Sports Direct Bikes - £50

johnmw_2

Steve

Basically they price match, if you can find the same bike for less use the price match link on their website & they send you a discount code, then go through topcashback or whatever your preferred cashback site is to get more money off!
I don't mind doing this kind of thing to companies like Evans' who don't have great customer feedback, but as I say it all worked fine for me

Their prices are a little top heavy anyway so I think they expect you to barter!

John

sillywilly

JoJoB wrote: »

Thanks for the advice about ebay, lots of cheap bikes there!

Thinking of getting this for OH, but is the steel frame a bad thing???
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180486038268&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

Seriously avoid this at all costs!! The price it is at now is double what it is worth new!!

Bad bike in all respects. Look out for one of the brands I suggested at the price you can afford. One WILL come up. Alternatively try your local GUMTREE site.

If you are going for a cheap bike avoid ANY suspension as it will be utterly pointless and heavy.

Steve_xx

I bought a Dunlop suspension bike fromSports Direct as a present. It cost about £80 at christmas. It seems fine to me.

I got myself a bike off of Freecycle. The Freecycle bike is a Halfords Apollo model I believe, cost me nowt, is in great condition, doesn't have the suspension thing that the Sports Direct bike has.

Last week my friend and I went out on these two bikes. We swapped them to try eachothers out. Verdict: no difference between them. Both perfectly satisfactory in all respects. Unless you're an avid biker and want to pay to have ultra light frames, it isn't worth the expense of paying hundreds of pounds out for one.

My friend in Southampton has a bike that cost several hundreds of pounds. I've ridden it and my verdict is: it's no different from the two mentioned above.

sillywilly

Steve_xx wrote: »

I bought a Dunlop suspension bike fromSports Direct as a present. It cost about £80 at christmas. It seems fine to me.

I got myself a bike off of Freecycle. The Freecycle bike is a Halfords Apollo model I believe, cost me nowt, is in great condition, doesn't have the suspension thing that the Sports Direct bike has.

Last week my friend and I went out on these two bikes. We swapped them to try eachothers out. Verdict: no difference between them. Both perfectly satisfactory in all respects. Unless you're an avid biker and want to pay to have ultra light frames, it isn't worth the expense of paying hundreds of pounds out for one.

My friend in Southampton has a bike that cost several hundreds of pounds. I've ridden it and my verdict is: it's no different from the two mentioned above.

Oh yes Dunlop - that great manufacturer of racquet sports and green flash trainers. Such a reknown bike manufacturer.
As stated in earlier posts look on Ebay for a DECENT brand. If you have £80 to spend you will DEFINITELY be able to get a GOOD brand 2nd hand that will last and you may get a bit of Kudus.

You don't need to spend £500 or even £100 2nd hand. But for £50 - 100 you will get a GOOD make with QUALITY parts 2nd hand.

Or go for a nice DUNLOP bike or a PROBIKE or APOLLO.

Or go for a nice brand I pointed out lol

Steve_xx

sillywilly wrote: »

Oh yes Dunlop - that great manufacturer of racquet sports and green flash trainers. Such a reknown bike manufacturer.
As stated in earlier posts look on Ebay for a DECENT brand. If you have £80 to spend you will DEFINITELY be able to get a GOOD brand 2nd hand that will last and you may get a bit of Kudus.

You don't need to spend £500 or even £100 2nd hand. But for £50 - 100 you will get a GOOD make with QUALITY parts 2nd hand.

Or go for a nice DUNLOP bike or a PROBIKE or APOLLO.

Or go for a nice brand I pointed out lol

Frankly, I couldn't care less about "Kudos" or the reputation of a bike manufacturer. The proof of the pudding is in the eating and I'm telling you that there's little to choose between the three I've tried out as mentioned in my post.

Now of course if you want to get sucked into paying for "kudos" and brand labels, then of course that's your prerogative to do so. However, I'd rather keep my cash in my pocket.

sillywilly

Steve_xx wrote: »

Frankly, I couldn't care less about "Kudos" or the reputation of a bike manufacturer. The proof of the pudding is in the eating and I'm telling you that there's little to choose between the three I've tried out as mentioned in my post.

Now of course if you want to get sucked into paying for "kudos" and brand labels, then of course that's your prerogative to do so. However, I'd rather keep my cash in my pocket.

For a start I don't "eat" my bike but I am guessing you must do.

It is nothing to do with "kudos" more to do with getting as good a bike as you can for your money. I have outlined some decent makes to help other users based on the fact that you can get a good bike 2nd hand for no more money than a heap of junk new.

I bought a Marin for £50, a Trek for £40 and a Cannondale for £125 2nd hand off Ebay. Nothing about kudos. Just know a good bike and wouldn't want to ride around on a piece of shi5.

I have outlined to users how to spot a decent bike on Ebay and how to search for one. The brands you mentioned or ride around on are not in that list - and for good reason - they are heaps of metal - not bikes.

If you are happy doing this that is why companies like sports direct do well selling their products to people like you.

Would I rather spend £125 on a new Dunlop bike or a 2nd hand Cannondale or Specialized? Most people with half a brain know the right choice.

That is why sports direct suits you down to the ground.

Steve_xx

sillywilly wrote: »

For a start I don't "eat" my bike but I am guessing you must do.

It is nothing to do with "kudos" more to do with getting as good a bike as you can for your money. I have outline some decent makes to help other users based on the fact that you can get a good bike 2nd hand for no more money than a heap of junk new.

I bought a Marin for £50, a Trek for £40 and a Cannondale for £125 2nd hand off Ebay. Nothing about kudos. Just know a good bike and wouldn't want to ride around on a piece of shi5.

I have outlined to users how to spot a decent bike on Ebay and how to search for one. The brands you mentioned or ride around on are not in that list - and for good reason - they are heaps of metal - not bikes.

If you are happy doing this that is why companies like sports direct do well selling their products to people like you.

Would I rather spend £125 on a new Dunlop bike or a 2nd hand Cannondale or Specialized. Most people with half a brain know the right choice.

That is why sports direct suits you down to the ground.

Actually it was you who used the word "kudos", not I. I was quoting you!

Your opinions are just that, ie your opinions. You are entitled to hold them and I don't have a problem with that, although I do not concur with your opinions as a result of my own evaluations. The same goes for me and my opinions. I'm entitled to hold them, but I'm not asking you to agree with them.

sillywilly

Steve_xx wrote: »

Actually it was you who used the word "kudos", not I. I was quoting you!

Your opinions are just that, ie your opinions. You are entitled to hold them and I don't have a problem with that, although I do not concur with your opinions as a result of my own evaluations. The same goes for me and my opinions. I'm entitled to hold them, but I'm not asking you to agree with them.

Actually you are the one that used the word kudos first and i was just quoting you to show how irrelevant it is in the terms of buying a bike in general.

I am entitled to my opinions as you are yours - I have only posted on here to let people get the best bang for their buck.

Unlike you I actually do know a little bit about cycling and bikes and what is a good bike. But I understand you are only trying to help, like me, and are happy with your bike.

From experience buying cheap brands is a false economy but I guess it all depends what you want to use it for.

If you want a metal ornanment that will never get used buy a new cheap brand bike. If you want a bike to ride that will be comfortable and will last buy a decent brand 2nd hand.

Horses for courses

No1Joker

not wishing to step in the middle of this, but for those "kudos" brands its not about the ride of the bike per se.

It is mostly about durability and the quality of the parts used. I'm sure you could buy this £50 bike and it wouldn't be long before the pedals loosened or the chain wore out. If you spend a bit more then you'll get something more durable and reliable (better gears, suspension etc)

sillywilly

No1Joker wrote: »

not wishing to step in the middle of this, but for those "kudos" brands its not about the ride of the bike per se.

It is mostly about durability and the quality of the parts used. I'm sure you could buy this £50 bike and it wouldn't be long before the pedals loosened or the chain wore out. If you spend a bit more then you'll get something more durable and reliable (better gears, suspension etc)

I should have just made it clear like that and not assumed that people would know that!!!

It really isn't anything to do with "kudos" or "bike snobbery". Simply the fact that the better brands I mentioned, make better bikes.

As Brent would say - Fact!!