Buying a bike: advice needed

[mpjacko]

Hi all,

I have a budget of 300euro for a new bike and from my experience living in Finland, the best deals / sales are in July.

I have found 4 bikes which are in my price range (one is just over 300 but I can find the extra 30euros). The top two bikes are my fav but I don't know which one to buy. They are roughly the same bike but one has front suspension whilst the other bike's fork is fixed.

http://www.suomenpolkupyoratukku.fi/ind ... ts_id=2923
http://www.suomenpolkupyoratukku.fi/ind ... ts_id=2913

http://www.suomenpolkupyoratukku.fi/ind ... ts_id=2905
http://www.suomenpolkupyoratukku.fi/ind ... ts_id=2878

My only requirements are: bike has to be quick as I travel 10km to work / Finnish school but also strong enough so that I can attach a child's seat to the back when I pick up my daughter on the way home. I would love to have a proper racing bike but the child seat rules this out.

Also, does anyone know of shops / companies doing summer sales. I know of netanttila for example.

Thanks

Mark

[Pete]

The best bike out of that lot is the last one, that is if they still have any in stock.
It was the most expensive of all of them before the discount and looks to have the better quality parts.
In this price range, it is better to forego all luxuries (like suspension forks) because they are most likely crap anyway.
The most important thing to look for is a decent quality drivetrain, if you only intend to use it for point to point travel.
Plus this bike will take a childseat without any hassle and do it in a safe manner (due to the rear rack).

[simon]

The best bike out of that lot is the last one, that is if they still have any in stock.
It was the most expensive of all of them before the discount and looks to have the better quality parts.
In this price range, it is better to forego all luxuries (like suspension forks) because they are most likely crap anyway.
The most important thing to look for is a decent quality drivetrain, if you only intend to use it for point to point travel.
Plus this bike will take a childseat without any hassle and do it in a safe manner (due to the rear rack).

always spot on Pete

[mpjacko]

The best bike out of that lot is the last one, that is if they still have any in stock.
It was the most expensive of all of them before the discount and looks to have the better quality parts.
In this price range, it is better to forego all luxuries (like suspension forks) because they are most likely crap anyway.
The most important thing to look for is a decent quality drivetrain, if you only intend to use it for point to point travel.
Plus this bike will take a childseat without any hassle and do it in a safe manner (due to the rear rack).

Thanks

Will take a look tomorrow

[Pete]

Make sure you buy some better pedals, those plastic ones are terrible due to the lack of grip they offer.
Buy some bmx pedals instead, that way you won't ever have problems with your foot slipping off the pedals.