What do you think of these bikes?

[nitelife]

My companies moving in three weeks to Theale, around 4.5 miles away and I'm thinking of cycling. What do you think of these bikes?

My budget is around £250. I don't want to spend more as I have to prove that I can keep it up first

£229.99
Carrera Vulcan V Spec 20" Mens Cross Country Mountain Bike 08

£229.99
Carrera Vulcan V Spec 20" Mountain Bike 09

£249.99
Carrera Vulcan Disc Spec 20" Mens Mountain Bike 08

£249.99
Carrera Vulcan Disc Spec 20" Mountain Bike 09

All been rated 5 stars in the reviews. I could go to an independent bike shop but they seem expensive by comparison, and Halfords are offering free build and free 6 week service.

Any recommendations?

TIA

[chesser]

Wiggle have a £250-ish priced Focus as the mo in their sale?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Sale/26/Fo...09/5360037573/

Don't like Halfords bunch of clueless kids IMHO, Wiggle is a good place to start...

There are many more companies out there but prices will be generally higher for better quality bikes.

[photek1000]

Personally I would look more at the commuter bikes.

The one below is a little over your budget at £269 but if your not used to cycle commuting this one will be easier going, and you'd be more inclinded to continue.

I do a similar distance, funnily enough also in Reading, from the outskirts to the centre, it's about 4 miles and easily do-able in 15 minutes, my quickest was 12.5.

I use my old mountain bike, with huge knobblies on it, and I keep meaning to move to city slicks to make my life easier as I don't use it off road at all these days.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_165534

[Cooleo]

I race mountain bikes, and i know if you have the choice of disk brakes or V breaks, You don't pick V brakes.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_165499

Get that one! Disk brakes will do alot better in all terrains, and all weathers. V brakes may have trouble on sand/wet whilst if the disk brakes start to have problems, You can slam them on and they heat up (If you do them hard enough, You could probably cook an egg on them). The tyres on that bike seem decent, and quite wide so they will have more grip on and off the road.

Thats my two cents.

[crashtestmac]

I had a carrera vulcan, the disc version.

-The forks broke after 4 weeks (upgraded and replaced under warranty £40 extra)
-The bottom bracket (the bit between the 2 pedal cranks that goes through the bike) lasted about 9 months
The spokes clapsed on the wheels and the brearing went after about 7 months....!!

But i rode it hard and fast...!

If you are just commuting then it should be fine.
As Chesser says the focus would be a better bike...!

[BertRoot]

I would have a wait a few weeks until the new ranges come out. GTs are due in the middle of September and then prices will drop on the old 09 stock and it is worth remembering that the prices on new bikes will also be less on the new ranges due to the stronger pound. The bike I am gonna get for my daughter was 399 last year and a slightly better specced version of it in the 2010 range will be 299.

Oh and don't forget Carrera are wank as are Halfords. Steer clear.

[nitelife]

Wiggle have a £250-ish priced Focus as the mo in their sale?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Sale/26/Fo...09/5360037573/

Don't like Halfords bunch of clueless kids IMHO, Wiggle is a good place to start...

There are many more companies out there but prices will be generally higher for better quality bikes.

I know what you mean about Halfords judging by some reviews, but I can actually go there and ride on a bike to see if it suits me or not. With this one (which looks good I must admit) it's a bit of a gamble as it's mail order.

Thanks.

[nitelife]

Personally I would look more at the commuter bikes.

The one below is a little over your budget at £269 but if your not used to cycle commuting this one will be easier going, and you'd be more inclinded to continue.

I do a similar distance, funnily enough also in Reading, from the outskirts to the centre, it's about 4 miles and easily do-able in 15 minutes, my quickest was 12.5.

I use my old mountain bike, with huge knobblies on it, and I keep meaning to move to city slicks to make my life easier as I don't use it off road at all these days.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_165534

I am quite keen to get a front suspension bike as a friend has a rigid framed one, and he complains that he can't even cycle by the river without him getting aches and pains (because of the bumpiness).

[nitelife]

I race mountain bikes, and i know if you have the choice of disk brakes or V breaks, You don't pick V brakes.

Get that one! Disk brakes will do alot better in all terrains, and all weathers. V brakes may have trouble on sand/wet whilst if the disk brakes start to have problems, You can slam them on and they heat up (If you do them hard enough, You could probably cook an egg on them). The tyres on that bike seem decent, and quite wide so they will have more grip on and off the road.
.

I had a carrera vulcan, the disc version.

-The forks broke after 4 weeks (upgraded and replaced under warranty £40 extra)
-The bottom bracket (the bit between the 2 pedal cranks that goes through the bike) lasted about 9 months
The spokes clapsed on the wheels and the brearing went after about 7 months....!!

But i rode it hard and fast...!

If you are just commuting then it should be fine.
As Chesser says the focus would be a better bike...!

Hmmm.. It will be just for commuting...

[nitelife]

I would have a wait a few weeks until the new ranges come out. GTs are due in the middle of September and then prices will drop on the old 09 stock and it is worth remembering that the prices on new bikes will also be less on the new ranges due to the stronger pound. The bike I am gonna get for my daughter was 399 last year and a slightly better specced version of it in the 2010 range will be 299.

Oh and don't forget Carrera are wank as are Halfords. Steer clear.

Thats good advice, maybe ill wait a month and see what happens.

Are halfords that bad?

Maybe I should look at that company chesser recommended after all.

[BertRoot]

Thats good advice, maybe ill wait a month and see what happens.

Are halfords that bad?

Maybe I should look at that company chesser recommended after all.

wiggle are alright but also look at chainreaction, jejames and leisurelakes too.

[photek1000]

I am quite keen to get a front suspension bike as a friend has a rigid framed one, and he complains that he can't even cycle by the river without him getting aches and pains (because of the bumpiness).

You might find on a river path\Tow path front suspension wont really be massivley active enough to soak up that much of the bumps, and what you lose is suspension you gain in reduced weight.

Have you looked in Action Bikes in central Reading, they usually have some good deals on commuter style bikes, and i imagine you could probably haggle a deal, thinking about the independants Reading has quite a few dotted about the place, so plenty of opportunity to shop around.

[nitelife]

You might find on a river path\Tow path front suspension wont really be massivley active enough to soak up that much of the bumps, and what you lose is suspension you gain in reduced weight.

Have you looked in Action Bikes in central Reading, they usually have some good deals on commuter style bikes, and i imagine you could probably haggle a deal, thinking about the independants Reading has quite a few dotted about the place, so plenty of opportunity to shop around.

I'll take a look at Action bikes this weekend and have a butchers If anything I should get some pointers.

[tawny]

I'd go for a road bike or a hybrid. I have a road bike with rigid forks and do 15 miles a day without any aches. I get all my stuff from Evans Cycles. You could try to use the cycle to work scheme. This means you pay no tax on the bike what so ever. I saved 40% on the cost of my bike through the scheme.

[nitelife]

I'd go for a road bike or a hybrid. I have a road bike with rigid forks and do 15 miles a day without any aches. I get all my stuff from Evans Cycles. You could try to use the cycle to work scheme. This means you pay no tax on the bike what so ever. I saved 40% on the cost of my bike through the scheme.

Yeah I knew about the cycle to work schema, but got no response from HR

[tawny]

Yeah I knew about the cycle to work schema, but got no response from HR

Sounds about right for an HR department. Guess they're all pretty much the same!

[Welsh Pete]

What about ebay? I did buy a bike last year, and promptly destroyed my collar bone on it, with a budget of £350. I had requirements, such as hydraulic disks, good forks and whatnot. Ended up getting a Specialized Rockhopper for £360...nice.

Also picked up a Kona Caldera for a mate for £240 with XT groupo and hydraulic disks/bomber forks.

My point is, dont just throw money at the shops...try something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SPECIALIZED-RO...d=p3286.c0.m14

A lot of bike for the money...thats the same model I have. I think it retailed for £850 new.

[Nathz29]

Try Decathlon, if you have one close some of the Rockriders are a good spec and about the money you are looking at.

Wouldn't touch anything from Halfords bought a bike form there which was so badly set-up it was back and refunded inside of a day! it was dangerous the chain jammed between the frame and tyre everytime I freewheeled.

[Anakin]

I bought a Raleigh AT20 a year ago and its a brilliant bike, given me no problems what so ever. Halfords are useless.

[nitelife]

What about ebay? I did buy a bike last year, and promptly destroyed my collar bone on it, with a budget of £350. I had requirements, such as hydraulic disks, good forks and whatnot. Ended up getting a Specialized Rockhopper for £360...nice.

Also picked up a Kona Caldera for a mate for £240 with XT groupo and hydraulic disks/bomber forks.

My point is, dont just throw money at the shops...try something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SPECIALIZED-RO...d=p3286.c0.m14

A lot of bike for the money...thats the same model I have. I think it retailed for £850 new.

Im keeping an eye out but theirs nothing available close to me at the moment, will see if anything pops up, will be looking at shops in the meantime.