I’m thinking of getting a new bike over the next few months, but having a hard time knowing which one to get. I know that some people love to customize their bikes with the latest pedals, gears etc, but I’m looking for a relatively cheap model that comes “ready to go” and setup.
I like riding but I’m not a fanatic, so I’m not interested in spending $1000 on a new bike. I’m looking to get one for around $400-500, which I know won’t get me anything spectacular but should be enough for the occasional ride in the local woodland.
Last time I bought a mountain bike it wasn’t setup correctly, so even though it had a decent spec it didn’t feel good to ride. The gears were the main problem – they didn’t change correctly most of the time which is a bit disconcerting when you’re hurtling down a steep hill!
I thought about going for a custom bike with a decent groupset + frame etc, but it seems like it’s too much work for what I want to achieve. Building a new bike from scratch – just like building a new computer from components – means you’re much more likely to understand how the bike works, but it takes a lot of time.
It also requires some skill and existing knowledge of a bike, so I don’t think it’s really something that would be worthwhile doing.
If anyone has any recommendations for where to buy a bike from and which type to buy it would be great to hear it – especially if you’re a bike fan who’s bought mountain bikes before.



