Road bikes under £250

[Radchenister]

Who said it was lower - it's not the first time my tongue in cheek comments whistle off into the ether on here, I may give up this forum.

I was suggesting that after not too much practice people can get onto a double and benefit from the mechanical minimalism.

'Only a little rub' ... ? ... !!!eek!!! ... where's your mechanical sympathy ... gears must be used and not heard IMO!?!

The point I was getting at is the triple might offer a little lower and a little higher top and bottom if set up that way but they aren't really done like this as standard on the Tribans ... but ... the overlapping triple ratios are just cack generally and are more trouble than they are worth, due to the chain angles IMO - best to graduate off them onto a double ASAP and if you're ready for it from the outset, then go for it.

I would love to get onto a double upgrade in a cost effective way but that means spending proper money on a budget bike or changing bikes - considering the thread was for a £250 bike, all we are demonstrating is that people should be careful where they start, what they wish for and where they might end up.

PS - not read your precise figures ... obviously something you're having an internal battle over more than I am ... assuming you have the legs for it, the simplicity of a double cannot be denied ... deep down you and I know you want one!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@Radchenister
No I don't just saying what I might do. Part of the problem with the front is it has a slightly bent cage, and whilst it works other things have needed getting tyres ( I seem to get through a few sets a year),new wheels, new bars and stem (currently need a new headset), shoes wore out my last pair after about 8,000 miles (in just over a year).
Original cost of the bike was £300 in 2008.
I do agree about choice of bike from the outset, but as a lot of new comers don't know what they want till they have done some miles, almost anything will do, with some exceptions. The problem is most doubles compact or otherwise at the lower end tend to be quite highly geared, and it can be off putting to someone starting thinking thats is so hard.

 

[Sully]

So disappointed off I tootle to Decathlon Guiltbrook only to hear that instead of needing a "54" I need a 57 (I'm 5"10'and 11 inches and yep, they've sold out on my size, the search continues

 

[bozmandb9]

@bozmandb9 - IMO the white is a more robust, with the steel forks perhaps even being a bonus for a young one to deal with bumps and scrapes (crashes eek (?) - he's had a few on his MTB) and due to the shifters, they're more user friendly for small hands, my lad also has white bikes as a sort of signature thing - circa three proper rides so far, longest 43k, he's doing fine.

Fantastic! How old is he?

 

[Radchenister]

Just 11, said that a few posts back .

 

[Radchenister]

@Radchenister
No I don't just saying what I might do. Part of the problem with the front is it has a slightly bent cage, and whilst it works other things have needed getting tyres ( I seem to get through a few sets a year),new wheels, new bars and stem (currently need a new headset), shoes wore out my last pair after about 8,000 miles (in just over a year).
Original cost of the bike was £300 in 2008.
I do agree about choice of bike from the outset, but as a lot of new comers don't know what they want till they have done some miles, almost anything will do, with some exceptions. The problem is most doubles compact or otherwise at the lower end tend to be quite highly geared, and it can be off putting to someone starting thinking thats is so hard.

... weren't you arguing they were practically the same when pointing out I didn't get the concept?

Monty Python's John Cleese 'argument' character springs to mind .

 

[jowwy]

Who said it was lower - it's not the first time my tongue in cheek comments whistle off into the ether on here, I may give up this forum.

I was suggesting that after not too much practice people can get onto a double and benefit from the mechanical minimalism.

'Only a little rub' ... ? ... !!!eek!!! ... where's your mechanical sympathy ... gears must be used and not heard IMO!?!

The point I was getting at is the triple might offer a little lower and a little higher top and bottom if set up that way but they aren't really done like this as standard on the Tribans ... but ... the overlapping triple ratios are just cack generally and are more trouble than they are worth, due to the chain angles IMO - best to graduate off them onto a double ASAP and if you're ready for it from the outset, then go for it.

I would love to get onto a double upgrade in a cost effective way but that means spending proper money on a budget bike or changing bikes - considering the thread was for a £250 bike, all we are demonstrating is that people should be careful where they start, what they wish for and where they might end up.

PS - not read your precise figures ... obviously something you're having an internal battle over more than I am ... assuming you have the legs for it, the simplicity of a double cannot be denied ... deep down you and I know you want one!

i have 3 bikes - Sabbath Titanium TRIPLE (30 Speed), Giant Defy 4 TRIPLE (24 Speed), Jamis Dakota 29er TRIPLE (30 Speed) and i can use very gear on all 3 bikes with no chain rub/scrape/scratch/noise what so ever, why cause they are set-up properly, by me in the way i want them

yes there maybe some overlap in gearing, but cruising in the middle chainring on all 3 bikes is a lot easier than trying to find cruising gears on any compact/double were you have to do double changes more often than not

 

[Radchenister]

Not in my experience when riding one recently.

 

[biggs682]

£250 budget go 2nd hand every time