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good deal on a bicycle

  • 02-12-2008 2:53pm
    #1
    Wheels
    Closed Accounts Posts: 336 ✭✭


    I've finally gotten fed up with Dubiln Bus so I'm thinking of investing in a bike to cycle from Fairview to Ranelagh. I am thinking if I go down Amien street, over the bridge, through Fitz William Sq, through Leeason Street and up H'Appean Way I'll do it in half an hour/40minutes.

    I want a good bike though and don't know where to start or how much to spend. I cycled every where as a kid but my bike developed a problem of the break pads slipping under the wheel and not allowing me to stop. A few near misses and crashes really put me off it. So I want to make sure I don't hit a similar problem.

    Any advice on what I should and shouldn't go for? Are folding bikes any good? I was hoping to spend under 300euro but it looks like there's not a hope if I want something decent. I'd also need to be wearing jeans and regular clothes.


Comments

  • #2
    72hundred
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,333 ✭✭✭72hundred


    This topic comes up alot, and thankfully so as it shows more ppl are cycling!

    Here's some general info that can be found on the wiki:
    http://wiki.boards.ie/wiki/Commuting_by_bicycle
    http://wiki.boards.ie/wiki/Buying_a_bicycle


    Best of luck!


    PS: The safest way to cycle is imagine you're invisible to other road users!!!


  • #3
    CianRyan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,721 ✭✭✭✭CianRyan


    72hundred wrote: »
    you're invisible to other road users!!!

    Well to drivers anyway...


  • #4
    Wheels
    Closed Accounts Posts: 336 ✭✭Wheels


    Anyone have any thoughts on folding bikes? They worth it?


  • #5
    Lumen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,222 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    Wheels wrote: »
    Anyone have any thoughts on folding bikes? They worth it?

    Do you need it to fold?

    If not, don't bother. :pac:


  • #6
    hunnymonster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,365 ✭✭✭hunnymonster


    Also look into the new tax scheme for cycling to work.


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  • #7
    blorg
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,995 ✭✭✭✭blorg


    Lumen wrote: »
    Do you need it to fold?

    If not, don't bother. :pac:
    This is good advice, you pay a lot more for a decent folding bike and they don't work quite as well. No point if you don't need it.


  • #8
    Chris Peak
    Closed Accounts Posts: 216 ✭✭Chris Peak


    blorg wrote: »
    This is good advice, you pay a lot more for a decent folding bike and they don't work quite as well. No point if you don't need it.

    That's true. They're only good for trying to sneak onto the DART. Otherwise, they're mostly rubbish.


  • #9
    blorg
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,995 ✭✭✭✭blorg


    The more expensive folders are definitely decent; I test rode a Dahon that Penexpers ended up buying and it was a nice ride, definitely up to a commute. RRP on that was over €1,000 mind, it was on offer at around half that; only didn't buy it because asking myself "do I actually need a folding bike" came back negative and I have five other bikes already. (Penexpers has enough other weird and wonderful bikes but he lives in Kildare where they have vast plains.)

    Bottom line, if you actually need a folder (e.g. you have a cycle-train-cycle commute) you can get a good one, but you will pay around twice the price to get something comparable to a non-folder.


  • #10
    Chris Peak
    Closed Accounts Posts: 216 ✭✭Chris Peak


    blorg wrote: »
    The more expensive folders are definitely decent; I test rode a Dahon that Penexpers ended up buying and it was a nice ride, definitely up to a commute. RRP on that was over €1,000 :eek: mind, it was on offer at around half that; only didn't buy it because asking myself "do I actually need a folding bike" came back negative and I have five other bikes already. (Penexpers has enough other weird and wonderful bikes but he lives in Kildare where they have vast plains.)

    Bottom line, if you actually need a folder (e.g. you have a cycle-train-cycle commute) you can get a good one, but you will pay around twice the price to get something comparable to a non-folder.

    That is the problem isn’t it? You have to pay so much more for them. In my opinion they just aren’t worth it.


  • #11
    maninasia
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,633 ✭✭✭maninasia


    Well they are not all 1000 euro, you can get a fairly good one for 500 euro, the build and design quality of folding bikes these days is far better than before.


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  • #12
    penexpers
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,038 ✭✭✭penexpers


    maninasia wrote: »
    Well they are not all 1000 euro, you can get a fairly good one for 500 euro, the build and design quality of folding bikes these days is far better than before.

    TBH I wouldn't touch any folders that have an RRP of under 800 euro. I have a cheap Dahon too (Dahon Speed D7) and the headset on it fell apart after about 3 months, whereas the Smooth Hound hasn't given me any trouble so far.


  • #13
    D!armu!d
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 249 ✭✭D!armu!d


    Wheels wrote: »
    I'd also need to be wearing jeans and regular clothes.

    You'd be better off bringing a change of gear with you, especially if going for more than a couple of miles. Getting changed in the toilets is a pain, but is worth it!


  • #14
    Donny5
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,827 ✭✭✭Donny5


    Wheels wrote: »
    Any advice on what I should and shouldn't go for? Are folding bikes any good? I was hoping to spend under 300euro but it looks like there's not a hope if I want something decent. I'd also need to be wearing jeans and regular clothes.

    Second hand, maybe?


  • #15
    CianRyan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,721 ✭✭✭✭CianRyan


    I'd recomend second hand, better bang for the buck!

    http://www.adverts.ie/showcat.php?cat=52
    Plenty of bikes in there, find one to suit.


  • #16
    jimmycrackcorm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,378 ✭✭✭✭jimmycrackcorm


    Wheels wrote: »
    Anyone have any thoughts on folding bikes? They worth it?

    I've hit more pedestrians walking into cycle lanes without looking than anything else.


  • #17
    Donny5
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,827 ✭✭✭Donny5


    jimmycrackcorm wrote: »
    I've hit more pedestrians walking into cycle lanes without looking than anything else.

    That's the non-sequitor for the day!


  • #18
    drcopernicus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭drcopernicus


    Wheels wrote: »
    I was hoping to spend under 300euro but it looks like there's not a hope if I want something decent. I'd also need to be wearing jeans and regular clothes.


    I got a "eurotrek" hybrid for 300 including mudguards in eurocycles in February. I'm very happy with it. It's not very heavy and it has great wheels. I wanted something that wouldn't break my heart if it got nicked.

    With sterling in the toilet, you can pick up some great bikes at that price now anyway, so it's worth looking online.

    I have no idea where you'd pick up a secondhand bike in Dublin although they sometimes crop up on the boards.

    Your proposed commute isn't very far and I'd say you'll find it won't take you as long as you reckon. I cycle in a suit although I'm only on the bike for ten minutes max. Get a wicking t-shirt and keep an ironed shirt in a ziplock medium sized sandwich bag. Squeeze the air out of the bag and the shirt will still be in good shape when you take it out of your satchel.

    I recommend a satchel over a rugsack for commute btw. Less sweat inducing.

    Your jeans will get destroyed by the chain so it's worth considering a chainguard or just get clips.


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