Education We Like to Ride Bicycles

That Kona is a good little bike for the money, around the same but with disc brakes would be this Voodoo - http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/voodoo-marasa-hybrid-bike

Like supermuchurios, test it after Halfords are very hit an miss, if your local to me I can set it up once you have it.

 

It's not just Halfords who are not up to much. A few years ago I bought a new mountain bike online, from what appeared to be a decent bike shop, including when I spoke to them on the phone. When I received the bike I expected to have do a little assembly, I did not expect the wheels to be in such a shocking state that I had to, in effect, finish building them before the bike could be ridden. Fortunately, in the distant past when I did a lot more cycling, I used to build all my own wheels and still had a jig and spoke key.

 

I've never understood doing this.

If you're buying a branded bike (like a Kona for instance), why buy it, then spend further money taking it to another 'real' shop to get it set up?

Why not buy it from the real shop to begin with? They will set it up properly as a matter of routine and whatever price advantage Halfords had is wiped out by taking it to a shop and paying £30-50 for a set up.

 

The wheel was showing its age anyway, so looking for a complete one. The old hub was Shimano XT. It was good until it no longer was.

 

Hmm should be able to scoop up an XT hub even new they are not a mega amount around 40 euros or something? Flange etc should be the same so would just need relacing up

 

I can't really do that myself, so I'd have to take it somewhere anyway. Most of the time I just fix things myself so I don't really KNOW any of the local repair shops. I've kinda just settled in buying a new one (a set) and seeing if someone's willing to buy the current set in as-is-condition.

I just have absolutely no idea what to get, the price range is ridiculous and so are the available brands/models. I just want something that will not break, I'm not too fussed about the weight. Some allmountain/enduro/freeride ones would probably be OK, if they just came with the right axle. The bike also takes 12 mm rear axles, but ofcourse I don't have the right parts. ARRRRRRGH I JUST WANT TO RIDE.

Maybe something like this: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/fi/en/fulcrum-red-power-xl-mtb-wheelset-2016/rp-prod78576 or maybe not, I just have no idea.

 

The Fulcrums are pretty good, I think from memory the bearing sets are not the cup an cone style but proper bearings so very easy to replace yourself.
Not sure what the delivery is to Finland but may be worth looking at either Bike-discount.de in Germany or Superstar components in the UK. I have three sets of wheels from the latter an had no issues over a number of years basically the wheels are rebranded Novatec hubs so strong enough for most stuff an dead easy to strip an replace bits.

 

Thanks! Checking them out saved me 30 €

 

Money saved = win, which wheelset you gone with?

 

The Fulcrum one I linked. With any luck it will last me the year or two I need ot to before I'll get a new ride. I already have spare bearing for the frame, so if nothing goes TERRIBLY wrong then I might be sticking with the current ride. It's just absolutely begging for a dropper post in my use.



Just a reminder of what it's all about. The next things to go will be the drivetrain and the brakes and after that I can pretty much just buy a new frameset and call it a new bike

 

My particular cycle to work scheme partnered with Halfwits only so I had to initially get the bike from them.

 

Yeah, it seems quite common for various Cycle to Work schemes to be associated with Halfords exclusively.

 

Fair enough, there's no accounting for corporate laziness.

 

Ditto here. I've seen plenty of places saying "You don't HAVE to use Halfords..." but the terms & conditions of our scheme are pretty clear: at every single opportunity the wording says that I must go through Halfords. Not complying with the terms means forfeiting the whole thing and paying back the money. No thanks, not when I've opted for £1k...

 

Righto, I've been into a few bike shops in the last day or so and I think I've found myself a bike. I didn't have much luck in the local "proper" bike shop as they seem to deal in higher-end machines almost exclusively, and had very little in my price range (which came as a bit of a surprise). Decathlon didn't impress me particularly either, so I ended up in Halfords.

They didn't have either the Kona or VooDoo recommended upthread, so I tried out a few bikes in my price range and ended up with one that I really, really like - it's a Boardman Hybrid Comp which comes in at £450. I don't know, it just felt more right than the other couple of bikes I tried out briefly Any thoughts before I pull the trigger and order it?

Slightly annoyed with myself that I didn't start looking at bikes a month or two sooner - Halfords have been selling off the previous models of their Boardmans so I could have had the 2014 Hybrid Comp for £320 or something. As far as I can tell there isn't much difference between them.

I guess I'll need to get some bits and pieces to go with the bike - a helmet, a lock, lights, that sort of thing. Any other bits of kit that I'll need to start with? If anyone has any recommendations as to what to get (or avoid) and good places to shop for them then that'd be much appreciated.

 

Solid mid-range hybrid Bawjaws, I think you have made a decent choice. Very well specced for the money.
Nice looking bike as well which seems to get overlooked these days.

 

My Cycle scheme voucher was Halfords only, but someone linked this shop/etailer: http://www.tredz.co.uk/ And they do accept Halfords vouchers. I have a not so shiny Cube from them.

Sam

 

Why not just learn how to set up a bike properly yourself? Bikes are essentially simple machines.

 

Unless you decide to get Shimano XTR Di2 and Rockshox E.I suspension on an E-Bike, then its complicated.

 

Not simple for everyone.
And not everyone has the time/mindset/patience to learn.