Cycle shops—a buyer's guide

What type of bike is best?

• This depends on what you want to use the bike for, where you want to use it and how much you want to spend. Tell the shop assistant what you want the bike for—from a sporty run-around for the weekend to a tough urban bike for your daily commute—and they'll have the expertise to guide your choice.

What types of bike will I find in a cycle shop?

• A good-quality road bike is hard to beat if you are looking to cycle long distances at speed on tarmac.
• The mountain bike (MTB) is designed for steep off-road outings. MTBs fall into two categories—hardtail, with front suspension only; and FRS (front and rear suspension).
• Hybrid bikes combine the advantages of the MTB and the road bike in one machine. Similar in style to road bikes, they have flat handlebars and an upright stem that makes them more comfortable to ride.
• Fold-up bikes are great if you have a relatively short distance to travel or need to take your cycle on a train or into your office. Cycle shops usually offer a limited choice.
• If you want to be environmentally-friendly and save yourself money, why not go for a cycle shop that stocks second-hand bikes? You could find yourself a real bargain.

Will I be able to get advice at a cycle shop?

• Any cycle shop worth its salt will explain the features and benefits of each bike to you. A good cycle shop will want to keep you as a customer—for bike services and accessories—so it's in their interest to give you reliable advice. But the clearer the idea you have of what you want, the better the cycle shop will be able to help you.

What size cycle should I be looking for?

• The best way to find the right size bike is to try it out in the cycle shop. Some cycle shops will even let you try a bike out by cycling round the block.
• Otherwise, a good guide is to subtract 10 inches from your inside leg measurement. Take off a further one inch for road bikes and three inches for MTBs and you will have your ideal frame size.

How many gears do I need?

• Modern bikes have anything between 15 and 27 gears. The hillier the terrain you are cycling on, the more gears you need. If in doubt, ask for advice in the cycle shop.

How much should I pay for a bike?

• As a general rule, a bike priced at under ?150 is OK for occasional use.
• Cycle shop experts recommend spending a minimum of ?400 for a more hard-wearing bike.
• Larger discounts are available from the increasing number of online cycle shops, although this means you don't get a chance to try out the bike before you buy.