What's the concensus on eBay for a bike?

[Dunbar]

Hi folks,

Right! I am 71 and just thinking about getting on a bike, after 20 years, to help sort my bionic knee joint. So, that's got that out of the way.

I think I am going for a hybrid, and I'd like to spend about £700.00. However, that is a lot to risk if it transpires that my knee can't take the strain.
So I resorted to eBay today and came across a Birmingham based seller with a fair range of cycles. This seller is 'sunlovabike', based in Brum.

Does anyone have any knowledge please?

I would post a link, but don't know if this is allowed.

Thanks in anticipation

John
_________________________________________

I started with nothing; I still have most of it left.

 

[Chris S]

One of my colleagues bought a bike from Sunlova - there were no problems with delivery and the bike was as described.

Unfortunately after a few months the pedals bent and he had to replace them. To be fair he is borderline obese and bought the bike to try and loose weight.

I think the bike was designed for people in its native China and not overweight westerners who probably weigh twice as much.

 

[MacB]

Dunbar, welcome, I'd go for new and try somewhere like EBC:-


http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/comms/srv.a4d?f_pg=home.htm&f_Cardinal=1

For half the initial amount you were considering you'll get a decent bike that, if things don't work out, will command a reasonable resale value. I bought one of my sons a second hand Courier Race, via here, and it's been excellent.

 

[mcshroom]

I think in your other thread you were talking about a flat bar racer style hybrid. It may be worth having a look at the b'twin fitness 2 or fitness 3 bikes at Decathlon in Merry Hill.

 

[Dunbar]

Thanks for your replies Gents.

I think Edinburgh would be a good idea, but a lot would depend on carriage.

As for the sunlova, I take to heart what you said about pedals bending. Part of my own problem is a bit too much spread around my 'Cat and Fiddle', so maybe I should think about spending a bit more dosh after all.

I just wish my own bike wasn't too big for me! It was okay when I was young and limber. I could slide on and off off the saddle without trouble, so the extra inch in the seat tube didn't bother me so much. These days I have to have a bike the 'fits', and one which will enable me to reach the deck from the saddle! So it's going to be 19" or so.

Thanks again for your input, and I will make enquiries into the Edinburgh and Merry Hill leads.

All the best

John

 

[1987Witherspoon]

[font="'Trebuchet MS"]I bought my bike off eBay and it is near perfect.

However, I deal with eBay everyday (part of my job) and know that not everything is as it seems.

The best thing would be to find a bike on eBay that you can go and see, and hopefully test ride. If you can't ask question (lots of them) and ask to see more detailed photos (welds, cassette, wheels ect).

Hope it works out, just like mine.[/font]

 

[Dunbar]

I bought my bike off eBay and it is near perfect.

However, I deal with eBay everyday (part of my job) and know that not everything is as it seems.

The best thing would be to find a bike on eBay that you can go and see, and hopefully test ride. If you can't ask question (lots of them) and ask to see more detailed photos (welds, cassette, wheels ect).

Hope it works out, just like mine.

Yep.. You are right of course WS.
There are some nice ones on eBay atm.. I do like to try a bike first though! (To be Honest, I do like new ones.. Something gloat-worthy? )

John

 

[Beardie]

Why not just go to a good local bike shop and discuss your requirements? You'll get far better service than you will on-line. The internet is fine for hard-to-find bits if you know just what you're after, but buying a new bike after such a break needs advice from someone speaking to you in person.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

OK, I can see the appeal but as someone who has worked with truly awful cheap-end bicycles for some time in the past (and vice versa worked on higher-end stuff) I reckon I can spot a nightmare barge of a bike a mile off.

I'm not snobby, I looked at the sunlova range with interest in getting a cheap hack to strip down and make something like a half-decent BSO with parts I have spare

I wouldn't touch one of them with a bargepole.

 

[Dunbar]

Thanks Beardie and Tiger..


You're quite right of course. But I have decided I won't buy from eBay after all!
I have found a Gents 'Muddy Fox', on Gumtree, advertised by someone 1/2 a mile from my home.
So I am at least I can go and have a look at that.

Apparently it is a 'never used' bike. I can try it out too, of course, and for £80.00 I suppose I can take a risk, provided it isn't exactly falling apart. Then again if I don't feel happy on a Mountain Bike, I will find a decent shop!

Obliged

John

 

[Banjo]

Thanks Beardie and Tiger.
You're quite right of course. But I have decided I won't buy from eBay after all!
I have found a Gents 'Muddy Fox', on Gumtree, advertised by someone 1/2 a mile from my home.
So I am at least I can go and have a look at that.

Apparently it is a 'never used' bike. I can try it out too, of course, and for £80.00 I suppose I can take a risk, provided it isn't exactly falling apart. Then again if I don't feel happy on a Mountain Bike, I will find a decent shop!

Obliged

John

Morning John. Do you really want a mountainbike? They are heavier than a hybrid or road bike and the knobbly tyres make pedalling harder as well. On the plus side they do have low gears to haul you up hills.Personally unless you really are going off road on rocky trails I would go for something like one of the Trek range of hybrids.

I have had my Trek Valencia hybrid bike for about 18 months , done over 3000 miles on it and its been great.

A hybrid can cope with gravel or hard packed earth paths quite well and is much better than an MTB on the road.
http://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.php?product_id=1419&category_id=120

Good Luck.

 

[Dunbar]

Thanks Banjo.


Yes the Trek does look like a sensible bike... I'm a little wary of Mountain Bikes for precisely the reasons you give.
I'll just keep persevering because it looks like a hybrid, (maybe fitted with flat bars) is what I need.

Thanks again for the input

John

 

[GrumpyGregry]

buy a decent quality second hand 'been in the shed forever' mtb in good nick, budget for some slick tyres, new tubes, and brake pads, get it serviced lubed and once over-ed at your local bike shop and you'll have a great starter bike with low enough gearing to make life easy on your knees. imo anyway.

 

[Dunbar]

Slick tyres? That's a new one on me Greg. Do you really mean 'no tread' at all? What do you do when it's raining? Walk the bike? No pit stops allowed!

I just thought, I suppose I couldn't use 27" wheels in a Mtn/bike frame. 'Cos I already have a pair of Weinmann wheels.

Regards

John

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Slick tyres? That's a new one on me Greg. Do you really mean 'no tread' at all? What do you do when it's raining? Walk the bike? No pit stops allowed!

I just thought, I suppose I couldn't use 27" wheels in a Mtn/bike frame. 'Cos I already have a pair of Weinmann wheels.

Regards

John

Tread makes little difference other than to confidence, for pure road riding. It's not like putting slicks on an F1 car in the rain. The quality of the rubber compound itself has more bearing on its "grippiness". Though it's sometimes hard to feel as confident on slicks.

The thing is to avoid the cheap £6 "cheng shin" slicks that can be found on ebay or in the budget cycle departments of chains etc.