Please help select!!

[trueblue79]

Hello all,

Sadly, right after I returned home after getting my bike serviced it was stolen despite being parkked with a good lock

It was a decathlon rockrider 500. I prefer a 'MTB' type as I have a back issue and cannot carry a backpack, I have fitted a basket to my rear for carrying shopping, workbag etc and secondly I have to store in a small flat so again do not prefer a city bike.

I know it will ultimately get stolen so my budget to limit my loss is £250

I was looking at these that meet my requirements (please do suggest any other meeting the requirements at this price)!

Carrera Subway 1 2015 £189 on sale
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/carrera-subway-1-mens-hybrid-bike-2015

Decathlon Rockrider 520 £240
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-520-mountain-bike-275-blue-id_8351007.html

Marin Bolinas Ridge 6.2 £250
http://www.discountcyclesdirect.co....dge%206.2%202015%2026%94%20Mountain%20Bike%27

GT Aggressor Sport 27.5"2016 £250
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.GT-Aggressor-Sport-27-5-Mountain-Bike-2016-Hardtail-MTB_83123.htm

Any suggestions to make my choice much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[mjr]

Only one good lock? Ignoring all else, if your budget is £250, get the Subway and use the remainder to buy two locks of different types: a fairly tough D-lock from the list on https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/144109/ (the OnGuard is £25) for the back wheel, frame and stand and a thick alarmed cable lock to go through the front wheel, frame and stand.

The other option would be to spend a bit more, get a folding bike and don't leave it on the street in London anywhere unless you really really have to.

 

[trueblue79]

Only one good lock? Ignoring all else, if your budget is £250, get the Subway and use the remainder to buy two locks of different types: a fairly tough D-lock from the list on https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/144109/ (the OnGuard is £25) for the back wheel, frame and stand and a thick alarmed cable lock to go through the front wheel, frame and stand.

The other option would be to spend a bit more, get a folding bike and don't leave it on the street in London anywhere unless you really really have to.

Thanks! your suggestions match what I had in mind, buy the Carerra for £189 and get a top end lock - considering what you suggest will get 2 (one of them will be the Onguard!)

My only doubt is that I have no experience with Halfords/Carrera bikes while the experience with Decathlon BTWIN has been great....do you think its a good bike for the money to meet my requirements?

Also, never used an alarm lock as thought not too useful and just gimmicky, do you have a recommendation?

 

[steve50]

Hello all,

Sadly, right after I returned home after getting my bike serviced it was stolen despite being parkked with a good lock

It was a decathlon rockrider 500. I prefer a 'MTB' type as I have a back issue and cannot carry a backpack, I have fitted a basket to my rear for carrying shopping, workbag etc and secondly I have to store in a small flat so again do not prefer a city bike.

I know it will ultimately get stolen so my budget to limit my loss is £250

I was looking at these that meet my requirements (please do suggest any other meeting the requirements at this price)!

Carrera Subway 1 2015 £189 on sale
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/carrera-subway-1-mens-hybrid-bike-2015

Decathlon Rockrider 520 £240
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-520-mountain-bike-275-blue-id_8351007.html

Marin Bolinas Ridge 6.2 £250
http://www.discountcyclesdirect.co....dge%206.2%202015%2026%94%20Mountain%20Bike%27

GT Aggressor Sport 27.5"2016 £250
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.GT-Aggressor-Sport-27-5-Mountain-Bike-2016-Hardtail-MTB_83123.htm

Any suggestions to make my choice much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Why do you assume it will get stolen?
If you are considering buying a new bike why not invest a little extra in a top quality secure D lock, the Kryptonite range of locks come highly recommended, https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8...vptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_5hz4vif3fx_b
especially this one, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kryptonite...id=1469715869&sr=8-4&keywords=kryptonite+lock

 

[mjr]

My only doubt is that I have no experience with Halfords/Carrera bikes while the experience with Decathlon BTWIN has been great....do you think its a good bike for the money to meet my requirements?

I don't like Half-odds but the bikes I've seen have been OK. Not brilliant but better than some for similar money.

That bike looks similarly OK. It will probably meet your requirements, but drawbacks may be the wheel size (27.5"=650b=584mm rather than 28"=700c=622mm) will restrict tyre and tube availability, I'm not wild about the shifters and brakes (but that's mostly about my personal preference), and it's probably heavier than competitors. I doubt it's a lemon - if it was, it's such a mass-market bike that you should find reviews saying so.

Also, never used an alarm lock as thought not too useful and just gimmicky, do you have a recommendation?

My main one at the moment is http://www.laxzo.com/bicycle-securi...hain-lock-90-cm-x-12-mm-with-keys-18614-p.asp - the main reason is to give me chance to come running and scare an opportunist thief away if I'm within earshot, or at least to draw attention of anyone nearby to someone smashing a lock into silence... and I suspect most opportunists will move on to attacking another bike at the sight of two properly-used locks that require different tools anyway. I know it's harsh but you don't need to run faster than the bear - just faster than the next guy.

At home, my bikes get locked to ground-anchors and wall-anchors sunk into concrete. And it's not London.

especially this one, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kryptonite...id=1469715869&sr=8-4&keywords=kryptonite+lock

Twice the price of the OnGuard and still only 16mm. Where's the benefit in paying more?

 

[trueblue79]

Why do you assume it will get stolen?
If you are considering buying a new bike why not invest a little extra in a top quality secure D lock, the Kryptonite range of locks come highly recommended, https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8...vptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_5hz4vif3fx_b
especially this one, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kryptonite...id=1469715869&sr=8-4&keywords=kryptonite+lock

@steve50 I'm not particularly sloppy and have had Kryptonite series 2 locks on 2 of my stolen bikes (one with extra cable lock!) but I feel that living in London no matter what you do you can only delay the theft and hope for the best!! I am happy to move up to a higher spec lock (I avoided this not for the price but the carry weight while commuting)..

@mjray Thanks again and you have go the same doubts I have about the Halfords, 27.5" wheels but everyone at this price point seems to sell these and hard to find a 26"......to be honest I want a smooth ride of total 45 mins everyday without frequent repairs and if that fits the bill its good enough!

Would the BTWin Rockrider 520 be any better for slightly higher price?

I'll get the alarm lock!! One question, is it very sensitive and start buzzing e.g. if neighbouring parked cycle is removed/disturbed or touched??

I want to pull the trigger soon, can't take the tube a day longer!!

 

[AndyRM]

Another vote for the Subway and a decent pair of locks.

I had an older model of the Subway which I'd converted to single speed, it was a really smooth ride and quite nippy too.

Might also be worth looking around for a more secure parking spot, or even a wall fitting to store the bike inside and out of the way?

 

[mjr]

Would the BTWin Rockrider 520 be any better for slightly higher price?

I think so, slightly, but it might just be that Decathlon's web descriptions are better than Halfords. Not sure if it's £50 better.

I'll get the alarm lock!! One question, is it very sensitive and start buzzing e.g. if neighbouring parked cycle is removed/disturbed or touched??

If someone hits it, they have about five seconds to stop moving it before it goes off. I don't always switch the alarm bit on in tightly-packed cycle parks if I'm not going to be nearby much, but I used to use a plain cable then anyway (as well as the D lock). And it doesn't buzz: it screams in a high-low-high smooth swirl. Not earbleedingly, but as loud as a small piezo sounder can. I don't have a sound meter handy. It's louder than a competing (more expensive) Yale one I have.

 

[cyberknight]

subways are cracking bikes for the money , and @mjray is right about locking it up, thats how i lock mine at work with a ground anchor set in hard standing with mtb chains at home inside the shed.

 

[trueblue79]

Many thanks all for the advice, I have bought the Pitbull lock and will look for a good secondary maybe with alarm

For the bike I may go for the Subway right away or the decathlon next month with my workplace cyclescheme discount if it doesn't take too long (currently 6 weeks to process

Cheers!
Rez

 

[vickster]

Don't kryptonite offer some sort of warranty if bike stolen and still have broken lock? Assuming you kept all the paperwork

I'd get a better lock, fahg, Abus Granit X or other highly rated gold sold secure. The series 2 isn't the same league, v flimsy, £20odd with cable. Mount on frame, a little extra weight won't make much difference unless you have an unusually hilly London commute

Also look into insurance esp on c2w. If stolen you'd still have the payments to make and a replacement to fund

Or get something old, cheap and retro. Less desirable to thieves

 

[AndyRM]

Many thanks all for the advice, I have bought the Pitbull lock and will look for a good secondary maybe with alarm

For the bike I may go for the Subway right away or the decathlon next month with my workplace cyclescheme discount if it doesn't take too long (currently 6 weeks to process

Cheers!
Rez

If you're just using the bike for commuting and not any rough stuff, the Subway is your best bet: you don't need suspension on roads/tracks.

One thing to check is that the Halfords you buy from has a decent bike mechanic for the initial set up, as many do not. There are a fair few Londoners on the forum who will keep you right.

 

[mjr]

Don't kryptonite offer some sort of warranty if bike stolen and still have broken lock? Assuming you kept all the paperwork

That's not the problem. It's that you have to send them the lock to prove it was defeated. The guarantee is basically worthless, but OnGuard offer similar on a few locks. I've not checked if the one I linked is one because such guarantees are pretty worthless and even if you've got the lock and so on, you're still walking home.

 

[vickster]

Do thieves normally take locks with them? I can't see the hardship if it's still there. I seem to recall they insure up to £750 for silver?
I think it was stolen from the OPs home area?

I'm not really sure what your point is?

 

[mjr]

Do thieves normally take locks with them? I can't see the hardship if it's still there.

Based on what I know, some do and some don't. I think one reason to take broken locks with them is so as not to scare off other people who park in the same location with similar locks.

Edit: the one I know where the lock was left was from a cycle park in a building, so the thief may have assumed that the bike's owner would tell the other users of that cycle park either way - and they would have been right.

I'm not really sure what your point is?

The point is that that sort of guarantee has enough conditions and exclusions to be almost worthless: it's only free on certain locks, they pay only the ex-VAT price (so you're still out 16%), it doesn't cover any acessories, if you're insured then they only pay the excess and only if you show proof of payment from the insurer, you have to register within 30 days of getting the lock, you have to pay again after the first year, you have to claim within 7 days of the theft and send them the broken lock, a key and copies of the police report and of receipts for the lock and bike without accessories (or a signed dealer appraisal) by recorded post within 90 days, it doesn't cover you abroad (it's only just started covering the UK) and if you change bike then you have to send a copy of the receipt for the new one to them.

Has anyone reading this claimed successfully? (Probably a US reader, given it's not been in the UK long.)