Help me choose a bike shaped object....

[BikeShapedObject]

just noticed I'd typed 'decathlon' instead of 'RockRider' in the last message... oops. Edited.

 

[BikeShapedObject]

I've been looking at the RockRider more and more. I think I may be swaying in it's favour. The nearest store is less than an hours drive away.....

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/rockrider-5-0-men-s-66750262/

 

[blockend]

I've been looking at the RockRider more and more. I think I may be swaying in it's favour. The nearest store is less than an hours drive away.....

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/rockrider-5-0-men-s-66750262/

The Rockrider is a very superior form of BSO, containing only the stuff you need (i.e. no springs and flummery) and Decathlon actually prep their bikes, which is important on a cheapie.
You could do a lot worse.

 

[mcshroom]

I have a Rockrider 5.1 (old model) which is very well put together for the price. It has pretty much the same components other than the frame and fork. I've knocked it around off road a decent number of times and it stands up well.

The original BB is still going strong a couple years from getting the bike and other than the Revoshifts (which I see they have now replaced with SRAMS - so did I and it was an improvement ) no other parts have suffered other than general wear and tear.

Full spec here: -
http://www.btwincycle.com/EN/rockrider-5-0-men-s-60072742/

 

[BikeShapedObject]

The decision is made. I'm getting the Rockrider 5.0

And, in a shock turn of events, I'm KEEPING the Challenge Atlantic. *GASPS*

I'm giving the Challenge(d) to a friend of mine as payment for some computer bits and for driving me to and from the nearest stockist of the Rockrider, which is 80-odd miles.

He is going to fix the niggling faults, and to follow will be on-the-road reports of a BSO stand off.... Rockrider Vs Challenge Atlantic. Watch this space!

 

[AndyCarolan]

Yay congrats... will be interesting to hear how you get on with the Rockrider. It does look a far better bike than the others

 

[g00se]

Nice one - I think you made the right decision. The Argos bike may have been on 'sale' but I think you find, they're nearly ALWAYS on sale - like a DFS sofa.

 

[BikeShapedObject]

Thanks everyone. I'll hopefully be picking up the Rockrider a week tomorrow. I'll let you know how I get on

 

[BikeShapedObject]

I've just heard back from Argos regarding my decision, here's what they had to say:

Thank you for your e-mail regarding your Challenge Atlantic bike.

Please accept my apologies for the fact that on this occasion, you did not receive the standard of service that you should expect.

Whilst we never like to hear that anyone is less than satisfied with either the product they have purchased, or the standard of service received, we do appreciate knowing where we need to make improvements, and I assure you that your comments will be investigated.

Please be assured that we do value your custom, and once more thank you for bringing this matter to our attention, as it is only through contact with our customers that we learn of problems such as this and can take action to improve our service.

I am sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Should you require any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us.

I will be keeping in touch with them to see if they actually bother to make any changes. I have outlined to them all of the issues with the current bike and have brought to their attention again the problems with the previous two they sent me, and recommended at least that the frankly shocking, flimsy plastic brake handles should go and the gears be replaced with a basic Shimano set.

I'm seriously considering posting a full-on-with-pictures write-up of my experiences with this Argos BSO, along side the same for my soon-to-have RockRider, including analysis of the build quality of the bikes, experiences setting them up, and road testing over a period of time going into detail on any niggles/faults and any good points. A few changes are going to be made to the Argos bike to get it up to a safe, usuable standard and all these changes will be outlined in detail. It will be interesting, I think, to see how it stands up to the Rockrider after some relatively minor tweaks....