A step-by-step guide to buying a Bicycle in London

Step One: Consider your needs. Cycles fall broadly into categories: road, mountain, and hybrid/commuter. Depending on which activities for you hope to use your cycle, different types of cycles may be more appropriate.

1. Road bikes are intended for achieving high speeds on smooth and finished surfaces, and are cosmetically defined by their slender tyres (~23-28mm), drop handlebars, vertical brake levers, and a frame constructed of a typically light material such as aluminium or carbon fibre. Older models (pre-1990s) will be usually be constructed of steel tubing with down-tube gearshifts mounted on the frame, whereas more modern cycles will have gearshifts mounted on the handlebars or integrated into the brake levers. Many road bikes will also come equipped with clipless pedals which are compatible with the cleats on the bottom of cycling shoes, allowing the rider to anchor their feet to their cycle and thus gain greater power in their pedalstroke. Touring bikes are a subset of road bikes, designed to carry loads and cover long distances while staying true to the speed which is gained from a road cycle configuration. Tourers will have frames constructed of a more robust material (aluminium or steel alloy), a wider wheelbase for a more comfortable ride, a pannier rack to carry bags, and wider tyres (~28-35mm) to make for a more comfortable ride.
2. Mountain bikes are designed for off-road or roughly finished terrain, and are constructed accordingly: the wider tyres (~40mm+) are typically textured to provide for better gripping, and handlebars are typically flat to allow for a sturdier grip. Brake and gear changers are fixed to the handlebars near to the rider’s thumbs, and frames are typically constructed of steel alloy or aluminium. The front forks might include shock absorbers to allow for harsher terrain to be covered, and the seat position will be lower than on a road bike.
3. Hybrid-commuters are intended to fit between mountain and road bikes to fill the needs of most people. This type of cycle will typically have a lighter frame and medium tyre widths (~35mm), but also have flat handlebars and a more comfortable seat position like a mountain bike. These bikes are suitable for urban and semi-finished pathways, and may come fixed with a pannier to accommodate loads to be affixed. More vintage commuters will typically only have a few gears, if not one. These bikes are not intended for mountainous terrain or high speeds to be achieved, but rather to provide a comfortable, convenient, and stylish ride to cyclists.

Step two: Determine your budget. most students will not be seeking an expensive, brand new bicycle, which could run from the high hundreds to thousands of pounds in cost. For most, a budget of 70-150 pounds will suffice, although depending on what one looks for in a cycle will obviously differ. Consider also the possibility of bike theft; London is one of the world’s capitals for cycle theft: over 20,000 bikes are reported stolen each year, and actual number are almost certainly higher. The more expensive the bike, the more attractive it will be to bike thieves.

Step three: Search for suitable cycles. Sites like Gumtree and Facebook marketplace are optimal for purchasing used bicycles, which will be the case for most. When searching, consider setting search alerts and using sorting tools (e.g. arranging items by cost), and by setting parameters. When examining a bicycle, consider its distance from you and how far you are willing to travel. Also consider the accessibility of the item and whether it will be possible or convenient to get there via public transport. Most of all, examine photos and descriptions of the cycles carefully. Note how the bike is described, and what is (and is not) shown in the attached photos. Also think about what could and could not be replaced: tyres are quite easy to repair, while wheels and frame cracks are not so straightforward. Consider the age of the cycle, how worn it is, and how it has been cared for. A rusty chain is easily replaced, while a rusty frame is less easy to address.

Step four: Be patient! If you have set your parameters within a search alert, wait for an appropriate bike to come along. London is a city of nearly nine million, and new cycles are posted by the hour. In many cases, getting the right bike will be a matter of waiting days or weeks. In the meantime, consider looking for other cycling essentials, like lights, a helmet, or locks.

Step five: Seeing a bike in person. Always check a bicyle in person before making a purchase. Spin the wheels to ensure that wheelbearings are not misaligned, check for rust or breaks in the frame (especially at the welded seams), the condition of the tyres, how the brakes and gears function, and the overall appearance of the biycle. Ask if you can test ride it, and be wary of refusals to allow this, as the seller may be hiding a fault in the cycle. It is also worth checking the bike's serial number agaisnt BikeRegister, the national cycle database, to ensure that it is not stolen. It is also worth asking the seller if the cycle is registered to BikeRegister, and if so, ask them to delete the bicycle so that you can register it as yours. Also, when you return to Goodenough College, you will need to register your cycle at one of the registration desks and get a tag, which will show that your bike belongs on the GC racks.