Evans are worth a browse.

[Mattk50]

I'd quite like to look at the range of wahoo bikes but Evans right near me doesn't stock any. Nearest place is Condor in London I think. Shame.

 

[figbat]

I'd quite like to look at the range of wahoo bikes but Evans right near me doesn't stock any. Nearest place is Condor in London I think. Shame.

Do you mean the Trek Wahoo rather than the Wahoo KICKR? The Trek website shows a number of stockists, although you’d need to check they have what you want in stock to look at.

 

[Mattk50]

Do you mean the Trek Wahoo rather than the Wahoo KICKR? The Trek website shows a number of stockists, although you’d need to check they have what you want in stock to look at.

Oops sorry. I mean't the wahoo kickr bikes.

 

[bonzobanana]

The question here is one of morals vs economics. Yes, you can get some cheap stuff from a retailer with little or no interest in the industry and only in sweating the assets - but at what cost? Genuine cycling retailers are going to the wall as they struggle to compete with Evans/Sports Direct/House of Fraser/Wiggle who have huge purchasing power and can spread costs across a diverse portfolio.

So by all means grab that bargain, but where do you go when it needs support?

This is the basis of my refusal to fund a business with questionable morals. It may cost me more to buy stuff but that is the price of my conscience. I will also not buy Brewdog beer, despite liking the product.

If you buy from Amazon though there is little support and it does huge damage to the UK economy with very little tax paid. Same issue supporting any foreign company where the profits are exported and they have no interest in improving the UK economy. Mike Ashley's firm's pay full tax in the UK and keep a huge number of people in employment, paying tax too and keeping the economy going. There is probably about £190k of debt/liabilities for every single person in this country and like many other countries in Europe plus US, Canada etc are debt levels are becoming un-manageable. We seem to be economic lemmings determined to export as much of our wages as possible and cause huge borrowing. Even with high quality Japanese cars made in the UK we still import a huge amount of garbage cars and other products. People don't seem to realise the importance of controlling how much of their money is exported.

Personally I tend to buy bikes that I can service and fix myself. I'm not interested in highly proprietary and complicated bikes that have short life components and always need professional repair.

 

[YMFB]

We visited Evan’s at Yeovil this morning, I’m sure that will be the last time, unless I’m nearby and desperately need an inner tube. Severely down graded from the old Yeovil Tri-Centre, lots of cheap stuff, nothing of any use to us.

The upstair, which used to be the Cervelo store was closed off.

Two disinterested members of staff.

Very small selection of luggage and bike bags, which was the main objective of this visit.

Barely a nod to the needs of tri-athlete, no goggles. £5 flippers, no swimming goggles, secondary objective.

My daughter asked if I could remember the last time I visited a cycle shop and came away empty handed, I could not.

 

[PaulSB]

The question here is one of morals vs economics. Yes, you can get some cheap stuff from a retailer with little or no interest in the industry and only in sweating the assets - but at what cost? Genuine cycling retailers are going to the wall as they struggle to compete with Evans/Sports Direct/House of Fraser/Wiggle who have huge purchasing power and can spread costs across a diverse portfolio.

So by all means grab that bargain, but where do you go when it needs support?

This is the basis of my refusal to fund a business with questionable morals. It may cost me more to buy stuff but that is the price of my conscience. I will also not buy Brewdog beer, despite liking the product.

Exactly. I support my LBS at every opportunity as I know/want it to be there when I need it. Yes, I pay significantly more for spares, tyres etc but then I can wander in at any time with an issue and if it's a quick fix I'm in and out in 30 minutes.

Similarly with kit. I buy all I can from Lusso, a superb local manufacturer only 30 minutes from my home.

 

[bonzobanana]

We visited Evan’s at Yeovil this morning, I’m sure that will be the last time, unless I’m nearby and desperately need an inner tube. Severely down graded from the old Yeovil Tri-Centre, lots of cheap stuff, nothing of any use to us.

The upstair, which used to be the Cervelo store was closed off.

Two disinterested members of staff.

Very small selection of luggage and bike bags, which was the main objective of this visit.

Barely a nod to the needs of tri-athlete, no goggles. £5 flippers, no swimming goggles, secondary objective.

My daughter asked if I could remember the last time I visited a cycle shop and came away empty handed, I could not.

There was me thinking it was still too high end with so many expensive Trek bikes last time I went. Also last time I went the upstairs wasn't closed off but there were lots of decent bikes at great prices I thought but not necessarily high end. Despite me wandering around and looking at every single bike almost I don't think I saw a single bike with Campagnolo however I remember in the past they did have some. I'm a huge fan of Giant bikes and they stopped selling them many years ago. Whenever I've gone in someone friendly always came over or shouted across to see if I needed any help and I would always reply 'just browsing'. I feel looking at your comment I'm probably too cheap for that shop and you are probably looking for more premium goods than they offer. I'm just a normal cyclist nothing high end just general use looking for reliability and value and not interested in performance as too old and unfit to care about that.

 

[pawl]

I'd quite like to look at the range of wahoo bikes but Evans right near me doesn't stock any. Nearest place is Condor in London I think. Shame.

Looking for advice on the Carrera Subway all weather and the CarrraCrossfire3.
I’ve had an extended break from cycling and now feel my current drop road bikes no longer suitable for my ageing body the above bikes appear due to being more upright riding position
I’m going to have a look ln Evans on Monday
You’re opinions on the two bikes above if anyone has experience of these two bikes which I have seen on the Halfords website appear to be suitable would be appreciated.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Looking for advice on the Carrera Subway all weather and the CarrraCrossfire3.
I’ve had an extended break from cycling and now feel my current drop road bikes no longer suitable for my ageing body the above bikes appear due to being more upright riding position
I’m going to have a look ln Evans on Monday
You’re opinions on the two bikes above if anyone has experience of these two bikes which I have seen on the Halfords website appear to be suitable would be appreciated.

Isn't Carrera a Halfords only brand?

I think most of the hydraulic disc brake equipped Carrera/Voodoo/Boardman bikes sub £500 in sales are solid "budget" options.

However, I'm not keen on buying a 27.5" wheel bike, when I have a number of 29"/700c spare tyres sitting around.

Most if not all those "budget" priced bikes with suspension will be coil springs, adding ~1.5Kg to the bike weight over a standard fork. They will also be another component that really ought to get regular servicing and replacement bits installed. If you really only intend to do very light offroad, I'd choose a standard fork.

Personally, I'd be choosing between the Voodoo Marasa at £350 and the Carrera Hellcat at £287/369 (paint defect on cheap ones).

My '20 Marasa can take a 2.35" G One Speed at the front, but the rear max tyre is limited by the triple front derailleur on mine (newer version 2x) to ~45mm real world width without mudguards.

The Hellcat comes with 29x2.2" tyres and I'd expect it to easily cope with 2.35", but with a bit more weight from that 100mm front fork.

The Subway All Weather sounds a great idea if you ride in sub zero weather, but the £485 cost and 27.5" tyres put me off, I'd choose the Boardman URB 8.6 at £480 over it for the hub gear even though 425mm chainstay will limit the max rear tyre size.