WHERE TO BUY?
SHOP BOUGHT
Still a great way to buy a bike, particularly if you find a shop that really knows its onions, as they can be a goldmine of advice and you should get great after-sales service. Try and choose a mountain bike-specific retailer with passionate staff who ride regularly. Often these are situated close to the best riding spots.
■ Go armed with a shortlist of models and call ahead, or try and visit during the week, if you want the undivided attention of the staff.
■ Ask to test ride the bikes if you can (take ID just in case).
■ If you decide to buy, don’t be afraid to ask if you can substitute things like tyres and stems – a good shop may well just charge you the
DIRECT SALES
■ Find out how much delivery costs – Halfords charges £35, for instance, although in-store collection is free. Through CRC or Wiggle, Vitus delivery is free.
■ Be sure to read the terms and conditions throroughly before you buy. These will spell out what happens if you buy the wrong size, or something is faulty on the bike. For instance, the cost of shipping the bike back to the manufacturer is usually paid by the consumer.
■ Decide whether you are confident enough to assemble the bike yourself. It’s not complicated, but you’ll need basic tools and difference in price.
■ Usually a shop will give you a first free service, too, after a few weeks. This will include checking the gears and brakes once they’ve bedded-in, and lubing the chain. It’s also a good opportunity to ask any questions about set-up.
mechanical competence. If not, a good bike shop will do it for you, but expect to pay around £50 for this job.
■ There’s usually no way of seeing the bike before you buy, so be sure about what size you need. When it arrives, ask yourself: does the cockpit feel roomy enough? Is the standover height good enough to lean the bike over in a corner? Are the seatpost and saddle in the right place? If the worst comes to the worst, you can usually send it back, unused, for a different size, but check this is the case.
■ When the bike arrives, make sure the box looks undamaged.