Читать книгу The Lancashire Cycleway. The tour and 17 day rides онлайн

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If you haven’t got a usable bike already, it’s well worth looking around for second-hand bargains. The boom in road cycling since the first edition of this guide means there are fewer road bikes languishing unused in sheds and garages, but bargains are still out there. Even if you have to replace a few components, excellent deals can be found, but be careful: if you aren’t clued up about bikes, take advice from someone who is. Be particularly wary of bikes that appear far cheaper than they should be. Unscrupulous sellers may be keeping quiet about a hard-to-spot issue, like crash damage causing cracks or misalignment. And, of course, stolen bikes surface from time to time.

If you are buying a new bike – whether brand new, or just new to you – there are a few things to think about. A lot of Dutch people have several bikes, but most people in Britain manage with just one. As your new steed may have to serve multiple purposes, take time to consider exactly what you want to do with it before you open your wallet, preferably before you even start shopping around.