I'm gonna get some wheels now I'm in Petone again... will be good for my recovery too I s'pose.
Are those cheapo things at the Warehouse any good?... just for (mostly) riding on roads and the odd riverbank, etc?
I wouldn't Warehouse. Go and see AvantiPlus or CycleScience in Lower Hutt when they have a sale on - my Mountain bike was down about $500. Also, try Trade Me. You can get some very good buys on there.
Pretty much sums things up.
Warehouse bikes are kit bikes which are heavy and prone to falling to bits. If you don't assemble it yourself some 16 year old will be doing it at the shop without a clue. It's false economy anyhow as the parts wear out really quickly.
Trademe is good but often overpriced. When looking at 2nd hand bike look for dings and cracks in the frame make sure you look at the bottom bracket. If you find any dings or cracks don't buy it.
I concur with CycleScience, they have good bike mechanics. I find independant bike shops much better than the chains I have issues with Avantiplus head office so I try and avoid them. Pennyfarthings avoid. CapitalCycles is considered one of the best bike shops in the country and Burkes in Welly are good. Revolution bicycles are quirky and do Surly bikes.
The more you pay at the low end of the market, the better the bike the more likely you will enjoy cycling.
Find out what you are going to use it for. off road, roads, communiting, a bit of everything.
The much maligned Hybrid, a cross between MTB, (mountain bikes) and Road bikes, are actually pretty good. Skinny tires but upright position of a MTB. The alternative is to chuck some semi-slicks on a MTB.
If buying MTB don't go full suspension as you'll never need it at the mo, it weighs a lot and makes the bike "boing boing" along. MTB's are a good choice as they generally have easier gears than road bikes. Easier to pedal that is.
If you walk into a bike shop and some 16 yeard old trys to sell you a mountain bike straight away walk out. You know a good bike shop when the assistant asks what you are going to use the bike for.
Make sure your bike fits you. The better indy bike shops will fit you to the bike if you ask. The guy at Capitalcycles is a magician.
Test drive the bike you are thinking about buying and look at other brands in that price range. Don't just buy the first bike you see.
Do online research for reviews.
Also post here. Myself and HN and others, know a bit about bikes.