Cheap-o mountain bike

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Rob M

New Member
Hello,

So, I had been quite happy clattering around on my decade old Raleigh thing that I'd had since I was a teenage boy, but with the tires worn to nothing, both innertube's gone, the brakes fairly busted, the gears dry and rusted, the wheels a bit knackered too, and all the rest of it, I kind of have to admit it's dead.

So I've been looking for a replacement, and I'm basically flailing.

I want to spend as little as possible (although I think I will be buying new rather than second hand, just because.) And I don't really give a monkey's about riding on roads. It'll be used riding down riverside pathways, mainly, and around Richmond park.

I just want a sturdy bike that won't fall apart and kill me. I'm wary that every mountain bike nowadays seems to have suspension, because the suspension bike I've ridden was awful flightly, and I'd rather feel the bumps than have an extra cheap mechanical part that's likely to break up. That said, if that's an unfounded worry, fine.

So, I was thinking of this:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/mongoose/rockadile-al-2009-mountain-bike-ec017388
based upon this fairly positive review (although finding any reviews of cheap bikes seems tricky, so I'm glad I found this forum)
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/rockadile-07-27706
but then I also saw this
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/ridgeback/mx2-2009-mountain-bike-ec017045
however, as those two are apparently considered to be at the cheap-and-a-bit-shoot end of the scale anyway, I wonder if I might as well pocket twenty five quid and just go for this
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/raleigh/ato5-2009-mountain-bike-ec018927
(To be honest, someone saying "just go for that Raleigh, it'll be fine" will be the ideal outcome. Comfort in the familiar, and I really don't see a need for anything more than similar to the Raleigh bikes I had as a kid.)

All thoughts, experience and suggestions welcome, as are comments pointing out why I'm being a big idiot. As I say, I know pretty much nothing about these things.
 

Sittingduck

Legendary Member
Location
Somewhere flat
Hi and welcome to CC Rob.

Although there is a great temptation to buy an MTB for 200 quid you will highly likely end up riding it into the ground within a few short months and wishing you had a better bike! Something of a false economy when it comes to getting a real budget steed, as you'll probably buy a more expensive robust bike and have to fork out twice.

Try to stretch your budget up as much as you can - there's a huge difference between a sub 200 pounder and something for say 300 - 350. If you're thinking Richmond park trails and the like, you would be fine with no suspension (I do it on my hybrid with larger (potentially weaker) 700c wheels! I have myself been thinking about getting an entry level front sus MTB for the winter but I would be spending 350-400 or so and getting something on sale...

Anyway - if you're okay to check everything is tightened up properly yourself or maybe take it to a bike shop for them to quickly check it - you might do a lot worse then a Carerra Subway 1 from Halfords @ 220 ish, this bike generally gets great reviews!

Cheers and hope you enjoy your cycling,
SD
 

OLDSHUNTER

Well-Known Member
Location
glesga
:becool:Most people prefer the thumb shifter's also called ez fire, they are more convient than grip shift also aluminium frame, ridgeback look's good, price too /raleigh bit sore on the eye's but has get yourself seen paint job but for a pound you can get a high viz vest to go with the better spec ridgeback, and you said suspension is not your cup of T so i reckon the ridgeback good bike with fifty quid of price what you waiting for . p.s just make sure you get the right size good luck :smile::becool:just noticed it has suspension forks some of these can be adjusted if not that type then you might want to see if they will put normal fork on although you may have to pay for that could buy normal fork and sell the suspension one?
 
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Rob M

New Member
Thankys kindly. I know there's the false-economy possibility, but cheap-o suits me for the mo'. I don't have much to spend, it's not likely to be all that heavy-use, and I really don't have enough reason to go anything above this at the mo'. I'll take a punt and see how it goes.
 

willem

Über Member
Is your old bike really that bad? If it is, I would go for a second hand bike. I don't think there is much in the way of new bikes worth buying anywhere near the price range you seem to have in mind.
Willem
 

Sheepy1209

Veteran
Location
Blackpool
I too have a decade-old Raleigh that had been left out in the rain, was pretty abused and unloved - if yours is anything like mine (which is a Spirit 15) chances are it's a lot more salvageable than you think as most of the parts are user-serviceable. I'm guessing it has 'open' (ie. not sealed) bearings, a quill (or 'threaded') headset (the bit the handlebars and forks fix to) and a freewheel rear gear cluster rather than the more modern cassette.

Have a look through www.bicycletutor.com to learn how to service all this stuff - it's really not that hard as long as you're methodical - and above all, it's cheap! Parts for these bikes are readily available.

A new chain (if you need one) can be had for less than a tenner. Grease for bearings is even cheaper. Adjusting cables is free, and again replacements are cheap.
You can get cheap knobbly tyres from Wilkinson's for about a fiver each, inner tubes even cheaper.
You might find you need one or two special tools - e.g. a cone spanner for adjusting bearings.

I did go for a new bike in the end, but only after I'd got the Raleigh into sound working order - and it's now used by my stepson on a daily basis. Learning how to do these jobs is well worth it - even if you get a new bike and don't intend to service it yourself, it's well worth understanding how it works.

HTH

Did the current bike get into its poor state through lack of funds or was it simply neglected? If the latter, bear in mind that a pricier bike will still need more constant maintenance than a modern car - you might as well get into the habit on a cheap bike!
 

Ivan Ardon

Well-Known Member
Have you considered the £70 Adsa bikes? If they're put together properly, they're not going to be vastly different than the ones you're looking at and don't have silly features like pretend suspension.
 

starthms

Well-Known Member
Location
swansea
if your going to buy cheap id buy very cheap so you not lost a good bit of money if it goes wrong.

i bought an apollo xc26. for 150 and it the wores bike ive ever owned
 

jimboalee

New Member
Location
Solihull
Ivan Ardon said:
Have you considered the £70 Adsa bikes? If they're put together properly, they're not going to be vastly different than the ones you're looking at and don't have silly features like pretend suspension.

You could buy THREE ASDA bikes for the money you are thinking of spending.

One in use, one in the wash and one in the airing cupboard.

Seriously, one to keep 'as bought' with no mudguards etc. One with mudguards, lamps etc for the rainy days; and one for spares.

£70 for a whole bikes worth of spares is a bargain in itself.

No, only buy two. Save the rest of the cash for new chains, blocks and the mudguards, lamps etc.
 
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Rob M

New Member
Too late now! I've gone for a two-hundred quid job.

Sheepy1209 said:
Did the current bike get into its poor state through lack of funds or was it simply neglected? If the latter, bear in mind that a pricier bike will still need more constant maintenance than a modern car - you might as well get into the habit on a cheap bike!

Neglect, and just time, really. I think there were a good few years in there where it wasn't touched at all, and I never bothered with any maintenance until it really started going a few years ago. And recently I've left it alone for two years after I was put off riding by hospitalising myself on (or, rather, off) another bike (I've still got that one too, but I rather lost affection for that one after it nearly killed me.)

If I had my own garage, or any space whatsoever, I'd be more of a mind to strip the Raleigh and fix it up. But I don't, and also if I'd be spending a significant amount on that, I'd rather chuck in some more and get that "new toy" feeling. (Also, the Raleigh is a snazzily decorated boy's bike, so it's probably both less salvageable than an old sensible-adult one, and as much as I don't want to let go, it is reasonably a frame size or two too small for the fully-grown me.)

Also, spending what to me is a fair whack on the new one, I'll be more of a mind to take care of it. At least to begin with...
 

jimboalee

New Member
Location
Solihull
Riverman said:
Are people seriously recommending asda £70 bike shaped objects on here? wonders never cease.

I remember someone recommended a Specialised SWorks Tarmac when a newbie asked for a 'budget racer'....
 
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