Online and In-store Cycle Specialists
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Bicycle Buying FAQs
- What type of bike do I need?
- What size do I need?
- How much should I spend?
- Are some brands better than others?
- How long can I expect a bike to last?
- What are the most important things to look out for, when buying a bike?
- Should I buy off the internet, or from a local shop?
For the best advice, speak to an expert. Come to our store, or simply call/email us.
1. What type of bike do I need?
There are a great number of bike types available - it can be quite a daunting task deciding which one is right for you! The trick is to figure out exactly what you want (why you want to ride, where you want to ride, etc.), and then to match this with the most suitable bike available.
Be Aware! Getting good advice can save you money and frustration. For example, a full suspension mountain bike is not a good "comfort" option for the road. The suspension technology is expensive to buy and maintain, it adds unnecessary weight, and your energy is used up by bouncing up and down instead of moving you forward.
Do you want to know more? If you're looking for a detailed description of all the bike types available, read our comprehensive Bike Type Guide.
2. What size do I need?
Adult Bikes
There's really no substitute for climbing on a bike and trying it out for size. We all have different body dimensions and builds, and different bike types have vastly different size characteristics that can alter the riding position and your ability to be comfortable and in control of the bike.
In general, manufacturers measure bike sizes according to seat tube length: from the centre of the bottom bracket (what’s this?)The bottom bracket is the unit containing the pedal crank axle - the axle joining the two pedal cranks together to the top of the seat tube, as illustrated below:
Be Aware! Unfortunately, not all manufacturers use this measurement and some bikes, like full suspension mountain bikes, don't have a one-piece seat tube that can be measured. It's also worth noting that road bikes are usually measured in centimetres while mountain bikes are measured in inches. Don't get them confused!
Do you want to know more? If you're looking for a detailed guide on bike sizing, read our Sizing Guide.
Children's Bikes
Bikes for children are easier to size - we sort all our bikes into age groups, as supplied by the manufacturers. When manufacturers do provide sizes for their children's bikes, they're usually referring to wheel size and not seat tube length, as for adult bikes.
3. How much should I spend?
Generally, you get what you pay for, but if you want the best ride for your money, it's absolutely critical that you buy the most suitable bike type.
A more expensive bicycle will give you durability, ease of use, lower maintenance, and a faster or less strenuous ride. This is largely down to the materials used - more expensive materials are lighter, stronger and more durable. Read more about materials in our Materials Guide.
Buying a cheap, low quality, disposable bike can be a real false economy. Aside from the money you'll spend on replacing parts (or the whole bike), the hassle and frustration of constantly repairing broken parts and not being able to ride will likely put you off cycling altogether! If you're on a tight budget, buy something simple and basic, but made of good quality materials.
Some general guidelines (for adult bikes):
- Under £150: Bikes at this price level will likely be heavy, rust-prone and require constant maintenance if you want a pleasurable ride. If that's all you've got to spend, keep it simple - cheap extras (suspension, fancy brakes etc.) will only ensure that the quality of the basic components is compromised to achieve the low price.
- £150 to £300: For this price range, you can get some great recreation bikes, some comfortable commuters but only very basic, entry-level road and mountain bikes. Keeping it simple is still a good idea - any extras will only compromise the quality of the basic components.
- £300 to £500: Commuters and recreation bikes in this price range will be good quality, reliable and fast. Mountain bikes will still be basic but usually strong enough to bash about on rough trails. Road bikes will still be on the entry-level side.
- £500 to £1000: Expect to pay in this range for top-of-the-range commuters, reliable hardtail mountain bikes and entry-level full suspension mountain bikes. Some road bikes at this level will be light and fast.
- Over £1000: All bikes over £1000 should be light, fast and come with good quality components.
4. Are some brands better than others?
Yes! Most manufacturers specialise in a particular bike type, though many have expanded their ranges to cover all types. Good brands can usually be trusted to make good quality products, and use durable, efficient components on all their bikes.
Of the brands we sell:
- Giant produces high quality cycles of just about every type available, to suit any budget. Giant road bikes are superb.
- Marin makes excellent, high-end mountain bikes, but they also make some great commuter/fitness bikes
- Orbea makes a full range of race-ready road bikes, as well as touring, mountain and recreation bikes
- Orange are locally designed and manufactured mountain bikes.
- Mongoose is a very well-known BMX brand, but they also make mountain bikes
- wethepeople make top quality BMX and dirt jump machines
Be aware! You will almost certainly find cheaper products offered by some lower quality brands, but you could easily end up with a bad purchase. Be an informed buyer! Read our guides and know the jargon.
5. How long can I expect a bike to last?
This depends on 4 factors:
- The quality and materials used for the bike's frame and components. Read the Materials Guide for more information
- How often the bike is used
- The level of exposure to the elements, either during use or when in storage
- How well the bike is maintained
A good quality, well-maintained, aluminium bike will last several years. If you look after it, it'll even have a good second hand value when you want to upgrade to something better or newer.
If you buy a cheap steel bike, ride it in the wet or off-road and leave it outside, you'll find components failing in months, and it'll likely end up on the skip in no time at all.
6. What are the most important things to look out for, when buying a bike?
- Make sure you get the most suitable bike type.
- Find out what materials the frame and components are made of. Read the Materials Guide
- Don't be fooled by jargon. Read the Jargon Buster
- Make sure you find the right size, preferably by test riding the bike. Read the Sizing Guide
One of the bikes below costs around £700, the other costs around £100 - is it immediately obvious which is the cheaper one? Click on the red squares for some examples of things to look out for.
Brakes
Top bike
Good quality aluminium V-brakes, like the ones on the top bike, are reliable, durable and require minimal braking effort. The mechanism will be designed to ensure uniform pressure on the rim for even pad wear, maximum tyre clearance and good braking control. Combined with aluminium rims these brakes are effective in all weather conditions.
Bottom bike
Cheap, plastic and steel V-brakes such as those pictured below are heavy and much less effective than their aluminium counterparts. When operated on cheap steel rims, they become almost completely ineffective in wet weather.
Frame
Top bike
A high quality aluminium frame makes the top bike light and durable, for a fast and easy ride.
Bottom bike
A steel frame makes the bottom bike heavy and prone to rust when scratched, as illustrated below:
More expensive competition bikes will have carbon-fibre frames, which are even lighter than aluminium but more expensive.
The Controls
Top bike
Aluminium brake levers such as those found on the top bike are light and strong. The levers are always matched with the rest of the brake system to ensure they are smooth and responsive.
Bottom bike
Cheaper bikes often have mismatched brake systems, which seriously affect their effectiveness and durability. The plastic and steel levers as shown below are heavy and rust quickly, resulting in a stiff, ineffectual braking action.
As for the brakes, cheaper gear shifters will deteriorate quickly, resulting in slower, sticky gear changes.
Drivetrain
Top bike
The top bike uses light weight, durable aluminium components that provide slick gear changes combined with minimal maintenance. Lightening the moving parts of a bike, like the drivetrain components, will improve its efficiency measurably more than if you lighten non-moving parts.
Bottom bike
Drivetrain components on cheaper bikes are heavier, less durable and can require constant re-adjustment.
Be Aware! Just because a component is made by a famous brand name (like Shimano) does not necessarily mean it is a top class component. Most manufacturers make a whole range of products from very basic and inexpensive, to super-lightweight racing gear. In terms of functionality, durability and ease of maintenance you get what you pay for.
Below is the basic derailleur found on the bottom bike, as new and following a few months outside:
Wheels and Rims
Top bike
The good quality rims on the top bike are made of aluminium: it is lighter and provides a much better braking surface than steel. Stainless steel spokes are strong and don't rust. Wheels like these rarely buckle and can take quite hard knocks without needing to be straightened.
Bottom bike
While most bikes now have aluminium rims, some cheaper models still use steel rims, which are heavy, poor for braking and will rust. Cheap spokes made of chrome-plated steel (so they look like stainless steel) will rust and snap, resulting in wheels so buckled they will interfere with the brakes.
The pictures below show a new, cheap rim like those found on the bottom bike and the same rim several months later. The rust on the spokes and rim itself is very evident. Wheels in this state have to be replaced when they inevitably buckle - the spokes simply snap when attempts are made to tighten them.
Crankset
Top bike
Most cranksets on good quality bikes like the top one are made from aluminium, which is light and durable. The crank (pedal arm) itself may be hollow to further reduce weight. All top quality bikes have a sealed bottom bracket (what’s this?)The bottom bracket is the unit containing the pedal crank axle - the axle joining the two pedal cranks together, which is very durable and requires minimal maintenance.
Bottom bike
Cranksets on cheaper bikes can be made of steel, which is heavier and will rust. Manufacturers sometimes coat steel components with chrome or aluminium-like paint, so they look like a better material, as illustrated below:
Cheap bikes often don't have a sealed bottom bracket (the bottom bracket pictured above is not sealed). It doesn't take long for dirt to get into these bearings, requiring constant maintenance and frequent replacement.
If in doubt speak to an expert. Come to our store, or simply call/email us
7. Should I buy off the internet, or from a local shop?
Buying a bicycle off the internet (mail order) can be cheaper and more convenient than buying from a physical store, but mostly it is not!
Be Aware! Bikes delivered by mail order have to be assembled by you. This is never as simple as it sounds, and in (usually cheaper) cases you might have to assemble just about everything. Additionally, particularly with good quality bicycles, buying a bike in a box often voids the manufacturer's warranty.
For more on the pitfalls of buying cheap bikes online, see the Bicycle Shaped Object Blog.
As a general rule, if you're well informed or prepared to put in some research, and you're confident in your ability to assemble and maintain a bike, then buying off the internet is probably a safe bet. If you're new to cycling, or looking for something that's a perfect match, buying off the internet will inevitably be much less convenient and end up being more expensive than buying from your local store.