cd.thomson
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| posted on 27/3/10 at 08:41 AM |
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bike commited suicide!
Need to buy a new one this weekend but I'm on the bread line. Trying to decide between a cheap bike from a specialist (Claud Butler) or a cheap
bike from halfords (Carrera).
Claud Butler Courier Sport (Singlespeed fixed gear)
Claud Butler Criterium
Carrera Virtuoso
All are £299 with the virtuoso actually scoring higher on the bike radar review than the criterium.
Opinions please
Craig
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Myke 2463
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| posted on 27/3/10 at 09:07 AM |
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Halfords have 50% off some bikes this weekend.
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Paul TigerB6
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| posted on 27/3/10 at 09:08 AM |
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not surprised it broke - that chain is a disgrace. They need lubricating eventually you know!! 
Singlespeed should be fine if you only ride on the flat.
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cd.thomson
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| posted on 27/3/10 at 09:10 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Paul TigerB6
not surprised it broke - that chain is a disgrace. They need lubricating eventually you know!!
Singlespeed should be fine if you only ride on the flat.
lol yes, although thats not why it broke.
the chain needed replacing not lubricating! I'd only had this bike a little over a month and came in a shocking state... hence why wanting to
fork out for something better
Craig
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Steve Hignett
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| posted on 27/3/10 at 09:12 AM |
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Do you have a Decathlon store near you?
They often have good offers on InStore
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/sport-1-54-57-69567468/
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adithorp
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| posted on 27/3/10 at 09:27 AM |
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Steve is right, Decatlon have some good deals. Thier huge buying power gets them the best prices. EvansCycles also have some decent priced deals and
they tend to be better quality products than Halfords.
You are aware that the "singlespeed" is fixed gear, ie. no freewheel, aren't you?
Get the best you can afford. £299 bikes are toys but a £599 bike for £299 is a lot better. Cheap quality will just make life hard. If you're
thinking of using it year round look for something you can get mudgaurds on; It'll make it a LOT more usable for our weather.
"A witty saying proves nothing" Voltaire
http://jpsc.org.uk/forum/
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AdamR
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| posted on 27/3/10 at 09:56 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by adithorp
You are aware that the "singlespeed" is fixed gear, ie. no freewheel, aren't you?
Not necessarily. Most have a "flip flop" arrangement where you can switch between fixed and freewheel.
I'm also in the market for a cheapish road bike btw, so interested in replies.
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Peteff
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| posted on 27/3/10 at 10:05 AM |
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It's only the chain and dérailleur, about £20 would see it fixed then get a tin of paint and oil it in future.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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adithorp
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| posted on 27/3/10 at 10:48 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by AdamR
quote:
Originally posted by adithorp
You are aware that the "singlespeed" is fixed gear, ie. no freewheel, aren't you?
Not necessarily. Most have a "flip flop" arrangement where you can switch between fixed and freewheel.
I'm also in the market for a cheapish road bike btw, so interested in replies.
That one does indeed have both free and fixed sprokets. Having looked at a lot (i love fixed wheel) I'd say "most" is pushing it a
bit.
adrian
"A witty saying proves nothing" Voltaire
http://jpsc.org.uk/forum/
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StrikerChris
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| posted on 27/3/10 at 11:35 AM |
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you know anyone with a cycle to work initiative thingy?somehow it fiddles your tax and saves some pennies?and you dont actually have to bother cycling
to work!
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indykid
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| posted on 27/3/10 at 11:39 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by StrikerChris
you know anyone with a cycle to work initiative thingy?somehow it fiddles your tax and saves some pennies?and you dont actually have to bother cycling
to work!
but they'd have to pay for your bike in deductions out of their wage......makes for a cheap bike but i can't think of many of my friends
who'd consider it 
tom
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cd.thomson
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| posted on 27/3/10 at 11:45 AM |
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after looking around this morning I have just purchased a carrera virtuoso from halfords.
My local claud butler store didn't have either of the bikes in stock and the other cycling shop I visited laughed in my face when I asked for a
sub-£500 road bike. Also 12 miles a day on fixed wheel single speed could be a bit of trial.
Picking it up later
Cycle to work is a good scheme if you have a permanent job, but I'm leaving for uni in september
[Edited on 27/3/10 by cd.thomson]
Craig
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adithorp
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| posted on 27/3/10 at 12:09 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by cd.thomson
after looking around this morning I have just purchased a carrera virtuoso from halfords.
My local claud butler store didn't have either of the bikes in stock and the other cycling shop I visited laughed in my face when I asked for a
sub-£500 road bike. Also 12 miles a day on fixed wheel single speed could be a bit of trial.
Picking it up later
Cycle to work is a good scheme if you have a permanent job, but I'm leaving for uni in september
[Edited on 27/3/10 by cd.thomson]
12 miles a day sound perfect for fixed. It's only when you do a 4 hour round trip that it gets to you! An advantage of fixed is that should
anybody knick it they tend to fall off the first time they try to slow down.
"A witty saying proves nothing" Voltaire
http://jpsc.org.uk/forum/
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 27/3/10 at 01:03 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by cd.thomson
after looking around this morning I have just purchased a carrera virtuoso from halfords.
I think you could have done a lot worse to be honest, my brother reckons these are pretty decent bikes.
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iDENTITi
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| posted on 27/3/10 at 01:15 PM |
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I'll add my comment, after the fact.
I used to be a bike mechanic for halfrauds, I probably wouldn't buy a bike they'd built..
Long story short, check every bolt possible and locktight the crank bolts! (they fall out)
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Staple balls
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| posted on 27/3/10 at 01:52 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by iDENTITi
I'll add my comment, after the fact.
I used to be a bike mechanic for halfrauds, I probably wouldn't buy a bike they'd built..
Long story short, check every bolt possible and locktight the crank bolts! (they fall out)
Also worth checking they're tight every time you ride for a few weeks, as the cranks tend to bed in a bit when they're new (assuming
square taper ones)
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iDENTITi
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| posted on 27/3/10 at 02:43 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Staple balls
quote:
Originally posted by iDENTITi
I'll add my comment, after the fact.
I used to be a bike mechanic for halfrauds, I probably wouldn't buy a bike they'd built..
Long story short, check every bolt possible and locktight the crank bolts! (they fall out)
Also worth checking they're tight every time you ride for a few weeks, as the cranks tend to bed in a bit when they're new (assuming
square taper ones)
Indeed it is.. I just don't trust the spanner monkeys they employ nor the managers attitude towards safety. I was removed from working on bikes
because I actually spent time doing it properly, and loctiting everything up.
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Staple balls
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| posted on 27/3/10 at 02:45 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by iDENTITi
Indeed it is.. I just don't trust the spanner monkeys they employ nor the managers attitude towards safety. I was removed from working on bikes
because I actually spent time doing it properly, and loctiting everything up.
I'm not surprised, I've seen far too many halfords bikes that've needed putting back together after 2 weeks.
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02GF74
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| posted on 27/3/10 at 04:33 PM |
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nice one; that looks pretty decent.
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iDENTITi
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| posted on 27/3/10 at 05:33 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Staple balls
I'm not surprised, I've seen far too many halfords bikes that've needed putting back together after 2 weeks.
I've had to put far too many of those bikes back together... And heard a fair few horror stories too. Ones involving people in hospital...
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morcus
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| posted on 27/3/10 at 09:12 PM |
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I thought a fixed gear bike was one with just one speed and one without a free wheel was a fixed wheel bike?
I've got friends with bikes that can't free wheel and they all say it does great stuff for your muscles and you get more control with
slowing it down.
In a White Room, With Black Curtains, By the Station.
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AdamR
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| posted on 30/3/10 at 06:31 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by morcus
I thought a fixed gear bike was one with just one speed and one without a free wheel was a fixed wheel bike?
I've got friends with bikes that can't free wheel and they all say it does great stuff for your muscles and you get more control with
slowing it down.
Two terms tend to be used:
Single-speed = has a single gear (obviously)
Fixed-wheel/fixie = no freewheel
A lot of single-speed/fixie bikes support both modes, as mentioned above.
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adithorp
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| posted on 30/3/10 at 10:56 PM |
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Please, please, please... don't say fixie. It's an Americanism. It deserves the same treatment as color, climate and a whole host of other
abominations.
I've ridden fixed alongside the best riders in the world and they'd all say, a bike with a fixed single gear is's a FIXED, not a
fixie!
adrian
"A witty saying proves nothing" Voltaire
http://jpsc.org.uk/forum/
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