Worth trying to repair this bike or buy a new one?
Discussion
I'm quite keen to get back into doing a bit of cycling again, but my old bike is looking a bit sorry for itself. It's missing a wheel and rear cassette due to be left locked up in a communal car park, and probably needs new brakes, gear cables and other random bits. It's only a cheap Raleigh from Halfords about 10 years ago.
I was thinking of getting it repaired but maybe it's worth just getting something new instead by the time I've paid for everything. I'm mainly looking to cycle for exercise on the country roads around my village.
What do you think? If a new bike is the answer is there anything worthwhile for around £300?
I was thinking of getting it repaired but maybe it's worth just getting something new instead by the time I've paid for everything. I'm mainly looking to cycle for exercise on the country roads around my village.
What do you think? If a new bike is the answer is there anything worthwhile for around £300?
mike80 said:
jamiebae said:
Put it back in the canal and buy a new one
Say what you really think!I'm thinking of mainly on road riding, perhaps the occasional commute to work (about 8 miles) but that isn't practical most of the time as I take too much stuff! So just for leisure really.
I'd be looking at second hand. You'll get a LOT more for your money. In spite of what the industry might claim, a bike is a bike and not a whole lot ever changes.
This was a right decent bike in its day, and a country mile better than what you have there. You'll get it less than £100.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Large-Kona-Cinder-Kone-M...
This was a right decent bike in its day, and a country mile better than what you have there. You'll get it less than £100.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Large-Kona-Cinder-Kone-M...
I'm currently in the process of bringing my GT Avalanche back to life. New rear gear mech, new mech hanger, new cassette, chain, crankset. Gear cables, brake pads, bleeding hydraulic brakes. I've been doing it piece by piece, and crossing my fingers at every stage. But it's not going well - every time I think I've finished, another fault reveals itself. Floppy front mech (displaced spring to blame there) and worn chainrings the latest setback. That, plus it's getting repaired to go into service as my son's commute bike so 26" x 1.50" Schwalbe Marathon tyres too.
It was about £300 new, from memory, and I'll be into it for about £200 by the time it's fit to use again. I ought to have gone into Halfords and bought the boy a Kona Dew... http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes...
...or ordered a full Shimano SLX 2 x 10 groupset... https://www.merlincycles.com/shimano-slx-2-x-10-tr...
...instead of doing it piece by piece. Quite honestly, I'd advise against fixing it unless you're at all sentimental about it. No offence, but like my GT it wasn't all that good a bike when new, and it's never going to be worth the sum of it's parts. Go new, or watch Ebay for a bargain lightly-used second hand gem. Plenty of folk buy shiny new bikes with all good intentions, they sit unused in sheds and garages and then get sold cheap. Good luck, whatever you decide to do...
It was about £300 new, from memory, and I'll be into it for about £200 by the time it's fit to use again. I ought to have gone into Halfords and bought the boy a Kona Dew... http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes...
...or ordered a full Shimano SLX 2 x 10 groupset... https://www.merlincycles.com/shimano-slx-2-x-10-tr...
...instead of doing it piece by piece. Quite honestly, I'd advise against fixing it unless you're at all sentimental about it. No offence, but like my GT it wasn't all that good a bike when new, and it's never going to be worth the sum of it's parts. Go new, or watch Ebay for a bargain lightly-used second hand gem. Plenty of folk buy shiny new bikes with all good intentions, they sit unused in sheds and garages and then get sold cheap. Good luck, whatever you decide to do...
mike80 said:
Something EXACTLY like that. Spend an extra £20 and get the SE for £300, fantastic bike for the money. I have several thousands of pounds worth of bike in my garage but my next planned purchase is a Triban SE which I'll use as a winter commuter and to go out with the Mrs. I can't wait. mike80 said:
Yup, that's the one (assuming you want drop bars).You're coming into prime-season for people buying used bikes, it's worth keeping an eye out for what's up for sale locally but I'm always put off by the risk it could be nicked.
This one is a little over budget but has Shimano gears and a carbon fork so is a step up from the Triban, but the Decathlon option is still a decent enough choice. http://www.wiggle.co.uk/verenti-technique-claris-2...
I went into Halfords today as that's closest and had a look at this bike. http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/c...
Seemed great to ride compared to my old mountain bike, but I'm a little confused about gears. This one has 14 compared to the 24 of the Triban I linked above. Is more better, or does it depend on the circumstances?
Seemed great to ride compared to my old mountain bike, but I'm a little confused about gears. This one has 14 compared to the 24 of the Triban I linked above. Is more better, or does it depend on the circumstances?
mike80 said:
I went into Halfords today as that's closest and had a look at this bike. http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/c...
Seemed great to ride compared to my old mountain bike, but I'm a little confused about gears. This one has 14 compared to the 24 of the Triban I linked above. Is more better, or does it depend on the circumstances?
The difference in gears is because the triban has 3 cogs up front and 8 at the back, the Halfords one has 2 & 7. The Triban is a much better bike than the Carrera in most people's opinion but either will feel like Chris Froome's Pinarello compared to a rusty Raleigh, with or without its rear wheel. Seemed great to ride compared to my old mountain bike, but I'm a little confused about gears. This one has 14 compared to the 24 of the Triban I linked above. Is more better, or does it depend on the circumstances?
technodup said:
I'd be looking at second hand. You'll get a LOT more for your money. In spite of what the industry might claim, a bike is a bike and not a whole lot ever changes.
This was a right decent bike in its day, and a country mile better than what you have there. You'll get it less than £100.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Large-Kona-Cinder-Kone-M...
This was a right decent bike in its day, and a country mile better than what you have there. You'll get it less than £100.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Large-Kona-Cinder-Kone-M...
Buy this bike!!! Buy it!!Buuuuyyyy it!!!!Just so you can tell us if the seatpost reaches the clouds!
I'd agree with technodup though. You'd get a really nice second hand bike for £300, and whilst certainly some parts on it might wear out more rapidly than those on a brand new bike (but I wouldn't necessarily bet on it!), you'll likely save money in the long run, as the bike overall will be worth spending a bit on to keep it running, rather than chucking it away and getting another cheap new one.
Unless the mythical used bargain is on your doorstep, what about one of these :- http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Kermit power said:
You'd get a really nice second hand bike for £300, and whilst certainly some parts on it might wear out more rapidly than those on a brand new bike (but I wouldn't necessarily bet on it!),
I'd say the opposite is true. That Kona had a mix of XT and LX, which even now would outlast a cheap modern groupset imo.technodup said:
Kermit power said:
You'd get a really nice second hand bike for £300, and whilst certainly some parts on it might wear out more rapidly than those on a brand new bike (but I wouldn't necessarily bet on it!),
I'd say the opposite is true. That Kona had a mix of XT and LX, which even now would outlast a cheap modern groupset imo.Also, I was more thinking of bearings and brake pads than the groupset.
Jimboka said:
Unless the mythical used bargain is on your doorstep, what about one of these :- http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
This is exactly what I bought a week ago in a similar situation to the OP. I've only done 30 miles this week on my commute but it's a marked improvement over the old bike and that has a rear wheel!Can you stretch the budget a little bit? I was looking at one of these in Go Outdoors and they look awesome for the money. The do one at £329.99 as well but I'd spend the extra and get the hydro discs etc. It's a lovely frame, well worthy of upgraded bits as and when.
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