Once again I am writing about a subject that involves us all – the balance between our desire for a good and descent bike and the reality of our economy. Some of us may have to compromise for a 150-300$ bike and be happy with it and others will be very sad with their 3000$ mountain bike, road bike or low-rider bike. At the end it is all about what we really need and what we can really afford.
If you are a professional rider your needs and budget have to be higher than the average amateur rider, though there are some amateurs that can buy bicycles with no proportion to their real needs. So think it over it not so hard to be honest with yourself and decide what you really need and what you can really afford.
In the other hand buying cheap bicycles also can be tricky, as the "ausi" site bikeexchange explains:
"It may seem like a good way of saving a little cash, but there are risks involved in buying a cheap bicycle that you need to take into account before laying down your money... The first thing you should do is always to do what research you can. Get the make and model of your proposed cheap bicycle, and go to the website of a reputable bicycle seller. Check to see what you can about the bicycle – who makes it, how much is it usually, is it still in production, and so on. Only if you like the answers you get to this sort of question should you even consider buying the bicycle cheaply."
Here are some points to think about when you buy cheap bicycles:
• Buy what you intend to use it for. Buying a professional bicycle for daily commute isn't the smartest idea
• Beware the word "cheap". When it comes to bicycles, "you get what you pay for"
• The better your bike the more attractive it is for thieves
• Don't forget the most important part of a bike: The lock(s). I recommend using two locks: one chain to wrap
around a tree/post and another chain to secure the wheels
• If you don't use it daily look for a rent a bike service in your hometown
• make sure that your good deal doesn't turn out to be too good to be true
• when you buy Cheap New Bicycles buy one from a specialist seller, usually larger sporting goods chains are
less good to buy from, especially if located in a mall
• Beware of bikes sold with sub-standard parts
• If you must a bike with sub-standard parts take it to a good mechanic and upgrade them as soon as you can
• Buy a cheap bicycle from a manufacturer you have no trouble sourcing parts later on
When buying a second hand bicycle you can find a really good deal for a decent bike but you must be alert and make a good research before you make the final purchase. once again I want to quote the bikeexchange site:
"When buying a second hand bicycle ask a lot of questions: why are they selling it, what brand is it, what is the availability of parts should it need repairs, when was it last serviced, and so on. If the seller gets touchy about this, apologise, but point out that you don't know them and they don't know you, and that a few questions now can prevent problems for both of you further down the line."
I hope this post will help you to do the right choice for your needs and budget – good hunting and god speed.
US $510.00
