Cheap entry option - Carrera?

"vagrant" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Hi there,
I'd like to get a bike for commuting (London - perhaps 40 mins each way

i gather) with occasional light trail use in't countryside.

The thing is I dont want to spend too much at the moment due to lack
of funds, and worries that perhaps i won't get on with it as much as i
hope.
The idea is to see if the passion remains and then a year or two later
spend a bit more once my finances have (hopefully) improved.

I'm liking the look and feel of the Carrera Subway 1 (£200) from
(urgh!)
halfords so i decided to up my budget by £50... (i know its a
pathetically
small amount but...) It seemed to my inexpereinced eyes to be far
lighter
than the usual urban mountain bike and had more sturdy feeling brakes &
great looking road tyres.

I also considered the Ridgeback Cyclone but it's out of my budget at
£269.99.

Any advice/reviews/tips/warnings from other Carrera Subway 1 owners?

Thanks very much,
Matt

My son has a Subway one and it has coped well with his neglect/abuse. He's
done a couple of 25 mile loops on/off road too and it's coped well with a
suitably wide range of gears - it has a megarange cassette as standard.

So far the only maintenane needed has been the replacement of worn brake
blocks.

"vagrant" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Hi there,
I'd like to get a bike for commuting (London - perhaps 40 mins each way

i gather) with occasional light trail use in't countryside.

The thing is I dont want to spend too much at the moment due to lack
of funds, and worries that perhaps i won't get on with it as much as i
hope.

<snipped>

Why not see if you employer will subscribe to the 'tax free bikes' scheme.
There have been a few threads on it
[eg, recently, tax breaks for bikes].

I've never ridden a Carrera Subway 1, but have heard good reports of it.

Or look at 2005 bikes in the sale (there are plenty advertised, eg at Evans
Cycles).

Peter

"Peter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"vagrant" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Hi there,
I'd like to get a bike for commuting (London - perhaps 40 mins each way

i gather) with occasional light trail use in't countryside.

The thing is I dont want to spend too much at the moment due to lack
of funds, and worries that perhaps i won't get on with it as much as i
hope.

<snipped>

Why not see if you employer will subscribe to the 'tax free bikes' scheme.
There have been a few threads on it
[eg, recently, tax breaks for bikes].

I've never ridden a Carrera Subway 1, but have heard good reports of it.

Or look at 2005 bikes in the sale (there are plenty advertised, eg at
Evans Cycles).

Peter

Further to the above reply, the bike is reviewed (along with three other
£200 bikes) in this months What Mountain Bike.
And comes out OK.

Thanks Vernon & Peter - that's encouraging to hear - i was worried that
anything Halfords = not worth the money/ piece of junk!

I would love to to the tax free scheme but i'm freelance at the moment
: (

Thanks again - cant wait to get cycling!