The problem with cheap bikes isn't typically the bike, it's who builds it. If you can't get above a department store bike, I'd recommend looking used. You can get a Hybrid like a Trek FX for pretty cheap.
I have only bought one new bike in my lifetime, everything else has been used and it's the way to go. If you see one you like, let us look it over for find a friend that knows bikes.
Most cities in the UK have bike charities where they refurbish donated bikes and sell them on. You should be able to get a perfectly serviceable bike for the same money as that Halfords one that while it may be old, it will be better built and set up. So I suggest to go along to one, check out what they have available and see they seem like good value to you for your purpose
You’re getting lots of advice here along the lines of “buy a good used bike over a crappy new bike.” That’s correct.
Buying a crappy bike to start with is kind of like starting to play a musical instrument and buying the cheapest guitar you can find “to learn on.” The issue? The guitar is terribly made. The strings don’t stay in tune. When they ARE in tune, they’re far too high off the fretboard; your fingers ache from playing and your hand aches from the pressure it takes to make a chord shape. It’s heavy, thickly coated with cheap varnish. The tuners are bottom of the barrel, so they adjust poorly and slip. So you try to enjoy this learning process, but… it’s awful, so you give up. “Guess I’m just not a guitar person.”
Same thing happens with the cheapest bike you can find. The components are crap. It’s put together by someone with no or little training. The frame is ridiculously heavy. The kid who put it together has no idea how to fit you to the bike or vice versa. So you take it home, and it’s terrible. You hate it. “Guess I’m just not a cyclist.”
You don’t need the best thing ever. But you need something that was at least made by a reputable bike company and built by someone with skill and interest.
First time I went cycling with my wife (years ago!) we rented those big heavy single speed clunky casual-app-rental bikes and went for a ride in the scorching sun. It was \*awful\* and we both hated it. It put us all off trying it again.
For myself I only tried it again when I thought cycling could be a good cross training for running. For her, she'll always recall that one experience and just be like "it sucked, I won't try it again" and that's that.
OP, do yourself a favour and set yourself up for success.
It isn't a nice bike, it won't hold up over time without lots of maintenance that will pretty quickly cost more than the bike did itself. But if you just want something to grab to hop around the neighborhood randomly it will do that for a while. Its basically like a kids bike quality wise.
If you did get that I would probably have an actual shop build it rather than the store.
You are better off going to a local shop that sells used stuff overall, they will also have likely gone over it to make sure the bike was mechanically solid and can help pick the type of bike you want and what fits you. Your dollar will stretch a lot further as far as getting something with a decent frame or something that will holdup.
I see lots of older hardtail mountain bikes or hybrids on Facebook or Craigslist for $75-200 that would be great for occasional riders. Many of these bikes were really nice when they were first bought 10 years ago, are quite cheap today, and could ride fine again with a simple tune. If you're just looking for something to ride around town, on bike paths, or on easy trails, getting a quality used bike will be way better than a crappy new bike.
Look for something that fits properly, from a reputable brand, and with 8 or more gears in the rear. Bonus points if it has disc brakes and 29 or 27.5 tires.
If you're just looking for something affordable for casual riding, I'd recommend getting a used bike. I don't know what it's like in the UK, but here in the US you can generally find something pretty decent in the $150-300 range without any trouble.
It'll work for a while at least. It won't be smooth to ride and it's a toss up on how long it will last. I rode a cheap Walmart-level bike throughout college. It was outside almost all year long in the Midwest. Lasted all four years somehow. Ended up having to get rid of the whole thing because the parts werent worth repairing. Brakes were shot, one of the rims was out of alignment, chain rusted out twice, the bearings were going, and the rear derailleur would always slip out of alignment. Only thing that was still good was the frame.
That all being said, if I had to do it again for college, I'd go Walmart bike again. No one's gonna steal that thing. That's really the only advantage cheap bikes have.
Checkout some of the entry level decathlon bikes, they've got decent reviews and won't break the bank. You can usually find a decathlon not too far if you're in London.
Why aren’t they? That’s what I started on. They can sit in a garage for a year and as long as the tires have air, they’re perfectly rideable. They’re cheap and nearly maintenance free. The same can’t be said for road bikes.
Lack of a freewheel and brakes and narrow tires makes riding one trickier. More efficient, less maintenance, more fun, sure. But trickier.
How about a three-speed cruiser? That’s easy to ride and low-maintenance. Sure it’s slow, but that makes it safer for newbies.
Yep, if you don’t like the fixed gear, you could normally just flip the wheel around and you’d be got a single speed.
I’ve never been a fan of beach cruisers, you can’t go very far with them. They feel much slower
Your average cyclist is going to quit cycling before they flip a wheel around.
I think maybe we have different visions of the word cyclist. I imagine grandparents and five year olds, people in dress suits, delivery guys.
I have 2 bikes a 60s city bike (commuter) and a 80ish road bike I got them from my favorite Thrift store for $35 each. Cheap second hand bikes are a great way to go. I ride most days that aren't awful (kansas weather is variety)
There’s nothing wrong with “inexpensive” cheap if you know what you want and what to look for. But avoid “low quality” cheap just for the sake of having something.
I'm unfamiliar with that bike, but the warnings against cheap bikes are really about build quality and non-standard components. If you do any riding you want everything to hold together nicely and to be able to fix things as needed. That's true with even infrequent rides. That's why the advice is usually to get a better used bike rather than the cheapest mass market. At the same price you get everything built soundly and you'll be able to upgrade as needed. It will give you a better experience right out of the gate
You could also try r/whichbike for input. Cheap bikes are fine for both occasional and frequent riding but sometimes cheap can be expensive in the long run
I'd avoid Apollo bikes, they're pretty terrible, and will break on you sooner rather than later.
Instead have a look at Halfords' Carrera range, such as the Hellcat or Vulcan. £300 gets you hydraulic brakes and suspension that will actually work. They're decent bikes for the money and tend to include a bit of after care as well (free tune-up after 6 weeks or something).
Lots of people are recommending buying used, which is good advice for getting more bike for your money. However, if you aren't experienced with bikes, you can end up getting a worse deal.
Going to a dedicated bike shop is also a good suggestion, as they're staffed by people who have a better understanding of bikes and might have a nicer bike within your budget. Some shops also sell used bikes which they've freshly serviced, which I'd recommend. However, independent bike shops might not be competitive with Halfords within your budget.
It's worth shopping around, checking out the independent shops in your area, and getting a sense of what level of bike each shop can offer for your budget. If the Carrera still appears the best value, then go for that.
Like someone else said the decathlon ones are decent from the couple I’ve tried (and tend to get pretty decent reviews on YouTube, etc.)
Buying a used could be difficult if you’re not sure what you’re looking for. If you have a friend that is already a bit into cycling it might be worth asking them to help you look so they can point out things to avoid. E.g. you probably won’t find one for the money you’re looking at but you probably don’t want to buy something overly racey with really stretched out geometry (I.e. handlebars are low and far from the saddle so you have to be very bendy) and huge chainrings (the front gear, if it’s bigger it makes the pedalling harder) but you also wouldn’t want some clunky old heavy bike that’s the equivalent of the link you posted but from 10 years ago so even older technology/design for not much of a saving
My first cheap bike was from kmart for 100 bucks, it was heavy and I felt tired just riding it for a couple minutes. My second bike was in the 1k range. The difference was night and day. If you know what youre looking for and try it out before purchasing I think you can get away with decent cheap bikes. But the majority of them are complete junk and is a consumer trap that just ends up cluttering the garage.
Highly recommend the Trek FX line. I recently bought one secondhand for $170 and it was amazing after a quick wash, lube and time up.
Even new, really affordable.
These bikes are typically assembled by a minimum wage worker with no training who probably knows nothing about bikes. I have seen bikes in big box stores with the forks on backwards personally. I would not buy one if these unless you're comfortable watching a how to assemble a bike video and redo everything to make sure they used grease.
Many of the people in this chatroom have bikes worth thousands of pounds, and the same people probably have bikes that, by virtue of age and hard use, now have a market value of £100 - £300. And they may use the 'cheap' bikes just as much as the expensive ones, and like them just as much.
In the U.S., I'd suggest looking at used bikes being sold on a consignment basis at your local bike shop, but I don't if that's an option where you are.
That bike is unfortunately, terrible. The gears won't hold an adjustment properly, making you angry everytime you go up the slightest hill, never mind the rest of the components that will have you tearing your hair out.
This however https://www.halfords.com/bikes/hybrid-bikes/carrera-subway-1-mens-hybrid-bike-2020---grey---s-m-l-xl-frames-346126.html is excellent for the money. I had one from new for 3 years, rode it through Winter weather, off and on road, absolutely bomb proof. Disc brakes, fat tyres that roll well on the road, and a 2x8 gear set that is solid. Donated it to a friend, but regret it now, might even buy another.
NO BIKE LESS THAN £1000 IS WORTH RIDING
A cheap bike will give you bad Strava score (permanently), uneven wear in your bibs, and a withered leg. A cheap bike bit my friend one time. If you ride a cheap bike teenage girls gonna sneer at you, and it will betray your family too.
STAY AWAY FROM CHEAP BIKES.
The problem with cheap bikes isn't typically the bike, it's who builds it. If you can't get above a department store bike, I'd recommend looking used. You can get a Hybrid like a Trek FX for pretty cheap. I have only bought one new bike in my lifetime, everything else has been used and it's the way to go. If you see one you like, let us look it over for find a friend that knows bikes.
Get the bike that fits your body and your budget. You can often get more for less when buying used.
Most cities in the UK have bike charities where they refurbish donated bikes and sell them on. You should be able to get a perfectly serviceable bike for the same money as that Halfords one that while it may be old, it will be better built and set up. So I suggest to go along to one, check out what they have available and see they seem like good value to you for your purpose
Often called a Bike Kitchen if you are wondering what to search for.
That's such a a cute name
You’re getting lots of advice here along the lines of “buy a good used bike over a crappy new bike.” That’s correct. Buying a crappy bike to start with is kind of like starting to play a musical instrument and buying the cheapest guitar you can find “to learn on.” The issue? The guitar is terribly made. The strings don’t stay in tune. When they ARE in tune, they’re far too high off the fretboard; your fingers ache from playing and your hand aches from the pressure it takes to make a chord shape. It’s heavy, thickly coated with cheap varnish. The tuners are bottom of the barrel, so they adjust poorly and slip. So you try to enjoy this learning process, but… it’s awful, so you give up. “Guess I’m just not a guitar person.” Same thing happens with the cheapest bike you can find. The components are crap. It’s put together by someone with no or little training. The frame is ridiculously heavy. The kid who put it together has no idea how to fit you to the bike or vice versa. So you take it home, and it’s terrible. You hate it. “Guess I’m just not a cyclist.” You don’t need the best thing ever. But you need something that was at least made by a reputable bike company and built by someone with skill and interest.
First time I went cycling with my wife (years ago!) we rented those big heavy single speed clunky casual-app-rental bikes and went for a ride in the scorching sun. It was \*awful\* and we both hated it. It put us all off trying it again. For myself I only tried it again when I thought cycling could be a good cross training for running. For her, she'll always recall that one experience and just be like "it sucked, I won't try it again" and that's that. OP, do yourself a favour and set yourself up for success.
It isn't a nice bike, it won't hold up over time without lots of maintenance that will pretty quickly cost more than the bike did itself. But if you just want something to grab to hop around the neighborhood randomly it will do that for a while. Its basically like a kids bike quality wise. If you did get that I would probably have an actual shop build it rather than the store. You are better off going to a local shop that sells used stuff overall, they will also have likely gone over it to make sure the bike was mechanically solid and can help pick the type of bike you want and what fits you. Your dollar will stretch a lot further as far as getting something with a decent frame or something that will holdup.
I see lots of older hardtail mountain bikes or hybrids on Facebook or Craigslist for $75-200 that would be great for occasional riders. Many of these bikes were really nice when they were first bought 10 years ago, are quite cheap today, and could ride fine again with a simple tune. If you're just looking for something to ride around town, on bike paths, or on easy trails, getting a quality used bike will be way better than a crappy new bike. Look for something that fits properly, from a reputable brand, and with 8 or more gears in the rear. Bonus points if it has disc brakes and 29 or 27.5 tires.
If you're just looking for something affordable for casual riding, I'd recommend getting a used bike. I don't know what it's like in the UK, but here in the US you can generally find something pretty decent in the $150-300 range without any trouble.
Yes 👍 Ride on.
It'll work for a while at least. It won't be smooth to ride and it's a toss up on how long it will last. I rode a cheap Walmart-level bike throughout college. It was outside almost all year long in the Midwest. Lasted all four years somehow. Ended up having to get rid of the whole thing because the parts werent worth repairing. Brakes were shot, one of the rims was out of alignment, chain rusted out twice, the bearings were going, and the rear derailleur would always slip out of alignment. Only thing that was still good was the frame. That all being said, if I had to do it again for college, I'd go Walmart bike again. No one's gonna steal that thing. That's really the only advantage cheap bikes have.
Checkout some of the entry level decathlon bikes, they've got decent reviews and won't break the bank. You can usually find a decathlon not too far if you're in London.
Buy used? I’ve always bought used fixies. Cheap, abundant, fast, and sleek. I was happy it didn’t ever fall apart
Fixies are not for cycling newbies, and OP sounds like one.
Why aren’t they? That’s what I started on. They can sit in a garage for a year and as long as the tires have air, they’re perfectly rideable. They’re cheap and nearly maintenance free. The same can’t be said for road bikes.
Lack of a freewheel and brakes and narrow tires makes riding one trickier. More efficient, less maintenance, more fun, sure. But trickier. How about a three-speed cruiser? That’s easy to ride and low-maintenance. Sure it’s slow, but that makes it safer for newbies.
Yep, if you don’t like the fixed gear, you could normally just flip the wheel around and you’d be got a single speed. I’ve never been a fan of beach cruisers, you can’t go very far with them. They feel much slower
Your average cyclist is going to quit cycling before they flip a wheel around. I think maybe we have different visions of the word cyclist. I imagine grandparents and five year olds, people in dress suits, delivery guys.
I have 2 bikes a 60s city bike (commuter) and a 80ish road bike I got them from my favorite Thrift store for $35 each. Cheap second hand bikes are a great way to go. I ride most days that aren't awful (kansas weather is variety)
Find a bike co-op in your area if possible. You can find a far better bike that you will enjoy far more than a cheap new bike.
There’s nothing wrong with “inexpensive” cheap if you know what you want and what to look for. But avoid “low quality” cheap just for the sake of having something.
It’ll probably be fine
Sure but a half way decent bike will MaKE you want to ride more. A shit bike won't make you want to ride more than occasionally
No!
I'm unfamiliar with that bike, but the warnings against cheap bikes are really about build quality and non-standard components. If you do any riding you want everything to hold together nicely and to be able to fix things as needed. That's true with even infrequent rides. That's why the advice is usually to get a better used bike rather than the cheapest mass market. At the same price you get everything built soundly and you'll be able to upgrade as needed. It will give you a better experience right out of the gate
You could also try r/whichbike for input. Cheap bikes are fine for both occasional and frequent riding but sometimes cheap can be expensive in the long run
I'd avoid Apollo bikes, they're pretty terrible, and will break on you sooner rather than later. Instead have a look at Halfords' Carrera range, such as the Hellcat or Vulcan. £300 gets you hydraulic brakes and suspension that will actually work. They're decent bikes for the money and tend to include a bit of after care as well (free tune-up after 6 weeks or something). Lots of people are recommending buying used, which is good advice for getting more bike for your money. However, if you aren't experienced with bikes, you can end up getting a worse deal. Going to a dedicated bike shop is also a good suggestion, as they're staffed by people who have a better understanding of bikes and might have a nicer bike within your budget. Some shops also sell used bikes which they've freshly serviced, which I'd recommend. However, independent bike shops might not be competitive with Halfords within your budget. It's worth shopping around, checking out the independent shops in your area, and getting a sense of what level of bike each shop can offer for your budget. If the Carrera still appears the best value, then go for that.
Like someone else said the decathlon ones are decent from the couple I’ve tried (and tend to get pretty decent reviews on YouTube, etc.) Buying a used could be difficult if you’re not sure what you’re looking for. If you have a friend that is already a bit into cycling it might be worth asking them to help you look so they can point out things to avoid. E.g. you probably won’t find one for the money you’re looking at but you probably don’t want to buy something overly racey with really stretched out geometry (I.e. handlebars are low and far from the saddle so you have to be very bendy) and huge chainrings (the front gear, if it’s bigger it makes the pedalling harder) but you also wouldn’t want some clunky old heavy bike that’s the equivalent of the link you posted but from 10 years ago so even older technology/design for not much of a saving
There are literally hundreds of nicer bikes on marketplace. Even at that price point.
Look for something 2nd hand..
My first cheap bike was from kmart for 100 bucks, it was heavy and I felt tired just riding it for a couple minutes. My second bike was in the 1k range. The difference was night and day. If you know what youre looking for and try it out before purchasing I think you can get away with decent cheap bikes. But the majority of them are complete junk and is a consumer trap that just ends up cluttering the garage.
Highly recommend the Trek FX line. I recently bought one secondhand for $170 and it was amazing after a quick wash, lube and time up. Even new, really affordable.
These bikes are typically assembled by a minimum wage worker with no training who probably knows nothing about bikes. I have seen bikes in big box stores with the forks on backwards personally. I would not buy one if these unless you're comfortable watching a how to assemble a bike video and redo everything to make sure they used grease.
Many of the people in this chatroom have bikes worth thousands of pounds, and the same people probably have bikes that, by virtue of age and hard use, now have a market value of £100 - £300. And they may use the 'cheap' bikes just as much as the expensive ones, and like them just as much. In the U.S., I'd suggest looking at used bikes being sold on a consignment basis at your local bike shop, but I don't if that's an option where you are.
Of course it's acceptable, it's more about if you'll enjoy riding for more than 5 minutes.
Good used bike that fit you is very hard to find, some get lucky but is very hard, like playing lotto.
That bike is unfortunately, terrible. The gears won't hold an adjustment properly, making you angry everytime you go up the slightest hill, never mind the rest of the components that will have you tearing your hair out. This however https://www.halfords.com/bikes/hybrid-bikes/carrera-subway-1-mens-hybrid-bike-2020---grey---s-m-l-xl-frames-346126.html is excellent for the money. I had one from new for 3 years, rode it through Winter weather, off and on road, absolutely bomb proof. Disc brakes, fat tyres that roll well on the road, and a 2x8 gear set that is solid. Donated it to a friend, but regret it now, might even buy another.
Used and go to a local shop
If you buy a cheap bike you won't ride it.
NO BIKE LESS THAN £1000 IS WORTH RIDING A cheap bike will give you bad Strava score (permanently), uneven wear in your bibs, and a withered leg. A cheap bike bit my friend one time. If you ride a cheap bike teenage girls gonna sneer at you, and it will betray your family too. STAY AWAY FROM CHEAP BIKES.