From specs to price, the crucial points to watch out for if you want to get a good deal on a new or habituated bike.
Although prices of new bikes have shot up in recent times, thanks in part to a Covid- convinced bike- buying delirium, it’s still possible to find a decent bone
at a cost that wo n’t break the bank – if you know where to look.
In fact, now is a veritably good time to buy a new bike because sluggish deals have urged numerous big retailers to knock 20- 30 out. For first- time buyers, the bike request can feel daunting but then’s the Guardian Money companion to buying a bike.
Buying new
The first rule of buying a new bike isn’t to look at anything lower than£ 300( unless it’s a heavily blinked decent bike) as, chances are, it’ll be a drudge to ride and feature poor factors. still, if you can spend£ 400-£ 600, according to BikeRadar’s deputy editor, Jack Luke, you’ll get a serviceably specced bike that will be delightful to ride( not too heavy) – one that will allow you to commute in the week and enjoy rest lifts at weekends.
For utmost people getting back on two bus, it makes a lot of sense to buy a mongrel bike – a flattish handlebarred model with a fairly upright( comfortable) riding position.
Cycling Weekly described the£ 400- ish Pinnacle Lithium 3 as the “ stylish commuter bike for a jack of all trades ”, and it’s hard to differ. You get a featherlight frame and hydraulic slice thickets. These bikes are exclusive to Evans Cycles, part of Frasers Group, the Sports Direct proprietor. For this reason, we’d recommend you only buy this bike in person so you can try it for size, rather than orderingonline.However, these are great bikes, If you have an Evans near you.
Another great starter bike to look at is the Specialized Sirrus1.0, which can be set up new for£ 375. still, be apprehensive that, like the Pinnacle, this does n’t come with mudguards and a pannier rack, which are a must if you’re hoping to ride comfortably when it rains or has rained, or you want to carry work clothes and so on.
Two recommended mongrel commuter bikes that have both these fitted as standard are the reliable£ 480 Ridgeback Speed, and Decathlon’s£ 500 Elops 500. The ultimate is available with men’s and women’s frames, with erected- in lights. We’d suggest the Ridgeback just tones it but both bikes offer reliable civic transport.
Still, the£ 320 Carrera Subway 1 from Halfords is a good option, If you’re on a tighter budget and still want to buy new. It also comes in men’s and women’s performances, and has the capability to mount mudguards and panniers, indeed with its larger tyres. Luke says these have proved themselves over the times and have a pious following among those wanting cheap transport.
For those suitable to spend a bit more, BikeRadar’s mongrel companion has some more precious options in the£ 600-£ 1,000- plus type that will give a conspicuous step over in quality.
For those looking for a newbie road bike( with drop bars), Decathlon’s£ 350 Triban RC120 is the name value purchase.
The best- value new clay bike is presently the£ 650 magician Nakisi, according to Luke.
Meanwhile, there are a host of electric bikes around the£ 2,000 mark. Guardian Money particularly likes theultra-cool VanMoof S4, which the makers say is “ virtually unstealable ”.
Luke advises new bike buyers to favour their independent bike shop( if they’ve one), where they will get some proper advice, and help if they’ve a problem. It’s worth visiting a couple of bike shops, as some will only pasture one brand – for illustration, Trek – and another model may be a better fit.
The final piece of “ buying new ” advice is to buy the bike through your employer’s cycle- to- work scheme, if that’s an option. utmost big employers now offer this, and there’s no coercion to actually cycle to work. Basic- rate taxpayers will save 32 off the purchase price, while advanced- rate taxpayers( those earning further than£ 50,271) admit a 42 reduction through the payment immolation scheme. You can add a helmet, rack, fleece, etc, and you can also buy an electric model. There’s a useful companion to similar schemes then.
What about used?
Still, you’ll generally find a better bike in the secondary request than concluding for a cheaper new bone, If you have a lower budget. spots similar as eBay, Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace are all awash with used bikes in colorful countries of form. Again, you should be looking for a quality bike – immaculately one that bring the first proprietor a fair sum but has been sitting unused in the garage. plenitude of people who bought bikes during Covid are dealing them now after losing interest, and there are some real bargains out there.
Luke advises buyers to take someone who knows a bit about bikes along with you, as “ it’s enough readily to disguise the true state of a bike that’s been heavily used ”.
The fear is that you buy a used bike and gears start slipping, at which point you need to change the chain, mail and conceivably the chainset – wiping out the savings you made.
Maybe a better bet than trawling the private advertisements is to buy from one of the growing number of bike cooperatives and recycling systems that have sprung up across the country. For illustration, the Bristol Bike Project has a big development of upcycled bikes for trade and is a great scheme to invest your plutocrat in. There are analogous systems across the UK, substantially in metropolises. They’re also great places for affordable repairs.