As a pointer: Carbon Fibre is lighter and more expensive. Aluminium is a cheaper alternative and will give a good entry bike.
Ask Our Staff
With a fantastic and varied selection of bikes for you to check from the biggest brands in mountain biking, why not pop into one of our stores and have a chat with our knowledgeable staff about your riding requirements. We would love to help you get the most from your new bike and get you set up for the ride ahead.
When you walk into a CycleSurgery store for a new bike we will ask a series of questions in order to select the best bike to fit your needs:
1) Main use: What are you mainly going to be using your bike for?
Is it just for commuting to and from work - or would you also like to use it on weekends for long distance fitness sessions or riding down the towpath to the pub, or even touring? For example: Hybrids are good all-rounders easily taking you from city roads to trails, and can also have rugged tyres added for Mountain tracks. The Ridgeback Element has great componentry for everyday riding and is flexible enough to take panniers and extra fittings.
2) Regular routes: Where you would be riding your bike?
Think about where you live and if your local routes are flat or do they involves hills. If the roads are flat then a single speed / fixed gear bike would suffice, and will require less maintenance, skinny tyres will also give you added speed. A hybrid with fatter tyres and more gears will give more comfort for challenging routes.
NB: Any type of bike can be converted to a commute bike and we’re often adding flat bars to road bikes for speedy commuters.
3) Where you live: Where will you be storing the bike?
Most people in London either live in the city or commute to the train station. In both instances a folding bike could be an option. Folding bikes ride like larger bikes and have the added benefit of being accepted on all train services and are convenient to store in homes where space is an issue. We would recommend Brompton, Dahon, Mezzo, Kanzi. Dahon also has the option of 26" wheels.
4) Safety and security: Have you considered accessories?
There’s no doubt that buying a new bike is exciting, but people often forget about the essential accessories. We definitely recommend: Helmet, Lock and cable, pump. Commuters should also consider: mudguards, rack and accessories that aid visibility for commuting - lights, bright jacket, reflective arm and leg straps.
NB: Helmets are worth investing in and need to fit correctly (not one size fits all) and D-locks should be Gold or Silver standards with an additional cable to protect your new pride and joy.
5) Servicing: What are you mainly using your bike for?
If you’re frequently riding to work you will need to have your bike regularly serviced, how regularly depends on the type of usage and your mileage. Bikes that undergo more vigorous use on every outing will need more care and replacement parts more often, so consider this into your budget.
NB: All CycleSurgery stores have a workshop with CyTech trained mechanics.
Tip: Remember keeping your tyres solidly pumped up will help avoid punctures on the way to work.
6) Employee benefits: Have you heard of the Cycle to Work Scheme?
The government’s Cycle to Work Scheme encourages people to use a bike for their daily commute. Ask your employer to sign up to the scheme and you can save money on buying your commute bike. At CycleSurgery we run our own Tax Free Cycle scheme - check out: http://www.taxfreecycle.com/ for more details.
Bikes to Watch
- Marin BelvedereWas £499, now £399
- The ALP (Aerodynamic Lightweight Performance) series provides riders unaccustomed to road bikes an option for both speed and comfort on long rides and commutes. Part road bike and part hybrid, the ALP models combine fast moving wheels and road bike gearing with the stable and upright riding position of a hybrid..
- Trek 7.6 FXWas £900, now £700
- Most. Versatile. Bike. Ever. We call it a fitness bike, but this is Trek's most popular platform for a reason. Roadies, commuters, fitness freaks, errand runners, Sunday riders, everyone loves the FX.
