Brucey wrote:the thread is (I think, excluding various 'special bits') about
'how much for a decent bike'
which is not the same thing as
'how much for a bike that sets my heart aflutter'.
I'm inclined to agree. This thread seems to have demonstrated that:
- Cyclists are not interested in decent bikes, but only in bikes that they personally like
- There is very little tolerance for different ideas
- Therefore, the OP would be well advised to steer clear and spend his/her money on something else
But yes, the answer to a new rider is probably in the £500 region. What's more, given the firm opinions expressed here, part of the purpose of that first decent bike will be to form firm opinions of your own. Bad news if you do that on a £6000 bike and decide it's firmly not the type for you