UKC

I've never owned a bike before(!)and only really rode one as a small child. I'd really like to use cycling to get fitter as running is out due to injury at the moment.

Ideally I'd like to spend as little as possible as I'm saving all spare cash for an expedition - I keep seeing bikes for around £100 from argos/Asda/Halfords - are they worth it? I've also been told that I can put road tyres on to a mountain bike so that I can use off and on road. Again, knowing NOTHING about bikes, I can't make this call. Any thoughts?

In reply to AnnaSpanna:

If you haven't got much money then find yourself a friend who knows about bikes and get them to find you a decent 2nd hand one.

The £100 (new) bikes will be awful - unless all you want to do is pootle around town.

And you can buy slick (i.e. road) tyres for mountain bike wheels.

In reply to AnnaSpanna: Cheap new bikes are usually crap. What do you want it for?

In reply to AnnaSpanna:

There is the expression BSO - "bicycle shaped object" which implies a very cheap bike from places like Argos and Halfords. They tend to be heavy and made of very poor materials - and so, I understand, not worth the money.

However I understand it is possible to get a decent cheap bike - Decathlon is a name I have heard mentioned. The other option is to go second hand - but here you do need to know a little more about what you want, I think. In particular, you need to know about bike sizing, so you have an idea what size of frame will fit you.

Someone will be along in a minute to call me a bike snob...

Oh and yes, it is possible to put road tyres on a MTB - I did my first triathlons on a MTB with road tyres.

In reply to AnnaSpanna: Agree with first reply, if you've only got 100 quid try and get a 2nd hand one, if you buy a new one it really is false economy and as soon as you ride it quite hard a few times things will probably start falling off it!! failing that keep saving and wait 'til the end of season sales in October or November, some fantastic bargains around then.

In reply to AnnaSpanna: wow, thanks. That'd be a no then! Second hand may be the way forwards. I just need to find someone who knows what to look for...

In reply to AnnaSpanna:

In general cheap bikes aren't going to be very good - they're made using cheap parts which will break/wear more easily and need more frequent replacement. Sometimes it's not possilbe to replace some of the parts at all because they've been built in a cheaper way.

On the other hand, little-used second hand bikes are made with better quality parts which should last longer (and have a higher resale value if you want to upgrade in the future). For that reason, I have bought both of my recent bikes on ebay/local paper. (Ebay £50 for a bike that usually retails aroung £250/£300 and can't have done more than about 20 miles!)

I think if you stick to names you'd recognise and do a google search for retail value for comparison then you can't go far wrong.

You can put road tyres on a mountain bike but the bike will still be heavy and slow. You may want to consider a hybrid bike, these are lighter and faster and suitable for roads and forest type-trails (although not dirt biking and jumping and stuff). You can get tyres that are slick in the centre and bobbled around the edges but I've never used them so I don't konw how good they aren.

In reply to AnnaSpanna:

My philosopy is one of economy. I would (and have ) buy a cheap bike MBT with hydralic discs from Stockport cycles £200. The weight is a bit more than one of 10x cost and the spec on the parts is not fantastic. I will replace parts as they expire and end up with the bike I want for minimal outlay. I know many people pay more for one wheel than I have for the whole bike. It works well and I can ride it hard. In time it will expire. This has always been my philosphy and has worked well. Its not so good if you are not so handy with a spanna...

In reply to AnnaSpanna: the halford's 'specials' as they are known, are about as good as a chocolate fireguard. they use the cheapest components they can get away with which are inevitably the heaviest and the least durable.

it will last for a while but they are not easily serviceable. Take a look on Singletrackworld.com for a bargain though you might have to extend your budget a tiny bit but you should be able to get a good, serviceable bike for £150-200.

HTH

In reply to AnnaSpanna:

Second hand will probably be the best way to go at that price - check ebay and local bike shop.

B&Q are doing bikes for £55, reduced from £110, Asda have similar "deals" at the moment, among others. I wouldn't touch any of them with a barge pole, as they are heavy, made of very cheap and heavy bits that don't work very well and all put together by very cheap people.

If you desperately want new, then check out bike shops near you and online - they may have something from a couple of years ago stashed at the back of the shop and may do you a good deal on it.

In reply to AnnaSpanna: What surface do you think you will use it on (on road, tow path,cross country)?

In reply to AnnaSpanna:

I've had a few very cheap bikes to commute on (I didn't want to spend much as they kept getting nicked). They ranged from £65 to £120 new. They have all been heavy and aren't as nice to ride as more expesive bikes, unsurprisingly. However, they do work. You can sit on them and pedal around. There is absolutely no point in spending £500 on a bike that you cycle 15 miles a week on. However, if you cycle a lot, you will definitely benefit from a better bike. I used my cheap bikes every day to commute, and around town they do just fine at low mileage. As soon as you go off road, or they get a bit older, they start to break.

Basically, if you are handy with a bit of bike maintenance and don't go far on a bike then cheap ones are fine. If you don't want to spend time sorting out bearings etc, or are going to do a bit more mileage in all weathers then you are much better off getting a more expensive bike or a better one second hand.

In reply to AnnaSpanna:
Some general rules for buying a bike:
- Don't try to buy a bike with rear suspension unless you have £1000 to spend or you WILL end up getting seasick.
- I would probably avoid any form of suspension as most suspension forks on cheap bikes weigh a ton and don't actually work that well.
- Disk brakes are probably worth avoiding when buying on a budget unless they are made by Shimano or Avid, even then they aren't much better than a good rim brake.
- Find a friend who actually cycles or go and speak to your local bike shop to try to work out what size bike you need, but watch out as not all manufacturers size bikes in quite the same way!

Good Luck!

In reply to AnnaSpanna:

This article was in Saturday's Guardian - worth five minutes' read:

"How to ride off with the best new bicycle deal
How easy is it to find a good-quality new bike for less than £200?
Adam Dewar takes up the challenge":
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/jul/24/best-new-bicycle-deal

In reply to cmgcmg:

Tried their website and for every category of bike it says there are no items available. I presume it's not working properly.
The sizing information is very vague. I think the OP would be better off getting properly fitted for a bike in a shop.

In reply to AnnaSpanna: Buy a Road bike with a shimano group set you cant go wrong. have a look on ebay. even bottom of the range shimano i.e tiagra are good enough for what you want.

In reply to AnnaSpanna: It's for road and tracks. Your advice is all welcome and very interesting. As a not-very-fit person, I'd like to work up to some good weekly mileage on the bike and it has to last me the next 18 months so I think I'll go to the second-hand shop/look on ebay. Will need to look at sizing first and get a good idea of what I'm after. Hybrid sounds good.

In reply to Monk:


Burn the heretic!

A cheap bike will be slower than a nice bike. It will break quicker. It won't look as good. However as the man says you can sit on them and pedal around.

But you'll be able to get something much better for £100 if you go second hand. Might as well try asking on here in the For Sale/Wanted forum.

To the OP - watch your achilles if you're cycling up a lot of hills! Worth speaking to your physio if you have one (probably not your GP...)

In reply to AnnaSpanna: I've got a commuting roadie I paid 30 quid for (off this site), really good bike in the 80's, still a good bike but with no resale value really, I've spent about 100 quid improving it (most of that was due to a rather dramatic crash), but you'll have to pay maintenance on any bike, it's much better than any 100 quid new bike you could find. I've got an entrance level Coppi I paid 125 for (400 new) and an XC mountain bike I paid 200 for that is lighter than my mates 1500 quid hardtail, and just as good apart from a few parts that I can upgrade for about 60 quid. I wouldn't buy a new bike at all, let alone a cheap one. The guy I bought the Mountain bike off is really good, he builds them for a hobby and prefers to sell them first (for no profit), I'd highly recommend him, he's now on his 5th page of positive feedback. I can give you his details if you want but you'll probably be looking at a bit more than 100. Otherwise get a cheap 80's roadie, look here, gumtree and as a last resort ebay. People sometimes just give them away. See if you like cycling then think about what kind of bike you want (sounds like a hybrid to me).


Blimey, you can't half tell I'm a Northerner...

In reply to Steve John B:


Yeah thanks! Finally saw a sports physio yesterday - advised cycling but also said no hills.

In reply to sean0386:

Except that she isn't after a road bike, tiagra isn't bottom of the range and a bike with tiagra will be out of her price range, even second hand.

In reply to AnnaSpanna:
I'll go to the second-hand shop/look on ebay. Will need to look at sizing first and get a good idea of what I'm after. Hybrid sounds good.

Try and avoid ebay, I've found it to be about a third dearer for bikes and parts you can find elsewhere, and generally much less trusted sellers. Retrobike and bike radar are good sites as well as the ones mentioned above. Someone told me that Halfords have a jig that they measure you on if you don't mind telling a few porkies.

In reply to AnnaSpanna: you get what you pay for. cheap is crap. halfords too.

In reply to worldsbestslacker:


I use Specialized All Road tyres on my bike - 26x1", approx, and armoured to cut down on punctures.

They are noticeably faster than knobbly tyres, and even 2" slicks.

They do make your wheels look a bit dinky, though. A hybrid with bigger wheels might go a bit faster.

In reply to AnnaSpanna:

I agree with others who say no to a Halfrauds £100 special.

It will be heavy, with crappy parts that will put you off actually wanting to ride it.
Don't know if anyone has said this. Go to Halfrauds or anywhere else that sells cheapies and also has more expensive bikes. Ask to test ride several bikes from the £100 crap to bikes costing 4 or 5 times as much. If you don't feel the difference between them (I think you will) you might be happy enough with the cheapy but it will have durability problems later.
As others have said have a look at sites like RetroBike for bargains. There are lots of older, in some cases much older, good quality when first new, bikes on there. Get a friend who is knowledgeable about bikes to help you look, that might not be the case since you've asked on here!!!

In reply to the crabbit man:

I think cheap bikes have their place. My comute is only 5 miles a day in total, and 1/2 of it is through a pedestrianised area that allows cycling (can't go too fast due to pedestrians).

My 99€ decathalon bike does me fine, it is basic, no suss, not the lightest of bikes but there again it isn't very heavy compared to these hybrid shopper type bikes most people seem to ride in European town centres.

I had thought of buying second hand but I wanted to make sure the bike fitted so have to try before I buy, already made that mistake once, and I didn't want to buy a stolen bike which I think can be a problem.

In reply to AnnaSpanna:

It depends completely what you are planning on using it for. I have two bikes - one £200 (reduced from £300) hybrid from halfords with (cable) disc brakes and no suspension, and one €1300 racing bike. Both are fine, but for what I use them for. The halfords bike is perfect for going in to town on (cycle paths), tow paths, forest tracks, roads etc. I ride it when I go to the shops, I'm not trying to be super quick, but the cyclee paths are not that good, and it needs to be bumped up and down the odd kerb. It's comfortable, pretty strong, and I don't mind if it gets crap on it. When I get to the shops, I lock it up with a €5 bikelock, and don't worry when I'm in the shops for 20 minutes. I used to use it for commuting around Bath (hilly) in all weathers, and it was great - neevveer had a problem with it that cost me any money to fix. I replaced the chain once (£10) in a couple of thousand miles of riding.

The other is my gleaming pride and joy, and I do perhaps 100 miles a week on it, on average, in the summer. I'm careful about when I take it out, I don't lock it and leave it anywhere, I go when I want to go for a ride, I stick the lycra on and crack out 80km in a morning. It's fun, it's light, it runs perfectly, but it's a very different experience. It is better quality, and in many ways a better bike, but there is nothing wrong with my cheaper halfords bike at all - I can chuck it about and not worry. And with no suspension, and slick tyres, it's the ideal commuting bike - and maybe for pleasure rides up to about 40 miles (and they will be done more slowly that on the expensive bike). It all depends what you want.

Tim

In reply to AnnaSpanna:

If you want it for training, get a cheap racer. Mine was £150 from the internet. I'll find the make and model later

The cheap bikes you're seeing don't have high enough gear ratios and you won't be able to go fast enough to actually do a workout

In reply to AnnaSpanna: Have a look into the "cycle to work scheme" http://www.cycle2work.info you get a bike for about half price because you pay for it monthly from your pay packet before tax and all that shizzel. You could get a Carrera Vulcan, a GOOD entry level mountain bike well worth its full price, for £160 ish.

Cheaper halfords bikes (trax and apollo) aren't great, but Carrera bikes are awesome value for money.

Will

In reply to AnnaSpanna: I think your best to get a bike online. Carrera do make some decent bikes though

In reply to AnnaSpanna: Carrera (Halfords own brand) do not have a decent bike in the range. Sorry.

In reply to AnnaSpanna:

I bought a British Eagle for around 60 quid to get me to the climbing wall and back..

Around the 6 month mark I started having issues..
Gear cable broke
The handle bars are unable to be tightened anymore so the handlebars wobble
Seat can't be tightened so it flops back and forward
When the nut the holds the peddle on stripped itself I then decided it was time to retire the bike..

It has been sitting out the front of my house - unlocked for about 6 months and noone has stolen it - even the thieves know better!

In reply to unclesamsauntibess:

Can you explain why you think this? All Carreras are all decent value for money, the level of spec you get for the money is very good, you may say "oh they skimp on the bottom bracket because you cant see it" but the general quality of carreras far outweighs most branded bikes.

Will

In reply to AnnaSpanna:

If you are going to buy a bike for as low as £100 steer clear of anything which has suspension or disc brakes. They detract from the value of the frame.

Ideally do a search for bike shops with last years models that didn't shift, you could get a £300 bike for £100 - £150 if you are lucky.

Better still, go second hand. Some parts will be worn, but you'll get a ~£500 bike for £100, and the difference will be amazing.

In reply to willoates:

because I am in the trade.

In reply to MightyMidget:


Really ?

In reply to AnnaSpanna:
if u do go down the second hand route make sure it's not just a crap bike that wasn't used much and now a little bit cheaper! I was looking for a second hand bike rescently for around that price and couldn't find anything sensible. IMO you need to spend about 300 if new and not on sale, so use that as a guide when buying second hand, make sure the new price is around 300.

In reply to unclesamsauntibess:

Which bit of the trade are you in, out of curiosity?

It's a bit of a meaningless statement saying Carrera don't do "decent" bikes - what exactly does decent mean in this context? I'm not saying they do or don't btw.

In reply to Steve John B:

I'm in the supply part, out of curiosity. The better bit.

In reply to willoates:

I could argue that with you at some length.

In reply to AnnaSpanna:

If you're just going to ride the bike occassionally, not for very long distances, then a cheap bike will probably do you fine.

If you want something to ride regularly, or longer distances (over 5 miles), then look to spend a little more and you'll enjoy the experience more.

In reply to unclesamsauntibess: please, make a point, i'm interested in your opinion.

Will

In reply to willoates:

One of the Carrera bikes actually got a very good review in one of the mountain bike comics - can't remember which one, but it was a while ago.

They were made by Saracen for Halfords at one point, but I believe that all changed a couple of years ago.

In reply to unclesamsauntibess: I'm in "the trade" too, I work in a bike shop as a mechanic and sales assistant, I own two carreras, among others, specialised, GT and We The People. I bought the Carreras because they were the best value for money and they are still going strong.

Will

In reply to LastBoyScout: yeah, they always get good reviews, they are made by GT now i think. It was a good while ago that they were made by Saracen.

Will

In reply to willoates: Working in a bike shop doesn't really count as "the trade" does it? You have a vested interest in what you have to sell so your opinion is bound to be skewed somewhat. Cheap bikes are still shit. Define "value for money" and "still going strong" please. These are two of the most vague descriptors in existence.

In reply to unclesamsauntibess:

You seem to know what you're talking about so here's another question: I currently have a Merida fitness bike which I've really enjoyed. I typically ride 10-15 miles every other day - would I really get enough extra enjoyment out of a whole new lighter bike, say a grand's worth, than I would from just sticking some aero bars on my existing banger?

In reply to niggle: How do you define a "fitness bike"?

In reply to unclesamsauntibess:

Looks a bit like a road bike but the frame geometry's a bit more laid back, it's a little heavier and more robust. Like this basically:

http://www.merida-bikes.com/en_gb/bike/206/Fitness+Bike/Speeder+T2

In reply to niggle:
I have a Merida T2 as well and really like it - It's probably the perfect type of bike for the Original Poster if you can find one like this second hand.

In reply to AnnaSpanna: Try http://www.thebicyclehub.co.uk/ they sell bikes that you won't always see in chain stores. Pete is a great source of advice, even if you don't eventually buy from them.

In reply to unclesamsauntibess: Selling and maintaining bikes in a bike shop is definitely the trade. I Don't care about the revenue of Halfords, why would it make a difference to me? even if I did work in Halfords what are the ods that the OP would buy it from the one I worked in? I would define "value for money" as better spec and quality than the average bike for that price range. "Still going strong" means I haven't had any problems with them, they are reliable and I don't intend to replace them any time soon. (although to be honest im sure you understand these terms anyway). The OP was asking for a bike for £100. I suggested spending a little more, and getting a bike that will last much longer at at a largely discounted rate.

Decathlon also do some decent value bikes, although i don't know if they do the cycle to work scheme.

1) Tell me what is wrong with Carreras (have you even looked at them and compared them with branded bikes for the same price?)

2)Suggest a bike, all you have done is tell us you work in supply and say my advice is crap. (you are looking for a new bike with a double butted aluminium frame, sram X4 rear mech or equivelant, entry level cable disk brakes (not the really crap ones, but ones that work and stop you) and suntour forks for about £160).

Will

In reply to AnnaSpanna: Carrera Vulcan disc spec
With the cycle to work scheme

In reply to willoates:

Who mentioned Halfords? You did. Just because you work there doesn't mean you have to be coy about admitting it. "In the trade", I would have to say means more than being a shop assistant. Until you have responsibility for financial matters and decision making, stock purchasing, bill paying, forward ordering, advertising budgets, brand management, customer complaints and satisfaction, business development strategies and a million other things you are not "in the trade" at all. You are a SALES ASSISTANT end of. It's like working on the till in Asda and saying you are in the catering industry as a financial consultant.

1) Carrera are built down to a budget at all levels of finish. To grab the new customer, get a sale and get them out of the door. There is no longevity in them as the parts are generally bottom spec for the price - machine built heavy wheels, 6000 series framesets usually (heavy and not double butted, stiff and unwieldy), cheapo bottom brackets, headsets, cranks, forks, pedals, rims, bars and so on. They provide the answer to the OP's question RE-READ it please. My answer still stands. Err.... Carrera ARE "branded bikes" so they fail against better "branded" bikes as well.

2) Who is looking for "a new bike with a double butted aluminium frame, sram X4 rear mech or equivelant, entry level cable disk brakes (not the really crap ones, but ones that work and stop you) and suntour forks for about £160", may I ask and where did that remark come from and what, if any, relevance does it have to the topic?

3) The OP asked "are cheap bikes OK" - the answer is still no. You get what you pay for - buy cheap buy twice - quality doesn't cost, it pays in the end. Have you never heard of these principals in consumerism?

4) If the OP wants advice I'll say this. Go to a truly Independent Bike Dealer (IBD - a "trade" term) and ask for information from someone (usually the owner) who will look after you by being prepared to listen to your needs and wants, offering good sales advice and wanting you as a customer. The larger multiples nearly always are wanting to sell you a bike, any bike, at the time, on the day, at more than you can afford. The IBD will usually be impartial to you, listen and advise carefully and correctly on your choices. They will try to strike a relationship with you and you may not buy at the time but you should feel comfortable about going back and asking more (seemingly stupid) questions. Develop the bond and trust them - they are not only there to make a living but also look after their customers now and in the future. They know more than the general poster on here, so try it. They may even have pre-owned bargains that could suit you. They WILL have to give you some sort of warranty on these - ebay, mates and forums don't have to. It's got little to do with recommending any particular brand or name, more about the type of bike, it's intended usage and the feeling a good shopping experience has been had. I'll say it again - try an IBD for good advice. Not the generalities of CLIMBING forum members.

In reply to AnnaSpanna: Read into that last post as you like, I know my stuff, as I'm sure he does, but at the end of the day its what you can get for £150

Will

In reply to AnnaSpanna: As most people have said (I'm too lazy to read all the replies on my phone) the simple answer to your question is no.

My advice, like others have also said, go to a local bike shop and get as far away from halfords etc. as possible, not only will you be wasting your money but also risking your safety. The amount of people who I've spoke to in my local bike shop who've had major problems with halfords bikes is pretty shocking! Bikes not being set up properly leading to wheels literally coming off. Go to a local shop, explain you're on a budget, tell them what you want and that you didn't want to waste your money on a heavy etc. bike and make sure you are 100% satisfied.

Good luck finding a bike

In reply to Mike Nolan: More or less what I said.

In reply to willoates:

What does that mean? "read what you like"? You don't know your "stuff" - hence the terse and non-commital reply. Go the LBD - that's the way forward.

In reply to unclesamsauntibess:


This!

Look in the dictionary for the definition of cheap. I think you are actually looking for an 'inexpensive' bike not a 'cheap' one. Like EVREYTHING in life you get what you pay for.

I bought an MTB for £160 a few years ago from an independent bike shop. Front suspension, lightweight frame, aluminium brake levers etc. You can just tell the difference by looking at them. It's easily two times better than a £200 bike from Argos, Halfords etc. But remember that's just the start. Helmet, lights, padlock will add to the cost.

In reply to AnnaSpanna:


If you go to an independant I would expect that they would supply it with whatever type of tyre you want on it. So you wouldn't have that extra cost.