Cheap commuting bike?

Pride Fighter

Anybody know of any deals for a cheap commuting bike? My price range is 90-150 euro. Many thanks for any replies.

Lumen

The only way you'll get a usable bike that cheap is to buy used (or spend the money on boltcroppers and steal one).

http://www.southcoastbikes.co.uk/articles.asp?article=NO_BSO
http://www.thecyclingexperts.co.uk/buying-a-bike/the-bicycle-shaped-object/
http://www.outrider.org.uk/wiki/Bike_Shaped_Object

On the upside, a BSO may get stolen before it goes wrong.

rubadub

Has to be second hand. It is a false economy getting a cheap bike. If you are commuting you are going to be doing mileage, the €100 bikes you see are fit for a spin on the odd summers day. They are horrible to cycle and do not last pissing time. It would be like getting plastic bags to wear on your feet to walk to work! uncomfortable and will not last, fit to run outside in once though...

Great deals can be got online for new bikes, and you could avail of the tax back thing for true commuters.

Pride Fighter

rubadub wrote: »

Has to be second hand. It is a false economy getting a cheap bike. If you are commuting you are going to be doing mileage, the €100 bikes you see are fit for a spin on the odd summers day. They are horrible to cycle and do not last pissing time. It would be like getting plastic bags to wear on your feet to walk to work! uncomfortable and will not last, fit to run outside in once though...

Great deals can be got online for new bikes, and you could avail of the tax back thing for true commuters.

Thanks for the response, I'm a poor student. I get the Luas and bus to UCD every day but cause the ticket prices have gone up over 10% to 84 euro per month I'm never getting it again. Can a student avail of the tax back? I thought you had to be employed for that.

DirkVoodoo

I don't think students come under the "cycling to work scheme". Shame Really. Maybe a tax free price to get more students cycling would be helpful, but your college is probably more eager to strike a deal with Dell and sell you an overpriced laptop.

If you spend 84 a month on a ticket, maybe allow the rest of the term months as your budget then and get a loan from a friend/relative/bank(?).

Assuming you finish in May, that gives you €340 to put on a bike. It's a more realistic budget and the advice the lads gave you above is spot on, you will regret buying a BSO very quickly when it all starts to go wrong. Don't forget you will need lights and a lock at the very minimum, so that's another few euro gone from a potential bike.

Think of something along these lines: Giant CRS 4.0

If you find one secondhand then all the better.

DirkVoodoo

Keep an eye out on adverts.ie too: Bike or this one.

Tayto2000

CRC were doing some great deals on BeOne bikes from the Netherlands (The Land of Cycling!) but I think they've gone back up a little bit now... Their most basic road bike would make a great commuter ride and has decent components:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=25456

Good prices on city bikes too if you don't want to go down the dropped handlebars route...

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=32090

Since you're in UCD, don't forget to budget for a stonking great lock too

Knifey_Spooney

I second the lock suggestion, UCD is silly for theft. I lost 2 bikes over 2 years. I don't think I know anyone who cycles who hasn't had at least one incident and that's even with a decent lock, when I bought my first good bike (over a d grand) I used to lock it up in my lab. If your in 3rd/4th year or a postgrad on good terms with your department I'd seriously suggest chatting to someone about putting it inside somewhere.

cipo

hey

coincidence, i ve decided to sell my commuting bike.

its an old steel racing frame in great condition.

reynolds 653 tubing which im told was top of the range back then !!!

its a cougar in red with mavic cxp22 wheels that are in good condition.
tiagra front brake, i placed old tiagra STIs on for comfort and just cos they were lying about
its a singlespeed freewheel which i changed using spacers...
http://www.londonfixiebike.co.uk/ssspacers.html

pics available just pm me your email address.

i need a fairly quick sale so offers over 200euro......

i think this is a great price, if you re interested i ll send pics and i think you ll agree on the good price too

Dave

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2112/1/123/1419600789/n1419600789_30215396

not sure if pic will work.... thought id give it a try !!

DirkVoodoo

Might be interested myself, can you send me a pic?

cipo

sure.

prob best to attach to an email as im not sure how to get one up on here !!!

you wanna pm me your email and i ll send em straight away !!

Dave