Stupid New Years Resolution!

Stupid New Years Resolution!

Author
Discussion

Liquid Knight

Original Poster:

15,754 posts

182 months

Saturday 22nd March 2014
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WinstonWolf said:
I bought a Kawasaki green CX bike from Fatbirds accidentally once. Went to Sunny Hunny on a Sunday and saw it in the window, accidentally went back on Monday with my bike rack and bought it.
I think I'm still barred from Fat Birds. The shop as well.




bow

Liquid Knight

Original Poster:

15,754 posts

182 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
quotequote all
356 miles and we have come to the end of an era...



...I spent an hour and a half getting the seat post out so I could wrap the bike up then remembered the box was in the loft. In a bit of a state the box has done as well as the bike. wink

There was no way I was going to even try and get the pedals off as I'm out of time. The courier is collecting the bike today between 12:00 and 14:00

The lucky (?) winning bidder is the chap who placed the first bid. Some jokers were bidding £5 a time and even though there are similar bikes for a lot more money on there I'm glad she's off to somewhere (Bristol) where there are a few muddy hills near by.

To be honest I placed a link to this blog in the advert and am amazed anyone bid at all. Still this does represent a cycling equivalent of a "full history" so it could have been advantageous. You never really know what you're getting on eBay or the second hand market in general.

So here's a the break down....

Cost £1,695
Lights and road related articles £280
Consumables £612
Total £2,587

(Consumables; tyres, chains, crank set, cassettes, fork seals, etc)

Sale price £530

Total £2,057

So let's compare that to how much it would have cost to use my car instead of my Camber.

Cost (Fiat Panda Fantasia) £350
Insurance (for two years) £291
Road fund licence (for two years £77 x 4) £308
Consumables and Service items £466
Fuel cost at an average £36 per week £3,744

Total £5,159

(Consumable and Service items Tyres x 8, Oil filter x 2, oil change x 2, air filter x 1, fuel filter x 2, brake shoes x 1 pair, brake pads x 2 sets, etc)

So I can use an expensive bike for less than half the cost of running a cheap car. That was the original experiment and my conclusion; but even though it has worked out cheaper in the long run I can't help but fell it was a pain in the arse. Every time a chain snapped it cost a weeks worth of petrol to put right. If I were using a cheaper bike the parts would be less expensive and they'd fail more often so it's the tipping point of economy. Also if I were using a cheaper bike when I was knocked off I could have been thinking "This is going to hurt" like a normal person instead of thinking "This is going to be expensive". Again if I were using a cheaper bike would I have had to fight off members of the traveling community who were trying to take it? Spend more on tracking chips, serious looking locks and alarms?


So next time.

Something quicker.
Something cheaper.
Something less appealing to thieves.
Something easily upgrade-able.
Something that can take Norfolk's pothole infested excuses for roads.
Something that can keep up with traffic in 20, 30 or even 40 zones.
Something that isn't a recumbent.

I'm still thinking Cyclocross or Tricross with a hint of time trial or triathlon, but I do not want to become a lycraist. wink

What do you guys think?

Liquid Knight

Original Poster:

15,754 posts

182 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
quotequote all
Looks like I spoke too soon. Parcel Force told the guy that a next day delivery would be possible. Sadly as soon as the collector saw it was a bike in a box he said they have to be 48 Large and not 24 at all. ahole farce then.

While the buyer is swearing down the phone as I write this (I would be) if the 48 Large cost more than £40 I've offered to chuck the bike in the back of my car and deliver it myself. wink

WinstonWolf

72,857 posts

238 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
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Your two requirements are at odds.

To cope with the roads and the low budget you need a single speed steel framed bike.

To go fast you need a light bike with loads of gears and it will be eminently knickable.

You're stuffed biggrin

Liquid Knight

Original Poster:

15,754 posts

182 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
quotequote all
WinstonWolf said:
Your two requirements are at odds.

To cope with the roads and the low budget you need a single speed steel framed bike.

To go fast you need a light bike with loads of gears and it will be eminently knickable.

You're stuffed biggrin
I know. The days were you could rattle can spray a Titanium road bike and it would be safe from thieves are long gone.

Whatever I get it will be "Knickable" as the economic depression we're festering in has generated demand.

I'm looking at 700C/29er hybrids as well as that's the closest to Lycra bikes you can get without the Lycra.

TwistingMyMelon

6,385 posts

204 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
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I used to fight lycra, now I realise its the best tool for the job and always wear it on the bike . Who gives a fk what I look like, I ride for fitness and transport not to impress nethandrials.

I wouldn't bother with a hybrid, worst of both worlds, apart from if you get one cheap or ride in inner cities. I have one at the mo as a 3rd bike, fine for the pub, but its neither a MTB or a roadie, with the drawbacks of both.

As most of your posts are about covering the distance quickly I would buy a road bike/cyclocross as you can exploit them in a better way when pushing on than a MTB. If you think you can do a decent pace on a MTB a dropped handlebar bike will be a revelation

I would get a steel roadie, then a good quality set of wheels to cope with the st roads, or a cyclo x and put some 25 or 28 slicks

Job Jobbed



WinstonWolf

72,857 posts

238 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
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Just watch CX bikes, they tend to run a shorter top tube, the geo isn't as comfortable as a roadie if you're putting in the miles...


Liquid Knight

Original Poster:

15,754 posts

182 months

Sunday 14th September 2014
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The rant continues.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

wink

I'm missing suspension but enjoying the speed. hehe

DaHell

37 posts

127 months

Thursday 13th November 2014
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Enjoyed this blog! I'm looking at buying a decent bike to ride to work on! Cant wait.