Hi, we've got some vouchers that have to be spent at a UK bike store and tried asking the sales staff for advice and were advised to purchase from 3 bikes that we later found out were the stores own brands even though we'd been asking about other branded bikes we like too. We didn't know they were their brands at the time and are now wondering if that might be why they were recommended or if it's because they are genuinely better bikes. For example we also liked TREK, Cannondale, GT and Claude Butler bikes but did notice that those other independently branded bikes did have less gears than the shops own otherwise equivelant featured branded bikes. For example the TREK, Cannondale, GT and Claude Butler ranged between 18-21 gears whereas the branded bikes all had 24 - 27 gears. We live in a hilly road area and want to be able to go on tracks down to a beach too. The other features like hardtail lock out etc. seem pretty much the same. Wondering what more experienced cyclists might recommend - whether to go for the shops own branded bikes with more gears or a better branded bike with less and how much it will affect things for us (we're wanting to ride fairly leisurely - no great rush). Also What people think generally of the following brands - TREK, Cannondale, GT and Claude Butler?
Knowledgable advice help needed about gears and bike brands
- Thread starter Alamo
- Start date
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vickster
Legendary Member
What shop is it? What are their ‘own brands’. Number of gears isn’t a determiner of quality. Some bikes have two chain rings, the most gears will be 22 (with 11 cogs on the back). Some have 3 so the max number of gears is normally 27 (9 cogs on back). The ratios of the gears will be key in deciding whether the bike is suitable for you.
Price and the specifics of the frame and the components (brakes, gear shifters, wheels etc) is more a sign of the level of the bike. The weight of the bike might also be important if a hilly area and your level of fitness.
Do you have links to the bikes in your price range?
Price and the specifics of the frame and the components (brakes, gear shifters, wheels etc) is more a sign of the level of the bike. The weight of the bike might also be important if a hilly area and your level of fitness.
Do you have links to the bikes in your price range?
vickster
Legendary Member
mickle
innit
- Location
- 53.933606, -1.076131
We can probably guess which shop you're referring to.
Above a certain price point, once you get into the 3/4/5 hundred quid range it's actually quite difficult to buy a crap bike. The market is so very competitive, in a virtually stagnant retail sector all the brands can hope to acheive is to retain their little sliver of market share year on year. So youll struggle to find a bike that's badly designed, poorly specced or crap VFM. Rather than obsess about brand why don't you focus on what really matters. Primarily the shop you buy it from. Do you trust them, are they local, do they have a broad range, a good technical ability and a decent reputation? Secondly, still ignoring brand, what kind of bike do you want and can your chosen retailer be trusted to make you feel comfortable on it?
Above a certain price point, once you get into the 3/4/5 hundred quid range it's actually quite difficult to buy a crap bike. The market is so very competitive, in a virtually stagnant retail sector all the brands can hope to acheive is to retain their little sliver of market share year on year. So youll struggle to find a bike that's badly designed, poorly specced or crap VFM. Rather than obsess about brand why don't you focus on what really matters. Primarily the shop you buy it from. Do you trust them, are they local, do they have a broad range, a good technical ability and a decent reputation? Secondly, still ignoring brand, what kind of bike do you want and can your chosen retailer be trusted to make you feel comfortable on it?
Don't like to mention name of the shop but it doesn't begin with an H in case that may help - but it is a large shop. Now down to picking between Cannondale Trail 6 or a Trek Marlin 7and between a Trek X Caliber 7 and a Cannondale Trail Tango 3 - all hardtails, in case anyone may be able to offer any further thoughts (thanks for all of your input so far which has definitely helped).
vickster
Legendary Member
If it’s Evans, the Pinnacle range offers very good vfm. They also offer no hassle test rides so you can follow @alicat very good advice
Be warned sand is pretty unfriendly to bike drivetrains so be prepared for lots of cleaning and potentially premature wear of parts if you ride on sandy paths
Hardtail mountain bikes aren’t best suited to road riding and aren’t obligatory for paths
Be warned sand is pretty unfriendly to bike drivetrains so be prepared for lots of cleaning and potentially premature wear of parts if you ride on sandy paths
Hardtail mountain bikes aren’t best suited to road riding and aren’t obligatory for paths
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Cycleops
Legendary Member
- Location
- Accra, Ghana
It's not surprising that you were 'directed' to their own brands for obvious reasons. They do often represent better VFM than the big names.
Fewer gears or features on the big name bikes might indicate a less expensive group set but won't tell you if the gears go lower, this is something you'll have to find out, generally they won't.
There are other things to consider too like warranties.
Maybe also think about whether you really need a mountain bike for your use. An MTB will be heavier and have suspension forks which won't give much extra comfort against a hybrid with solid forks. It'll have similar gear range. They can also come with bigger tyres like an MTB.
Good luck.
Fewer gears or features on the big name bikes might indicate a less expensive group set but won't tell you if the gears go lower, this is something you'll have to find out, generally they won't.
There are other things to consider too like warranties.
Maybe also think about whether you really need a mountain bike for your use. An MTB will be heavier and have suspension forks which won't give much extra comfort against a hybrid with solid forks. It'll have similar gear range. They can also come with bigger tyres like an MTB.
Good luck.
gbb
Legendary Member
- Location
- Peterborough
I'd echo this with the extra thought you might want to consider the top end of the gearing as well.
Only the Trek Marlin has a triple on the front with a a 40t big chain ring. All the bikes appear to have a 11t smallest cog on the rear and the 40t wiill make your top end speed appreciably higher when you need it (if you need it).
It's a local terrain thing. If you're fit and have any appreciable flat areas there as well, I'd go for the triple.
If you just like to spin away and are not interested in top end speed, youd be ok considering the others with a 2x9 setup.
biggs682
Touch it up and ride it
- Location
- Northamptonshire
That would be my suggestion as well , if the shop won't allow a proper test then walk to another shop
SkipdiverJohn
Deplorable Brexiteer
- Location
- London
If you're buying a flat bar bike, it's pointless having one with high gearing as the barn-door aerodynamics are going to limit your road speed to about 20 mph on the flat anyway. The highest gear I've got on either of my 18 speed hybrids is 93 gear inches, and I hardly ever find myself needing a gear that high. Most of the time the highest gear I ever use is 48T on the front going to 16T on the back, so around 81-82 gear inches on 700c wheels.
Midmarket bike frames are all made in the same few Taiwanese factories. Your shop brand could well have been welded next to a Trek or GT.
The components are often no name parts and the transmission usually Shimano (various quality grades of groupsets)
The extra value of a bike brand as opposed to a shop brand is hard to see.
The most popular shop brands such a Pinnacle are very good value, highly regarded bikes
The components are often no name parts and the transmission usually Shimano (various quality grades of groupsets)
The extra value of a bike brand as opposed to a shop brand is hard to see.
The most popular shop brands such a Pinnacle are very good value, highly regarded bikes
SkipdiverJohn
Deplorable Brexiteer
- Location
- London
Mass-market bikes have become an imported commodity, not much different from the stuff you get in your weekly supermarket shopping. In much the same way, a lot of the supermarket goods are the same stuff, but stuck in a packet with a different name on it.
The days when a brand meant something, because a certain bike was made in a particular factory in a specific town, and could be noticeably different in some respects to it's competitors, are pretty much over - outside of the small-volume/custom build market.
Compare the component specs and prices first and look for the best value product. It might turn out to be a manufacturers brand or a shop own brand. It just depends who is offering what deals at the time you look.
Leaway2
Lycrist
- Location
- Manchester (Sale)
Just out of interest, why do you not want to name the shop?
Leaway2
Lycrist
- Location
- Manchester (Sale)
Why do you wan ............... oh you devilWhy do you want to know why the OP doesn't want to name the shop?
Just out of interest and that the advice can be tailored better.
Edit: or should that be better tailored?