Before you buy
Whatever you buy you’ll need at least 10 gears to give you a decent range for tackling hills. Ask about the quality of the components as you don’t want a mechanical failure mid journey and always try a bike for size by ensuring you can stand astride the frame with your feet flat on the floor. There should be a two-inch gap between you and the frame. Even on-line bike retailers allow you to try your bike before thoroughly before you finally commit to the purchase, but check out their small print first.
If you don’t want to fork out for a brand new bike, consider buying one that’s secondhand. High tech carbon frames and all the gear but no idea is just a waste of money. You might feel like the Yellow Jersey in the Tour de France but if your bike doesn’t help you feel comfortable and able to cope with the ride its not much use when it’s raining and you’ve still got 100 miles to go before the finish line. Remember, it’s cheaper to loose a few pounds yourself than it is to buy the latest carbon fibre frame and accessories!
