Buying a Bike

While surfing about the internet on various bike related blogs and websites over the weekend (I know, why wasn't I out riding?)realised that buying a bike isn't the most straightforward process in the world.

If you go to buy a car, there are always tons of reviews, literature, and resources that you can research to check that the car you are looking at is definately the right one for you. There are endless pictures, movies and 24 hour test drives for you to check out. All for a thing that, no matter what make or model, is designed to do one thing: get you from A to B.

Buying a bike, initially can, on the face of it be a bit of a different experience. suddenly on opening a magazine, or entering a shop, you're confronted, with a plethora of options o nthe type of bike you want. Below is an off the top of my head list of the types of bikes available in almost any bike shop these days:
Mountain
All mountain
Trail
Jump
XC
Downhill
Folder
Comfort Commute
Fast Commute
Touring
Enduro
Road
Track
Fixed
Singlespeed
BMX
WSD
Hardtail
Full Suspension


The list, of course goes on and on. The beauty of this niche pigeon holing is that the marketing people can always make a bike appear to be perfect for it's chosen activity. I can think of a few models from major manufacturers that have not changed one iota year on year, but have simply been recategorized from 'All Mountain' to 'Hardcore Trail'.

In light of all this what average Joe (or Jo) needs is an impartial guide to buying yourself a bike. I could have written this but it would have been a)boring and b)not as good as This one from my friend Clives Blog. If you're thinking of purchasing a bike in the near future, and not a bike geek - let Clive's geekery guide you through the choices and pitfalls of buying yourself your new toy.

Then give me a call, and I'll sell you one. Email me here!

:-)

Another link to Clives very good blog