SWSteve
Guru
- Location
- Bristol...ish
As the title suggests, at what point does a 'bike' actually start being a bike? Is this some snobbery towards cheap/slow bikes, or is there some method in this madness?
When does a BSO start being a bike
- Thread starter SWSteve
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
RussellZero
Wannabe Stravati
- Location
- New Forest, Hampshire, UK
I think its about the false economy thing, buying a cheap bike that ends up letting you down or not being able to be properly usable, eg. Shifters not working. Might have saved a hundred quid or so on components but then you've got a bike like my wife's and my daughters that they complain about every time they use them. Although when buying they were convinced cheaper was better value!
gaz
Cycle Camera TV
- Location
- South Croydon
£200-£300 is usually the bottom of the line in my opinion. Anything under that and the parts are usually rubbish.
Davidc
Guru
- Location
- Somerset UK
I think gaz is right. I've helped other people with bikes retailing at around £100, and they're definitely BSO products. It's possible to get them going but they're not good bikes. That said one I cringed at, Asda at less than £100, has been commuting 3 miles each way 5 days a week since New Year 2011 without problems.
My round town bike is a Ridgeback mtb. The RRP was about £300 when I was bought it at the end of 2008, and the price paid new from an lbs was £200. It certainly isn't a BSO, with low end Shimano kit, a well made aluminium frame, and respectable but basic wheels, neither is it a top quality bike!
The difference, for £100, or a doubling of price looked at differently, is that the Ridgeback is more easily repaired or serviced, a much better ride, and will last several times longer.
There is a lot of snobbery over BSOs, and some genuine concerns over them putting people off cycling. If I was really strapped for cash and needed a bike to go shopping, get to (local) work, and so on I'd go and buy one of those Asda bikes, otherwise for a cheap bike I'd far rather have the Ridgeback or equivalent.
My round town bike is a Ridgeback mtb. The RRP was about £300 when I was bought it at the end of 2008, and the price paid new from an lbs was £200. It certainly isn't a BSO, with low end Shimano kit, a well made aluminium frame, and respectable but basic wheels, neither is it a top quality bike!
The difference, for £100, or a doubling of price looked at differently, is that the Ridgeback is more easily repaired or serviced, a much better ride, and will last several times longer.
There is a lot of snobbery over BSOs, and some genuine concerns over them putting people off cycling. If I was really strapped for cash and needed a bike to go shopping, get to (local) work, and so on I'd go and buy one of those Asda bikes, otherwise for a cheap bike I'd far rather have the Ridgeback or equivalent.
potsy
Rambler
- Location
- My Armchair
Sittingduck
Legendary Member
- Location
- Somewhere flat
It's not snobbery, it's experience. Call it widsom, if you like 
Anything with big shiny springs in evidence, on or around the seat tube / down tube is a BSO. Anything with a weird old cup & cone bottom bracket is also a BSO.
Anything with big shiny springs in evidence, on or around the seat tube / down tube is a BSO. Anything with a weird old cup & cone bottom bracket is also a BSO.
biggs682
Itching to get back on my bike's
- Location
- Northamptonshire
gaz
Cycle Camera TV
- Location
- South Croydon
I'm talking new and relative to todays money.
mcshroom
Bionic Subsonic
- Location
- Egremont, Cumbria
The rockrider 5.0 is not a BSO in my opinion, and is well under £200.
I think that the point they change is where you move from components made of cheese-metal to a bike that is actually possible to keep on the road without ridiculous amounts of maintenance.
I think that the point they change is where you move from components made of cheese-metal to a bike that is actually possible to keep on the road without ridiculous amounts of maintenance.
That's quite a generalization. Agreed, most new bikes with cup & cone BB's are of sub-standard quality, however there are many high quality older bikes for sale on the second hand market running cup & cone BB's which are a joy to ride.
Sittingduck
Legendary Member
- Location
- Somewhere flat
Maybe so but I'm talking about new buys cobbled together from obsolete components.
- Location
- The TerrorVortex
To me, BSO implies a cheap 'bike in a box' bought from Asda, Tesco, Toys R Us, Argos or a garden centre. Somewhere that's not a bike shop.
It's something that's got dual suspension, 15 gears (none of which work properly) and components that break and regularly go out of adjustment. If they were ever in adjustment, that is. The sort of machine where you'd rather walk, or even crawl, rather than ride it.
It's not snobbery, it's a dislike of something that's utterly useless, potentially dangerous and will actively put people off cycling.
In cash terms, if it would cost much under £100 to buy it new today, then regard it with suspicion.
Like this one from Argos - gears from an unknown maker, unserviceable dual suspension, and it's impossible to fit new cables to the gripshifters. Comes in a box, so you build it up yourself. If you can. It's a disposable piece of crap and it weighs a ton.
Now compare it with this one from Decathlon, for instance. It costs £110 normally. It's cheap, yes, but there's virtually nothing to it. No gears, no suspension, sold and built by people with a reputation for good value bikes. I'd buy one tomorrow.
It's something that's got dual suspension, 15 gears (none of which work properly) and components that break and regularly go out of adjustment. If they were ever in adjustment, that is. The sort of machine where you'd rather walk, or even crawl, rather than ride it.
It's not snobbery, it's a dislike of something that's utterly useless, potentially dangerous and will actively put people off cycling.
In cash terms, if it would cost much under £100 to buy it new today, then regard it with suspicion.
Like this one from Argos - gears from an unknown maker, unserviceable dual suspension, and it's impossible to fit new cables to the gripshifters. Comes in a box, so you build it up yourself. If you can. It's a disposable piece of crap and it weighs a ton.
Now compare it with this one from Decathlon, for instance. It costs £110 normally. It's cheap, yes, but there's virtually nothing to it. No gears, no suspension, sold and built by people with a reputation for good value bikes. I'd buy one tomorrow.
SWSteve
Guru
- Location
- Bristol...ish
16.5kg! That's ridiculous! And the 110 citybike looks amazing
- Location
- The TerrorVortex
Even more amazing in the sale at £95!!
I mean, a singlespeed bike with coaster brakes is about as simple as it gets.
If I didn't already have a SS I'd be ordering one now.
But really, that's the point. If you're fitting loads of stuff to a cheap bike, then all the stuff has got to be really really cheap. The Decathlon one has reasonable kit on there, just hardly any of it.
I mean, a singlespeed bike with coaster brakes is about as simple as it gets.
If I didn't already have a SS I'd be ordering one now.
But really, that's the point. If you're fitting loads of stuff to a cheap bike, then all the stuff has got to be really really cheap. The Decathlon one has reasonable kit on there, just hardly any of it.
- Location
- Glasgow
My reconditioned 5 gear has a bottom bracket like that, it has taken me many miles in the snow without failing, it's my favoriteThat's quite a generalization. Agreed, most new bikes with cup & cone BB's are of sub-standard quality, however there are many high quality older bikes for sale on the second hand market running cup & cone BB's which are a joy to ride.
