Help buying a new bike

Having hung on to an old, ropey bike for far too long (it was second hand when we bought it in 1995), I’m beginning to toy with the idea of treating myself to a new one. Not necessarily new-new, I’m quite happy with second hand, but at least something with decent breaks that doesn’t injure my back every time I lug it down the steps to our flat.

But it seems that choosing a bike is a complicated business. There’s so much you need to know. I want to be taken seriously by the lycra-clad geeks in bike shops, you see, not treated like the clueless, fair-weather cyclist that I am.

So I am delighted to have come across a new book by Green Books called Cycling to Work: a beginner's guide. It has a helpful section on Buying a Bike, outlining the different types. Hybrid, road racers, mountain bikes – I’m up with all the lingo having read it in bed this morning. There’s also a bit on Bike Maintenance with instructions on how to do basic things like mend a puncture and tighten your break cables. Stuff that usually involves a trip to a bike shop for me. Even better, I found the Why Cycle website which has a jargon busting section. So armed with new knowledge, I set out this weekend, to investigate my options. Will it be a stolen bike, sold on the cheap at London's Brick Lane? (yep, bad karma). A new bicycle from a proper shop? (expensive and not very green). Or an online deal from one of the discount bike sites, or even Ebay? (Dodgy business, buying a bike without seeing/riding it first). Watch this space.

Comments

[Rob]

I can recommend one of those folding bikes from rabbit.de, that you can buy from them on ebay (for about £300). Good quality, great to ride, and I can keep it indoors when I get to work.

[Eco Worrier]

Thanks Rob - according to my little "cycling to work" book, folding bikes are grand in many ways, but they are less comfortable and slower to ride. Have you found that?

[Michael]

Hi Anna,
I don't think a second hand bike with decent breaks is a good idea as you might hurt your back trying to ride it. Good brakes are a good idea though

[Rob]

No I haven't. When I say 'great to ride', I mean it. Those with lots of joints apparently aren't that rigid, and together with their small wheels, can be hard work. Not this one. Do a search for Dahon (who make the frames) for some (usually more expensive) variations. Having said all that, also checkout the Strida (e.g. on youtube.com), which would be easier to carry up and down your stairs.

[hedgewizard]

Well, Number Two Son is back on the road, now on FrankenBike, the bastard fusion of his own clapped-out mountain bike and a rather dusty stripped-and-never-reassembled effort from Freecycle (rather appropriately). Now that that's out of the way, I'm free to wonder - do the plump-arsed pleat-skirted bicycling matrons who wobble along our road obscuring oncoming traffic pupate and turn into svelte lycra-clad cycle-maniacs, or is it the other way round?