decent beater

[stalagmike]

Well, after buying a Raleigh Royal touring frame (one with cantilever brake bosses) last year for £45, it cost me around £200 for the parts needed to build it up (at famous auction site prices), and I reckon that's a great overall price for what I now have. OK, I added another £100 for a Brooks saddle, but that was a luxury

Alan

I guess it's all part of the fun. Getting the parts and building it up bit by bit. Easier to sneak the small amounts of money out of the joint account too!

 

[Alan O]

I guess it's all part of the fun. Getting the parts and building it up bit by bit. Easier to sneak the small amounts of money out of the joint account too!

Oh yes, she never even noticed... shhh...

 

[User32269]

"I've had that in the shed for years love. Took it of an old bike. Lucky it fits eh?"
"Yeah, does look new doesn't it. You know I look after things."

 

[User32269]

Thanks for the warning. I have no parts at all. I am a bit of a noob to this game.

If you just want a runabout, I think it's best to get something you can just jump on and ride. Anything that breaks can be replaced cheaply as required.
I've lost count of the "bargains" I've picked up. When you factor in bottom bracket, derailleurs etc. ends up costing more than a new bike.

 

[simon.r]

That's an interesting find. A bit far from me but good to know. I should have known decathlon would do something along the right lines. My training bike is a Triban.

It didn't take much finding...it's in my garage waiting for someone to come and buy it!

 

[biggs682]

Indeed. But they are not that cheap anymore now the hipsters are involved.

@stalagmike what sort of budget and size ?

 

[stalagmike]

@stalagmike what sort of budget and size ?

Big. 23ins or 58/60. Less than 100 pounds.

 

[biggs682]

Big. 23ins or 58/60. Less than 100 pounds.

shame we cant get a bit near £ wise to this G.E.R. Lomas retro road bike

But will keep an eye open as got a few being offered at mo

 

[Alan O]

As other examples of bikes I've picked up recently, I got a GT Avalanche 1.0 MTB for £110 in excellent rideable condition, and a Grisley MTB for only £30 because the gears were stuck (shifters were gunked up and just needed cleaning).

Alan

 

[MichaelW2]

With hack bikes, you buy what you can find. No one really goes looking for specific models. Does it matter to you if it is mtb, hybrid or club roadbike or tourer style?
I look for something the right size, that was reasonably good when new. On no-name frames, look at the rear dropout and any lugs for signs of quality. Trawl some of the carboot sales, I have picked up some nice major brand bikes in decent condition for under £35.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

Looking for a few makes/models of decent beater bike I could look out for 2nd hand for very little money? Something that can be maintained rather than a BSO? The type of riding I would describe as 'pootling'.

For an easy to maintain beater, I'd generally go for a late 90s hard tail MTB. Muddy Fox were quite decent then... not the modern ones though, they're not far off BSOs now.

But in case you missed Simon's post above, here's his thread where he offers a massive bargain on a decent make:
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/b-twin-hybrid.216333/

Not a BSO: Check.
Can be maintained easily: Check.
Good for pootling: Check.
Bargain: Check. It's only fifty notes!

 

[Aravis]

Earlier this week I acquired a scrapyard cromoly-framed Raleigh Pioneer. Having recently suffered a frame failure on my aluminium tourer, I have a complete set of parts for a touring bike, just needing a sound frame of the right size and shape to be transferred to.

I could of course buy a new Spa or Ridgeback, ready to get its first scratch and relieving me of the best part of £1000. Anyway, the Pioneer seems sound enough, and with a little bodging I was able to make everything fit and work. I've spent a total of £12 on a threadless stem adapter and a couple of cables, and another tenner on a bottom bracket tool which I really should've had anyway.

I've just road tested it minus a rear brake. The only thing outstanding is a cable hanger for the rear cantilever, which a LBS can get for me in about a week. That's a heck of a long time to wait for its maiden century, but at the moment there's no obvious alternative.

It will be interesting how satisfactory a result I get. Before and after photos will follow in a suitable thread on completion of the above.

 

[stalagmike]

What do you guys think to this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262925278716

 

[User32269]

If it's the right size it will be OK. Make an offer, see if seller bites?

 

[biggs682]

What do you guys think to this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262925278716

be wary of those twist grip units but other wise looks ok

what about these ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saracen-Racing-bike-/152496113865?hash=item23817a08c9:g:A3YAAOSwTM5Y4jMZ


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Giant-Exp...275849?hash=item3ade18e209:g:3vYAAOSwB-1Y2qAT

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MENS-PHIL...704975?hash=item2a7ef66b4f:g:IU0AAOSw~CFY5mHQ