cookstar

iTrader: (6)

I will be receiving a £1000 voucher to spend in Halfords shortly through the cycle2work scheme.

It will be used mainly to get fit, as I live 40 miles from work, cycling there isn't practical.

Am I right in thinking a non suspension bike would be better for the road?

Can anyone recommend anything in that price range?

Or else I will end up buying a bike because it looks nice.


Cheers.

SJ_Skyline

You need to narrow it down a bit, what sort of bike are you after?

Evans Cycles | Bikes | Online Bike Shop

From what you've said, maybe a road bike but will you ever want to go off-road?

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

I very much doubt I will ever take it off road, maybe a bit of grass in the park but that's it.

Trouble is mate, I have no idea about what bike does what.

SJ_Skyline

As a general rule, a more expensive bike will have lighter, harder-wearing components. As you say you will be on tarmac most of the time then either a road or a hybrid sounds about right. Personally, I would go for a road bike (as I already have the mtb for off-road).

You might come across double or triple in the name - this refers to the front ring, are there 2 or 3 cogs. 2 is lighter but 3 will has a lower-gear which will enable easier hill climbs. Again, my choice would be the triple.

Makes: Specialized, Trek, Bianchi, Cannondale, Scott and Kona are all good makes offering similar specs of bike. No real advice here apart from look at any bargains where price has been reduced such as last year's models and be sure to haggle!

Hope that's a useful starter?

Tenby

iTrader: (1)

deffo non suspension for the road. either all out road raceer or hybrid. do you have to buy from halfords?

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

The voucher that my employer will be sending me is to be spent in Halfords only.

Right so looks like it will be a non suspension bike then.

I will obviously try before I buy etc, but what frame size would generally suit someone that is 6 foot 3?

mrtheedge2u2

I used to own a Trek 7.9 FX... not the most expensive of hybrid bikes but certainly good enough for me.

SJ_Skyline

FAQs and a sizing guide

Coffin Dodger

Yes if possible purchase elsewhere as they know about as much about bikes as I know about brain surgery

As already mentioned if you never want to ride off road then a road bike is the way to go. A hybrid type thing may give you a little more flexibility if you want to ride on say canal tow paths or forest roads. Little country lanes seem to be less well maintained these days also so a hybrid would withstand the potholes etc. better.

For £1k should be looking at having a decent frame (i.e. double or triple butted aluminium or maybe a really good quality steel frame), carbon forks (or maybe suspension forks on a hybrid, these are usually stiffer and have less travel than mountain bike forks), and a mid range Shimano groupset with the usual 27 gears. Triple front chain set is a good idea if you have a lot of hills to deal with.

Coffin Dodger

This looks nice:

Boardman Performance Hybrid Pro bike Ltd Large 09 from Halfords Price £999.99 Now Available Built for Home Delivery (subject to availability)

as do these:

Boardman Road Bike Team Carbon Large 09 from Halfords Price £999.99 Now Available Built for Home Delivery (subject to availability)

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

Looks to be a hybrid then, as I'm quite a heavy chap, which is why I'm getting it in the first place. And would like the flexibility to mess about over the park with the lad as well.

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

the carbon one looks a bit tasty.

Tenby

iTrader: (1)

go to a proper bike shop for fitting and advice

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Do you have to spend the whole grand ?

If you aren commuting on it you could get away with something cheaper to keep the monthly payments down (if you want to) but obviously you dont get as much benefit in terms of getting tax back off the government but it is still cheaper.

I have a Cannondale Bad Boy hybrid (£700), ride it most days the 14 mile round trip to work and back and love it but I dont think I would get that much use if not commuting, also if you spend the whole grand on a bike you havent allocated anything for accesories, not as critical if it is just for a toddle round the park or if you plan (like a lot of CTW participants) to just fling it in the garage but if you are going to use it day or night, rain or shine potentially you will need some decent lights, waterproof's, shorts, tops, longs, clippy shoes, clippy pedals, chain oil, lock, rack, panniers, mudguards, the list goes on !

andys

hmm so buying a bike on the work scheme and then never using it to commute? Isn't this against the terms of the program and HMRC could be very interested in that.

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

I didn't say never.

Tenby

iTrader: (1)

ever been called **** by any chance

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

Halfords have their own C2W scheme, as do Evans. That would be why Cookstar can't spend his voucher elsewhere.

andys

no but there are several reports flying about how the HMRC has started to crack down on this.

Tenby

iTrader: (1)

they dont have the time or resources to do it. hell they dont even have the time or resources to man all ports at all times.

Timwinner

iTrader: (3)

If its an on road get to work bike have a look at a Kona Jake or Sutra. They eat up the miles.

davyboy

Don't bother with a Hybrid, a racing road bike is just as comfortable as you can hold the bars in 3 different places.

I bought a Hybrid last year (Giant FCR) and am now getting a proper racing bike. If you have to buy from Halfords then you have to get a Boardman.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Davyboy, I kind of agree having spent a couple of weeks on a nice road bike instead of my Hybrid, I did like the different positions for holiding the bars, having come from a road bike originally going to the Hybrid was slightly frustrating at first but you get used to it, the benefits I find are being able to strap panniers to it (a lot of road bikes dont have the lugs or geometary to suit) and the ability to go through mud and crap, fit MTB tyres or even wheels, you can do rough roads on a road bike but its not their natrual habitat, I may yet buy another road bike but I find if you are going to have one bike it may as well be a hybrid, ok its a jack of all trades/master of none but after 12 months you can buy another one on CTW and go for something more specialised.

As for clamping down by HMRC, hmm, doesnt bother me as I use mine for work more than the car, I cant imagine they will bother as for what it costs in tax its probably not worth the agro, they may make some noise about it though as to be honest out of probably 12 people in here that have bikes through the scheme I am the only one who commutes, its obvious by the distance from work, type of bike etc who may cycle to work, most just get them cos its a bargain, good intensions fall by the wayside when they get wet, overtaken by a truck 12 inches to their right, realise it doesnt propel itself, gets dark, it snows, the helmet mucks their hair up, there is no aircon, no radio and the performance is rubbish....

Still, lots of nice cheap bikes on Ebay soon

Tenby

iTrader: (1)

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

I would eventually like to use it part commuting, as I live four miles from the station, so would like to ride there then get the train to London.

I'd be lucky to get to the end of my road in my present physical condition.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

I wouldnt leave a grands worth of bike at the station, well with the British publics delightful attitude to theiving and vandalism I wouldnt leave anything unatended for more than 15 minutes !

As for getting to the end of the road, you will probably surprise yourself, I am not that fit but can do 14 miles a day, at a decent speed (about 16 average, best of 17.5 mph) and feel like I could do much more, dont get out of breath unless really pressing on, overtake most othre cyclists I come across, only get overtaken by whippet like roadies, im 6 ft tall and 16.5 stone, havent lost much (if any weight) but also, Ihavent put any on, eat like a horse and feel much fitter.

Dont put it off for any reason, rain, dark whatever, just buy the right gear, you get used to it, got drenched yesterday, makes you feel great really, I have surprised myself and those around me by sticking to it, I am a lazy, exercise averse, quite greedy person yet I get up half an hour earlier than I need to and get on a bike, why, because I love it, the car feels like a cop out, decadent, too easy now.

Its funny, when I got to 17 I was itching to get a car and consign my bike to the shed, 20 years later at 37 it went back the other way, you see things you dont normally see, wildlife, get some fresh air,some activity, it does depend a lot on your route though, mine is through mainly countryside, only spoilt by cars and it has to be said, most drivers are ok, some very tolerant, some careful, some ambivalent but very few dangerous or hostile.

My car has done 1800 miles since last November.

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

I am very unfit. and weigh considerably more than you

I would take the bike on the train with me.

austinwrx

You are kidding: you really think the revenue could map when and where and what route people cycle to work ??