Whereabouts are you based? My cycle knowledge is primarily south-of-the-river.
If you want to buy new: On Your Bike, on Tooley St (turn left out of that exit of London Bridge tube) are very nice people (they are running the bike maintenance course I'm doing atm) & generally competent. If you want to buy second-hand (may well be a good bet - next time my bike gets nicked[0] I'll be at least considering second-hand) there's ReCycling on Elephant Road (Elephant & Castle), or there's some more information on buying second-hand in London at http://www.southwarkcyclists.org.uk/bikebuyingadvice.shtml
Hybrid probably better bet than a mountain bike in London; you could also think about getting a road bike. I didn't last time because I was concerned about thin tyres getting more punctures/not handling potholes well, but I'm informed by other folk who ride them that this isn't a problem, & they *are* faster (because lighter). Zoom! (again, next time my bike gets nicked I'll almost certainly go for a road bike)
[0] I have two locks, am fanatical about locking *to* things, & virtually never leave my bike outside overnight, but am pretty pessimistic about the fact that sooner or later someone will have away with it :-/
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Date: 2005-11-30 02:35 pm (UTC)If you want to buy new: On Your Bike, on Tooley St (turn left out of that exit of London Bridge tube) are very nice people (they are running the bike maintenance course I'm doing atm) & generally competent. If you want to buy second-hand (may well be a good bet - next time my bike gets nicked[0] I'll be at least considering second-hand) there's ReCycling on Elephant Road (Elephant & Castle), or there's some more information on buying second-hand in London at http://www.southwarkcyclists.org.uk/bikebuyingadvice.shtml
Hybrid probably better bet than a mountain bike in London; you could also think about getting a road bike. I didn't last time because I was concerned about thin tyres getting more punctures/not handling potholes well, but I'm informed by other folk who ride them that this isn't a problem, & they *are* faster (because lighter). Zoom! (again, next time my bike gets nicked I'll almost certainly go for a road bike)
[0] I have two locks, am fanatical about locking *to* things, & virtually never leave my bike outside overnight, but am pretty pessimistic about the fact that sooner or later someone will have away with it :-/