Purchasing a bike
Obviously, purchasing your bike is a massively important part of cycling. Buying an efficient, reliable bike that you can form a good relationship with is a must. Buying second-hand bikes can save you heaps, but you take a slight risk in buying second-hand from private sellers, as they aren't necessarily road worthy and most likely have no guarantee.
New bikes generally have guarantees and are great to ride, but are attractive to thieves also. Cycle shops have a quick turnover of second hand bikes and are more expensive than buying from a private seller but are worth considering if you manage to find one as they ensure the bike is road worthy and sometimes offer some form of guarantee. Always ask for a test ride. Get your parents to buy you a bike and you're laughing! Remember to buy lights, a puncture repair kit and a pump while you are at it.
N.B.Make sure you understand the shop guarantee policy fully before making any purchase & keep the receipt!
Type of bike:
The type of bike you choose should depend on your exact requirements. Three types include:
1) Hybrids or city bikes- An adapted version of the Mountain bike for city riding. Can cope with kerbs and are an excellent option for everyday city cycling.
2) Mountain bikes- Perfect for off-road cycling: manoeuvrable and flexible, mountain bikes are a good option if you regularly cycle on uneven surfaces. However, not the most efficient option for everyday road cycling.
3) Racing or road bikes- Racing bikes are the most efficient and quickest bikes on the road. They have thin tyres and drop handlebars. However, they do not cope with uneven surfaces and can be prone to punctures.
4) Folding bikes- Want a bike that can fit in your rucksack when you're not using it? Although folding bikes are brilliant to store they can be expensive and have a worse ride than other bikes.
New Bikes:
The following all stock a selection of new bikes, commonly starting around £110-135 unless otherwise stated. It really is worth shopping around to get the best deal, don't be afraid to barter. N.B. Always ask if they do student discount!
-Bike Workshop. 88 Colston Street, Centre. BS1 5BB
-Blackboy Hill Cycles. 180 Whiteladies Road, Clifton BS8 2XU
-Bike Tech. 11 Christmas Steps, Centre. BS1 5BS
-Cycle Life. 11-13 Stokes Croft, Cente. BS1 3PY
-Dave Bater. 6 The Willow Centre, Downend BS16 5UJ
-Dave Bater. 12-14 Park Street, Centre BS1 5HR
-Fred Baker. 144 Cheltenham Road. BS6 5RL
-Fred Baker. 292 Lodge Causeway, Fishponds. BS16 3RD
-Halfords. Eastgate centre, Eastville Bs5 6XX NEW BIKES START FROM £85
-Harvey's. 178 Henleaze Road, Horfeild BS9 4NE
-Mud-Dock. 40 The Grove, Centre. BS1 4RB (Just south of Queens Square)
-Overburys. 138 Ashley Road, Montpelier. BS6 5PA.
-Pemburys. 8 Highridge Road, Bishopsworth. BS13 8HA. NEW BIKES START FROM £85
-Psyclewerx. 4-6 Abbotsford Road, Clifton BS6 6HB
-The Bicycle shop. 276 Gloucester Road. BS7 8PB.
Second hand bikes:
There are mountains of fantastic bikes out there at super low prices. Private sellers offer low prices but some bikes may need some work done and if a bike breaks the day after you purchase it, hard luck. All of the cycle shops listed above in the 'new bikes' section occasionally have second hand bikes.
-Trade-It. The Trade-It (available at most newsagents) have masses of second hand bikes at cheap prices. Good bikes can be found starting at about £15 around Bristol.
-Emmaus. Barton Manour, St Phillips. BS2 ORL. The St.Phillips based charity has a decent selection of second hand bikes starting from around £15. Good prices and a good cause.
-The Bicycle Shop. (see above) Regularly has second hand bikes, usually in the £65-120 price bracket.
-Local pawn shops. Pawnshops often have second hand bikes at decent prices. However, they are less likely to offer guarantees than buying second hand from a cycle shop. Such as:
The Attic- 37 North Street, Downend. BS16 5SW.
-The Internet. Bikes can be found through Internet sites such as Ebay and local newspaper advertiser sections (which are also often online)
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