Winter bikes *ding* N+1

[Learnincurve]

So I just bought a dreadful heap of junk for the winter it's not this exact one, my one was even cheaper http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291233804217 at £90 and it weighs in at a staggering 17kg and is everything a newbie should avoid. I bought it because the MTB is no good for shopping, my ridgeback speed is to be fair a summer bike and the avenida has far too many pretty basil accessories now to use in the rain, or to leave chained up outside anywhere.

Fear me:

I intend to put decent tyres on it then utterly rag it to death, but I worked out that when I strip it down and give the frame/handlebars/gears to the scrapman and transfer everything else over to my restoration project then I'm probably around even. The rack and mudguards would set you back about £35 alone.

I also kind of want this: http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/classic-bicycles/real-classic-deluxe-bicycle-19#tab2
because it's so wrong it's right.


edit: I used https://www.parkersofbolton.co.uk/ who are one of the main amazon bike sellers but prices are cheaper direct from the site.

 

[sidevalve]

If you can afford £90 for a scrap it/junk it for bits/winter bike - adopt me. There are loads of bikes out there for £25 or less that will do the job.

 

[Learnincurve]

Good god, there are people on here with £1000 winter bikes that they feed tyres and components to.

Also people with cars. I do not have a car and the cost of my bikes combined wouldn't buy a car let alone insurance or petrol for it.

As it happens no, this £25 bike thing is a compete myth for people who don't have cars in some areas, including mine. It really was the cheapest option for all the bits I need to do up this old mountain bike for my daughter. I did have a look at the other options on ebay but none of them had fenders or rack which is what she requested. The MTB frame is small, something like 15" because she is small and will probably remain so because, genetics, It needs rack, fenders, cables, wheels, the larger fork to make it a hybrid (I checked, it will fit), possibly cranks and new V brakes, When you sit down and do the maths the minimum that lot comes to is £89 and I get a spare chain and whatever can be salvaged from the probably ruined by the end of winter gears.

 

[Big_Dave]

You can never have too many bikes (although the wife thinks differently which pretty much says there is a limit )
My £20 Raleigh is brilliant........ £££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££'s later

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Good god, there are people on here with £1000 winter bikes that they feed tyres and components to.

Also people with cars. I do not have a car and the cost of my bikes combined wouldn't buy a car let alone insurance or petrol for it.

As it happens no, this £25 bike thing is a compete myth for people who don't have cars in some areas, including mine. It really was the cheapest option for all the bits I need to do up this old mountain bike for my daughter. I did have a look at the other options on ebay but none of them had fenders or rack which is what she requested. The MTB frame is small, something like 15" because she is small and will probably remain so because, genetics, It needs rack, fenders, cables, wheels, the larger fork to make it a hybrid (I checked, it will fit), possibly cranks and new V brakes, When you sit down and do the maths the minimum that lot comes to is £89 and I get a spare chain and whatever can be salvaged from the probably ruined by the end of winter gears.

The fork might fit but will change the geometry of a mountain bike and not necessarily for the better. Will the 700c rear wheel fit the MTB frame? - it may be tight and the brakes won't line up with the rims.

 

[Learnincurve]

@Big_Dave It's the tour de France that's pushed all the prices up on vintage I held off till now to see if anything nice would come on at the end of summer in my area or with delivery but it's getting pricer for junkier and junkier stuff. I suspect there are lots of lovely old bikes going back in sheds again for the winter and not back on ebay as I was hoping.

@Rickshaw Phil The conversion is a work in process, it might or it might not. The existing wheels and fork on the MTB are fine so they may be for the back of the shed for spares, wheels are something I should probably have a spare of anyway (the other hybrids take the same type of rear) for emergencies.