What bike for £160?

[Buk]

If the answer is spend £300, it's the same as "Don't buy a bike.".

[meic]

Secondhand.
I would go for a quality bike which was "outdated".

This means that your choice is more based on what is available, locally.

I bought a second hand Raleigh for £45 13 years ago, it was a gem that could match anything costing ten times that new. That sort of bargain is still around but not "to order".

[Vorpal]

I agree that secondhand will get the best value for money.

You might be able to get an okay bike from the local dump, freecycle, or a car boot sale, and spend your money on new parts. It doesn't take much more than the desire to learn. If you don't know how to do stuff, ask on here, or use sites like https://www.sheldonbrown.com/ to find out how.

If you need something that goes right now (i.e. you are starting to commute by bike next week), something like https://www.decathlon.co.uk/elops-100-s ... 05485.html or https://www.decathlon.co.uk/riverside-1 ... 79017.html might suit?

[Buk]

Secondhand.
I would go for a quality bike which was "outdated".

This means that your choice is more based on what is available, locally.

I bought a second hand Raleigh for £45 13 years ago, it was a gem that could match anything costing ten times that new. That sort of bargain is still around but not "to order".

Okay. Where would you look?

[meic]

For me it is a bit of a problem, I live miles out from a town and 40 miles from a city.
If I was in the city it would be easier.

Bike shops sometimes sell secondhand bikes.
Your local CTC group will often have things coming up
Gumtree
Ebay
This Forum's for sale section
Freecycle
Supermarket and other shop "for sale" notice boards
Asking around.

I have been given more old classics than I have paid for, people are often happy just to see it going to actually be used.
It depends how much of a rush you are in.

[Vorpal]

Post a wanted on your local Freecycle.

https://www.freecycle.org/

Some groups also have yahoo groups, Facebook pages, or other social media sites where people can post.

check http://www.preloved.co.uk/ as well as the sites recommended by meic above.

There are also some community based organisations that help people get cycling, like http://www.hubandspokeharlow.co.uk/web/ in Harlow. You can google for such things in your area, or post something about where you are (county?) and others on here can suggest places local to you.

[[XAP]Bob]

If the answer is spend £300, it's the same as "Don't buy a bike.".

Where are you, what do you want to do?

The where is important, since the second hand market is localised... and is the market you need to be in for £150... (Yes, I shaved £10 in case a chain or cable needs replacing)

[Spinners]

£160 is just a bit low for a decent new bike so I'd just like to second the Gumtree suggestion. Indeed, you can spend a lot less than £160 and get a decent, used bike.

[meic]

I think that a lot of us may be failing to state the obvious.

It wants to be a bike that is

Your size
Suitable for the type of riding you want

[meic]

Going by what you said you wanted your bike for on another thread, with that budget, then this is the sort of thing which I meant. If you were tall and lived in Manchester.
viewtopic.php?f=40&t=114754

as he doesnt provide pictures here is what a Dawes Horizon 531 looks like
https://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/dawe ... 1172320404

[Buk]

I have been given more old classics than I have paid for, people are often happy just to see it going to actually be used.

Is there any value in my old bike?

I paid a guy £100 for it 4 months old, rode it for a couple of years before damaging my spine (unrelated) and it hasn't been touched for 20 years.
My spine has improved a lot in the interim, but is still susceptible to jarring, hence my choice of full sus.

It depends how much of a rush you are in.

I hoped to be out and about this last weekend; but you know the rest of that story. The manufacturer (boss) have promised me replacement forks by Thursday for the princely sum of £25. I'm hoping to have it back together for the weekend.

This enquiry is for my wife. Since I've effectively got mine for free, I'm thinking about getting one for her with the money I haven't spent on mine. One of the Decathalon's is probably ideal; assuming I can persuade her to try it. (Mid 50's, never ridden a bike. Could be a tough sell )

I must admit that whilst I don't mind doing the routine maintenance, I'm not really into the idea of re-building a clunker. I've been there, done that; with bikes (in my early teens), m'bikes in my late teens and early 20s; and a couple of cars in my 40's. They always take twice as much money and three times as long as you think they will and there are always some niggling things that nobody else see's but you do, that just continue to irritate.

I'd rather buy something working -- even if second hand. Any flaws are someone else's fault and I choose to live with them.

[landsurfer]

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-3 ... 51519.html

I've been to look at these bikes .... top value .... fit narrow tyres and you have a hybrid touring bike .... Leave it alone and its your touring MBT ....
£159.99 .....

[Tangled Metal]

Going by what you said you wanted your bike for on another thread, with that budget, then this is the sort of thing which I meant. If you were tall and lived in Manchester.
viewtopic.php?f=40&t=114754

as he doesnt provide pictures here is what a Dawes Horizon 531 looks like
https://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/dawe ... 1172320404

That link shows a raleigh m-trax Ti8000R for £275. I still own an m-trax 4000R IIRC. That Ti bike looks nice. How does old titanium bikes stand up? Must here 25 years old I reckon. Looks the same geometry as my old bike. Cracking ride my bike in.steel. Reckon the titanium version would be good too. 9.5kg in original spec sized large 60cm IIRC my steel bike. How light would it be in Ti with lighter groupset but same pedals, bars, seat post, saddle?

[tim_f]

I think the Decathlon £159 bike might be the best mountain bike style bike you can get new for £160 https://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-340-mountain-bike-grey-blue-id_8321326.html

Comes in a good range of cycles.

perhaps you could have a day out at a place with cycle hire to see how you both get on before deciding to buy a bike

Tim

[Hackfall]

Take your time and the right one second hand will come up on ebay

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my SM-A300FU using hovercraft full of eels.