Save my nephew from himself

[joebe]

I had an alarming phone call from my brother last night, his two teenage boys are looking to replace their mountain bikes. Nothing bad in that, except he caught them looking at the Halfords website eyeing up Full suspension bikes.

Now my brother knew this was wrong but needs to convince the boys that their money would be better spent elsewere and that they shouldn't buy full suspension unless they are planning to go downhill racing and have a budget in 4 figures.

I've done my best but I thought some fantic posting on here might do the trick. So rants below please why the

BTW, they live in Kendal so any advice on good local shops greatly accepted.

 

[bonj2]

They shouldn't buy full suspension bikes from halfords even if they are planning to go downhill racing!

Sorry, that should be: they shouldn't buy full suspension bikes from halfords especially if they're planning to go downhill racing!

 

[TheDoctor]

They shouldn't buy full suspension bikes from halfords even if they are planning to go downhill racing!

Sorry, that should be: they shouldn't buy full suspension bikes from halfords especially if they're planning to go downhill racing!

I think it reads better like that. Going from the specific to the general, like.
Good lord, I'm agreeing with Bonj!

 

[TimP]

I would be tempted to check the Halfords website - can get some good value for money, and the boardman bikes aren't bad. Patricularly when they come to sale time they can clear stock at some very good prices.

But if the budget is small full sus is not a good plan wherever you go shopping.

 

[longers]

Plenty of bike shops in and around Kendal I think, I only know Wheelbase at Staveley but they will give good advice if the lads are able to tell them what they're after.

Try a PM to Tim Bennett, he's knowledgeable himself and will be able to advise better on the shops up there.

 

[bonj2]

I think it reads better like that. Going from the specific to the general, like.
Good lord, I'm agreeing with Bonj!

yes i agree with that edited version!!

 

[bonj2]

actually that should probably be:

They shouldn't buy full suspension bikes from halfords even if they are planning to go downhill racing!

Sorry, that should be: they shouldn't buy full suspension bikes from halfords especially if they're planning to go downhill racing!

 

[Davidc]

actually that should probably be:

They shouldn't buy full suspension bikes from halfords even if they are planning to go downhill racing!

Sorry, that should be: they shouldn't buy full suspension bikes from halfords especially if they're planning to go downhill racing!

I can't find anything wrong with Halfords trouserclips, M5 bolts, or AAA batteries. (Apart from the price of the bolts). Everything else .....

 

[HLaB]

I can't find anything wrong with Halfords trouserclips, M5 bolts, or AAA batteries. (Apart from the price of the bolts). Everything else .....

I don't think there's much wrong with their accessories and some of their other bikes have a good rep but if you ask them for advice, I get the impression they'd tell you that trouser clips go round your wrists

 

[DJ]

Must admit a year ago I used to go in Halfords and think the Carrera rd bikes where ok!!! After having read this forum for the last few months I now go in and think OMG what was I thinking!!!!

 

[Davidc]

I don't think there's much wrong with their accessories and some of their other bikes have a good rep but if you ask them for advice, I get the impression they'd tell you that trouser clips go round your wrists

I agree with that - but part of my point was that the prices need watching. For the basics they're fine, and for me convenient, but often pricey compared to on line prices, although occasionally they have good offers, and it's worth looking at their end of line bin.

They're useless for advice (here at least) much beyond answering "where do you keep pump adaptors".

 

[Fiona N]

Well I guess, going back to the OP's questions, the shops to go to in Kendal are Askew's - which I mainly use for mtb stuff but they have wider expertise, and I always find them very helpful - and Brucie's bike shop - which is sort of old school roadies' type but they're up-to-date about equipment for road and mtb, very helpful even at their own expense (they tipped me off about a sale of mtb frames at Merlin in Preston and I was happy to take advantage to get a nice new frame for near peanuts).
There's an Evans and the guys in there also seem to know what they're talking about too. Basically all three shops (and Wheelbase in Staveley which has the best range of display stuff on hand in a massive hangar of a shop) are run by enthusiasts and I've never had less than good service from any of them. I try to spread my money between Askew's, Brucie's and Wheelbase and really only go to Evans or the internet as a last resort.

I'd suggest that your nephews actually go and talk to the folks in one of more of the bike shops about what they're actually going to do. I don't think any of the above bike shops would push inappropriate bikes onto youngsters. And if downhilling is not actually what they're going to do - full sussers from wherever might be an expensive mistake. I've not had long enough conversations with the guy(s) in the bike section of Halfords in Kendal to be able to judge how competent they are at selling the right bikes to their customers. But if it was my nephews I'd be taking them down to Askew's, Brucie's or Wheelbase.

 

[Ivan Ardon]

I bought a little used Halfords X-Rated dirt jump bike for a tenner. On checking it over, the BB neded tightening, the wheels truing and the hubs regreasing - no biggie and easily attended to, everything else checked out fine. Fully fettled, I gave it to my 12 year old godson who used it at the local skate park and BMX track.

In three weeks it was absolutly trashed.

 

[PrettyboyTim]

Now my brother knew this was wrong but needs to convince the boys that their money would be better spent elsewere and that they shouldn't buy full suspension unless they are planning to go downhill racing and have a budget in 4 figures.

But surely Halford full-sus are just great for going down the stairs at the local shoppung centre on?

 

[e-rider]

Halfords - I thought teenagers were crazy about 'street cred' - what would their mates say?

Halfords = shoot bikes = not cool!