What think ye of this on ebay?

Fingers Mcginty

I'm thinking of getting into cycling to lose the paunch. Have been looking in the buy and sell to no avail but this caught my eye today. Would it be a decent buy?

http://cgi.ebay.ie/Claud-Butler-CHINOOK-Bike-for-Sale-as-new_W0QQitemZ250116028630QQihZ015QQcategoryZ33503QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

ruprect

Good price, if it isnt nicked!

Membrane

Entry level hybrid, but one of the better ones and price is good. Make sure that the frame size is ok for you.

Chips Lovell

As Membrane said, if it really hasn't been ridden, that's a good price. 25c tyres are well suited to riding on the rode, unlike most of the cheap mountain bike type yokes you see around.

Fingers Mcginty

Membrane wrote:

Make sure that the frame size is ok for you.

How does one go about checking that?
I am 6ft with an inseam of 33" what frame size should i be looking for?

Membrane

Fingers Mcginty wrote:

How does one go about checking that?
I am 6ft with an inseam of 33" what frame size should i be looking for?

56cm or 59cm should work for you, you'll have to ask the seller what size it is as he hasn't listed it in the add.

blorg

That's a good price, unlikely to be nicked if he is including a lock with key! TBH just from the pictures it looks a bit on the small size, but you can ask.

Fingers Mcginty

well i bought the bike. back tyre seems a tad low on pressure. Might be something to do with the 14 stone weight it's bearing They are very narrow tyres like a racer. I was a little disappointed in that cause i was gonna put a child carrier on the back but don't think this is possible now?

Membrane

Fingers Mcginty wrote:

well i bought the bike. back tyre seems a tad low on pressure. Might be something to do with the 14 stone weight it's bearing They are very narrow tyres like a racer. I was a little disappointed in that cause i was gonna put a child carrier on the back but don't think this is possible now?

Chinooks are sportive hybrids, fitting things like a rack or child carrier is not recommended. You should have said that this was the aim, we would have advised differently.

Fingers Mcginty

yeah no bother . Don't get me wrong tis a lovely ride. Taking the child on the back would have been nice but getting fit was the ultimate premise. So i'm a happy camper.

Fingers Mcginty

Is it possible to fit thicker wheels to these bikes?

Membrane

Fingers Mcginty wrote:

Is it possible to fit thicker wheels to these bikes?

You'll get a more useful answer if you told us what problem you are trying to solve.

blorg

Fingers Mcginty wrote:

Is it possible to fit thicker wheels to these bikes?

Probably, yes, to an extent. The limiting factors will be the frame/fork (which you can't get around) and the brakes (which you can get around by chaning the brakes.)

You can go up quite a bit by just changing the tyres/tubes, probably at least to 700x28, likely x32 or more (I think you are on 700x25 now.) You don't need to change the wheels themselves.

Make sure you pump the tyres up hard, thin road bike tyres should be inflated to a high pressure. 14 stone should not be a problem.

Your local bike shop will be able to fill you in on how much wider you can go and sell you new tyres. Tyres will probably cost between €15 and €30 each, plus an extra fiver per tube if they need changing. Bear in mind you can just change one tyre to a wider size, you don't necessarily need to do both. A good brand kevlar tyre on the back in particular is a good idea to avoid punctures- I have had very good results with Specialized Armadillos which cost in the region of €30 each.

EDIT: Looking at the extra photos the seller posted here, those brakes have acres of space and you should have no problem fitting significantly wider tyres.

TOURTHELANCE

Looks like a nice little purchase just make sure bike and equipment is in working order and frame size is proper fit...

rubadub

TOURTHELANCE wrote:

Looks like a nice little purchase just make sure bike and equipment is in working order and frame size is proper fit...

Yes, getting a once over in a bike shop might be an idea, or a mate who knows a bit. If getting new tyres etc, or a carrier the shop should give a discount if getting a service too, or even look at it for free if they are not busy and you are buying enough.

I have a thicker tyre with more grip on my back, and a thin slick on the front. If you are in a muddy spot the back wheel is usually the one that will slip if cycling hard, since the power is exerted from it. Also going up small kerbs I can hop the front wheel up, but have less control over the back so prefer a thicker one on it.

Fingers Mcginty

thanks a lot lads....gonna bring it to a local shop so and see what they say.
Membrane...the problem i was having was that i have pumped up the back tyre to it's max but it still feels/looks flat.

rubadub

Fingers Mcginty wrote:

i was having was that i have pumped up the back tyre to it's max but it still feels/looks flat.

Possibly the wrong size tube in the tyre. How do you mean the max? have you a pressure guage?

If it is a presta tube (thin valve) then you can get an adaptor in the bike shop for 1-2euro so you can turn it into a schrader (car valve) and pump it in the petrol station to the right pressure. Max pressure is written on the tyre.

Membrane

rubadub wrote:

If it is a presta tube (thin valve) then you can get an adaptor in the bike shop for 1-2euro so you can turn it into a schrader (car valve) and pump it in the petrol station to the right pressure.

A risky thing to do, petrol station pressure gauges are often very inaccurate, they often aren't able to reach the high pressures needed for thin bicycle tyres, and if they are there's a significant chance of blowing up your tyre since they inject too much air in too short a time.

DirkVoodoo

I think car tyre pressures are typically 28-32 Psi, and most of the compressors in local petrol stations are, as mentioned, not up to the task of high pressure inflation.

Fingers Mcginty

The tyre is rated at 90 psi. I got a pump in ******looks around sheepishly***** ......Aldi and i have the back tyre pumped to 6/7 bar...dunno how accurate it is. It's a bit cheap and nasty if ya know what i mean.

jebidiah

claud butlers ftw, i got a levante 3 years ago and its fantan. just bring the bike to a shop and get them to sort it out

mloc123

Fingers Mcginty wrote:

The tyre is rated at 90 psi. I got a pump in ******looks around sheepishly***** ......Aldi and i have the back tyre pumped to 6/7 bar...dunno how accurate it is. It's a bit cheap and nasty if ya know what i mean.

Fair play getting it pumped to anything with that Aldi pump, I didn't have a chance.. the valve clamp kept popping off.

Fingers Mcginty

Seen as we're on the subject of buying 2nd hand bikes and all . There is a Trek 3500 in the buy and sell that i'm thinking of purchasing to bring the child around in. What do yiz reckon? here's the photo