€200 - run around no fancy shizzle Advice

GinjaNinja

HHi all,

I'm trying to get my nephew a suprise bike for his 21st. In all the family have put together €200.

I've read a few of the thread and most fell sub 200 are cr*p, no worth the money etc.

So Im in a dilema. I'm reluctant to get something in halfrords, all tha appollo range.

All he need its something to go about 5k trips from home to friends town center etc.

He doesn't need 21 gears, or suspension. Hybrid is looking likely. But i'm a neewb and need some help.

Anyone any advice. BTW scheme is a not runner. so €200 it top budget.

Thanks.

Chris

Inquitus

GinjaNinja wrote: »

HHi all,

I'm trying to get my nephew a suprise bike for his 21st. In all the family have put together €200.

I've read a few of the thread and most fell sub 200 are cr*p, no worth the money etc.

So Im in a dilema. I'm reluctant to get something in halfrords, all tha appollo range.

All he need its something to go about 5k trips from home to friends town center etc.

He doesn't need 21 gears, or suspension. Hybrid is looking likely. But i'm a neewb and need some help.

Anyone any advice. BTW scheme is a not runner. so €200 it top budget.

Thanks.

Chris

You'll probably get a better bike for your money if you look at 2nd hand on adverts etc.

Kintarō Hattori

Inquitus wrote: »

You'll probably get a better bike for your money if you look at 2nd hand on adverts etc.

Definitely the way to go OP. You won't get a decent bike new for that money. Please please avoid anything you may see in places like Halfords etc.

Lumen

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

Please please avoid anything you may see in places like Halfords etc.

The Carrera stuff is reportedly fine. Halfords used to do a singlespeed Carrera Subway, but looks like it's discontinued.

A Subway 1 with an Axa discount wouldn't be too far off the budget.

Lock and lights will be another €50 or so, and they're essential.

Icyseanfitz

definitely look second hand op, for that money a new bike will be trouble

GinjaNinja

thanks all,

iu thought as much, second hand is not an option to be honest.

at least with a 120-200 pos. i can bring it back under warrenty, second had if anything breaks i'm goosed


any thoughts on

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/raleigh-urban-1-2010/

mcmoustache

Definitely go second-hand. There are a few places in or around town who sell them. If you're lucky, you might find a decent Trek, Giant or Specialized. Those brands are very reliable.

If anyone else here has any suggestions for good brands that are likely to appear in second-hand, it might be helpful to the OP. It would help him avoid picking up some crappy BSO.

Oldlegs

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

Definitely the way to go OP. You won't get a decent bike new for that money. Please please avoid anything you may see in places like Halfords etc.

I disagree with Kintaro. You get what you pay for.

Starting back cycling a few years back, bought an Apollo TdF road bike. (Very) low-end road bike - but it served me well and I had NO problems with it. It is still going strong and used regularly as an urban commuter (and by my brother(s) on some weekend spins).

As I understand it, you are looking at buying
a) a new bike as a present
b) a hybrid, as no real reason try to get a really cheap MTB or Road biek

Loads of people will probably jump at me for this one - http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_762061_langId_-1_categoryId_212377

But at €189, you probably won't to do much better elsewhere for a new bike (and IMO looks a bit better than then Raleigh).

Put the extra into a good lock - DO NOT GO FOR A CHEAP LOCK .

reallyunique

There's a shop on Camden St (near the corner with Kevin St.) which is selling a whole bunch of second hand bikes for about €125. They look a bit tatty but come serviced and will have some kind of warranty. Get proper mud-guards to keep the muck off and get two decent locks otherwise you're just getting a present for some scum-bag.
These bikes may be a bit to ragged for a present but at €200 you'll have a hard time getting something shiny

Dubba

Nothing wrong with this for a starter / run-around bike:

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_272635_langId_-1_categoryId_212536

Looks like the same spec. as a Giant Defy 4

Paul Kiernan

Oldlegs wrote: »

Loads of people will probably jump at me for this one - http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_762061_langId_-1_categoryId_212377

I'd avoid that bike. According to the spec it's got 700c tyres on 26" wheels. You'll never get them to stay on and will have to push the bike everywhere.

Tonyandthewhale

If you can stretch your budget to 285e then get the subway from halfords. Otherwise find something second hand. A warranty is nice but if you buy something like an apollo you could well be using that warranty every week and never get a chance to ride the damn bike. Better off getting something simple and solid second hand, maybe get it serviced in a bike shop first off and it'll be grand.

at1withmyself

Think Wiggle charge about 25 euro postage but if not then that bike is good value for the money being paid.

Halfords is what it is and I think this bike is fine for the money:

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_762061_langId_-1_categoryId_212377#dtab

You say its only for up and down to friends etc so I'd recommend that one. 200 isn't gonna get you much better second hand and you could end up with a lemon. I worked in a second hand shop for years and it broke my heart seeing the condition of some of the bikes coming through there as people weren't willing to spend money on fixing them up. In the end we started selling new cheap bikes and I would always advice getting new. However if you knew someone selling and the deal was genuine thats a different story.

For what the end user will be doing either one above will so the job, so long as he keeps it clean and oiled he'll get some good use out of the bike.

My 2c...

GinjaNinja wrote: »

thanks all,

iu thought as much, second hand is not an option to be honest.

at least with a 120-200 pos. i can bring it back under warrenty, second had if anything breaks i'm goosed


any thoughts on

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/raleigh-urban-1-2010/

easygoing39

€175 in Eurocycles

http://www.eurocycles.ie/Commuter/Gents_Hybrid_Bikes/Eurotrek_Bentley_Hybrid_Bike/3751_p.aspx

Alloy frame,alloy wheels,full mudguards,carrier and bullit-proof 3 speed Sturmey Archer gearhub!! Bargin

Tonyandthewhale

That one from eurocycles looks decent, haven't see it in real life or ever heard of bentley bikes before but sturmey archer 3 speed hub gears are a lot better than 18 or 21 shimano tourney ****e. I'd certainly go for that before that apollo piece of crap.

CianRyan

Well, it's made by Eurotrek who I have heard of but can't vouch for.

GinjaNinja

Thanks everyone so far

great advice.

So we have at the moment

1. Eurotrek Bently 175 (50% saving)
2. Halfords Apollo code - 190
3. wiggle option comming on over bugdet by €250(inc postage)


Hmm the opions. That Bently looks like a runner alright

droidus

GinjaNinja wrote: »

Thanks everyone so far

great advice.

So we have at the moment

1. Eurotrek Bently 175 (50% saving)
2. Halfords Apollo code - 190
3. wiggle option comming on over bugdet by €250(inc postage)


Hmm the opions. That Bently looks like a runner alright

I cant imagine any self respecting male 21 yr old would be happy with the Bently.

Have you thought about going to Rothar and looking for a nice singlespeed?

petethedrummer

ignore, wrong thread.

CianRyan

If it were me I'd go for the Raleigh Urban 1.
By far the best looking bike and at this price range there won't be too much difference in quality.
Apollo bikes always seem to be covered in terrible reviews, make of that what you will.

Darkglasses

reallyunique wrote: »

There's a shop on Camden St (near the corner with Kevin St.) which is selling a whole bunch of second hand bikes for about €125. They look a bit tatty but come serviced and will have some kind of warranty. Get proper mud-guards to keep the muck off and get two decent locks otherwise you're just getting a present for some scum-bag.
These bikes may be a bit to ragged for a present but at €200 you'll have a hard time getting something shiny

I'm currently riding one of those Aran Islands Bikes actually (I'm basically a first-time cyclist, only cycling between Harold's X and TCD). It's only ok, I wouldn't buy one again certainly. Everything's fine with it, except it has a very very annoying habit of changing gear up without warning by its own choice. I'm sure it could keep getting me from A to B for several years, but with less happiness than other cycles could get me. I'm getting shot of it come June (probably a freebie give-away). Seems a lot of TCD students have grabbed these bikes, I always see around 4 of them locked up in the college.

As a self-respecting 21 year old male, I would certainly trade it for that Bentley right now.

Newbie question - What does BSO stand for?

dayshah

The Bentley definitely looks the best option.

There are 2 things you should bare in mind when looking for reviews/opinions:

1) People who buy €200 bikes are generally new to cycling. There are some basic teething problems all bikes have after the first few weeks due to cables stretching. This is 100% normal, but some people give a bike a bad review just because they didn't give it the proper maintenance.

2) This is the sports section, so a lot of posters here are seriously into their bikes, and to honest, a bit snobby about it.

The Bentley definitely looks like a solid no frills bike.

GinjaNinja

So Thanks to everyone
I got the Bently Thanks easygoing39 for the heads up.

Bike itself is strong sturdy and comfortable.. 1 year gaurentee, 6 weeks free service. all in all looking like a great bargain. I'll keep you posted on the nephes progress but first impression are great value bike.

bigalthebaker

i myself bought one of these bentleys and have been plagued with problems for the past 6 months. I have had the bike serviced about 6 times and have recently discovered that the sturmey archer gear system has a fault that the threads on the bolt in back wheel are further apart than a normal thread, which causes the back wheel to slip as the nut just slides off the bolt. therefore i spend a lot of time putting the chain back on.

Do Not Buy a Eurotrek Bentley, spend a little extra and buy something decent