I want to buy a new one due to being sick of spending more money at the petrol pumps every week than Fetish Bob spends in Corals.

Anyone on here got any knowledge on them so I can PM you to assist me?

if you're only using it to travel to work it's best to get a racing bike with decent road tires. Mountain bikes complete with off road tires aren't very helpful in getting around town cos they slow you right down. Halfords are still as good as anywhere and it's always better to have a look at them close up to get the one you like. I reckon you'd need the 21" frame for starters whichever bike you get

and get a pannier frame fitted with a bag that slides on/off - don't use a satchel cos your back will end up wetter than an otter's pocket when you've been on the bike for more than 20 minutes!!!!

It'd just be for commuting but am not sure I'd be comfortable on a racing bike so was thinking about paying a bit more and getting a light mountain bike. It's on our bike to work scheme so the monthly payment isn't too different if you go up a few specs so don't mind spending a few quid on one, especially as i'll be saving a fortune on bike per month to offset it.

it's very much an aesthetic thing as well, if it's something you don't like the look of you'll be less inclined to get on it!! Have a look round the shops - I'd avoid those Hardisty cycles style shops cos they are seriously OTT in terms of price (a lad I worked with paid 4 grand for one)!!!!
I've built mine up over the years with gadgets etc, probably about a grand's worth all told, in terms of cycling clothes and accessories and the bike itself.
What you don't want to be doing is getting to work so cold you can't uncurl your fingers, or so hot and lathered you need a cold bath. Getting the right gear is important, and keep your waterproofs handy in the pannier bag. And don't forget your drink bottle holder - vital equipment!!
A nice to have is a cycle computer - depends on what info you want to derive from it, but you can go from basic miles covered, average sppeds etc, up to sat navs for bikes complete with full cardio vascular data etc

I got my old one off cycles UK website, was a bargain. Specialized Hardrock it was. Paud about 349 for it if I remember correctly. Have some good deals on there.

Would look at hybrids instead of going for a mountain bike or if you are set on a mountain bike get some road tyres. The thick tyres really do add a lot of extra work to road riding.the hybrid will give you a bit more protection tha a road bike against puncutres if you do have any bits that aren't quite flat on your way to work.

The bloke in the shop today recommended a few Hybrids and think thats the avenue I'll go down (I meant hybrids when I said mountain bikes above!)

Am a bit limited on where I can get it from as it has to be through this bike to work scheme.

It all depends on what you're going to be using it for. If you're just going to be commuting on tarmac roads, then a mountain bike with full suspension, big fat knobbly tyres and hundreds of gears is no good. You probably want to have a look at either a hybrid or a road bike. If you don't like the idea of drops, you can also get flat bar road bikes which combine the speed of a road bike but the ergonomics of a hybrid.

Have a look round your local bike shop and also Wiggle or Evans Cycles. There's plenty of "what bike?" threads on the communting forum on bikeradar.com and other such cycling websites.

I've been commuting in all weathers for a couple of years now (well, it's nearly always sunny here anyway), so happy to help via PM.

Noticed you put bicycle help and not bike help. But you actually need help to pull the town bike as well don't you

A hybrid with some decent all weather tyres would be good for riding to work and back. The Specialized Crosstrail is a good starting point, well built, light and has a good spec, but all of the cheaper specialized bikes I've known have rims made from cheese so they don't take much up and down kerb abuse.

Bikescene in Guisborough is a good place to go and get advice, but they will always talk you into the more expensive option.

I 'bought' a Cube Attention on the Cycle to Work scheme last year, it's a serious bit of kit, nice and light.

I don't do much off roading but I'm about to change the tyres to semi slicks for doing the Coast to Coast in April.

The only thing I would say about hybrid bikes is on there skinny tyres I find them harsh to ride on the good old British road network, pretty unforgiving if you hit a patchy bit of tarmac, god help you if you hit a pot hole. Front suspension goes some way to flattening out our lovely roads. I think you'd need to spend a fair amount to get a hybrid with suspension, whereas most mountain bikes have it.

That was going to be my suggestion; check if you've got one. You do, I can move along now.

I think I will in the next few week be going the same was as TPP as I am saving for two Stag Weekends in Lisbon and Ibiza in June. I live close to work as well and have given up smoking so the summer is a good excuse to "get onmy bike" and save some dosh.

I bought myself a road/racing bike in December, absolutely loving it so far. Only live 2 miles from work so I don't need it for commuting, but I've started going out every Saturday morning with Hartlepool Cycling Club. No better enjoyment than zipping along on your bike in my opinion!

It's 13 miles to my work, how long do you think that would take? 50 mins to an hour? I really don't know! Takes me 25 minutes ish in a car.

do some reconnaissance and look for cycle routes and cycle friendly routes. I don't come into conflict with heavy traffic if I can avoid it for obvious reasons - also you would be surprised at how much mileage you can cut out on some of these routes. Google Earth is a brilliant aid in this regard - I do a bit of off roading and it helps me suss out the routes as well. The local council web sites usually have pdf files on their websites detailing the cycle routes as a further aid. Sustrans is a good website for all sorts of info like this.
As a guide, I'm not Lance Armstrong but I can cycle from Hartlepool town centre to Billingham ICI works in around 40 minutes on average (changes up or down by 5 minutes depending on wind speed and direction). That is about 10 miles using the black path at the back of Greatham to Cowpen Bewley.
Sadly I now work at Wilton so cycling there every day for a 12 hour shift is out of the question given the logistics of what time I have to get up, and if the Transporter is shut I'd be screwed!!!!

should have said that is on a mountain bike with the extra drag factor of off road tires. It would be a fair bit quicker with road tires

Might be able to do in about 50 minutes then, I'll take that.

Cheers

Thanks for all your help by the way, some useful stuff in there!

13 miles in 50 minutes on a hybrid would be good going. If the road is flat for the most part then it's doable, but you don't notice the hills in the car until you ride up them! Maybe a few months down the line when you get used to it but I'd add another 10-15 minutes to that at the start.

going on a course next month as i have been volunteered for our bike to work scheme, which is fairly ironic for a bus company

Takes me around 50 minutes to do 12miles but some horrible hills along the way and if wind is in wrong direction can add 15/20 minutes on to that. To get to work its 15miles by car so you might find some shortcuts using Parmos suggestions to cut your time down.

just been out on mine today, went up Hart bank twice!!! Glutton for punishment but I've let myself go big style since the bairn was born 10 months ago!!! Proved I can do it still!! Went up the second time from the bottom of Worset Lane at Throston, right to the top of Hart, out of the saddle all the way up (paused for a drink at the crossroads like)

back out again today and got a "pumptchere" after only 5 minutes of riding!! There's another tip - always carry tire levers, a spare inner tube and a decent bike pump!! From bitter experience I now have all the kit I need in my tool box in the bag ( I think) - so I was back on my way again within 10 minutes!!!!

What I want to know, is when you battle all the way to work with the wind in your face, why does it change when you're there to blow in your face all the way home....?

did there used to be a bike shop in church street back in the 90's and if so where was it?

i'm sure i remember getting a bike from church street as a nipper.

this is 100% fact!!!

A 'nipper'...? That'll have been the 1890's then, a Penny farthing ...watch out for the trams.

Church Street Cycles? I got a couple of bikes from him, used to love going in the shop.

Is Facchinis Cycles still in Murray Street

yes its still there