Brand Quality vs price

[Slyjoe]

Hi all, after cycling to work regularly now on a 25 year old mountain bike type affair i've decided to buy a replacement, preferably a Hybrid/crosstrail type - ie 700cc wheels and front suspension.
The commute is on road or dissused railway, as are weekend rides.
Guess the budget is around £350ish.
This came up, but not in my size - and interest free credit is appealing. http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?pro...
My real question though is; you get what you pay for, but are there some manufacturers considered "Premium" to take advantage of older sale bikes, or some manufacturers considered "Budget" and to be taken as you get what you pay for new.
Through work I can get a 25% discount on Scott bikes, I'm going to check them out and get a test on saturday.
This has to last me another 20 years, so I guess its quite a pertinent question to ask.
Many thanks in advance.

[Slyjoe]

So my little local bike shop has Claude Butler bikes in stock, they look ok.
Any thoughts on longevity and build quality please?

[Gizmoish]

Scott bikes start at medium-range and go right up to pro level.

Claud Butler low to medium.

I'd always go for last year's good bike rather than this year's not so good, especially if you are keeping it forever.

[Crippo]

a front suspension bike wont last you 20 years

[TKF]

Crippo said:

a front suspension bike wont last you 20 years

It will

Just like Trigger's broom

[NitroNick]

In most cases the "manufacturer" of a bike only make the frame, and usually the frame outlives the rest of the bike: derailleurs, chainset, wheels etc will be long gone within your 20 YEARs.
So go with the best components you can afford.
....But as said before it will be like triggers brush, because no bike that is ridden regularly will last you 20 years.

[Slyjoe]

Crippo said:

a front suspension bike wont last you 20 years

Actually, do you think I need a front suspension bike for soft trails (dissuesed railway lines and the like) if it has 700c wheels and intermediate type tyres?

[Gizmoish]

I quite like the Giant Revel, was looking at one for my OH too.

[oj113]

Slyjoe said:

Actually, do you think I need a front suspension bike for soft trails (dissuesed railway lines and the like) if it has 700c wheels and intermediate type tyres?

No, personally I think you'd be fine with rigid forks. Less to go wrong, lighter and at your budget the quality of suss fork will be poor and will end up becoming rigid given a few years of wear and tear.

[TKF]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I've got one. It's a heavy bugger.

[Gizmoish]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Will be interested to see what you think. Clearly it'll be reasonably heavy and low-specced at that price but no Giant bike should be a total sh!t BSO...

[mattviatura]

Don't buy a lower end Scott bike.

I have one and it is a POS, even the shop staff admitted as much.

[Slyjoe]

mattviatura said:

Don't buy a lower end Scott bike.

I have one and it is a POS, even the shop staff admitted as much.

So I wont post a picture of the Scott Sportster 50 that I picked up this morning then....

[mattviatura]

Slyjoe said:

So I wont post a picture of the Scott Sportster 50 that I picked up this morning then....

Whoops sorry mate, I hope you have better luck than I did.

In fairness mine is an Aspect, different type of bike.

All the best.

[Slyjoe]

mattviatura said:

Slyjoe said:

So I wont post a picture of the Scott Sportster 50 that I picked up this morning then....

Whoops sorry mate, I hope you have better luck than I did.

In fairness mine is an Aspect, different type of bike.

All the best.

Just yanking your chain couldn't give a flying f really It seems sound enough and is about 20 times easier to pedal uphill than my old beater of a mountain bike.
Photo uploader seems to be borked though.

[Gizmoish]

mattviatura said:

Slyjoe said:

So I wont post a picture of the Scott Sportster 50 that I picked up this morning then....

Whoops sorry mate, I hope you have better luck than I did.

In fairness mine is an Aspect, different type of bike.

All the best.

Bad news is, iirc the aspect and sportster are exactly the same frame, but different forks/gears/wheels. I have a sportster too, but I think it's fine. Nothing special, but fine.

[Slyjoe]

A smidge over £300 and so far very pleased.

[Gizmoish]

Slyjoe said:

A smidge over £300 and so far very pleased.

Looks very similar to mine (except I have cable discs). Ride it like you stole it;)