Tesco 'bike' sale.

[gbb]

Superior intellect? I think not, special, again I think not and my s**t is the same as everybody else's. My point that you fail to recognise is that the supermarkets sell this cheap rubbish that fails to satisfy people, as the people's comments who bought this loosely based bike point out. Those who are tempted to buy these cheapo bikes get what they deserve, instead of going to a bike shop, and not necessarily a LBS but Halfords and Evans where advice will be given on what to buy and get the bike set up correctly so that it works and bits will not fall off within a few miles.

They sadly do get what they deserve. If you put little or no effort into buying something, you do get what you deserve...whatever it is, bike or otherwise.
The basic mistake everyone makes is even remotely expecting to get anything decent for circa £100. Does any such priced bike exist ?
Even then, ive advised people face to face about buying a cheap bike...'please dont get anything like these bikes, you'll regret it and there won't be much pleasure in owning it, or riding one'. What do they do ?....you know the answer...

 

[Russell Allen]

Most of these bikes will be lucky to do 200km before the novelty wears off and they are abandoned in the shed, garden....to rot. They are built to last as long as is required for 90% of people to have got bored of them anyway. I just picked up a second hand ladies Rayleigh AT10 MTB for my sister, it was in immaculate condition, this was obviously bought for/by someone and they got bored of it, if it had covered 30km from new I would be suprised. I do think the tesco bikes are particularly awful, they really are utter tosh. As with most Tesco stuff they seem like "good value" but in reality they are well packaged and marketed crap.

Russell

 

[darth vadar]

Why is everyone making assumptions for other people?

As I said earlier, maybe that is all they can afford, or is all they want.

I am sure that we have all had rubbish/cheap bikes in the past - I was 51 (!) when I bought a half decent bike for the first time, but even then it didn't compare with some people on this site who spend £'000's on all the best gear.

The point is that it is horses for courses. My bike suited my pocket and my purposes and I won't try and find fault or condemn people who may have to buy cheaper stuff.

And, to describe them as the 'great unwashed' is, quite frankly an insult.

 

[Black Sheep]

''the great unwashed'' is a term that has been used for many many years to refer to the general public at large.

I have quite a few friends now who have come to me seeking advice on bike buying and so we go round a couple of the local bike shops and I point out whats good and what isn't at various price levels, eg £100 and wanting to ride on road I'll be recommending a bike without suspension, but if my friend is insistant on at least front suspension I'll try and find something suitable.

one friend bought a £60 probike (rigid steel mountain bike) which has lasted him his four years at uni and even did the transpennine trail. one or two components had to be replaced due to wearing out but for £60 it was a lot better than these offerings from Tesco.

my point is, there are much better bikes available for the same price or actually less!!

we'll be in trouble when Tesco start selling cars!

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I think the main point being made is that you can get a perfectly adequate bike for £100 or so ... but it won't be new, and it won't have suspension on it. These Tesco things aren't bikes at all, but bike-shaped piles of crap which will do nothing but put people off cycling, ultimately.

 

[snailracer]

...We'll be in trouble when Tesco start selling cars!

Finest or Tesco Value?

 

[Piemaster]

Back to the OP, what do you mean 'not a hard tail in sight'? There are 4 rigids on that page. They come with stabilisers too

 

[summerdays]

Why is everyone making assumptions for other people?

As I said earlier, maybe that is all they can afford, or is all they want.

I am sure that we have all had rubbish/cheap bikes in the past - I was 51 (!) when I bought a half decent bike for the first time, but even then it didn't compared with some people on this site who spend £'000's on all the best gear.

The point is that it is horses for courses. My bike suited my pocket and my purposes and I won't try and find fault or condemn people who may have to buy cheaper stuff.

And, to describe them as the 'great unwashed' is, quite frankly an insult.

I'm one who bought and regretted a Toys'r'us bike... it was totally rubbish. But I didn't know better - that's what I object to that they sell this stuff to people who don't know what makes a good or bad bike and have been brain washed into thinking that they want a full suspension bike with disk brakes for their 8 year old to cycle round the park. I don't have a problem with there being cheap bikes and people buying them - but make them simple models where you haven't cut important corners to get that price. What's the point in having a brake noodle that is made out of cheese so that it breaks when used, or a full suspension bike for a child sold with a seat post with has a total of 1 inch of height adjustment - kids grow so that is a pointless bike. Or kids bikes with pink varnished (?) wheel rims ... which the brake block just slides over.

 

[Davidc]

It's the shop not the customer that deserves to be criticised.

Most people know even less about bikes than they do about cars. There isn't a developed second hand market for bikes in the way there is for cars so buyers go for cheap new ones and end up with Tesco ones, which look significantly less good than Asda ones.

All the buyers want is a low cost bike that works. At least the savvy ones can take their 2 wheeled full suspension model of a bike back on the grounds it isn't fit for purpose.

The really sad thing is that for only a little more there are functional and acceptable bikes at bike shops. They may not have suspension but they'll work for a reasonable time.

 

[hobo]

Watch out for those backward forks on them Tesco bikes!
The local new Tesco opened and all their bike display has the forks the wrong way round.

 

[Kirstie]

I remember a thread on singletrack once - a guy had asked his family for money for his birthday as he was saving up for a mountain bike. He wanted to save a grand or so so he could get a decent hardtail. Instead, his family 'surprised' him by going out and buying him a £170 BSO, thinking it was what he wanted, was a bargain etc etc. He was mortified, but there was nothing he could do. He got a lot of sympathy.