Are Cheap Bikes worth it?

[Gunk]

I love a cheap bike, this is my sons daily hack, £15 A couple of years ago. Just spent about £50 replacing the rear wheel and cassette, but in Oxford you don’t want anything better than this.

 

[Jameshow]

I love a cheap bike, this is my sons daily hack, £15 A couple of years ago. Just spent about £50 replacing the rear wheel and cassette, but in Oxford you don’t want anything better than this.

View attachment 707912

So not a "cheap bike!"

 

[Gunk]

So not a "cheap bike!"

You still have to maintain them, the capital cost was cheap

 

[Jameshow]

You still have to maintain them, the capital cost was cheap

I was just saying a Gary fisher is a very nice bike!!

 

[biggs682]

£20 in Bangor must be worth looking at? https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...place_top_picks&referral_story_type=top_picks

Got to be worth a viewing shame about the lack of pictures and information but well worth it

 

[Paulus]

Got to be worth a viewing shame about the lack of pictures and information but well worth it

Indeed, for £20, even if it needs a few bits in the future it's still a bargain.

 

[biggs682]

Indeed, for £20, even if it needs a few bits in the future it's still a bargain.

We will all need a few bits in the future I know some of my bits are wearing out 😁

 

[postman]

We will all need a few bits in the future I know some of my bits are wearing out 😁

Is that you or your bike.

 

[biggs682]

Is that you or your bike.

Both

 

[postman]

We will all need a few bits in the future I know some of my bits are wearing out 😁

Well at least you did not get asked to leave Body Shop.Can i help you sir,yes can i see some stock of thirty year old male bodies,mine needs replacing.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

The crankset arms are probably plastic and will quickly degrade and become loose, the bike will then be useless and require a replacement crankset or arm, which is time and money and hassle.

 

[chris667]

The crankset arms are probably plastic and will quickly degrade and become loose, the bike will then be useless and require a replacement crankset or arm, which is time and money and hassle.

They're going to be plastic coated steel. Heavy, but people use cheap bikes to go to work all the time.

If you buy the bike and don't assemble it properly it's possible that the crank will deform because it was loose on the bottom bracket spindle and then become useless, but that's not quite the same thing.

A cheap bike can be fine. I see lots of people riding them to train stations. When I used to live on a narroboat, I knew a man who bought cheap BSO type bikes and instead of locking them up would tie a rope round them and chuck them into the canal. He was still better off replacing the bikes every couple of months than he would have been buying bus tickets.

 

[phil-b]

£20 in Bangor must be worth looking at? https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...place_top_picks&referral_story_type=top_picks

I did not see that in time look like I missed it

 

[phil-b]

Ridgeback Expedition 2022 Bike

Im have tempted to just bike the bullet and buy somthing decent like this ridgback

 

[vickster]

Ridgeback Expedition 2022 Bike

Im have tempted to just bike the bullet and buy somthing decent like this ridgback

I’d stick to 700c wheels and tyres rather than 26s. That’s pretty heavy at 16kg. Why not look at something like a Trek FX if wanting flat bars (although it’s 1x chainset)?
Eg https://www.balfesbikes.co.uk/bikes...ens-hybrid-commuter-bike-2023-in-black__29117

What exactly are you looking to use the bike for?