Big Brand rip off?

[pepecat]

Decathlon longs (padded) are rubbish. They don't come far enough up your back to keep anything warm. Awful.
I bought a pair of Halfords cycling shorts when i started off last year, and they are ok, but then i got a second pair and paid £10 more for some altura ones. They are FAR better than the halfords ones in terms of fit and padding around the bum and necessary areas. I wouldn't buy halfords shorts again, i'd pay a bit more and go for altura.

 

[johnr]

When I started out I bought cheap just to try the 'proper' cycling gear option. Found Lidl and Aldi gear introduced me to greater comfort. I then eagle-eyed the sales and upgraded... and you do get what you pay for. I commute all year round and shifts which finish midnight or later.

Whenever I've splurged and felt a bit guilty, the day comes along when the heavens open or the thermometer drops and I'm glad I did. I spent £100 on the Assos glove system this winter, but it's the first time in several years of trying I've managed to keep my fingers warm. So for me it's worth it (and I've probably spent about the same amount on gloves over the years trying to get the same effect!).

If I was riding 'normal' hours in relatively clement weather, I'd probably be happy with cheaper stuff - I've never really been tempted by expensive shirts - but decent shorts, shoes and gloves are a must!

 

[darth vadar]

"I've bought some cheap tat from Sports Direct (2 jerseys and some padded shorts). One of the jerseys is alright, but the long sleeve one I bought is made of some weird material that feels horrible over a long ride. The padded shorts are utterly appalling".


Don't mean to be funny, but why did you buy them in the first place ?

 

[Jezston]

"I've bought some cheap tat from Sports Direct (2 jerseys and some padded shorts). One of the jerseys is alright, but the long sleeve one I bought is made of some weird material that feels horrible over a long ride. The padded shorts are utterly appalling".


Don't mean to be funny, but why did you buy them in the first place ?

Because they were cheap of course

 

[darth vadar]

Because they were cheap of course

That's fair enough then.

'Cheap' is my middle name.

Although I feel a bit twitchy now having just bought one of those orange and black waterproof cycling jackets from Sports Direct (for £12 though instead of £19.99)

Bit common though as I've seen loads of people wearing them lately !!!!

 

[Jezston]

You find it very breathable? Just I bought a black Karrimor non-cycling jacket off them a few years back and in the rain I get more soaked with it on than with it off!

 

[MLC]

I think you can't scrimp and save when buying technical fabrics which is where Endura and Gore Tex come into their own and is probably well worth paying extra for that as opposed to buying a cheap boil in the bag rain jacket and ending up wetter than if you exposed yourself to the elements in the first place!

I bought a pair of Karrimor padded tights for £ 12.99 from sports direct and they were useless as regards fit and the pad they were too short at the back and they kept falling down ! I switched to a pair of altura track pant type things about £ 34.99 and they were far better but only in terms of fit I couldn't notice too much difference in terms of Fabric, however admittedly the Altura were slightly softer but not 3x softer although the 3x better may have come far more into play if I was on a ride of 100 miles.

For me the reason for a purchase now (after much trial and error previously) is whether it would be fit for purpose and the quality price would be somewhat secondary. If for instance there was an item of clothing or accessory etc for say £ 12 and the branded (say rapha/assos/spesh/endura) did exactly the same thing for £ 14.99 I personally would probably buy the branded (as i have been influenced by time on the bike and the marketing men) however if the branded was £22.99 I would probably plop for the unbranded.

I am in the market for a new rain/wind proof overjacket/Jersey having had the Decathlon offering before and being boiled like a chicken I would now opt for say a Gore Tex, Endura or Altura version even though they may be 4 times the price.

 

[User6179]

You find it very breathable? Just I bought a black Karrimor non-cycling jacket off them a few years back and in the rain I get more soaked with it on than with it off!

My m8 bought one of those and lost about half his body fluid in an hour,think they have some kind of plastic covering that dosnt let them breathe.

I say buy quality every time!

 

[User6179]

Once bought pair of padded shorts from mountain warehouse,put them on and stitching burst up the front so as it was 15 miles to the store i decided to stitch them myself.

Put them back on and bent down and stitching came away at the back,they went straight in the bin.lol

Had dhb shorts that ripped my bum too shreds on first run.

Did buy a cheap helmet that is as good as more expensive ones.

But overall big brand gear is usually a lot better than your karrimor,dhb,etc.

 

[pepecat]

The aldi high viz rain jacket (£15) is great. Keeps the water out and is breathable as well. Wore it for a two and a half hour ride in the rain and the jacket let in nothing!

 

[User6179]

Got the cycle glasses from aldi and had about 3000miles out them so far!

Fine as long as you dont stop for to long as they steam up.

 

[Paul_Smith SRCC]

As a general rule, quality improves with price. But there comes a point, where the quality increases at a diminishing rate vs the price.

I find that in most walks of life, mid-level items offer the best value for money.....

That’s a good point and it comes down to how much you want to chase the margins of these diminishing returns.

For example, I know a few who will only wear what they consider to be the best shorts (normally Assos), especially if they have had problems in the seat area! The same riders are often normally happy to go ‘mid or upper mid range’ for other items where they maybe less sensitive to what they may consider small differences.

The same applies for equipment of course, I know many who will chase grams and spend a fortune doing so, even though to be fair many realise that in their mid seventies this can be pure indulgent nonsense that does little more than bring a smile to their faces; I recall following half a dozen seventy something’s out of the café a short while ago and not one of them was on a bike under £4000.00; “but we need it for the bunch sprints Paul” they said with tongue firmly in cheek! One customer in his eighties once said to me, “I want to die on my bike so let's make it a good one!”

Paul_Smith

www.corridori.co.uk

 

[Jezston]

I'm sure there's some kind of joke I could make tying in your name with overpriced clothing Paul but I thought better of it

 

[youngoldbloke]

Electron Backupz rrp. £14.99 pair, online £9.99. Poundland equivalent*, brighter & better IMO, £2 for 2. 'Nuff said?
(*same as sold in the CW shop for £3.99?). If you get what you pay for, what happens when you buy something that has been reduced in price?