BIcycles

[yrieithydd]

So, last week, my bicycle stopped steering. I borrowed mum's for the week and took the bike to the shop yesterday. They reckoned that it would be silly to spend £80+ on it given its age and condition; they thought I could buy a second-hand bike in better condition for less than that. They did spray the headset so it steers again. So my trusty stead of 12 years needs to be replaced :-{. I've been thinking about doing so for a while but was hoping to delay it a bit longer having just spent money on moving.

My current bike is a mountain bike which is non-ideal as I rarely go off road and bike is my main form of transport, though my daily commute has just halved from 8 miles a day to 4.

What recommendations, thoughts, ideas do my friends have on what to look for, avoid etc in bicycles?

I intend to get hub dynamo because I'm sick of flat batteries/forgetting lights etc (I already have the light set but not the dynamo). Considering dropped handlebars though I've never used them before but have often thought I might like them.

Comments

[atreic.livejournal.com]

I got a Giant bike, and it wasn't bad.

[yrieithydd.livejournal.com]

Giant is the catalogue the bike shop gave me. How good is not bad?

[atreic.livejournal.com]

Well, both I and Senji had one when we were at Rivendell. I bought mine when I passed my first degree (so about 4 years ago now), treated it abysmally, and it is just starting to rust and fall apart. They're reasonable mid-price nice town bikes. Nothing compaired to M's incredably bling-tastic Dawes bike, but you get what you pay for.

[ukcanuck.livejournal.com]

You might try Sterling House (http://www.sterlinghouse.com/). They take end-of-line and unwanted returns from a larger retailer and sell them off cheaply. You can get a decent 'city bike' from them for a decent price. By "drop handlebar" do you mean the curving-down type on a racing bike? I'd avoid that for city/town riding. Much better control for commuting with the (almost) straight-across type.

[wackydave.livejournal.com]

Hub dynamo is good, you might want to look for a bike with them a standard rather than having to have a wheel built for you. I'd second the normal handle bars since they promote a more upright positions so it is easier to look around.

[emperor]

What's your budget? You may find hub dynamo too much cost (though I have one that could be re-purposed with a bit of faff I've failed to find myself).

Ignore the FUD about drop bars - if they're comfortable, go for them - they are a more physiological position for your arms, but some people find them less-good.

Avoid suspension.

[yrieithydd.livejournal.com]

caliston has I believe a German source (whence came my lights) which aren't too expensive.

Thanks for the vote in favour for drop bars. AIUI drop bars usually have a position which is the like the `normal' handlebars, so having them gives more options. Having the option of adopting a more aerodynamic position for speed is good.

Avoid suspension I hoped someone would say that. I don't see the point unless you're doing excessively uneven surfaces.