halfords bikes

hohojojo

just a short note i bought a cheap bike in halfords last week ie a trax bike after one day i brought it back and had it replaced as there was a problem with the brakes and gears and one other problem with the bottom braket axil (pedal axil) they would slip about 5 mil every so often

so that was grand had the new bike for a day when i had to bring it back with the same problem with the pedals and one of my tubes burst which i got fixed and the chap tightened up the pedals now they could not see any reason for the tub to burst except around a four inch hole in the tube which had appeared from being in the back of my van with nothing near it

now just to say the lads in the shop were great tried their best to help

but on saturday i rang to shop and told them the brakes were half pulled all the time and the gear were just gone completely loose and the pedals had not stopped slipping

now i only got a bike again after about 10 years and was a bit nerves and this wasn't helping

so i just said i'd tell anyone who is thinking of buying one of these trax bike not to .......

i hope this helps someone else as it is impossible to get a refund from halfords

ednwireland

dont think you'll get any argument on here, the cheap halfords (and anywhere else for that matter ) are for taking home and throwing in your backyard, they are commonluy know as BSO's (bicycle shaped objects)
only the carrera and boardman ranges are worth looking at halfords.

yet people still think you can buy a decent bike for less tha 100 euro - go figure (i darent even like to think what ive spent in parts in 30 years of cycling, probably more than i have on cars.

RobFowl

ednwireland wrote: »

dont think you'll get any argument on here, the cheap halfords (and anywhere else for that matter ) are for taking home and throwing in your backyard, they are commonluy know as BSO's (bicycle shaped objects)
only the carrera and boardman ranges are worth looking at halfords.

yet people still think you can buy a decent bike for less tha 100 euro - go figure (i darent even like to think what ive spent in parts in 30 years of cycling, probably more than i have on cars.

The Kona's are quite good too ....

Otherwise agree totally, spend 100 Euro on a bike and you will get what you pay for.

Lumen

Some of the problems you describe (e.g. inner tube puncture, gear adjustment) are part and parcel of cycling.

However, assuming you bought this it's not surprising. It's a piece of junk, and I pity the Halfords staff who have to keep it running.

Super cheap bikes are a false economy.

Come here first next time.

fran oconnor

Lumen wrote: »

Some of the problems you describe (e.g. inner tube puncture, gear adjustment) are part and parcel of cycling.

However, assuming you bought this it's not surprising. It's a piece of junk, and I pity the Halfords staff who have to keep it running.

Super cheap bikes are a false economy.

Come here first next time.

that looks like a blind man put it together sorry:eek:..

iregk

In fairness not all halfords bikes are crap. This one for instance is great value:

Boardman

.danindudlin

You really do get what u pay for but I have to say I bought this bike (shame) last april and its still in one piece after doing about 20k on it every day for 9 months . . . then the cycle to work scheme came in and lets just say I moved up a little in the world I would slate it expect for the fact I paid €100 for it in a sale and it saved me over €600 on bus fares

Jawgap

I think the relevant bit from the OP's post is "I bought a cheap bike....."

A cheap bike from anywhere is going to be cheap (unsurprisingly).

I have a Boardman and love it - and when it needs work I bring it to Halfords but there's only one guy in the local branch I'll let near it - the rest of the staff are decent and helpful but I'd question their knowledge.

I find Halfords fine, but you have to know what you want......


.......and they lend out pumps!

ednwireland

.danindudlin wrote: »

You really do get what u pay for but I have to say I bought this bike (shame) last april and its still in one piece after doing about 20k on it every day for 9 months . . . then the cycle to work scheme came in and lets just say I moved up a little in the world I would slate it expect for the fact I paid €100 for it in a sale and it saved me over €600 on bus fares

sometimes you just get lucky

bryaner

ednwireland wrote: »

dont think you'll get any argument on here, the cheap halfords (and anywhere else for that matter ) are for taking home and throwing in your backyard, they are commonluy know as BSO's (bicycle shaped objects)
only the carrera and boardman ranges are worth looking at halfords.

yet people still think you can buy a decent bike for less tha 100 euro - go figure (i darent even like to think what ive spent in parts in 30 years of cycling, probably more than i have on cars.

GT ???

fran oconnor

iregk wrote: »

In fairness not all halfords bikes are crap. This one for instance is great value:

Boardman

i have the comp myself,and its a grand bike.mind you its my first road bike,bought it last year and no problems with it yet..

bryaner

Yea they sell boardman, GT, kona and carrera the last being halfords

own high end brand. Obviously none of these being obtainable for €100-€200

In the end it's the classic case of penny wise and pound stupid €350 will get

a decent bike with them and will give years of service. But I have never seen

such unmotivated staff,

recently I was in was in the market for a new bike and was looking at the

Carrera vulcan in halfords it was €330 but £260 in halfords up north (approx

€290). In I go to my local halfords offering €300 for the bike explaining that

it was cheaper up north but I would prefer to deal with my local branch if

they could sell it to me for what I was offering, not a budge even with the

manager called, so chainreactions got my money and saved me €50

ednwireland

bryaner wrote: »

GT ???

yeh allright they sell other brands as well i just didnt want to go looking and list all the brands that halfords sell just pointing out the decent halfords own brands. if you want to list every brand that halfords sell by all means do. (preferably in one post so we can get it over and done with)

and yes my 2nd proper bike was a 10 speed racer by raleigh bought from guess where ? yes halfords and it was sh1t not that i knew that at the time