Buying Advice

Road Bikes
Mountain Bikes
BMX Bikes

Road Bikes
A quality road bike represents the pinnacle of minimalist engineering. They can be amazingly light and rigid and when used properly are the only way to devour hundreds of miles in a day using the power of the human body alone.

Road bikes are designed to be ridden at high speeds and on smooth road surfaces, so are lightweight and have thin smooth tyres inflated up to 100psi to minimise friction. Most models utilise drop handlebars to put the rider into the most efficient position to cut through the air.

These are not the most comfortable or practical of cycles although you do get used to them in time. Used by club cyclists for centuries they are the tried and tested choice for any road racer or triathlete.

Other alternatives use a flat bar to appeal to those who seek more comfort or practicality.

Equipped with mounts for guards and racks they make a better choice for those wishing to go touring and/or commuting.

If your primary aim is to get from A to B in the fastest possible time, beat your driving colleagues to work or smash your PB over 40 miles then choose a road bike. Test ride one today at our stores.

Sizing: Road bikes are measured in centimetres. It is most important to get the length of the bike correct. This is made easier because the size increments are very close. Put your elbow on the front tip of the seat and extend your pointed finger onto the stem. The size is correct if you can touch the middle of the stem cap. The optimum height for the saddle should allow the rider to almost fully extend the leg. This does mean that it will be difficult to touch the ground with both feet when on the saddle. This will only pose a problem whilst riding in traffic where you should lower the saddle by about 20mm.

MTB Bikes
Mountain bikes are by far the most popular type of bicycle ridden in the U.K. They are also the most mis-understood and therefore may not necessarily be the right bike for you. There is no doubting the fact that they are the most versatile bicycle you can buy. They will simply go anywhere limited only by your imagination. They are the perfect choice for family cycling as well as getting dirty in your local woods. Their strong frames, smaller 26 inch wheels and chunky tyres make them suitable for city streets as well. These tyres don't puncture as easily, although they do offer resistance when rolling on smooth tarmac. Adding slick tyres, mudguards and lights turns a mountain bike into a suitable urban commuting vehicle.

In our experienced opinion there are three categories of mountain bikes:

All Terrain Bikes are the most popular. Bikes designed to be used anywhere but do not excel in any one particular area. They mostly fulfil the sub £250 market and regrettably some are chosen on looks rather than practicality.

Don't be fooled into thinking that one of these bikes will offer any sort of performance benefits other than being a fun bike to ride at the weekend.

Comfort Bikes: have grown in popularity preferred mostly by adults. Have you ever suffered back ache or been saddle sore whilst on a ride? These bicycles totally eliminate these discomforts by offering the combination of a comfortable riding position with amazing saddle technology.<br><br>These bikes are superbly adjustable enabling you to position the contact points just where you like them and they have the mounts for all the equipment you could wish for. A lazy sunshine afternoon ride around the neighbourhood, short distance commute or a light trail ride are all within their capabilities

Mountain Bikes: are the perfect choice for the weekend off road pioneer. Unlike some of their so called name sakes they are actually capable of accompanying a rider up a mountain and down again in one piece.

They all benefit from either front or full suspension that actually make the whole off road experience a far more enjoyable place to be. Extra comfort and grip translate into bigger smiles, less fatigued bodies and possibly being late for dinner. You haven't 'mountain biked' until you have test ridden a well sorted full suspension bike down your favourite trail.

Off road racing in Thetford Forrest, hucking over a drop off at Aston Hill or beating your buddy around the next berm whilst out with the lads on the (long) way to the pub, a proper mountain bike will handle it.

Sizing
Mountain bikes are sized depending on the age of the rider and the type of use the cycle will get. Buy a bike for a child that has the seat set as low as the chosen frame or wheel size will permit. This will allow for growth, but be carefull not to purchase a cycle that is initially too big and unsafe. Little Johnny will find it hard to ride anything if his leg's in plaster!

Adults will need to consider different aspects when sizing. A bike used principally off road will need to be quite small, to enable the rider to lower the seat and move back, still able to reach the bars for when the going gets tough. Aim to have two to three inches of clearance between your crotch and the top tube when standing over the bike. A smaller frame will be lighter and more manouverable, just don't run the seat pin above its limit mark. Why not come in the our stores and test ride a model of your choice to get the most appropriate size (conditions do apply).

BMX Bikes
Now a big part of youth culture, the bmx is the coolest way of getting about the streets. While a mountain bike will not suffer the abuse that goes alongside jumping and trick riding a quality BMX will. These will have 20 inch wheels with 48 spokes (mountain bikes have 32), heat treated steel frames with tough components. Be warned though, the poor quality BMX bikes are no stronger than a bike you’d buy a five year old.

There are many good ride locations in and around our local areas and part of the appeal is to be able pick up a spade and build your own jumps in the garden or woods. A well maintained BMX will last a long time and you will still find yourself amused by the tricks you can pull off well into your mid twenties!

Sizing
BMX's all have the same size wheels. The frame lengths do vary and some manufacturers do make shorter and lower models for seven to ten year olds. On the most part though you have to abandon all normal sizing formulae. The idea is for these bikes is to be strong, small and easily manoeverable.

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