local shop which as well as selling new bikes, also sells off slight seconds / catalogue returns etc at discount prices. I've compared the prices to what is possible online and it looks good (plus we can try out these bikes rather than crossing our fingers with a purchase off ebay!)
Here's the linky to the bike shop (http://www.oybcycles.co.uk/used)
We've got a budget of about £300 - £400 total. Bikes can be identical as we're both 6ft tall or thereabouts. My wife fancies one of these full suspension jobbies to protect her delicates. I'm happy with one too although I'd probably have the suspension at it's stiffest setting due to being used to hardtail bikes all my life. If they had a hardtail bike with better components, I'd probably plump for that one.
For people that don't know, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire are pretty darn flat and we're 'casual' riders so we're looking for reasonably decent solid quality and not hardcore super-lighweight alloy performance
Questions:
1) Are these Barracuda brands any good for low impact riding?
2) Are these prices any good?
3) What should I be looking to avoid in a 'budget' bike?
4) Any features that would be 'nice to have' if I can get them within budget?
I'm hoping that with buying two bikes at once I can negotiate a good deal or get the shop to throw in a new helmet for the wife.
So, any pointers?
Big A
Having moved to Peterborough quite recently, the wife and I now have a lot more countryside to explore than when we lived in the big smoke.
Wanting to get our lardy a**es in shape, we've decided to invest in a couple of bicycles. I've still got my trusty old racer in the garage but the tow-paths and cycle routes round our way are more suited to something a bit more rugged.
So, this weekend, we are probably going to go out and purchase a couple of nice shiny mountain bikes. There's a local shop which as well as selling new bikes, also sells off slight seconds / catalogue returns etc at discount prices. I've compared the prices to what is possible online and it looks good (plus we can try out these bikes rather than crossing our fingers with a purchase off ebay!)
Here's the linky to the bike shop (http://www.oybcycles.co.uk/used)
We've got a budget of about £300 - £400 total. Bikes can be identical as we're both 6ft tall or thereabouts. My wife fancies one of these full suspension jobbies to protect her delicates. I'm happy with one too although I'd probably have the suspension at it's stiffest setting due to being used to hardtail bikes all my life. If they had a hardtail bike with better components, I'd probably plump for that one.
For people that don't know, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire are pretty darn flat and we're 'casual' riders so we're looking for reasonably decent solid quality and not hardcore super-lighweight alloy performance
Questions:
1) Are these Barracuda brands any good for low impact riding?
2) Are these prices any good?
3) What should I be looking to avoid in a 'budget' bike?
4) Any features that would be 'nice to have' if I can get them within budget?
I'm hoping that with buying two bikes at once I can negotiate a good deal or get the shop to throw in a new helmet for the wife.
So, any pointers?
Big A