Originally Posted by
GTi-R23
Budget is key here. Also depends what you want to use it for mainly? ie going down rocky hills at 40mph, or tinkering along canal paths and gentle things like that.
Alot of badge snobs will disagree, but halfords do sell some decent bikes, if you're looking for something middle of the road, they have massive buying power, so can often offer better specced bikes at a lower cost than competitors.
Halford do, do very good bikes at good prices, their GT and Carrara** range are very good. I got a bike from there for a mate, he wanted a bike for the same reason you do, and I think he's pulling 6'2" the bike I got him was a 18" carrara cant remember the model, but its was only about £350, came with a well spec, good gears, disc brakes, and lockout front susp. I rode it home from halford and it was really nice to ride, and I'm a bit odd about bikes, I ride a 12" (frame size) very large travel front forks 180mm-200mm, 24" wheels and very wide 3" tires, and only 7gear, and I can happily do 26miles round rutland water. But that Halfords carrara bike was very nice to ride and I would have be very happy to have paid my money for it.