u/frameclowder

New cyclist looking to pick up a hybrid or gravel bike in the used market. From my reading, hydraulic brakes are the way to go and mechanical discs brakes suck. I avoided bidding on a really nice boardman bike because of this. Not sure if that the right choice. Since I'm in the used market I'm not sure being picky is the best idea. My budget is ~£200-250. Maybe I need to increase my budget if I want hydraulics.

New cyclist looking to pick up a hybrid or gravel bike in the used market. From my reading, hydraulic brakes are the way to go and mechanical discs brakes suck. I avoided bidding on a really nice boardman bike because of this. Not sure if that the right choice. Since I'm in the used market I'm not sure being picky is the best idea. My budget is ~£200-250. Maybe I need to increase my budget if I want hydraulics.

New cyclist here, currently riding a crappy (although gets the job done) folding bike. Therefore I'm looking to pick up a hybrid bike in the used market. I've stumbled across this 'new' bike on ebay:

https://ebay.io/m/mtQC7i

Would be great to get some opinions from the community. I mainly ride on the road, with some occasional gravel trail, depending on where I end up. Sticking with flat bars as that's why I'm used to. Going for hybrid as its cheaper than gravel and generally have flatbars.

I already own the halfords pro 175 socket set, which has a set of allen keys. But I find lugging that out of storage everytime I a bit of a hassle. Right now I'm using either my bahco ratchet screwdriver or my electric screwdriver with hex bits.

I was thinking to get this ratchet style t-handle https://amzn.eu/d/072l3HCm as it can be used for many things.

Or a bahco socket set: https://amzn.eu/d/0bQ19X8M

Or the wera allen Keys, which are super popular, or t handle style allen keys.

As you can tell, there's way too many options. What are people using?

I posted here on a few days ago about picking some bike tools (https://www.reddit.com/r/ukbike/s/WHaEC2xbIE) So apologies in advance for a similar post! Somebody mentioned Decathlon tools in that post and it got a lot of upvotes. They have a sale on atm and I'm looking at two of their tool kits:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/start-bicycle-toolkit/353436/c1m8873534

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/plus-bike-toolkit/353557/c1m8873546

Both can be had for £46. Does it seem like a good deal? Or am I better off buying tools individually when needed? Also not sure how they are quality wise.

Edit: halfords also have some bike tools. I have the halfords advanced 150 peice kit, which is fantastic quality.

I've been with my GF for 1.5 years. We get on so well, really enjoy spending time with each other, and just as importantly, are compatible. However, I'm now hesitating on going ahead with marriage. I don't know if this because I'm an anxious person and overthinking. My head is a mess atm and I'm constantly going back and forth. I wake up in the morning very stressed about moving forwards, but then as the day goes by I tend to change my mind and become at ease.

She's a caring, loving and an understanding person and basically what I want in a partner. She does have some medical issues (fibroids, tinnitus, migraine). She gets period pain. Her mum has lupus and so will need some help. Just to be clear, none of the above is her fault and I don't blame her at all. I've been looking for someone for a few years now but have gotten nowhere. It's not easy finding someone these days. Everyone will have problems.

I'm just worried that if I go ahead with this whilst being unsure, why will being married fix these thoughts? It may very well work out but I don't know if my gut is telling me something.

I should add we're both each others first relationship. Which is why I'm having a hard time letting go. I don't want to waste her time and be selfish.

Am I just being an ungrateful idiot? The uncertainty is killing me here.

Edit: We're both south Asian Muslims and so dating isn't really allowed, so living together isn't an option. The alternative is the arranged marriage process, which is worse and riskier.