To those who want to buy a cheap bike

[wafflycat]

This is why experienced folk on the forum will advise you against it.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/22/asda-cheap-bike

 

[jig-sore]

yep, there are cheap bikes and there are "Cheap bikes !!!!".

bikes at that price range are shite but you can get a usable bike for around £300, although you will probably spend more time adjusting bits if it's used for serious millage.

i agree that people should spend "as much as they can" on a bike, but I'm dead against bike snobbery.

 

[The Jogger]

I wonder how the cheap road bikes have faired out from last year toys r us were selling?

 

[HJ]

Plagiarism, I've be saying "buy cheap, buy twice" for ages now... nice to see that they are repeating my warnings...

 

[spandex]

That is a grate right up.

 

[HLaB]

I bought a cheap'ish Hybrid bike in Dublin but out of a bike shop a few years back. It was heavy and pretty low specced (grip shift, 7sp free wheel, rear axle bolt, quill stem, canti brakes no mounts) but it was reliable I guess I was lucky.

 

[notsolazy]

my mum has a similar £100 jobby from toys are us. She's had it for so many years now im surprised its still going - mind you for what she uses it for (just bimbling around the local nature water area a few times a year) its lasted and she's looked after it well.
I suppose its an option if you don't want to spend lots of money for something you will only use a few times a year

 

[2Loose]

I had high hopes for the Asda bikes, seeing as they had deliberately eschewed the 'full-suspension' market in an effort to atleast get a reliable, if very heavy bike to the masses.

Guess it just wasn't possible for the money in the end. Shame really, 'cos I see Apollo full sussers for 79 quid and I thought the Asda bike would be a lot better...

 

[wafflycat]

And this article deserves a periodic repost too.

http://www.southcoastbikes.co.uk/Articles.asp?article=NO_BSO

 

[jig-sore]

a good quote from that article....

You can get good quality bike parts for very reasonable prices, but when you scrape the bottom of the barrel you will get rubbish.

 

[Jayhawk]

And this article deserves a periodic repost too.

http://www.southcoastbikes.co.uk/Articles.asp?article=NO_BSO

Useful article. I'm thinking about buying something from the local bike shop in the £300-£400 range and this has confirmed I am thinking along the right lines.

 

[PpPete]

Funnily enough I was in ASDA yesterday and spotted these. Idly looked at, thought "no recognisable brand of components" - and was about to walk away, and then thought, "wonder how much they weigh"

I wish I hadnt tested it out.... nearly hernia territory just getting the thing off the ground - and my 30 y.o. steel tourer is stored on ceiling hooks so I'm no stranger to lifting bikes.

 

[colinr]

I saw those in Asda yesterday, they'd make ideal ship anchors. My friend said I looked angry when we found out how bad they really were, but I can just imagine one of those crapheaps putting someone off cycling for years.

And today I saw someone buy one :

 

[dav1d]

Asda really should price check before they claim it is the countrys cheapest bike. Toys R Us do one at £70 too [http://www.toysrus.co.uk/Toys-R-Us/Bikes-and-Rideons/Bikes/Mens/26-Havoc-Bike(0017207) ]
And it was £60 in December (despite it saying it is half price now).

Don't Tesco do an even cheaper one too?

 

[HLaB]

I saw the advert for the first time that £50 childs bike looks tempting, not; how to put a kid off cycling for life!