I need advice on picking a bike!

Danye

Hi lads / ladies...

Im looking to get myself a bike for the daily commute to and from work but also I plan on using it regularily for going the gym and generally getting around.

I have 2 bikes picked out (mainly because of the price, but if anybody has any other suggestions im all ears) an im just looking for your opinion on which one would suit me best for my needs.

The first one is from Cycle Superstore just off the greenhills road, http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=32&idproduct=30510

And the second one is from halfords http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_551221_langId_-1_categoryId_212377

Also, while looking at halfords website I came across this http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_551221_langId_-1_categoryId_212377

So what do you guys think? Thanks for your help

kenmc

Danye wrote: »

The first one is from Cycle Superstore just off the greenhills road, http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=32&idproduct=30510

And the second one is from halfords http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=32&idproduct=30510

So what do you guys think? Thanks for your help

I think the second one is also from cyclesuperstore

DualFrontDiscs

Dayne,

What distance is your commute? On what terrain? Flat, hills, etc?

DFD.

blorg

DualFrontDiscs wrote: »

Dayne,

What distance is your commute? On what terrain? Flat, hills, etc?

DFD.

What does DFD stand for?

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

What does DFD stand for?

It's a recursive acronym, DFD For Danye.

Danye

DualFrontDiscs wrote: »

Dayne,

What distance is your commute? On what terrain? Flat, hills, etc?

DFD.

Its about 5/6 miles round trip, but also plan on using it for going to the gym and going for regular spins on it aswell, especially if we get the weather .

Terrain? On roads through the city...a couple of hills aswell.

DualFrontDiscs

Danye wrote: »

Its about 5/6 miles round trip, but also plan on using it for going to the gym and going for regular spins on it aswell, especially if we get the weather .

Terrain? On roads through the city...a couple of hills aswell.

Well, if you're not looking to get into cycling as an 'activity', but rather as a practical matter, I would choose something like the Kona Africa Bike

To quote the blurb:

"Tough as a rhinoceros, fleet as a gazelle, durable as a crocodile, easy to maintain and designed specifically to provide effective, affordable transportation to those who need a bike that gets the job done-no matter if it's dirt roads or psycho-habituated roadways."

It's blurb, what can you expect

If you can buy it from an LBS (local bike store), all the better, they can help set it up for you and give you a quick service a few weeks after it's 'bedded in'.

I'd say it's a practical bike for practical purposes. Kona is a good brand, which means you're paying a bit for that, but presumably the aftercare, warranty, etc is all good (I've no personal experience).

DFD*

*Don'tFearDimitri

PS. There are lots of similar threads here, if you can find them.

blorg

If that is your budget I reckon either of those bikes is a good option for the use you describe. I would probably lean towards the Subway as (1) it is cheaper (2) it gets good reviews and (3) it doesn't have a suspension fork (which is unnecessary on the road, saps pedalling energy and tends to be heavy and bad quality at that pricepoint.)

Just make sure Halfords assemble it right; that is the risk with the Subway (the bike itself is meant to be decent.)