Challenge Crusade 26 Inch Hybrid Bike - Men's €127.99

Galway K9

A Hybrid at this price is incredible, let alone a Challenge

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/3323320.htm

bumper234

Galway K9 wrote: »

A Hybrid at this price is incredible, let alone a Challenge

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/3323320.htm

Save €12, hardly a bargain.

bikerboy_ie

Stock on this one isn't too bad. Most of us should be able to get on this one!

http://www.checkargos.com/StockCheckPage.php?productId=332%2F3320

Lemmy Scott

awful looking yoke-all your short is the priest from glenroe sitting on it

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

Lemmy Scott wrote: »

awful looking yoke-all your short is the priest from glenroe sitting on it

bro, can you even english?

deadybai

is this bike any good?

vicwatson

No way am I buying this - you have to pump up the tyres fully before using it, meh !

HomeBoyDeluxe

17KG is very heavy for a bike, however I am sure it would be comfortable to ride, and the thicker tires would be nice for the badly maintained roads.

sweetie

6 gears!!!

not bad for a work bike that wouldn't be a killer if robbed.

Going Forward

Anyone take the plunge yet?

comongethappy

Going Forward wrote: »

Anyone take the plunge yet?

My husband is thinking of getting a mid-range commuter & this could fit the bill.

Tempted.

Barr

This bike is half price. Is this not a better deal for the same money?

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/1448537/Trail/searchtext%3EBIKE+MENS.htm

uck51js9zml2yt

Barr wrote: »

This bike is half price. Is this not a better deal for the same money?

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/1448537/Trail/searchtext%3EBIKE+MENS.htm

Only if you need a mountain bike for off road. The springs make it heavy and see unnecessary for city life.

zom

Kieran Salmon Cracker wrote: »

Only if you need a mountain bike for off road. The springs make it heavy and see unnecessary for city life.

I wouldn't advice to anyone to use it off-road to be honest. It's a crap good for childern to play in the park. Too heavy, too delicate and not reliable enaught to go off-road - but that's what you expect for the price.
It can be although used for city life if you manage to fit some semi-slick tyres and mudguards. If you ride on relatively flat area like Dublin, its weight wouldn't be a big problem.

funkyjebus

Do not waste your money on this bike.

This is what is commonly referred to a BSO or Bike shaped Object. It is most likely make with poor quality parts that will fail easily and require costly repairs to bring them up to scratch.

You would be much better off spending about €200 on a second hand hybrid on adverts or even in the cycling forum on here. Any question feel free to ask us over on boards/cycling.

Going Forward

funkyjebus wrote: »

Do not waste your money on this bike.

This is what is commonly referred to a BSO or Bike shaped Object. It is most likely make with poor quality parts that will fail easily and require costly repairs to bring them up to scratch.

You would be much better off spending about €200 on a second hand hybrid on adverts or even in the cycling forum on here. Any question feel free to ask us over on boards/cycling.

You're advising people who know nothing about bikes to fork out E200 on a second hand bike, from the net?

The average punter must be quite bewildered by the sheer range of bikes available nowadays, and the likes of Argos and Halfords are to be commended for offering affordable options to the uninitiated.

These "Bike Shaped Objects" (how condescending is that?) are new, with a good warranty and are IMO intended as a cheap way to get people introduced or re introduced to cycling.

Most of the BSO problems related to the shortcomings of those trying to assemble them, coupled with the fact that those selling them hadn't a clue about them, forks back to front etc.

Much like what I'd expect to hear from a cabinet maker talking about Ikea.
Vested interests and all that.

BTW, there's a couple of bikes on the Raleigh website with no pedals on them, but that's just an oversight I suppose!

If a potential buyer has absolutely no mechanical experience or ability, then yes, putting one of these bike together properly and maintaining it will be a challenge.

Now for the moment of truth, I've just bought a Muddyfox Shout from Argos.

First opinions: Its Cheap: Shimano bottom of the range derailleur,(less than E20 on ebay to replace) it works, quite well, but it has plastic cogs. It does change precisely, hope it stays that way. I'll keep an eye on the cabling stretching as it beds in. And my asre is killing me, get a soft saddle FGS.

The front suspension is fairly useless compared to a mate's Raleigh, but I only intend using on tarmac.

The assembly would be quite difficult for someone who has no mechanical experience using the allen key and bike spanner supplied, but I have my own tools so that wasn't a problem.

Time will tell how good, in the sense of longevity this is, at the moment all I want to do is 5 or 6 miles a day; if I stick with through the next few months then I may well decide to invest in something a bit more expensive, or if this one keeps going I might not!

IMO it boils down to the experience and expectations of the cyclist, and purchaser, it's the same for a musician, a novice has to start somewhere and it's usually not going to be a top of the range instrument/bike.

Charlie19

Have this a week now and although I cant really compare it to much as I haven't had a bike since probably 1995. I find it to be grand, I've done just over 100KM but I have to say it is a bit on the heavy side.

I agree with Going Forward about the saddle, it can become very uncomfortable and I find myself cycling while standing for long periods.

Thirdly.. It could do with a few more high gears, there is about six gears that will never be used no matter how steep the hill is.

All in all, for €130 you cant go much wrong for a beginners bike.

BeGrand!

One thing to note, don't buy a bike with suspension (front and/or back) unless it has a lock out switch.

You do not need suspension for city cycling just a bit of common sense about what you should/shouldn't cycle into/over/off, there's nothing worse than peddling like a mad man or woman and getting nowhere cause the suspension is taking a lot of your energy.

Most cheaper mountain bikes with dual suspension allow you to lock out the rear but not the front, so bear that in mind, by lock out I mean make it firmer or completely prevent the shock from rebounding.

partyatmygaff

17KG is very heavy for a bike, especially a hybrid. I've seen cheaper mountain bikes below 15KG.

I suppose it'll do if you don't plan on cycling uphill that often.

Thargor

Going Forward wrote: »

You're advising people who know nothing about bikes to fork out E200 on a second hand bike, from the net?

The average punter must be quite bewildered by the sheer range of bikes available nowadays, and the likes of Argos and Halfords are to be commended for offering affordable options to the uninitiated.

These "Bike Shaped Objects" (how condescending is that?) are new, with a good warranty and are IMO intended as a cheap way to get people introduced or re introduced to cycling.

Most of the BSO problems related to the shortcomings of those trying to assemble them, coupled with the fact that those selling them hadn't a clue about them, forks back to front etc.

Much like what I'd expect to hear from a cabinet maker talking about Ikea.
Vested interests and all that.

BTW, there's a couple of bikes on the Raleigh website with no pedals on them, but that's just an oversight I suppose!

If a potential buyer has absolutely no mechanical experience or ability, then yes, putting one of these bike together properly and maintaining it will be a challenge.

Now for the moment of truth, I've just bought a Muddyfox Shout from Argos.

First opinions: Its Cheap: Shimano bottom of the range derailleur,(less than E20 on ebay to replace) it works, quite well, but it has plastic cogs. It does change precisely, hope it stays that way. I'll keep an eye on the cabling stretching as it beds in. And my asre is killing me, get a soft saddle FGS.

The front suspension is fairly useless compared to a mate's Raleigh, but I only intend using on tarmac.

The assembly would be quite difficult for someone who has no mechanical experience using the allen key and bike spanner supplied, but I have my own tools so that wasn't a problem.

Time will tell how good, in the sense of longevity this is, at the moment all I want to do is 5 or 6 miles a day; if I stick with through the next few months then I may well decide to invest in something a bit more expensive, or if this one keeps going I might not!

IMO it boils down to the experience and expectations of the cyclist, and purchaser, it's the same for a musician, a novice has to start somewhere and it's usually not going to be a top of the range instrument/bike.

He's not being a coffee or fashion snob where opinion is subjective, its a bike, you want to get the best engineering you can for your money because its the difference between an enjoyable experience that you'll want to stick with or a horrible one that will be painful to use. Nobody who cycles regularly would touch this bike, 17KG is ridiculous.