Good bike?

[PrettyboyTim]

mmm…. Well FF – £200 will get you a new bike – and it’s probably ten times better than the £69 one in the Argos catalogue… some of them look good – but to achieve that price on a new bike I’d be really suspicious – goanna be achieved through cuts in component and build quality – but, if you want to spend £200 on one now, fine – go ahead – as FF suggests – it’ll get you from A to B for a while, just be prepared to chuck it into land fill in a year or so – or spend £400 on something that will have an expedientially better build quality & components and last you for a good 10 to 15 years.
I’m sorry – but if you’re serious about commuting and using the machine every day then spending £200 on a new bike is a false economy. How much are you spending on public or private transport at the moment?

Hmm. My £200 Claud Butler hybrid is now very close to its first birthday and it's carried me to and from work with no problems for the last year. There's certainly no chance of it going to the skip. A while back I saw it going for £160 online (seach for 'claud butler urban 100 2007', and you might still find last year's model going cheap somewhere...).

As for the economy thing, there's no point spending £600 on an expensive bike if you later find that cycling's not really for you and it sits there doing nothing in your shed. That's why I reckon getting something reasonable second hand in the £100-£150 range is probably a good idea.

 

[ianrauk]

Expectant Commuter.
I just remembered (doh)
I have a second had bike for sale.
GT Legato 3.0 Hybrid (52" frame)
Very nice bike, 6 months old
I will throw in:
The wireless computer. (show's 200 miles done on the bike)
2 sets of pedals (pair spd A530's & pair of toestrap pedals)
A Pair of cleats.
A Bottle holder.
There's not a scratch on it.
Yours for £200 all in (cost £400. have paperwork to prove)

It's currently on sale at Evans (where I bought it) for £350


I can honestly say it's a very nice Bike, just not the bike for me (will never buy online again)
Let me know if you are interested.
I am in Bromley, SE London/Kent.

 

[TwickenhamCyclist]

Hmm. My £200 Claud Butler hybrid is now very close to its first birthday and it's carried me to and from work with no problems for the last year. There's certainly no chance of it going to the skip. A while back I saw it going for £160 online (seach for 'claud butler urban 100 2007', and you might still find last year's model going cheap somewhere...).

As for the economy thing, there's no point spending £600 on an expensive bike if you later find that cycling's not really for you and it sits there doing nothing in your shed. That's why I reckon getting something reasonable second hand in the £100-£150 range is probably a good idea.

Well PrettyTim (who’s not quite as pretty as me IMHO I’m glad it’s still going a year on – but I still think you get what you pay for … all I’m saying is that at the “lower” end of the price scale you get a lot lot more for you money even with a mild increase in spend… and looking back at my posts, I guess I’m in danger of sounding like some sort of bike snob ( which I’m not) – I just think if you’re going to invest in something you are going to use day in and day out (and for me this would be bike, computer, camera etc) then it’s often a false economy to go for the cheapest available…

If I wanted a bike to pop to the pub on once a week during the summer and do the occasional cycle round Richmond Park with the family then I guess the £200 bikes mentioned so far would be great … but for everyday use I’d want something a little better…

Anyway – sorry if I sound like a snob that’s talking a load of bullshit – guess I’ll just go off and sulk in the garden on my own now…

 

[ianrauk]

TwickenhamCyclist.

You sound like a snob that’s talking a load of bullshit – Why don't you just go off and sulk in the garden on your own?

 

[HJ]

To suggest that a really cheap bike from a large chain store is not going to be of good quality is not snobbery, it is just common sense. You only get what pay for and to reach a £200 price point corners have to be cut (along with the wages of the people who build and sell them, so don't expect good service either).

If you are buying a for use every day, i.e. commuting, then it is going to get a lot of heavy wear, so you need up paying more in the longer term, if you are constantly having to replace cheap components. Also getting a cheap heavy frame means that the bike is going to be uncomfortable to ride and is more likely to put off a novice rider. So why waste money?

A good second hand bike is likely to be a much better bargain, unless your the sort of snob who looks down on buying second hand.

Another money saving tip is don't bother with a helmet, you don't need to spend £30 on a fashion accessory if you are on a tight budget, get something useful like some decent lights.

Being a Scot, I don't like wasting money...

 

[Fab Foodie]

Twickenhamcyclist, I suggest you look at a basic non-suspension £200 hybrid bike by the likes of Giant, Specialized, Ridgeback and others. You'll see that they're well made with basic but serviceable running gear and with a modicum of TLC will give years of regular commuting service and you'll not have to worry too much about the ravages of winter wear and corrosion.

I agree, don't buy a £70 full-susser from Argos. Infact under £200 don't by anything with suspension.

By the way, if the OP is still with us, I forgot to mention Decathlon as a good place for basic bikes too... and I garee with getting some info from your local dealers.

 

[upsidedown]

Dawes Discovery 201, perfectly adequate.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Dawes Discovery 201, perfectly adequate.

Absolutely.

 

[gbb]

Have a peek at Friday Ads...there can be some bargains in there, like this one
http://www.friday-ad.co.uk/AdRef/RW...L,1K/Page/3/SArea/Local/Web/FullAdDetails.asp

This ones in Peterboro of course, but there will be an edition near you with potentially the same bargains in.

You see them in petrol stations, corner shops..or you can look online. Just google 'friday ads'