New Toy , Bicycle Content (picked it up)

Thought I'd better add, It's not going to get particularly heavy use. I've realised as I get older the more it hurts when I fall, so i take it easy these days. Most of what I do to it will be for looks more than function, but I would like to throw it around every now and then

cheers chap, will check em' out. The seller tells me the cranks have already been upgraded and the gears , guess i'll see when I go to pick it up. seems a good buy to me for £30 but then I know nothing about these type of bikes. I know its def an entry level bike though.

Go to a bike shop and ask for some Semi slick tyres, a set of decent brake blocks and some nice flat pedals.

Plastic pedals are poo, as soon as your shoes get damp there is practically no grip on them.

I don't see the need to upgrade the brakes really, a decent set of pads will stop you. I have only changed to using disc brakes in the past few years and only really noticed the noise.

don't forget to put the saddle to the correct height too. Too low and you'll get tired easy, too high and it'll cause you back pain.

Thanks all, will post some pics of the bike in question once I've picked it up tomorrow night.
Pedals may have already been upgraded, not sure til I see it. And think I'll just stick with the brakes that are on it. If I decide to start riding seriously, I'll get a better bike.

Don't bother with disk brakes on that bike - You'd need new forks and a new front hub at least, which would cost at least double what you paid for it.
The brakes look like alloy V brakes, which are perfectly good when setup right and with a good pair of pads in.

Unless you are really jumping the thing about, a chain tensioner isn't required - The front and rear mechs hold the chain on if they are setup correctly and the chain isn't over long. If you do really throw round, you'll find the rear mech flaps about, bends and dives into the spokes when you go for first gear, then snaps off - Looks like the frame doesn't have a replaceable mech hanger, so there is about a 50% chance that when this happens you'll end up never being able to fit a new rear mech because the tab on the fame will be bent/shafted. In which case, consider a single speed setup and a chain tensioner, but again, it's not worth spending the cash, as you'll have bent the wheels and worn the fork bushes out by this time.

In a roundabout way I realise I'm basically saying don't expect it to last long if you give it a lot of abuse, it's built to look the part rather than to take any real hammer.
Looks like it'll make a perfectly serviceable XC bike though providing the frame fits you - I can recommend Continental Speed Kings as a good "all round" tyre, and they are pretty cheap in 2.1" width. Not really a tarmac tyre, but a tarmac tyre will be terrible on dirt. They are lightweight and not too wide, and suited me fine for a 14 mile road commute all summer.

Picked it up last night, looks pretty much brand new, Pulled off the decals and removed reflectors etc
poor mobile pics but here it is , well chuffed for £30





need to get some metal pedals and tweak the brakes a bit, sticking on the front wheel, other than that I'll just ride it for a bit before stripping it down and respraying

i know that place in colchester, its pretty good one of my buddies had his done there and the finish is great.

as for tyres i would go for continental travel contacts, smooth on the inside for road and nobbley on the outside for dirt

www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/ti%20travel%20contact.shtml