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 you 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 organised 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 Moneyway Finance we now have available 12 months interest free credit. With a small 20% deposit on bikes we can offer 12 months 0% finance. Bring along with you copies and originals of your photo drivers license ( plus paper copy ) or passport and a 2 utility bills in your name within 3 months of the application date and we can apply for finance online and get an immediate response. You shall need to also bring your bank details to enable a direct debit mandate to be signed. There has never been an easier way to by your ideal bike .
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.
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.
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 more hillier terrain whereas before you had to stay in a flat area.
Urban / Flat Bar bikes
Light weight frames as used on road bikes but with flat handlebars and light quality components. Ideal for commuting or faster leisure rides.
Under £150
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.
£150 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, take a seat in our soft seating area, watch a MTB or Tour de France DVD while you browse the bikes. We stock bikes from Colnago, Cube, Scott and additional kids bikes from Scott, Cube , Probike and Python.
Bike Rental
We can rent hybrid bikes for half or a full day. If you need to rent a bike please call us on 01501 740985. When you pick up the bike(s) please bring a photo identification, utility bill in your name and a credit card. You will need to sign a rental agreement.
Prices
Half Day ( 3 hours ) £8
Full Day ( 6 hours ) £15
Day ( 24 hours ) £18
E Bike up to 24 hours £30
Weekly
Adult Hybrid £60
E bike £160
Deposit for adult hybrid and Kids bikes £50 per bike (can be on credit card), E Bikes £250 (can be on a credit card).
TEST BIKES
If you wish to take one of our bikes out for a test ride we shall need your passport or photo drivers license, a utility bill in your name and a credit card for security against the value of the bike.
We have available for test rides:
- Scott Foil Road bikes
- Scott CR1 Road bike
- Colnago Ace Road bike
Paying for your bike
You can pay by cash or credit / debit card.
Servicing and repairs
Our two mechanics are accredited and approved by Cytech, the cycle industry trainers of cycle mechanics. Both our mechanics are level 2 accredited. This means that you repairs and servicing will be carried out by the industries best, no learn on the job mechanic but one fully trained. We expect all bikes handed in for work to be clean, if not we might make a cleaning charge of £5 if we feel the bike is too dirty to do the required work on it.
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