Hello,
My partner and I are wanting to ride to work and back and are wanting to get a bike each. We are wanting either a hardtail MTB or a Hybrid bike as we will mostly be riding on the road/paths with a little bit of offroad (smooth dirt paths etc).
Anyone have any suggestions as to where I can get a decent bike with a budget of around $500 per bike? Happy to purchase from USA/UK if it's much better value.
Any help is appreciated :)
$500 buys you a lot in the secondhand bike market (excluding fancy road bikes)
know your size and look for at least 8 or 9 cogs/gears on the rear wheel. Know your shimano heirarchy to understand what components you are buying: http://rctonline.blogspot.com.au/2011/01/hierarchy-of-curren…
I have found many gems on eBay: A couple of weeks ago we bought my wife a lightly used hybrid with alivio parts for $99, prices start at $500+ for similar new in shops.
Thanks for the responses Monad and Kingsville.
I will check out the second hand market as this sounds like the best option :)
Seeing some of you guys seem to know a lot about bikes, I would appreciate an opinion on which one of these two 29ers would you think is a better deal and a better bike (and why):
http://www.avantipluscannington.com.au/bicycles/avanti/bikes…
http://www.cellbikes.com.au/CELL-2013-M29-29er-Mountain-Bike
Thanks in advance!
Personally I'd choose the Avanti, especially if you can test ride it. Better (?) wheels and brakes, and I'd always choose 3x9 over 2x8 gears.
I could be bias but have had good experience with mid-level Avanti bikes and was disappointed with the quality of a Cell bike a dismantled for a friend.
Both could be heavy.
Try Bike Exchange, it's the 'Trading Post' equivalent for bicycles. You can specify price, size, new or used, local or Aus wide etc for bikes and accessories: http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/
You might be able to get a couple of used bikes locally as many are bought and hardly riden, only collecting dust. That way you might get a much better bike for your money, or pay much less for a similar quality bike you'd pay $500 odd for new.