Im all for supporting a local bike shop, rather than Halfrauds, but I cant see how you can go wrong for 250 notes TBH. When you're hooked then maybe you can hand over £3k for a full carbon jobbie at your local shop  FF 4.4 V8 Soooo looking forward to this bad boy
Ex 2006 RRS SC - garbage
Ex 2016 135i M Sport - dream car
Ex 2003 RS6 Avant - piece of cr*p
Ex 2014 320d X Drive, M Sport Touring - ok I guess
Ex 2007 RRS TDV8 - bloody loved it
EX 2007 FL2 XS - not so bad

i have the same big that i use for work and at 250 quid its a great deal but if you start doing more cycling its very heavy and you might be better spending a few quid more on some thing a bit better and lighter

i have the same big that i use for work and at 250 quid its a great deal but if you start doing more cycling its very heavy and you might be better spending a few quid more on some thing a bit better and lighter

cossiedave wrote:

i have the same big that i use for work and at 250 quid its a great deal but if you start doing more cycling its very heavy and you might be better spending a few quid more on some thing a bit better and lighter

Not trying to be funny, but it is pretty basic in terms of components , you really want shimano tiagra at the least or 105, the shifting in them will be a lot smother.
Go to an Indy who has demo bikes, weight is everything with bikes, you will find it less frustrating peddling uphill on a well sorted one.My winter bike is a Merida,cost me £800 but with carbon front forks and decent components it is a great bike.
Last thing you want to do is get fed up with it after a few rides and stick it in the shed!!
Cheers
Dave MY10 TDV6 SE (debadged ), Santorini Black, Flappy paddles, Privacy Glass, 20" Stormers, Mudflaps!

Gone: a comprehensive list of imprezas and a Merc ML AMG

Very nice bike for the money, also the geometry is more relaxed for longer rides

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/s...e-ec052836 MY10 TDV6 SE (debadged ), Santorini Black, Flappy paddles, Privacy Glass, 20" Stormers, Mudflaps!

Gone: a comprehensive list of imprezas and a Merc ML AMG

Nice, but three times the price of the one MW is considering, so not really a fair comparison.

Here's another review of the Triban; the Carrera is v.good for the money, but there are plenty of stories about Halfords not setting up bikes correctly, so if you do choose it, check it over on collection (maybe ride around the car park, shifting gears), watching for loose headset/stem, misaligned brakes and gears not indexed properly.

As DaveM notes; it can get immersive and you'll soon be wanting a better bike- at least you'll get much of your money back on a Carrera or Triban, as they're popular for winter training bikes or commuters, as well as first/returning-to-cycling bikes.

(now in fourth year of commuting; 4 bikes)

You are correct DrLex, it is not really a good comparison , but I made the same mistake of spending £300 on a bike only to upgrade 6 months later ,as you know it gets a bit addictive
Another thing for MW to consider is cycle2work or in my case as we don't run that scheme, is salary sacrifice(ask your accountant) the company pays £800 forth the bike and imidiately reclaims the vat, you then lease the bike from the company , paying monthly over a year deducted from your salary before tax, so saving another bit, so you end up paying about £500 for an £800 bike

Cheers
Dave MY10 TDV6 SE (debadged ), Santorini Black, Flappy paddles, Privacy Glass, 20" Stormers, Mudflaps!

Gone: a comprehensive list of imprezas and a Merc ML AMG

I appreciate all the advice

I'm not vat registered and work from home so the company angle sounds a great idea but probably non starter for me

My sons friend family own the local bike shop and he says they are expensive and the good fitter left so although I try to shop local when possible not sure this time

I'm testing the water after a long break so don't want to spend a lot at the moment. I think I'll look at the Evans and Halford bike today and decide. If I get hooked and want something better I have 2 sons very happy to take it off my hands or keeping it for a winter bike sounds a good idea

The family have banned me from wearing lycra although swmbo always seemed to like my neoprene shorts for kayaking  Wanted a Series 2 LR since childhood but previously owned MY16 Disco Sport HSE TD4 Auto, MY13 RR Sport Black Edition TDV6 Auto, MY10 RR Sport HSE TDV6 Auto, 2007 Freelander 1 Freestyle TD4 Soft Top, 2009 Freelander 2 GS TD4 Auto, 2007 Freelander 2 GS TD4, 2004 Disco 2 Metropolis Auto, 2002 Disco 2 GS, 2000 Freelander 1 SE TD4 SW

Still hoping for a S2 one day!

Have you checked out what costco have to offer, recall seeing both mtb and racers there last time

Cheers nick but nearest Costco is Leeds and I usually end up returning with anything I buy due to fault or missing parts so would prefer to look nearer home

No decathlon near me either or would have looked at the triban  Wanted a Series 2 LR since childhood but previously owned MY16 Disco Sport HSE TD4 Auto, MY13 RR Sport Black Edition TDV6 Auto, MY10 RR Sport HSE TDV6 Auto, 2007 Freelander 1 Freestyle TD4 Soft Top, 2009 Freelander 2 GS TD4 Auto, 2007 Freelander 2 GS TD4, 2004 Disco 2 Metropolis Auto, 2002 Disco 2 GS, 2000 Freelander 1 SE TD4 SW

Still hoping for a S2 one day!

I was in the same situation 4 months back

I stretched my starter budget to a Giant Envy 5

At least the frame is common throughout the aluminium range, so any gearing/wheels/fork upgrades will not be wasted money

Edit:
And it's waaay lighter than the Boardman RRS gone
Audi SQ5...Gone Audi Q7 S-Line 240 3.0TDI Gone
Audi A6 Allroad Sport 270 3.0TDI

got my carrera for week days and here is my sunday bike

Click image to enlarge

Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated

Well gone and done it - swmbo insisted on a helmet so another £40 already

Assembled without any instructions and now have a £290 ornament because I haven't got the right fitting to inflate the tyres

Just want to ride the thing now  Wanted a Series 2 LR since childhood but previously owned MY16 Disco Sport HSE TD4 Auto, MY13 RR Sport Black Edition TDV6 Auto, MY10 RR Sport HSE TDV6 Auto, 2007 Freelander 1 Freestyle TD4 Soft Top, 2009 Freelander 2 GS TD4 Auto, 2007 Freelander 2 GS TD4, 2004 Disco 2 Metropolis Auto, 2002 Disco 2 GS, 2000 Freelander 1 SE TD4 SW

Still hoping for a S2 one day!

Nice one- worth getting a track pump to get enough air into the tyres.