Are cheaper bikes a waste of money?

[RiverSkater]

I cycle to work about 4 miles a day. I need a new bike. I'm looking for secondhand but few coming up, time of year I suppose. I've looked at Halfords and Argos who have some in stock in my price range- about £200 top.

I popped into to my local bike shop and the cheapest was £380 and was told buy cheap pay again in getting stuff fixed and getting it serviced.

I don't have the money to

Oops posted too soon

I don't have that money upfront, are Halfords bikes really so rubbish?

Do your work do the ride to work scheme? It used to be run through Evans Cycles. Good way to buy a bike if they do.

Sorry, I don't understand.

Every part on a bike is serviceable. So unless it's been driven over by a tank, what's the problem?

In general, the more you spend the better components you get and the easier it is to ride the bike.

The idea of using your cycle to work scheme is a good one.

I'm currently loving my shiny new bike heavily subsidised by the taxman...

Does your local area have a bike recycling place? I got my first commuting bike from there it was an old ridgeback but it was miles better than anything I'd ever cycled before. I donated it back recently.

Bikes are a bit difficult to come by at the moment because so many people bought them due to lockdown and wanting to exercise/ commute.

Decathlon is better than Halfords. Mine was £230 from Decathlon many years ago, still going strong. I use it around 3 times a week for 90 mins but I'm fairly slow. Service in local bike shop around £30-40 per year.

I also used to carry my kids even at age 6 in a junior seat so quite heavy use.

I've asked about the cycle to work scheme, they don't do it sadly.

Current bike is heavy, steel, 6 gears. I see people cycling past me whose legs are cycling at the same rate and they are so speedy. It's not me, I run and am fit, it's the tank I'm driving. 😆

I guess I'm just ruminating on whether hydraulic breaks are worth the extra ££. Or as posters say a Decathlon bike does the do.

@opinionatedfreak

In general, the more you spend the better components you get and the easier it is to ride the bike.

The idea of using your cycle to work scheme is a good one.

I'm currently loving my shiny new bike heavily subsidised by the taxman...

Does your local area have a bike recycling place? I got my first commuting bike from there it was an old ridgeback but it was miles better than anything I'd ever cycled before. I donated it back recently.

Bikes are a bit difficult to come by at the moment because so many people bought them due to lockdown and wanting to exercise/ commute.

I had not heard of that, recycled bikes. I will look into it, thanks.

I’ve heard really good things about Decathlon bikes :)

Decathlon bikes are good value- you mentioned the brakes, hydraulic ones are much better than cable disc brakes but if you’re riding in the dry and you don’t have huge hills anywhere (which with 6 gears I’m guessing you don’t...) the cheaper ones may be fine. My son had a nice one for a while, until some lawless wanker nicked it when he went swimming.

Second hand is a good option. I’d avoid a halfords special if you can. You might find COVID has impacted bike supply though, it certainly has here (I don’t live in the UK) and prices in the second hand market are way higher than they were a year ago.

Generally, the bikes sold by Halfords are over complicated (unnecessary suspension and gears) and have poor quality components, so often don't work very well or need replacing often.

4 miles is nothing on a bike, especially if on a paved surface without serious hills, so I'd go for the simplest bike possible, without suspension or many gears, which add weight and cost.

I see people cycling past me whose legs are cycling at the same rate and they are so speedy

This could be due to the gear ratios. I don't understand it fully, but gears are known as 'short' or 'long'. I think its to do with how far the bike goes for one turn of the pedals, possibly that a long geared bike goes further than a short geared bike for a pedal turn.

However, its harder to do a pedal turn on a long gear than a short gear so at some stage, you're not going to be able to do it, or it will be really hard, so this is something to look for, that the gears are right for the riding that you do.

Have a look on Facebook marketplace for a secondhand one. There are normally loads on ours locally. Ive just picked up two for next to nothing really. Lovely bikes and im not going to be gutted when they get stolen. ( bike crime is a problem in our town).

A light frame helps too. If the bike is heavy to start with you’re on the back foot straight off

I have a decathlon station bike for parking in public. It's fine, but needs tweaking quite often. I've also got a big heavy comfortable steel bike for commuting. Before you get a new one, have a quick check of your old one.

You might be going slowly because of the heavy steel frame, but it could also be:

• under inflated tyres
• inappropriate tyres. If they're tractor tread, they'll be slower on road.
• rubbing breaks
• loose chain
• you're using the wrong gear.
• your seat is in a poor position.

Fixing any of those will be cheaper than a new bike.

There's another way to look at it. Lumbering along on a heavy bike is probably safer in traffic. Less adrenaline so you're less likely to do something silly; more time to check around you; less temptation to race so you get less smelly on the way to work; less likely to pick up arseholes in cars or bikes trying to race you; and you look incompetent so cars give you more room

Current bike is heavy, steel, 6 gears. I see people cycling past me whose legs are cycling at the same rate and they are so speedy. It's not me, I run and am fit, it's the tank I'm driving.

My bike is exactly like yours, but not slow, so might be worth doing a few checks before writing it off:
Are the tyres pumped up? I see so many people riding on under inflated tyres, it makes it much harder than it needs to be.

Is your back wheel in straight? If you turn the bike upside down and turn the wheel, it should spin straight, not wobbling from side to side or rubbing on the brakes or frame.

Is the chain rusty or worn out? Give it a clean and some chain oil!

Is your saddle at the right height? When you sit on the bike your leg should be almost straight when you’re at the bottom of the pedal stroke.

Are you riding everywhere in top gear? Remember low gear for setting off or going uphill, working up through the gears as you speed up.

A well-maintained steel bike will run for years if you look after it, with a small spend on an annual service. Give it a bit of TLC and you might be surprised!

Halfords Carrera bikes are reasonable quality and should be fine for what you need it for - can you stretch to £250? www.halfords.com/bikes/hybrid-bikes/carrera-parva-womens-hybrid-bike-limited-edition-2020---s-m-l-frames-439414.html

Are you allowed to try bikes our atm? I’d do that if you can. So much of comfort on a bike is whether it fits your body too. Even a bike of the same size will be slightly different angles. You’ll just get on one and know it’s the right one. I would also avoid heavy steel bikes. And it’s worth getting a proper ladies saddle. So many bikes are supplied with horrible saddles.

OP

If you are in London then have a chat with these guys (they may ship if you are out of London - they are fab and repair second hand bikes for use.

www.stationbicycles.co.uk/index.php?_a=contactus&docId=1&content=7

Or Decathalon - look at the Riverside 120 or Rockrider if you are cycling on gravel etc at times.

I think if you're not aiming for speed and don't go big distances a cheap bike is fine. It's true that you get what you pay for (up to a point) and I'd pay more if you were going out regularly on longer rides, but for your commute I'd just stick with something cheap and cheerful.

PS - I have two bikes - a cheap heavy one with flat bars and wider tyres that I use to plod around to the shops on and a road bike for actual cycling.

I am way faster on the road bike but at half the effort. I reckon riding a big tank makes you fitter!

I've bought a bike from Decathlon after @ReturnfromtheStars mentioned them, picking it up tomorrow!

Thanks to everybody for the advice.

Happy riding! What did you buy? How is it so far? I've got a B'twin womens hoprider hybrid with aluminium frame, but that doesn't seem to be for sale anymore.

Good luck with the riding!

@RiverSkater

I've asked about the cycle to work scheme, they don't do it sadly.

Current bike is heavy, steel, 6 gears. I see people cycling past me whose legs are cycling at the same rate and they are so speedy. It's not me, I run and am fit, it's the tank I'm driving. 😆

I guess I'm just ruminating on whether hydraulic breaks are worth the extra ££. Or as posters say a Decathlon bike does the do.

I notice this too! People glide past me with their legs going super slow! I got my bike second hand in the summer and it is a bit crap.;