ToysRuS again

[4F]

bigjim is not snobiness. Your cheapo supermarket / toy shop bike tends to weigh a ton, have dual suspension that adds to the weight and have cheap components that tend not to last long as they have the strength of cheese.

The old saying of "buy cheap, buy twice" really runs true.

 

[Vitesse]

Another 40 miles this week, still with no problems, some of you will be disappointed to hear!

 

[BentMikey]

Another 40 miles this week, still with no problems, some of you will be disappointed to hear!

I doubt very much anyone would be disappointed. We'd all want you to have as much success with your bike as possible. OTOH experience with this sort of bike generally isn't good, but it's wonderful to hear you're getting value!

 

[ASC1951]

What was it Mr Ratner said about his 99p gold ear rings?

'Total cr*p'

He won't be the last person to undone by something quoted out of context.

What young Gerald actually said was that those earrings were dismissed by Ratners' competitors as "total crap" but they sold huge numbers because within their price limits they were well made, well priced and well presented - i.e. if you concentrate on value for money rather than getting sniffy about quality, you can still have a good market at that end of the price range.

Someone with his experience should have had the sense not to put it in those words at their AGM.

 

[scook94]

He won't be the last person to undone by something quoted out of context.

What young Gerald actually said was that those earrings were dismissed by Ratners' competitors as "total crap" but they sold huge numbers because within their price limits they were well made, well priced and well presented - i.e. if you concentrate on value for money rather than getting sniffy about quality, you can still have a good market at that end of the price range.

Someone with his experience should have had the sense not to put it in those words at their AGM.

His comment about "total crap" was in relation to a 4.95 Sherry decanter and glass set. Not earrings like you say. What he said about the earrings was that they were cheaper than an M&S prawn sandwhich but probably wouldn't last as long.

The speech was made at the Institute of Directors, not an AGM.

 

[Ludwig]

When we say road bike what are we talking about? Is it a racing bike or a grannies shopper with small wheels and a basket on the front. Yes you can get bikes for well under a ton but they will have clunky components, have poor build quaility be quite heavy and will need endless fettling about. It will be like buying a £20 guitar or violin. You will find it difficult to keep in tune and the sound won't be very good. For £40 I bought a classic Italian racer with Columbus tubing which rides like a magic carpet.

 

[ASC1951]

What he said about the earrings was that they were cheaper than an M&S prawn sandwhich but probably wouldn't last as long.

I was so sure he had been quoted out of context that I've been and looked it up. You are absolutely right scook. He really did say it in exactly the cack-handed way it was reported.

 

[Vitesse]

I think you were lucky, Ludwig. For £40 you could easily have bought a classic Italian racer that needed a few new parts that might cost another £100.

 

[4F]

I think you were lucky, Ludwig. For £40 you could easily have bought a classic Italian racer that needed a few new parts that might cost another £100.

True, however I bet that in 10 / 20 years time the classic Italian racer is still going.

 

[Vitesse]

True, however I bet that in 10 / 20 years time the classic Italian racer is still going.

... And if you've ridden it you'll have spent £10k on parts!

This week I've been mainly using other bikes (and having four punctures - don't you just love the hedge-cutting season!), but my £49 special completed another 40 trouble-free miles. The only slight annoyance is the silly low gearing and short pedal cranks, so I might be swapping those for something else soon.

 

[Ivan Ardon]

This is a wind up, right?

 

[Vitesse]

This is a wind up, right?

Please explain why this is a wind up, Ivan. Presumably you're one of these people who can't ride a bike that cost less than a thousand quid?

 

[Ivan Ardon]

You do make me laugh, your presumptions of me are so far off they're not even in the correct hemisphere.

You've found a bike that you like for bugger all money, good for you.

But if you turn up here, parade a little inverse snobbery and then expect everyone to have an epiphany and replace their bike with one from the nearest toyshop, then I call "troll".

 

[Vitesse]

Pleased to hear I made you laugh, Mr Ardon. You're obviously an expert on far off presumptions, though. Did I remotely suggest that everyone would have an epiphany and/or replace their bike with one from the nearest toyshop?
You'll note that this is the 'Beginners' section, where non-expert people might hope to find useful info when getting onto two wheels. I simply saw the ToysRUS ad, handed over the cash, and described what I found. As it happens, I have previous experience of 'BSOs' that turned out to be almost unrideable. So far this £49 Triax is fine, and definitely a bargain in my opinion. Can't understand why that's inverse snobbery, particularly as I said that I already own various other bikes that cost far more.


*Disclaimer. The author wishes to make it clear that no-one should feel in any way influenced by the above to replace their bike with one from the nearest toyshop.

PS. Approaching 200 miles now. Still running fine!

 

[Vitesse]

Only one Toytown ride and 18 miles this week. Still no problems to report.