BUYING ADVICE

So many choices of bikes can be a little overwhelming for some, but a large selection is a good thing as you are more likely to find the perfect bike. We will happily talk through your options and we have demo models for you to try. Before you visit us you need to think about a few things so you can be ready for the questions we will ask in order for us to figure out what bike is best for you.

Firstly you need to think about how you will use your bike, will you be popping to the shops, riding around with the kids, commuting to work, off road riding, training for an event, joining a cycling club. If everyone in the club are on road bikes you would struggle on a hybrid.

Consider how often you are going to ride, this will establish whether you are going to need a basic model or something better.

Look around where you live are there mainly trails or is it just road.

Decide on a budget as with most things it is better to get the best value model at the outset as it is more expensive to upgrade at a later date. The more you spend the better the bike, it will be lighter, and have more efficient components. You will also need to consider when deciding your budget that there may be other equipment required like helmet, lock, lights, clothing etc.[p/]

Keep in mind that not one bike does everything, its best to start with the type of bike that you are going to get the most use of. Then as your interest grows there are plenty of other styles to consider. Most cyclists have more than one bike.

Listed below are the different styles of bikes, with a short description, currently on the market.

Hybrid bikes

USE: A hybrid is a cross between a mountain bike and the road bike, these practical machines are ideal for city riding, commuting, touring and fitness riding.
COMMON FEATURES: Upright riding position; flat handlebars; low gearing for easy hill climbing; powerful brakes; light, load-carrying capacity.

Comfort/Traditional Bikes

USE: Designed for easy pedalling and the least amount of stress on the body, Comfort bikes are perfect for leisurely town riding, cruising by the shore and any ride where you're out more for fun than for speed.
COMMON FEATURES: Upright riding position; wide handlebars; wide, comfortable seats; easy pedalling; soft ride.

Mountain Bikes

USE: Sometimes called All-Terrain Bikes (ATB) or Off-Road Bikes, these amazing vehicles could also be called Go-everywhere/Do-everything bikes. From cliff-like dropoffs to shoe-drenching stream crossings, almost no obstacle can stop a skilled rider.
COMMON FEATURES: Upright riding position; flat or riser handlebars; high-traction tyres; low gearing; excellent braking; rugged frames, wheels and components; suspension for control and comfort on rough terrain

Road Sportive Bikes

USE: Built for use on roads, these models have plenty of get-up-and-go and are perfect for touring, longer commutes, fitness riding and sportive rides.
COMMON FEATURES: Efficient-pedalling lightweight frames and wheels; drop or flat handlebars; low gearing and excellent braking; narrow, high-pressure tyres.

Road Racing Bikes

USE: The ultimate in efficiency, these super fast models offer incredible acceleration and handling, ultralight weights and are perfect for those who ride fast and hard on road. COMMON FEATURES: The most efficient frames; lightweight materials throughout; excellent braking and shifting (the gearing is usually most suited to ultra-fit cyclists); narrow, high-pressure tyres; aero wheels.

Cyclo-cross Bikes

USE: On and off road. A cyclocross bike can be the perfect year-round bicycle if you're looking for a fast drop-bar road bike that will happily cope with off-road excursions. COMMON FEATURES: Efficient-pedalling lightweight frames and wheels; drop handlebars; low gearing disc brakes; wide knobbly tyres, clearance for mudguards and racks.

Frame type

Steel: Classic look, lively ride, durable and easily repaired, fairly lightweight, affordable, can rust if abused. Aluminium: Modern look, lively ride, durable, corrosion resistant, lightweight, and affordable. Carbon: High-tech look, lively ride, durable, corrosion free, lightweight, usually a little more expensive than steel and aluminium. Titanium: Various looks (depending on finish), lively ride, durable, corrosion free, lightweight, usually the most expensive material.

Which is best? That depends on your budget, riding style, your weight, how you like the bike to handle and the look, there are many things to consider, please ask for a test ride to see what is best for you.

Kids' Bikes

There are so many different styles -- which one's right for your child?

Is it time to buy your child his first bicycle? Or, is your "little one," not so little anymore and ready for a bigger bike, or one without stabilisers? As with adult bikes there are different varieties of bike generally made from steel or aluminium.

Size Matters

Adult bicycles are selected according to frame size. Kids' bikes, however, are sized (and referred to) according to wheel size, as follows:
Age 2 ½: 12-inch wheels; Age 3:14-inch; Age 4: 16-inch; Age 5: 18-inch; Age 6: 20-inch; Age 8: 24-inch; Age 10: 26-inch or 700c.
Fitting a bike is more than determining age and height, though. You must evaluate coordination and cycling experience, too. For example, taller children lacking confidence do much better on smaller bikes because they feel more comfortable and in control. And a coordinated 9-year old with long legs might be ready for a full-size bike.
The most important factor is safety. Don't make the common mistake of buying too big a bike expecting your child to grow into it. Oversized bikes are dangerous and can cause crashes. They're also harder to ride. These things may put your child off cycling. Besides, when they outgrow the bike, you can easily trade it in to buy the next-larger one. Likewise if a bike is too small it also can be hard to ride, parents often wait until their child can ride their current bike without stabilisers before they buy a new one and wonder why their child is struggling this makes learning to ride a bike a very stressful experience.
When you're checking bike fit, make sure that the child can sit on the seat and place both feet (the balls of his feet) on the ground so he can hold himself. If the bicycle is equipped with stabilizers, it's okay if the child can't quite reach the ground or are on the tip of their toes because the stabilizers will support him. It's also important that children can comfortably reach the handlebars and steer. If the bars are out of reach, steering will pull them forward or they won't be able to fully turn the front wheel causing a loss of control. It's crucial that the child's hands can reach and operate the brakes and gears if the bike has them. If the child doesn't have the hand strength to operate the levers, it's usually possible to adjust the systems to make it easier for them.

Bike Types

Today, kids' bikes vary as much as adult models. For toddlers, there are tiny run/strider bikes. Once they turn eight, many kids want BMX (Bicycle Moto Cross) models, which are ideal for everything from cruising to school and around town to trick riding, racing and dirt and mini mountain bikes with suspension.[nl[ If your child is very small, you might be able to pick out a bike for them. Once they get a little older, though, this gets tricky. Remember, that it's their bike and keep in mind that they're more likely to want to ride and to get excited about biking if they've got the two-wheeler they like best. To find out what they want, just ask them go online and have them point out models they like. Or, make a day of it and bring them shopping so they can show you the cool bikes.
If the new bike is a surprise gift, check what your child's friend's ride. That should ensure that you pick a winner

Price

Cost of a child's bike can massively vary, yes, you can get it cheaper online, from a catalogue or toy shop but long term you will benefit a lot more from purchasing your child's bike from an independent retailer like ourselves. Toy shop bikes often use moving parts on plastic bushings whereas a proper bike shop model will have serviceable ball bearings. The cheaper models usually use cheap steel, alloy and plastic parts versus the high-tensile steels and aluminium parts from a bike shop. The bike from a proper shop will also come fully assembled with a guarantee and a 1st free service/check over. You will also benefit from good advice ensuring you get it right making it better value in the long run, the bike will be easier and more enjoyable to ride, it will last longer enabling it to be handed down to younger siblings or resold/part exchanged when a bigger bike is needed. Generally you should get around 2-3 years from the bike. If a new bike is not affordable we would recommend a good quality refurbished bike rather than a cheap new one. It will come fully serviced giving your child a much better experience than struggling on something that doesn't work properly and never will.

for even more information take a look at why cycle website or you can call or email us we will happily talk through or options