BSO

[Angelfishsolo]

So if I read this correctly the minimum standard for a bike is that is must last for =>100 miles and forks must withstand a 49Jule impact?

I've just had a quick scan through BS EN 14764 (access conditions apply, so won't quote directly) It looks fairly thorough IMO, although not particulary onerous. ie front fork impact ~40J so might lose out to a headbut by 100J helmet...

Frame fatigue test is 100000 cycles of 1000N on pedals with no fracture of frame. Say average 60 ins gear, that's about 100miles - I think I've seen numbers like that quoted as the average achieved life of a BSO.

1/2 mile to the shops & back every other tuesday on a flattish road, last for years - why spend more?

This is the problem with standards - defining the requirement. With lights, everyone is equal, with the whole bike, there isn't a single requirement, so they can only try limit the absolute minimum, which not surprsingly cost concious manufacturers treat as a target.

BS /EN gives purchacesr users a false sense of security. Maybe a star rating would help more.

 

[lulubel]

I was totally oblivious of this snobbery till now. I feel that i should change my user name to hide my misfortune. Whats the name of a decent make of bike ? Just to think I regularly commute between london and watford on this thing and ive only now discovered that all the time ive been harbouring a BSO.

The bike that got me into cycling was an Apollo hybrid. It was blue, and I still have the matching blue helmet I bought. I cycled a 20 mile round trip commute on hilly country roads, in the rain and mud and dark on it, and the only problem I had was that the front brake tended to adjust itself so it was permanently on. I never managed to fix it (very limited mechanical ability here), so just carried an allen key with me for emergency roadside adjustments! Eventually, I decided I wanted a road bike and, after all that time getting the heavy Apollo frame up the hills, my legs were so strong I felt like I was flying.

My neighbour had the Apollo, and as far as I know she's still using it.

 

[Chris S]

I bought a Havoc Sabre of ebay for spares but its actually quite a good bike. My only complaint (apart from the chavey decals) is that the prop stand is far too short to be of any use.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Prop stand? Do bike still have those?

I bought a Havoc Sabre of ebay for spares but its actually quite a good bike. My only complaint (apart from the chavey decals) is that the prop stand is far too short to be of any use.

 

[ian turner]

Prop stand? Do bike still have those?

A recent request on this very forum

 

[Angelfishsolo]

It was a joke. I have seen loads of hybrids with them. I have also seem MTB's with the and that looks so very wrong.

A recent request on this very forum

 

[sunnyjim]

So if I read this correctly the minimum standard for a bike is that is must last for =>100 miles and forks must withstand a 49Jule impact?

Correct.
Frame held supported by back forks, front forks pointing upwards. Drop 22.5kg mass from 180mm on to forks. Check nothing fell off and no fractures or cracks visible (includes close examination eg dye but doesn't ask for detailed analysis, sections of welds etc). Maximum 30mm permanent set allowed for frame & forks. I calculate that's equivalent to riding into a brick wall at ~2.5 mph maybe a bit faster depending on tyres rider etc. So reconstituted cheese should be OK for front forks.

Fatigue - simulated pedaling with actual or representative cranks with chain or tie rod fixed to back forks. 45 deg pedal angle, 1000N alternate pushes. Same pass criteria.


There are other tests on handlebars, wheels, brakes, modified tests for frame or forks only, etc. I haven't look at these in detail.

I haven't tried to work out the forces on a real bike when riding downhill, potholses etc, but the frame does seem to get off rather lightly.



Review: Most enlightening read. 87pp Price for printed version perhaps a bit steep - even more than the cost of the bicycle it describes.

 

[sunnyjim]

The bike that got me into cycling was an Apollo hybrid. It was blue, and I still have the matching blue helmet I bought. I cycled a 20 mile round trip commute on hilly country roads, in the rain and mud and dark on it, and the only problem I had was that the front brake tended to adjust itself so it was permanently on. I never managed to fix it (very limited mechanical ability here), so just carried an allen key with me for emergency roadside adjustments! Eventually, I decided I wanted a road bike and, after all that time getting the heavy Apollo frame up the hills, my legs were so strong I felt like I was flying.

My neighbour had the Apollo, and as far as I know she's still using it.

Red bikes are faster than blue ones - you should know that by now.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Wow. That is pretty scary. I would love it if Bikes had a form of NCAP rating.

Correct.
Frame held supported by back forks, front forks pointing upwards. Drop 22.5kg mass from 180mm on to forks. Check nothing fell off and no fractures or cracks visible (includes close examination eg dye but doesn't ask for detailed analysis, sections of welds etc). Maximum 30mm permanent set allowed for frame & forks. I calculate that's equivalent to riding into a brick wall at ~2.5 mph maybe a bit faster depending on tyres rider etc. So reconstituted cheese should be OK for front forks.

Fatigue - simulated pedaling with actual or representative cranks with chain or tie rod fixed to back forks. 45 deg pedal angle, 1000N alternate pushes. Same pass criteria.


There are other tests on handlebars, wheels, brakes, modified tests for frame or forks only, etc. I haven't look at these in detail.

I haven't tried to work out the forces on a real bike when riding downhill, potholses etc, but the frame does seem to get off rather lightly.



Review: Most enlightening read. 87pp Price for printed version perhaps a bit steep - even more than the cost of the bicycle it describes.

 

[lulubel]

Red bikes are faster than blue ones - you should know that by now.

I knew there was a very good reason why I should have bought a red road bike - just couldn't think of it at the time

 

[Chris.IOW]

Wow. That is pretty scary. I would love it if Bikes had a form of NCAP rating.

NCAP would refer to the protection the car provides in the event of an impact, which is probably not as relevant to a bike I would think.

Very interesting reading about the British standard requirements, but I still query whether bikes we agree are BSO's would be produced by manufacturers who sign up for these standards.

In many ways they are probably the very manufacturers that should be regulated in some way.

 

[apollo179]

The bike that got me into cycling was an Apollo hybrid. It was blue, and I still have the matching blue helmet I bought. I cycled a 20 mile round trip commute on hilly country roads, in the rain and mud and dark on it, and the only problem I had was that the front brake tended to adjust itself so it was permanently on. I never managed to fix it (very limited mechanical ability here), so just carried an allen key with me for emergency roadside adjustments! Eventually, I decided I wanted a road bike and, after all that time getting the heavy Apollo frame up the hills, my legs were so strong I felt like I was flying.

My neighbour had the Apollo, and as far as I know she's still using it.

My apollo mb is orange so i guess thats faster than a blue equivalent but not as fast as the red version.
Bought mine for £16 of ebay about a year ago. Mechanically it seems ok. You do have to hang on the brakes to get any noticeable affect and ive ungraded to a schwalbe back tyre after repeated punctures. I carry a set of allen keys with me to tighten the next thing to come loose ( handle bar retaining bolt - crank arm bolt - rack supports etc etc)
My range is about 20miles so far and legs getting stronger. Hopefully a propa bike will materialise at some point. Must be nice cycling in spain - its like playing russian roulette with the rain here.

 

[rowan 46]

I know I said last word but I couldn't resist this is a bso and definitely not a bike

 

[Angelfishsolo]

That is so funny.

I know I said last word but I couldn't resist this is a bso and definitely not a bike

 

[sunnyjim]

Frame fatigue test is 100000 cycles of 1000N on pedals with no fracture of frame. Say average 60 ins gear, that's about 100miles - I think I've seen numbers like that quoted as the average achieved life of a BSO.

Woops- slipped on a pie - that's ~300 miles . Sooo much better.