Buying A Bicycle

First decide on what kind riding you will be doing, ie Road, Mountain or commuting, there's no point getting the latest 'Shiny, Carbon-fibre, look at me, I'm Wiggo' bike and then crying because you smashed the gears to bits whilst riding over the woods with the kids at the weekend, the 4 main categories are -

Road  - A light weight machine offering big wheels with skinny tyres, drop down handle bars and a saddle so thin that unless you wear a good pair of cycling shorts will leave you with a sore derriere for days after. A good choice of gears availalbe to allow for high speeds and monster hill climbs. Most have clipped-in pedals and require specially designed shoes with cleats to secure your foot to the bike.

Mountain - The best all-round bike, can be riden anywhere with having to worry about breaking it, basically three variations are available, Rigid frame ( not really suitable for mountains but ok for woods and trails ), Hardtail with front suspension or Full suspension ( can be a bit heavy ), tougher frames  all round smaller wheels with big fat chunky tyres for those muddy trails, available with 'normal' pedals or clipped-in,

Hybrid - Similar to road bikes but a more upright and comfortable riding position, with wider mountain bike style handlebars for easier handling, making it a great commuter bike. Available with either a rigid frame or hardtail with suspension. Wheels are normally inbetween skinny and  chunky, with grooved or knobbly tyres depending on your preference. Hybrids can be taken 'off road' with caution but should handle gravel / canal paths with ease. A good versitile bike for someone who doesn't need a bike that can cope with being thrown down a mountain or super light weight for the big race.

BMX - The jumps, speed and stunts associated with BMX biking means the bikes have to be strong, light and extremely durable. They usually have 20 inch wheels with a small but strong frame, racing bikes are built for speed and 'Cruiser' bikes with 24 inch wheels are sometimes used for racing, particularly for taller riders.
If tricks and stunts are your thing then a racing bike is probably not for you - a Freestyle bike is what you're looking for doing jumps and stunts riders practice in skate parks, on flat ground, or using obstacles like benches and walls on the street. Freestyle bikes normally include strong wheels and rising handlebars that can withstand the impact of jumping

New bike prices can vary massively from a reasonable £100 to a mind blowing £7000, so there is something for everone's budget, buying a really cheap bike though can be a false economy. Bikes with suspension might look cool, but can be expensive. It’s better to compromise - for example by buying a bike with front suspension at the very most and with good quality parts that will last. It’s important to remember that the more parts a bike has, the more there is that could go wrong.
Second-hand bikes are another good option. You can look up adverts in the local paper or cycling shops, or try an online auction site. As long as you know how to check a bike thoroughly before buying - you could end up with a real bargain!

Buying a bike needn’t be as costly as you might think! There are all sorts of bikes available and the choice can seem overwhelming, but a general rule is to choose a bike that suits the places you will be cycling in.
Also remember taking good care of a bike will help keep maintenance costs down and the bike will keep going for years, things to look out for are keeping the chain oiled, tyres pumped to the corrct pressure, and regularly checking the brakes.