Poll on Argos Fixie

[Rhythm Thief]

Not having ridden one, I'm not really in a position to make sweeping statements about how crap it is. But I will say that there's no earthly reason someone can't sell a perfectly adequate fixed wheel bike for £150. It's not like there's a lot to spend on the groupset, is it? Most of this thread smells quite strongly of a pretty unpleasant kind of snobbery ...

 

[Rhythm Thief]

1. It's aimed at kids but is based on a 60cm frame.

2. The wheels appear to not have an effective braking surface.

3. I've seen old Create wheels fold in half playing polo. I can't imagine how these will hold up to typical kid abuse.

It's not snobbery, the bike is a f***ing deathtrap.

...

Whatever happened to the Decathlon B'Twin Vitamin? 80 euros for a heavy but workable ss. Appeared on their website a year ago and has since vanished.

It's not aimed at kids. "14 years and over" is what it says. All that means is that it's not suitable for those under 14 years.
As for the braking surface, I have no idea what you're on about; it looks ok to me.
Wheels folding in half while playing polo is not really an indication of how they'll behave under normal use, and you know that. This bike might be a "f***ing deathtrap", or it might not. But no one can tell that from looking at a single picture of it on the web. As I said above, there's no reason whatever that you can't build a heavy but servicable fixed wheel bike and sell it for under two hundred quid, as the last paragraph in your post implies.
Personally, I hope Argos sell loads of them and that they appear on club rides up and down the country and blast anyone pointing and laughing into the weeds. I'm tempted to buy one myself.

 

[PpPete]

Well, at least it has a bell so we can hear you coming !

 

[benb]

I think it looks a good deal better than the usual crap you get from BSO merchants.
Impossible to say for sure without actually seeing/riding one or at least having a proper component spec.

 

[Jezston]

It's not aimed at kids. "14 years and over" is what it says. All that means is that it's not suitable for those under 14 years.

Well, by kids I mean teenagers. And unless they are over 6'2" it'll be too big for them.

As for the braking surface, I have no idea what you're on about; it looks ok to me.

Someone had said in a previous thread that the wheels don't have a properly milled braking surface and that they had been painted over. Suggestion was that in the wet they would provide little to no braking capability. That is dangerous.

Wheels folding in half while playing polo is not really an indication of how they'll behave under normal use, and you know that.

Well if anything you are moving a lot slower in polo, so under normal riding about I expect you'd be putting them under a lot more stress. I'm not sure what your point is.

This bike might be a "f***ing deathtrap", or it might not. But no one can tell that from looking at a single picture of it on the web.

There had been discussion on other threads and on other places on the net about this bike. Points have come from more than just a single picture.

As I said above, there's no reason whatever that you can't build a heavy but servicable fixed wheel bike and sell it for under two hundred quid, as the last paragraph in your post implies.

Quite. The B'Twin Vitamin is apparently exactly that - heavy and a bit clunky but safe and reliable, with a 5 year warranty - and half the price of this Argos bike which comes with no retailer warranty and serious questions about it's safety.

 

[mickle]

For a start off it doesn't have enough fork offset for the headtube angle, so it'll be horrendously 'floppy' at slow speed.

I'm not against inexpensive bikes on principle but that is cheap. Also it is categorically not a track bike and for that lie it is in flagrant breach of The Sale of Goods Act 1988.

The trouble with sh*t like this - even if it isn't a death trap - which I strongly suspect it is - is that it's built to a price. Even if it doesn't fall apart it will wear itself out in a very short time.

But my biggest objection is that most of these will never benefit from the loving caresses of a qualified bicycle mechanic. They'll be assembled badly and will eventually come to reside under a pile of old boxes in the back of sheds up and down the land missing their left hand cranks.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

For a start off it doesn't have enough fork offset for the headtube angle, so it'll be horrendously 'floppy' at slow speed.

I'm not against inexpensive bikes on principle but that is cheap. Also it is categorically not a track bike and for that lie it is in flagrant breach of The Sale of Goods Act 1988.

The trouble with sh*t like this - even if it isn't a death trap - which I strongly suspect it is - is that it's built to a price. Even if it doesn't fall apart it will wear itself out in a very short time.

But my biggest objection is that most of these will never benefit from the loving caresses of a qualified bicycle mechanic. They'll be assembled badly and will eventually come to reside under a pile of old boxes in the back of sheds up and down the land missing their left hand cranks.

 

[dubman]

Well , i took the plunge and brought one of these bikes i must say i feel its quite a bargain. Some of the points raised on here are very wrong , The wheels are safe and strong and do have a braking surface with a wear indicator. It also rides very smooth , ok it has cheap components but with a bit of care i see no reason to fall apart.I will report back in 6 Months

 

[yello]

Good lord, it looks like it's come out of a packet of licorice allsorts! Where's Bertie Bassett?

 

[Jezston]

Brave man!

No foot retention, though?

 

[benb]

It really does look half decent in your photos.

I think we all agree that it's possible to make a cheap, decent bike. I don't think any of us expected it to come from Argos though.

I don't like the wheels though.

Good luck, let us know how you get on with it.

 

[4F]

Well , i took the plunge and brought one of these bikes

Did it come with a free pair of sun glasses ?

 

[Crackle]

It looks likes it's fallen out of a triangular road sign!




Looks half decent though

 

[Pottsy]

My eyes are bleeding

 

[ianrauk]

Would have looked nicer if it was Blue.