Hooked on Cycling, Bathgate General Information on Services
Welcome to Hooked on Cycling bike shop and our information page. Here you can find some useful information about how to choose a bike, how to get a bike to be the correct size, what you can get for your money and many other items such as details of our Cytech approved repairs and servicing. We are also members of the Industries Association, “The Cycle Traders Association” which would give you extra confidence that we are a serious, professionally run and organized bike shop
Home Delivery
If you live in West Lothian and buy a bike from us we can deliver it to your home address fully assembled and tested. This service is free. We just need to fix a mutually agreeable day and time for the delivery.
0% Finance Available
In collaboration with V12 Finance, we now have available 12 months interest-free credit. With a small 20% deposit on bikes, we can offer 12 months 0% finance. The minimum amount to be financed is £350. You must have a credit or debit card in your name and at the same address as on the credit application, a 50p authorisation will be taken by the finance company.
See the requirements below
- you are 18 years or older.
- You or your partner is, in permanent paid employment (over 16 hours per week), retired (receiving a pension), in receipt of a disability benefit or self-employed.
- Have been resident in the UK for at least 3 years and will continue their residency in the UK.
- Have a debit or credit card in your name and registered to your address
- Have a bank or building society current account
Choosing a bike
There are many types of bicycle available, each with a different purpose and range of features. If you are new to cycling – or returning to the saddle – it can often be a bit daunting making the right choice from the many options available.
Here at Hooked on Cycling, we can offer the best source of advice and information to assist you in making the right decision, and of course, nothing can substitute sitting on a bike.
Here is some useful information to help you get started.
A couple of questions you need to answer
“What type of cycling will I be doing?” – to get the most out of your bike and enjoyment when you are using it think about what type of cycling you will be doing most of. Cycling for transport – such as to work or the shops. Cycling for leisure – such as along local cycle paths, forest routes or mountain biking. Cycling for competition – such as road or off-road racing. Cycling to get fit and want a nice light machine to help you.
“What’s my budget?” – you get what you pay for and never more. Try and get the best you can afford because it will ultimately be a better investment in terms of quality components, features and durability. We generally suggest that a budget of around £350-400 is really the starting point for a good quality adult bicycle for general leisure/transport use.
Here is a list of the main types and style of bicycles plus a brief description of their uses and suitability.
Hybrid
An increasingly popular style and a great all-rounder for leisure and commuting riders, and so-named for combining the best elements of mountain bikes and road bikes. Offers lightweight components, an easy riding position, often includes mudguards and slick or semi-slick tyres for riding on tarmac or cycle/forest paths.
Mountain Bike
Still a very popular choice for many people who want a bike that can do-it-all, although very few actually ever see a mountain. Frame design, materials and components are designed for heavier use off-road, hence the knobbly tyres. Most will have front-suspension to improve comfort and stability, although more and more models now have suspension front and rear.
Racing Bike / Road Bike
The traditional drop-handlebar race bike – or road bike – designed for racing or fitness riders who have the need for speed. Lightweight construction and components designed specifically for use on tarmac roads.
E-Bike
Now you can get electric-assist bikes, yes correct a battery provides extra help. Basically, you flick a switch on the handlebars and the battery provides extra momentum and provides an extra boost as a percentage of your current efforts, such as 10% or 20% more effort. This is great as it allows someone not so fit to get out on a bike and keep up with a fitter partner, or it can allow someone to cycle in hillier terrain whereas before you had to stay in a flat area.
Urban / Flat Bar bikes
Lightweight frames as used on road bikes but with flat handlebars and light quality components. Ideal for commuting or faster leisure rides.
Here is a quick guide to pricing guidelines for adult bikes.
Under £200
Bikes at this price level will likely be heavy, rust-prone and require constant maintenance if you want a pleasurable ride. We do not sell these type of bikes as we wish to offer our clients a cycling experience and this for certain you shall not get on one of these bikes.
£200 to £300
For this price range, you can get some great recreation bikes, some comfortable commuters but only very basic, entry-level road and mountain bikes. Keeping it simple is still a good idea – any extras will only compromise the quality of the basic components.
£300 to £500
Commuters and recreation bikes in this price range will be good quality, reliable and fast. Mountain bikes will still be basic but usually strong enough to bash about on rough trails. Road bikes will still be on the entry-level side.
£500 to £1000
Expect to pay in this range for top-of-the-range commuters, reliable hard-tail mountain bikes and entry-level full-suspension mountain bikes. Some road bikes at this level will be light and fast.
Over £1000
All bikes over £1000 should be light, fast and come with good quality components.
Get the correct bike size
It is important to buy a bike of the correct size, this is why we suggested never to buy in a box from a supermarket or online general catalogue. Come into our cycle shop, we are an independent specialist cycle shop with lots of expertise. In general to size a bike you need to be comfortable and efficient when pedalling, many people have their saddles far too low, making pedalling more difficult and therefore less enjoyable. Take look at the picture below, ideally with your pedal at the bottom parallel to the frame tube in which your saddles fits into your leg should be straight when your heal is on the pedal. This could well mean that when sitting on your saddle only your toe tips would touch the floor. You should not stretch too much to reach the handlebars and you should be capable of reaching the brake levers with your fingers without stretching.
Leading bike brands
We stock only the best available brands to ensure your investment will last for many years. Come in and look around our modern clean shop. We stock adult bikes from Colnago, Cube, Scott, Boardman and Dawes.
Bike Rental
We can rent hybrid bikes for half or a full day. If you need to rent a bike please call us on 01506 631 919. When you pick up the bike(s) please bring photo identification, utility bill in your name and a credit card. You will need to sign a rental agreement.
For more information check out our BIKE RENTAL page
Paying for your bike
You can pay by cash or credit/debit card, cycle to work voucher or finance.
Servicing and repairs
Our three mechanics are accredited and approved by Cytech, the cycle industry trainers of cycle mechanics. Our mechanics are level 2 and 3 accredited, which is the top level. This means that your repairs and servicing will be carried out by the industries best, no learning on the job mechanic but one that is fully trained. For more information check out our Workshop Page
Hooked on Cycling Price Match Policy
If the goods we sell are cheaper elsewhere at the time of purchase, we will try to match that price in-store at Hooked on Cycling. The goods must also be displayed on our competitor’s website at the price quoted. Word of mouth prices and “gentleman’s agreements” with bricks and mortar bike shops are not eligible for price matching. The same goods must be in stock at this vendor at the time of purchase for the price match to apply. Just tell us where you have found the goods cheaper and we will do the rest. We do not match prices or refund differences after the sale has been completed.
The goods must be supplied by an authorised retailer for the item in question and offered with full support and due warranty and be of the same specification, size and colour. Auction site prices will not be considered for price matching.
We do not price match where customers wish to pay by finance, in conjunction with promotional vouchers or cycle to work schemes.
Hooked on Cycling reserve to withdraw the price match policy on certain items such as special promotions and bundled items. If you are unsure about any aspect of our price match policy then please contact us.