London to Paris Charity Ride

[Swanny]

We are doing this ride in May next year.

However we sought advice from our local cycling club who have suggested are bikes are not suitable (two suspension mountain bikes)

So we have to get new bikes.

They have lent us a Trek 1000 to train with but personally I have do not like it, However I will train on it.

A friend has given us a Peugot city 080, which is old but feels comfortable, but heavy.

I have looked at the Decathalon Tribain Trail 07, Raliegh 200 and Edingburgh Bicyles Revolution Country Traveller and now totally confused.

We have to keep the budget low as it comes out of charity funds, so has anybody any ideas.

Thank You

 

[Swanny]

Wow Nobody has any thoughts

It would seem every local bike shop I go into wants me / the charity to spend £500.

This weekend went to another and they suggested the Rayleigh 100 - price £400 when asked for a discount it came down to £350.

When I got home and look at the shops website, it was already priced a £350.

Charming.

How much mark up is there on bikes?

Thanks

 

[ASC1951]

It would seem every local bike shop I go into wants me / the charity to spend £500.

Why shouldn't they? They have a business to run and staff to keep in jobs. The charity ride is a jolly of yours, not theirs.

If your objective is to raise money for your charity, you should maximise it by going on your mountain bike. Fit a pair of slicks and pump them up hard. Yes, it will be slow, heavy and hard work; but it will get you there and that will be all the more of an achievement.

Of course if what you really want is to rattle the tin for people to buy you a new bike....

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

I'm a bit perplexed.. you're buying the bike out of the Charity money??? Does the Charity get to keep it at the end? I presume not, in which case shouldn't you just be buying it and then using it after the ride to get/keep fit?

I would agree about the suspension mtbs not really being suitable, but it depends on whether you have a support vehicle and/or someone else taking clothing etc. for you on the trip, how you are looking to do overnight stays (B&B / tent) etc. as to what I would recommend (i.e. a tourer with allowance for panniers or just simply a road bike if you're sticking to roads).

Do you have any more details about the trip itself?

 

[xpc316e]

I agree with the previous poster about fitting slicks to your mtb - it will make a world of difference to the way it performs. If you are determined to change your bike (and I too fail to see why the funds for it should come out of the charity), why not buy second-hand?

 

[Swanny]

Your perplexed :-)

As for the cycle ride being a Jolly - Hmmmmmmm.

All equipment bought will be auctioned off (should we need to buy). We are only getting new bikes as the local bike club coach has said our existing bikes are unsuitable.

The words he used where "it would be the difference between driving a model T ford and a New Ford Focus"

Mines a supsension bike and my daughters was a Halfords bike but we took it back this weekend and have got a refund.

Apparently the route has yet to be finalised and so all I know is that its 500km over 4 day, London to Paris

All I'm trying to find out what is a reasonable commercially bought bikes that will do the job and would be robust enough for general day to day use, including towpaths/ sea walls.

I have been lent a Trek 1000 and I must say it very uncomfortable and can't imagine using that.

I have also been lent a 1980's Peugot City 080 which I think is great but rear gears don't work.

What I suppose I need is a modern day version of the Peugot.

Thanks

OOps I beleive there will be support vehicles

 

[karlos_the_jackal]

I've got the decathlon triliban (or whatever) first time i've ever seen someone talk about it. Use it for a daily commute of 26 miles a day and thats fine, although i will be moving onto slicks or more road orientated bike.

I would reitrate what the others have said, make some adjustments and take the mtb's especially if your comfortable on them for long journeys.

model t ford would still be able to make it going to paris.

 

[Swanny]

Bought Road Tyres this weekend

And you certainly notice the difference

 

[blazed]

Wow Nobody has any thoughts

It would seem every local bike shop I go into wants me / the charity to spend £500.

This weekend went to another near colchester and they suggested the Rayleigh 100 - price £400 when asked for a discount it came down to £350.

When I got home and look at the shops website, it was already priced a £350.

Charming.

How much mark up is there on bikes?

Thanks

Items being more expensive in store than on the stores website is usual for almost any buisiness. But one thing about local stores is they are expensive and whilst they may tell how good their deals are they are not. My dad just recently bought a bike for £390, that was after they gave him a discount. When he got home it took me 30 seconds of googling to find the same bike for £299. Local bike shops are only good for repairs.

 

[ianrauk]

Complete tosh.

ILocal bike shops are only good for repairs.

 

[blazed]

Complete tosh.

Ok repairs and selling bikes to people who are unable or incapable of using the internet.

 

[ianrauk]

You are talking out of your arse.

I bought my Specialized Roubaix from my LBS and I guarantee you that with the discount I received from the store, you would not have found it cheaper on the net.

Any bike shop will sell you a bike at full price.
Get to know them, speak to them and ask for a discount & some extras, more often then not you will get a very good deal. You will also get a first free service which you don't on the net.

Ok repairs and selling bikes to people who are unable or incapable of using the internet.

 

[blazed]

You are talking out of your arse.

I bought my Specialized Roubaix from my LBS and I guarantee you that with the discount I received from the store, you would not have found it cheaper on the net.

Any bike shop will sell you a bike at full price.
Get to know them, speak to them and ask for a discount & some extras, more often then not you will get a very good deal. You will also get a first free service which you don't on the net.

Yes he got a discount, it started off £120 more than the cheapest internet price and ended up £90 more. He did get a free service though.

I see the same thing in all the small bike shops ive been to, way over priced bikes and thats a fact. Little bike shops cant match the prices of the larger ones simply because they do not order in enough stock to get the same discounts. You may have been lucky, maybe the guy you brought from was happy to sell the bike at no profit for whatever reason that day. But the huge majority of people who buy from local shops are paying way, way more than they would online.

Bare in mind the majority of people buying from them are not bike nuts with a lot of knowledge on them they are just regular people who basically get mugged.

 

[ianrauk]

I think you are giving a diservice to 'regular people' who as you say 'get mugged'. Regular people are not silly. I know for a fact that the majority of people who go into a bike store do ask for discounts and more often then not get them.

As to your point that the majority of people buying in bike shops are not bikes nuts. Once again I will disagree with that. 'Knowledgable' cyclists are more likely to buy a bike from a LBS rather then online, for the fact that they are able to test ride, feel the bike and talk to the staff about what they want. Where as a 'less then knowledgable' cyclist would buy on the net thinking they are getting a bargain. Not knowing if the bike is the correct size or even type.

 

[jimboalee]

In my experience, knowledgeable and experienced cyclists will go for the best bargain, whether it be on the web or in LBS.
Regular people go to LBS so LBS man can get the thing from box to road in a safe condition.
Really regular people go to LBS and simply pay the 'sticker price' on the card tag. No haggling or asking for discount. This is how LBSs make a better living.

What you get when you buy from LBS is somewhere to take it when you've messed up the gear adjustments.

Some Really Regular people buy from LBS so they have someone who can fix their punctures.