New Bikes - Marin Nail Trail's from Penny Sports Cycles in Christchurch

Having spent a week looking around for second hand bikes, my friend Bianca suggested trying Penny Sports Cycles who have some amazing deals. Well, I called them and Hamish told me they had a brilliant deal on a Kona Cinder Cone ($1000 reduced from $1700) - this is like my bike in the UK so I was very keen on that idea. When we arrived at the shop, Hamish had an even better deal for us - Marin Nail Trails with Hydraulic Disk Brakes, Forks and a lightweight Aluminium Frame. On offer for $1000, reduced from $2000. This worked out less than £350 and they retail in the UK for £775. Not only a bargain but a fantastic bike! Hamish is really helpful too - cant recommend Penny Sports Cycles highly enough.

Unbelievable that I was checking out the various mountainbike websites here (www.mountainbike.co.nz, www.vorb.org.nz) and trading website (www.trademe.co.nz, www.buy-sell-exchange.co.nz) for bikes up to around $1500. These new ones are cheaper and higher spec than a lot of the second hand stuff I looked at ("second hand" is sometimes rebadged "pre-loved" here, though thankfully not in biking circles).

Next up - exploring the Port Hills and trails around Canterbury.