Top 10 tips - buying
  • Decide what you really want the bike for.
  • If you are new or returning to cycling, you need a machine that will be resilient on the road, on the dirt, on and off the car. We recommend a decent light weight hard tail mountain bike.

    Decent disk brakes help the confidence. Lock out front suspension (to stiffen when on the road - stopping the bobbing up and down) with at least 70mm of travel. This bike will delight on and off road. If you're nervous chose a comfortable saddle. Get a good rear mud guard, it will stop you from getting in a mess.
  • Choose a nice brand. Trek, Giant, Cannondale, Scott. If you are buying new you need to spend at least £300, though we would recommend at least £500.

    You need to have Shimano gearing - don't compromise.
  • If you are using the bike to go to work, we recommend a hybrid. All of the brands above are good, and Shimano is essential. Make sure you have at least 3 gears on your front gearset, the more gears the better.

    A comfortable riding position is essential. Get some simple clip on mud guards, for the rain. A simple set of panniers held on by a rack which these days is supported from the seat post. This bike will be light and fast and will serve you well.
  • If you have a reasonable level of fitness and really want to get fit - get a road bike!! If you compare a good road bike to a mountain bike, it's like comparing a Land Rover and a Porsche.

    Then it's down to how much you want to spend. If you are buying new, we recommend spending at least £500, but for £1000, you could even get into Carbon, but don't worry if you don't; light weight alloys are great and more resilient than carbon, especially if you are new to looking after your new pride and joy. Be careful with your choice of front cogs, don't choose too high a gear, you'll just do your knees in.
  • You will need a helmet - don't be an idiot and ride without one. Talk to any pro who has lost a friend or colleague, it will usually be because they weren't wearing a helmet. You wouldn't drive without a seat belt!

    Remember that you will be going down hills up to 40mph, kerb stones don't forgive.

    You will also need good lights - if you're out for long periods at night, choose a halogen lamp with separate battery pack, they are almost as good as car head lights. You cannot be seen enough - don't forget it!!!!
  • Always wear some bright clothing - for Mountain biking, you'll need sensible shorts that dry and wash easily. Choose a breathable short sleeve top. Always carry a light waterproof top, again breathable. This is worth spending some money on, they are available in florescent colours.

    For road biking, you'll need to go with the lycra, seems odd at first, but soon becomes second nature, if you ride with someone in normal clothing, you won't believe how much their clothing slows them down.
  • Choose good pedals and footwear - For mountain biking, unless your doing loads of off road, we recommend SPD pedals, which clip you in. You'll need special shoes, some for the summer and boots for the winter.

    If you don't like the thought of being fixed to the bike choose a set of DMR V8's which have adjustable grub screws for grip, good walking type trainer boots and you won't believe the grip. We find toe straps old fashioned, but they do the job.

    If you're on a road bike, get the Look system of being clipped in, but get used to them before you set out and ensure that your toe-in is set correctly or you will damage your knees.
  • Get a good small backpack designed for cycling - It is so that your keys, lock, money and phone all have somewhere to go.
  • Buy a small saddle bag for under your saddle or frame. Keep spare inner tube / tyre levers and a puncture kit on board. If you're keen, get one of the multi tools available, it could get you out of a mess, especially if you are a long way from home.

    Buy two bottle carriers, you will need the liquid on a long journey. You can always keep your tools in one of them? These bottle cages usually come with a pump fitted - but it's really only for an emergency. Get a proper pump for home, it will serve you well!!!!
  • Decide what you really want the bike for.
  • If you are new or returning to cycling, you need a machine that will be resilient on the road, on the dirt, on and off the car. We recommend a decent light weight hard tail mountain bike.

    Decent disk brakes help the confidence. Lock out front suspension (to stiffen when on the road - stopping the bobbing up and down) with at least 70mm of travel. This bike will delight on and off road. If you're nervous chose a comfortable saddle. Get a good rear mud guard, it will stop you from getting in a mess.
  • Choose a nice brand. Trek, Giant, Cannondale, Scott. If you are buying new you need to spend at least £300, though we would recommend at least £500.

    You need to have Shimano gearing - don't compromise.
  • If you are using the bike to go to work, we recommend a hybrid. All of the brands above are good, and Shimano is essential. Make sure you have at least 3 gears on your front gearset, the more gears the better.

    A comfortable riding position is essential. Get some simple clip on mud guards, for the rain. A simple set of panniers held on by a rack which these days is supported from the seat post. This bike will be light and fast and will serve you well.
  • If you have a reasonable level of fitness and really want to get fit - get a road bike!! If you compare a good road bike to a mountain bike, it's like comparing a Land Rover and a Porsche.

    Then it's down to how much you want to spend. If you are buying new, we recommend spending at least £500, but for £1000, you could even get into Carbon, but don't worry if you don't; light weight alloys are great and more resilient than carbon, especially if you are new to looking after your new pride and joy. Be careful with your choice of front cogs, don't choose too high a gear, you'll just do your knees in.
  • You will need a helmet - don't be an idiot and ride without one. Talk to any pro who has lost a friend or colleague, it will usually be because they weren't wearing a helmet. You wouldn't drive without a seat belt!

    Remember that you will be going down hills up to 40mph, kerb stones don't forgive.

    You will also need good lights - if you're out for long periods at night, choose a halogen lamp with separate battery pack, they are almost as good as car head lights. You cannot be seen enough - don't forget it!!!!
  • Always wear some bright clothing - for Mountain biking, you'll need sensible shorts that dry and wash easily. Choose a breathable short sleeve top. Always carry a light waterproof top, again breathable. This is worth spending some money on, they are available in florescent colours.

    For road biking, you'll need to go with the lycra, seems odd at first, but soon becomes second nature, if you ride with someone in normal clothing, you won't believe how much their clothing slows them down.
  • Choose good pedals and footwear - For mountain biking, unless your doing loads of off road, we recommend SPD pedals, which clip you in. You'll need special shoes, some for the summer and boots for the winter.

    If you don't like the thought of being fixed to the bike choose a set of DMR V8's which have adjustable grub screws for grip, good walking type trainer boots and you won't believe the grip. We find toe straps old fashioned, but they do the job.

    If you're on a road bike, get the Look system of being clipped in, but get used to them before you set out and ensure that your toe-in is set correctly or you will damage your knees.
  • Get a good small backpack designed for cycling - It is so that your keys, lock, money and phone all have somewhere to go.
  • Buy a small saddle bag for under your saddle or frame. Keep spare inner tube / tyre levers and a puncture kit on board. If you're keen, get one of the multi tools available, it could get you out of a mess, especially if you are a long way from home.

    Buy two bottle carriers, you will need the liquid on a long journey. You can always keep your tools in one of them? These bottle cages usually come with a pump fitted - but it's really only for an emergency. Get a proper pump for home, it will serve you well!!!!

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