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Hi folks I'm looking at buying a second hand bike for my 18 year old son so he can travel 1.6 miles to work,the very top of my budget is £300 .I've always had Treks and have found them reliable just basic models like the 4300 or 4500 but I don't see too many of them on Ebay.
Anyway I'm not sure what to get him,could anyone advise what they think is a good brand or model to look out for of any make.
I see a lot of Carreras on Ebay but I have no idea if they are decent bikes or to be avoided?.it's mainly for use on the road but I'm still thinking of a mountain bike as I think some have a nice posture and I would get one with tyres that are good on the road and my son could then ride out with me along country paths too,although I haven't completely ruled out looking for a hybrid.
His bike will be locked outside a McDonalds for 9 hours a day so I suppose at least a second hand older bike will be a little less desirable to thieves.It's a restaurant on the edge of town away from most passing people that will be relying on customers from the motorway using it so it will remain to be seen if that makes it a bit safer,although I suppose opportunists or thieves with vans visit everywhere.
So if anyone has any ideas of what bikes to look for second hand that are well made and reliable,I would appreciate it
Nothing wrong with Carrera but I bet a lot of used bikes at that price won't have been looked after at all. If you're happy checking for mechanical issues then pick up something functional and the right size. There usually lots of older mountain bikes for sale that would be fine for that kind of use and not attractive to thieves.
There's also a few new bikes within budget from Halfords if you're not sure about choosing a good used one.
I can recommend a giant escape if you decide on a hybrid. I've commuted on it for 7 years and it was only 300 new.
I wouldn't spend £300 on a bike that's going to be ridden three miles a day and chained up outside a Macdonald's nine hours a day.
This bike looks well looked after,does anyone know if Merida are reliable
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/402927107053?hash=item5dd053bbed:g:vowAAOSwpoNgwde7
In all honesty, for that kind of use I'd be getting a sub-£100 bike from FB Marketplace. Something like this:
@idiotdogbrain I have been looking at marketplace but haven't really seen anything yet.I'm a non driver so I'm limited to a small distance to pick up bikes and on Ebay the prices of second hand bikes have gone crazy with lockdown and people not wanting to use public transport.I'm having to pay for delivery too which often is expensive on Ebay.
Whereabouts are you in the country?
Warwick
How tall is your lad, and can you get to Cov? This sort of thing would be ideal:
Replace the quick releases with security skewers though..
Or something like this if you're after a mountain bike:
He says it works perfectly but the only thing he could think of is the front shock absorber may need some oil is this anything to worry about?That's the 520 mountain bike,he's gone a bit quiet after asking how it rides with the absorber
How tall is he BTW?
I might have a frame and fork he can have.
Hi he's 5'9 I declined the rockrider as I think there is something wrong with the fork,the guy said it's nothing too drastic and it's not as if it's a £600 shock absorber,i just thought it was best to walk away,he'd had loads of other bits fixed it was strange he hadn't had that bit done too
I think your best bet is to look for a disc-equipped Carrera Subway. No suspension fork so no servicing worries, 8-speed so cheap consumables, cable disc brakes so easily serviced. Should be around £150 in decent condition.
@idiotdogbrain Hi I remember looking at the subways years ago online when I was looking for a bike and thought they looked good,I shall have a look at those today.Thanks.
I have a 17/26" Rockhopper frame plus rigid Kona fork, V brake, if your interested.
Beautiful downtown Burnley. 🙃
If you are in Warwick then the answer is simple
Sensible prices, fully checked, and supports charity too.
Hi thanks,I have been following him but haven't managed to get in quick enough with anything that would have been suitable
Hi thanks,what height would it suit and can it be posted?
Hi thanks,I have been following him but haven’t managed to get in quick enough with anything that would have been suitable
Can't you message him, explain what you are after and why and see if he can't save you one?
Carrera Subway was my immediate thought, and if it's going to be used for commuting you'll want proper mudguards and lights.
EDIT - there's an Orbea town bike on there that doesn't state is sold and would be ideal for a 1.6 mile commute. Although it says it's a ladies bike, it's just a euro style city bike. Depends how picky your lad is.
I have set alerts for a subways on Ebay I was asking a guy last night if he would post one but he sells only to those that will collect,so i will have to wait until one that I see one that I like that will be able to be posted.The fb guy works in his own way and only likes to work the way he does which is first come first served when the adverts appear online and he doesn't take requests
Hi folks,I got hold of a bike from a neighbour a few doors up from me that is clearing a lot of his stuff as they are moving to Greece in a month,the bike is in very good condition and is a GT avalanche.I gave him £70 for the bike and I'm happy with that,it's old as has 26" wheels but it looked like it had been hardly used
Sounds ideal, if it fits your lad. Nice one 🙂
result - tell him all of singletrack will be expecting him to lock it up properly 😉
Good news.
I didn't see this thread originally but I'm down the road in Leamington.
Would have suggested Action 21 on Court st.
They do up and sell bikes that have been tipped.
Thanks everyone,my son is 18 but hadn't ever got in to bikes after hurting his knee when learning on a small bike when he was about 5 and he was adamant that he wouldn't ever ride a bike after that so he's going to practice with me away from the roads until he's bike fluent 🙂
Hi thanks I did have a look there a couple of weeks ago but they hadn't anything suitable at the time.On another note I popped in to see Gary today at unleashed cycles on the Heathcote and he helped me with the saddle,he's really good.
haha @edhornby I have visited his work place and scoped the suitable places to lock the bike and bought a heavy d lock which may give him a hernia it's called an Onguard brute and is 1.8kg.