ROYAL DUTCH GAZELLE €1,200

This Dutch-made eight-speed bike is very high end. As you would expect from a bike made in a country where everyone seems to cycle it is very good indeed and might be described as the Rolls Royce of bikes. It was voted the most trusted bicycle brand in a Readers Digestsurvey in Europe last year and it is not hard to see why. It has a classic "granny frame" which makes you sit upright as you cycle, although the handle-bars can be adjusted should you need to adopt a more aerodynamic pose. It is very comfortable, comes with a dynamo, an incredibly study stand, a deadly bell, a carrier that looks as though it could carry an elephant and a lock attached to the back wheel – although it is not a lock that would cause an Irish thief a moment's pause. It is big and bulky but surprisingly light, thanks to the carbon inserts on the front and rear. It comes with internal gearing which allows the chain to be completely encased so you don't have to oil it as frequently as you otherwise might. From 2Wheels, Sandymount Village, Dublin.

VerdictVery sturdy ***

SPECIALISED FIXIE €800

It you have aspirations towards hipsterdom but don’t want to wear silly glasses and spend ages styling your hair, then this may be for you. It is super cool. If, on the other hand, you have aspirations towards living a long and healthy life free from terror, it might not be. It is super scary. The fixed back wheel constantly propels the pedals forward – great if you’re racing around a velodrome in the Olympics, but not so brilliant when you’re cycling down Gardiner St in rush-hour traffic on a rainy Monday morning. It only has one gear which makes hills challenging, although the single gear system does make the bike lighter and easier to service. There’s also not much by way of suspension so you’ll feel every bump. Truth be told this scared the bejaysus out of us initially but after a couple of days we found ourselves loving it. It absolutely flies along and by flipping the back wheel you can turn it into a freewheeler which makes it just a little less scary. At €800, it is dear and a magnet for thieves but even so, we were just a little sad when the time came to give it up. From Cycleways, Parnell St, Dublin.

VerdictDangerously appealing ****

PROMOVEC ELECTRIC BIKE €1,500

This is a real workhorse and while an electric bike might not be for Pricewatch, we can see how it might work for some people, particularly those with lengthy and hilly commutes. The battery is compact and barely noticeable and only kicks in when you need a little help. There is something rather wonderful about being able to glide past puffing cyclists on hills thanks to the gentle push of the motor. It is well made, comfortable and safe and might encourage otherwise reluctant folk, who have spent years telling themselves that they dont live within cycling distance of their place of work onto the saddle. We also liked the way it switched effortlessly between power-on mode and pedal power. You will get around 140km out of a single charge. It is not cheap and it comes with complications. You will need to remember to take the ignition key with you and – depending on the place you’ve parked it – you may also need to take the battery pack. Neither of these things endeared this to us. It is also heavy and cumbersome and not the easiest bike to lock to a lamp post. From Greenaer, Magennis Place, Pearse St, Dublin.

VerdictHeavy going ***

RECONDITIONED HYBRID €150

This bike is the business and we loved it on many, many levels. First, it is the cheapest one we reviewed by a massive margin, Dublin Bike apart. In all its recycled glory, it will set you back just €150 although it is worth a whole lot more than that. The reconditioned Trek Hybrid we tried would cost well over €500 if bought new. It is sturdy and comfortable and because it looks a little on the tatty side might not attract the attention of many thieves, unless they’re particulalry canny. The back story is also hugely impressive. This bike was made on Dublin’s northside in Rothar, a Phibsborough-based bike shop which uses a team of volunteers – people who like making stuff – to assemble bikes from parts left to die at various locations around the city. Rothar reclaims and restores broken-down bikes which is a lovely concept and it makes this bike more environmentally friendly than any of its rivals. From Rothar, 171 Phibsborough Rd, Dublin.

VerdictVery good value *****

DUBLIN BIKES €10 A YEAR

Anyone who lives and works in Dublin should sign up for the Dublin Bike Scheme immediately. It is brilliant. Used wisely, a Dublin Bike is undoubtedly the most effective way to traverse the city, which is why the programme has been described as “the most successful in the world by any measure. The scheme is nearly two years old yet, despite all the gloomy predictions, very few of the bikes have been stolen or damaged by vandals. Mind you, who’d steal one? They are heavy and hideously ugly and the three gears are insufficient, in our view, to build up any kind of speed. Because of their popularity, the bike stands are frequently to be found empty, particularly when you are in a hurry and conversely it can be very, very annoying – and costly – to cycle up to a stand only to find it already full, leaving you with no option but to either cycle to a different stand or lock it elsewhere and incur a cost. And while people living and working in Dublin’s city centre will find them great, there are no similar schemes in any other urban area. Available from stands across Dublin, register at Dublinbikes.ie.

VerdictUgly but handy ****