Sports Direct Bikes - £50

Steve_xx

sillywilly wrote: »

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

I feel compelled to correct you. The first use of the word "kudos" appeared in your post#25.

You may believe that you know more than I about bikes and cycling, and that may well be the case. Or, it may be simply that you have formed an opinion that suits you. Either way, it's fine by me.

RufusA

I think it's horses for courses!

A £50 bike will be cheaply built, have poor quality components, be heavier than you would like, be hard to service, more likely to break / go out of true.

However if it's a leisure bike, used at a gentle pace for the odd weekend outing when the weather is warm - who cares! If you set it up properly, keep the drive system well oiled, and are willing fettle (adjust it now and then) it could last a few years.

I would never recommend one if you used it daily or needed to rely on it. It would wear out in months, and the parts aren't easily serviceable!

A good quality second hand bike *THAT HAS BEEN WELL LOOKED AFTER* will be a pleasure to ride, and can go thousands of miles without incident.

With a good bike it's easy to repair, and you can find replacement parts. However they aren't necessarily cheap, and unless you have the right tools you may need to spend almost the cost of a cheap bike getting someone to fit them for you!

FWIW I commute daily on a Specialized Sirrus (circa £400), but also own a cheap BSO. Riding them at a leisurly pace there isn't a huge difference. At speed, or uphill with a load they are like chalk and cheese!

It's a bit like Primark vs M&S. Both have their places, but you'd tend to use Primark for something fashionable to wear a few times at the weekend then bin, and M&S for something that you'll wear everyday to work!

HTH - Rufus.

sillywilly

RufusA wrote: »

I think it's horses for courses!

A £50 bike will be cheaply built, have poor quality components, be heavier than you would like, be hard to service, more likely to break / go out of true.

However if it's a leisure bike, used at a gentle pace for the odd weekend outing when the weather is warm - who cares! If you set it up properly, keep the drive system well oiled, and are willing fettle (adjust it now and then) it could last a few years.

I would never recommend one if you used it daily or needed to rely on it. It would wear out in months, and the parts aren't easily serviceable!

A good quality second hand bike *THAT HAS BEEN WELL LOOKED AFTER* will be a pleasure to ride, and can go thousands of miles without incident.

With a good bike it's easy to repair, and you can find replacement parts. However they aren't necessarily cheap, and unless you have the right tools you may need to spend almost the cost of a cheap bike getting someone to fit them for you!

FWIW I commute daily on a Specialized Sirrus (circa £400), but also own a cheap BSO. Riding them at a leisurly pace there isn't a huge difference. At speed, or uphill with a load they are like chalk and cheese!

It's a bit like Primark vs M&S. Both have their places, but you'd tend to use Primark for something fashionable to wear a few times at the weekend then bin, and M&S for something that you'll wear everyday to work!

HTH - Rufus.

New parts are damn cheap on Ebay - good quality branded components at that. There are lots of local mobile mechanics who are generally a lot cheaper - and more friendly than your local bike shop. A full service with all new cables and everything checked and adjusted should cost you no more than £30 for a mobile mechanic.

My general point is - why spend out on a crap new bike when you can get a decent 2nd hand one for the same price. Surely, even if you only ride occasionally, you will appreciate the better ride due to better components and frame, therefore making it the sensible purchase?

I had a BSA - it was awful. I had a Specialized - it was brilliant until it got nicked.

Just come to me - the one and only reason to get a shi2 bike - it won't get nicked!!!

JoJoB

sillywilly wrote: »

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.

Lol, i couldn't believe it finally went at £80, I was only interested when the bid was at £2.50.

Brilliant advice on here for people like me who know nothing about bikes and want to buy one. I thought that suspension was a must-have and a steel frame would make it extra strong.

Still a bit of a numpty about what brands are best. Keeping an eye on local ebay listings and haven't seen any "good" brands as quoted in this thread thus far. Basically I want a bike for me that i can fit a child seat to, and a bike for OH - both for leisurely summer rides out with the kiddie. We may go a long way but it will be on easy terrain.

I don't want to spend more than £40 each on the bikes. Any input as to whether to bid on the following would be appreciated:
Raleigh camaro (womens, aluminium frame, no suspension) currently at 99p
Matrix Ultra trail bike (aluminium frame, no suspension, mens) buy it now £49

My OH is a big bloke - is aluminium frame strong enough?

Thanks for your help!

nedmundo

Just a suggestion, but if you look for bikes sorted under distance nearer, you'll get a much bigger selection available to you as most folks understandably can't be bothered to dismantle a bike and send by courier and specify collection only.

If you live somewhere that isn't densely populated, you'll get a bargain!

As a general rule, there are good steel and good aluminium bikes as well as bad ones. The difference tends to be in the ride quality, peddling efficiency, smoothness of gear changes & braking and longevity.

A good steel frame will tend to be more comfortable to ride as aluminium tends to be stifffer due to the fat tubing.

jethrogibbs

Hi does anyone know if SD will be doing the £50 bike offer anytime soon? they are £70 at the moment. I hate buying something then they drop the price a day later!

I rode a dunlop one (no suspension) about a mile to the station every day for a year with no probs until a lorry or bus decided to reverse into it... left it there as a piece of modern art!


(was registered on here already but forgot my username!)

marvin

Amazing how much discussion a cheap bike which is probably knocked out in the same chinese factories as all the other cheap bikes and just has a different label stuck on it can cause.

Anyway long shot just in case.

If anyone has or knows of a 1996/7 Saracen Power Trax or Hard Trax bike being sold (or has one and would like to sell it) please let me know.

So long as frame and forks are solid the rest of conditon does not matter as I am likely to replace them anyway.