Buying a bike: advice, recommendations and chat
- Thread starter bmd
- Start date
Indeed.
I have got another two to sell.
Will post up details tomorrow before putting on eBay.
Cid
Proper break this time
It's partly size, and partly because London and SE. Though I've seen worse.
Rosemary Jest
Wrong and Unstable
I've noticed a lot bikes on eBay that are new/a few rides old, hoping for more money than the shops are (were) selling them for.
I think there have been a few unscrupulous cunts buying them up and selling them for profit.
The cycling equivalent of the Covid hand sanitiser dickheads.
I think there have been a few unscrupulous cunts buying them up and selling them for profit.
The cycling equivalent of the Covid hand sanitiser dickheads.
maomao
普費斯
What about buying a bike to try it for size and then trying to get my money back if it works out too small? Because I'm seriously considering that on a 61cm frame that's slightly too small. Would I even be likely to get my money back on it?
Rosemary Jest
Wrong and Unstable
Depending on what frame it is you've got a good chance of getting your money back at the moment as prices are silly. Though that means they are silly for you to buy too, unless you spot a bargain.
In my experience, you'll have a frame size that's right for you and it won't change throughout your life. For instance, I like to ride an 18 inch frame, and have done since I stopped growing at about age 16. I've had 19 inch frames and 17 inch frames, ridden 16 inch ones too, but 18 is he sweet spot for me. This is mountain bikes by the way, road sizes I wouldn't know about as never had one.
Though nowadays bike sizes are usually small-medium-large, which roughly equates to 16-18-20 in old money. Not sure if that helps, but there are size guides on most bike shop websites which might help.
Another thing to note is that if you get a slightly too small/large frame, you can always adjust your saddle/stem/bars etc a little bit, but don't go too far outside your 'recommended' frame size would be my advice. I've seen a lot of nice bikes I'd like to buy locally but they are just too big, and I know i'd regret it as it wouldn't be 'my' size and I'd always want the correct one.
maomao
普費斯
On a mountain bike I should need at least a 23" but got away with 21" for years because of the difficulty finding a genuinely large one. Bit old for riding everywhere out of the saddle now though. I've only had two road bikes and they were properly sized. I'm just going to have to risk ebay.
Winot
I wholeheartedley agree with your viewpoint
If you’d consider a mountain bike then you can borrow mine (long term loan). I’m 6’4”. It’s a Raleigh hardtail with a titanium frame.
However you’d need to pick it up from Brixton and get it serviced - it’s been sitting in our cellar for 15 years unused - which would be quite a hassle at the moment.
maomao
普費斯
That's very generous, thank you, and I will bear it in mind but still looking for something new or newish at the moment. I also have a bit of a history of wrecking bikes (not always crashes) and wouldn't want to wreck someone else's even if unused.
I think there are a LOT of bikes that were brought with good intentions but hardly used.
Also a lot of people who need money at the moment.
Might not all be cunts. Probably most are though
Look at this cunt for example:
Ridgeback Rapide Element Women's Bike (19" Frame) | eBay
Bike is in 'almost new' condition. Virtually no marks on the bike at all. Perfect commuting or leisure bike.
www.ebay.co.uk
Rosemary Jest
Wrong and Unstable
I think there are a LOT of bikes that were brought with good intentions but hardly used.
Also a lot of people who need money at the moment.
Might not all be cunts. Probably most are though
Look at this cunt for example:
Ridgeback Rapide Element Women's Bike (19" Frame) | eBay
Bike is in 'almost new' condition. Virtually no marks on the bike at all. Perfect commuting or leisure bike.www.ebay.co.uk
Indeed.
maomao
普費斯
Any views on this bike? I've never ridden anything with suspension and it looks a bit clunky. Will I be okay just popping slicks on it? Genuinely big enough though and I can deal with 30th August delivery. Got to be better than chancing some rustbucket for cash off ebay.
www.evanscycles.com
Trek Bikes, Components, Electric Bikes | Evans Cycles
www.evanscycles.com
maomao
普費斯
Also this:
www.bike-discount.de
Radon bikes seem to get good reviews in Germany and this is very sensible but is ten speed not a pain in the arse? m I going to need to spend twice as much time adjusting the bloody derailleur as a 7 or 8 speed?
Radon Scart Light 8.0 | Cross Bike Shop
Buy Scart Light 8.0 at BEST PRICE ✓ Order Radon Cross Bike at Bike-Discount now! ➤ Radon Online Shop
www.bike-discount.de
Radon bikes seem to get good reviews in Germany and this is very sensible but is ten speed not a pain in the arse? m I going to need to spend twice as much time adjusting the bloody derailleur as a 7 or 8 speed?
maomao
普費斯
The other two in contention are:
1: Cheap straightforward German mountain bike. Cube get very good reviews but it's a clunker, the xxl is probably 35 pounds+. If only it didn't have that Lime green stripe (though it's got internal cabling so I'd probably just duck tape the whole thing anyway).
www.bike-discount.de
And this rockhopper. Huge frame, lovely bike, but not due till the end of September. I could probably get away with the end of September but it does mean starting with a lot of night time cycling when I haven't been on the road in 15 years and if that date went back it would cost me more money on transport.
www.evanscycles.com
1: Cheap straightforward German mountain bike. Cube get very good reviews but it's a clunker, the xxl is probably 35 pounds+. If only it didn't have that Lime green stripe (though it's got internal cabling so I'd probably just duck tape the whole thing anyway).
Cube Aim Race black´n´flashgreen | Hardtail 27.5" Shop
Buy Aim Race black´n´flashgreen at BEST PRICE ✓ Order Cube Hardtail 27.5" at Bike-Discount now! ➤ Cube Online Shop
And this rockhopper. Huge frame, lovely bike, but not due till the end of September. I could probably get away with the end of September but it does mean starting with a lot of night time cycling when I haven't been on the road in 15 years and if that date went back it would cost me more money on transport.
Specialized Bikes, Clothing, Components | Evans Cycles
www.evanscycles.com
maomao
普費斯
Omfg I just found Mango bikes. Most of them come in xxl and round my budget.
mangobikes.com
Mango Bikes | Commuter & Leisure Bicycles and eBikes
We make beautiful bikes. Why compromise? Enjoy beauty, value & performance. Mango bikes are spec'd to outpace expensive brands and stand up to the demands of real-world riding. LET THE BIKE FIND YOU.
mangobikes.com
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
The Trek or the Specialized are both good for you, bit of suspension at the front is nice too. Fuck the hipster single speed shit, gears exist to make cycling more pleasant...
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
Oh and fit mudguards.
maomao
普費斯
The Rockhopper's okay (apart from availability) but I really don't like the look of the Marlin. I was actually leaning towards the 700 euro cross bike last night but 30 gears is overkill and probably needs a new chain and block every few months.
I've ridden SS before (not fixed) and there's nothing quite like a completely straight drive train. If I lived in the Surrey hIlls I'd agree about gears but I live in flat as a pancake East London. I doubt I'd use more than 2 or 3 gears if I had them. I definitely don't need downhill gears anymore. I think I'd shit myself if I went over 20mph these days.
And they do an eight gear version (single chainring at the front) too. One of the best bikes I ever owned was an Edinburgh Courier set up like that:
Mango Bikes | Commuter & Leisure Bicycles and eBikes
We make beautiful bikes. Why compromise? Enjoy beauty, value & performance. Mango bikes are spec'd to outpace expensive brands and stand up to the demands of real-world riding. LET THE BIKE FIND YOU.
mangobikes.com
maomao
普費斯
Though if I did ride fixed I could lose a little weight by taking the brakes off.
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
I had a single speed cyclocross bike for years, long before all the beard-oil crew came along and started calling them gravel bikes. Mostly cycling along the flat Thames towpath I found that when the wind was behind me I would have liked gears to go faster, when it was in my face gears would have made it easier and when hungover gears would have been nice too.
Plus side was it needed very little maintenance.
And get mudguards.
Plus side was it needed very little maintenance.
And get mudguards.
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
The Mango bike looks good. Dunno anything about their quality, but that style of bike seems like a decent option for you...
maomao
普費斯
Shit in what way? And what do you think of the German brands Cube and Radon? I can't find any English language reviews and not many GErman ones.
klang
klang
just not built very well. cheap disposable components, weird geometry, not built to last. never seen the geared version in the flesh, but seen the ss version about and it looks cheap.
dunno Cube or Radon.
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
Cube make great value mtbs. For my next one it is a toss up between Cube and Canyon...
beesonthewhatnow
going deaf for a living
weepiper
I fix the machines that fight climate change
Avoid Mango. Cube, Trek, Specialized are all fine. Don't know anything about Radon. Ten speed isn't more hassle to adjust (the principles are the same) but the narrower chain and cassette will wear out faster. My hot tip is to buy something that one of your local bike shops stocks so if you have any warranty issues you don't have to send the whole bike back to Germany or wherever.
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
Canyon has a service network listed on their website (not looked into it at all though), so don’t need to send it back. But I can see if you bought from a physical local shop it would be easy to take it there to sort out any issues through the years.
maomao
普費斯
That's worrying because you're the expert. What have you seen go wrong with Mango bikes? Because that's the one that's really hooked me at the moment. The level two single speed is better kitted out than their original single speed bike which did get some average reviews.
Oh, and the only local bike shop left standing is Halfords. They do have the helmet I want though.
klang
klang
is the bike shop on the roundabout Broadway / Maylands Avenue in Elm Park still going?
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