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Which mountain bike to buy?


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Hi folks, especially bicycle experts!

 

I've just started a new job, which involves me getting two journeys via public transport each way. Not only do I want to get fit again, but save money on transport.

 

I used to have a Diamond Back Sorrento about 15yrs ago and loved it, but am struggling which model to buy in the under-£250 market(or 2nd hand)

 

Does anyone know which shops to look at? Cheers.

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Mountain bikes are an established product by now so pretty much any bike you get in that price range should be pretty good and easily as good/better than a early 90s sorrento. Just have a look round CC&C, Langset Cycles and JE James and see what they have in you size and price range.

 

In your price range go for a straightforward rigid bike as gimmicks like suspension or disk brakes will be poorly executed and leave to other things being skimped on and unnecessary for a commute bike.

 

See if they have any bikes from the last few seasons available at a discount, there have been no significant advances in bikes for years so you won’t be missing anything and you should be able to get better quality kit on a reduced 05 or 04 bike than a more current model.

 

If you’re just going to use it on the road try to get the shop to switch the tyres for slicks (fairly big ones as sheffield’s roads are crap) which are much quicker and more stable than knobblies on the road, if the shop won’t switch them for you I’d recommend budgeting to buy some yourself as they are so much better than knobblies for city riding.

 

Also leave some cash for mudguards (should be about £15) which are essential in the British winter, oh yeah with this in mind try to get a bike with eyelets for mudguards and a rack should you choose to fit one. ALso budget front and rear LED lights (CC&C is fairly cheap for those) which are much smaller, lighter and brighter than old style filament lights and the batteries last for ages.

 

If you are returning to cycling after a long lay off just remember to take it easy to begin with and build up your fitness again and you’ll soon find the hills much easier

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Have you considered a hybrid bike instead of a mountain bike, if you're unlikely to be going off-road much? Decathlon in town, near Staples, might be worth a look too, and don't forget Halfords.

A mountain bike with slicks is much more versatile than a hybrid and every bit as good in town.

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don't go to halfords, the only shop i know of that was charging people to put their bikes together - boxed bikes that should have been in one piece when sold - because it was near christmas and they thought they could.

 

please please please make sure you're not one of the numpties without a helmet or appropriately powerful lights that endangers themselves and everyone else - don't give people any more anti cyclist ammunition. also, if you go bike shopping, make sure you do it during the day during the week, you'll get better service (if you can, anyway).

 

oh, jejames match prices to the internet but only if you ask, jsut so you know. (same size and in stock items)

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