Working on a BSO

[swee'pea99]

'er indores volunteered my services to adjust the brakes on a friend's new 'Terrain Dream' (£60 from Tesco). Just finished doing it. Ugh. What a nasty piece of work. Don't think her friend's going to be too thrilled - the blocks still brush the rim. Problem is, there's so much flex in the system that if I loosened it off anymore, you wouldn't actually be able to brake - the levers would hit the handles before applying any kind of pressure. I really feel offended by this horrible thing, and have told 'er indores I want it off the premises.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Poor U. But it'll be back after a few miles for more fettling

 

[chillyuk]

I no longer touch other people's bikes. I learned this lesson when I was a TV engineer and get told when a TV goes wrong with a different fault weeks after I had repaired it that the fault wasn't there before I repaired it therefore it must be my fault. I just refer people to Halfords as revenge for them being too idle to learn to do things for themselves.

People make me laugh, spend hundreds of pounds on a bike and can't mend a puncture.

 

[mickle]

Have her take it back to the shop ffs. Those monstrosities should be considered actively anti-cycling considering the number of people put off cycling for ever by them.

 

[Mark_Robson]

I no longer touch other people's bikes. I learned this lesson when I was a TV engineer and get told when a TV goes wrong with a different fault weeks after I had repaired it that the fault wasn't there before I repaired it therefore it must be my fault.

That's why I stopped maintaining other peoples computers.

 

[Globalti]

I've had the same experience with a BSO my friend bought for £99 for his GF. You couldn't actually adjust it, it weighed a ton and was shite to ride. I don't think she ever rode it.

 

[downfader]

I do a little fettling myself (tend to leave the gears alone though as I never seem to get the knack) but never touch others bikes. I'll often give advice or refer them to a couple of good shops.

One of the shops I refer people to the guy will come right out and tell you off for buying a BSO peice of junk. He'll then go through the "safety features" and why you should have spent more.

A mate at work was telling me about his bike and I'd assumed it was a BSO. Had a gander oneday when he turned up at the same time as me in the morning and found him riding a pretty decent specialised DH'ller. He'd just let things like brakes and such slip. I gave him £3 worth of tesco brake blocks and told him to fix it. I thought that would be better than him crashing.

He told me last week he'd installed them and realised that he could now stop.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I hate working on cheap bikes. I offended a friend of Ms RT's a while ago when she brought her bike for me to repair. When I gave her it back I told her that it was a pile of shite before she brought it to me, but now I'd repaired it it was still a pile of shite. Furthermore, it always would be a pile of shite until it eventually went for scrap. She didn't ask me to mend it again.

 

[downfader]

I hate working on cheap bikes. I offended a friend of Ms RT's a while ago when she brought her bike for me to repair. When I gave her it back I told her that it was a pile of shite before she brought it to me, but now I'd repaired it it was still a pile of shite. Furthermore, it always would be a pile of shite until it eventually went for scrap. She didn't ask me to mend it again.

Perhaps we need a minimum standard? I wonder how long it will be before a group of mad-mothers tries to sue Tesco or someone for the safety aspect of these bikes?

Daily Mail Mothers Unit..!

 

[mickle]

Perhaps we need a minimum standard? I wonder how long it will be before a group of mad-mothers tries to sue Tesco or someone for the safety aspect of these bikes?

Daily Mail Mothers Unit..!

The problem with that is that the bulk of the population is ignorant of the difference between BSOs and bikes and as a result would simply conclude that all bikes are dangerous.

You're right though we do need a minimum standard. I thought we had one but clearly it's not up to the job.

 

[downfader]

The problem with that is that the bulk of the population is ignorant of the difference between BSOs and bikes and as a result would simply conclude that all bikes are dangerous.

You're right though we do need a minimum standard. I thought we had one but clearly it's not up to the job.

or thinking on.. perhaps not being enforced?

 

[mickle]

or thinking on.. perhaps not being enforced?

Yup.

 

[mickle]

I've seen three Cyclist Shaped People in as many days with their forks facing backwards.

 

[summerdays]

The problem with that is that the bulk of the population is ignorant of the difference between BSOs and bikes and as a result would simply conclude that all bikes are dangerous.

You're right though we do need a minimum standard. I thought we had one but clearly it's not up to the job.

I agree and I was that person who didn't understand what the difference was between a BSO and a bike. I've tried to tinker with the brakes on quite a few BSO's, and hate the things.

 

[Davidc]

I've got roped into putting some of those things together 'out of the box'.

The biggest problems I've had are flexing and parts which just bend or break because they're so flimsy.

I have however met a couple which are useable, and have been ridden a reasonable amount before being replaced by something better.