Big Bike Thread

Jingo... · 4 Sep 2009 at 20:02

My pricings could be way out of course - I've just totted up the prices between what the shop have shown and evans cycles website.

Despite having a great love of XC many moons ago, I think i'd much prefer to either a) get it sorted by someone who really knows their stuff b) save a lot of hassle and go new.

As is life though, budget is the main hinderance.

Jonny ///M · 4 Sep 2009 at 20:17

I only ever charge 2.50 a cable on a service and never add on outers etc so £10 would give you full new inners and outers on your bike. The other prices are in line with what I'd charge for basic parts.

My saturday looks like it will be a nice day

SDK^ · 4 Sep 2009 at 20:22

Jingo... said:
I'm looking for a bike for my Lady who will be using it for nothing more than some like exercise/fitness around the roads/country lanes of North Somerset.

Specialized Myka Sport : £300 - sorted

Django x2 · 4 Sep 2009 at 20:23

Can anyone find me or link me to 2009 / 2010 Stroker Trail levers?

My Google skillz are failing me

Jonny ///M · 4 Sep 2009 at 20:31

This I think.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=19989

oddjob62 · 4 Sep 2009 at 20:40

Jingo... said:
In addition to me having to do this and potentially not very well... You see where I'm coming from?

Sorry... i misread... thought you were commenting on the high price charged by your LBS, not the cost in general.

Django x2 · 4 Sep 2009 at 20:43

Jonny ///M said:
This I think.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=19989

Hmm, no, they are the ones I already have (2008)

Jonny ///M · 4 Sep 2009 at 20:49

Can't see anything else that is any newer. You could try giving hotlines a ring or email as they're the distributor.

Jingo... · 4 Sep 2009 at 21:25

oddjob62 said:
Sorry... i misread... thought you were commenting on the high price charged by your LBS, not the cost in general.

No problem at all - I understand where you're coming from - I was just hoping for a cheap resolve.

SDK^ said:
Specialized Myka Sport : £300 - sorted

I'd love to have the budget of £300 as that's probably something I'd snap up, but as I have ~£100, I might just pick up a cheapy to see if it's something that will get more than 6 weeks use before gathering dust in the garage

If things do get well used then an investment purchase may be in order - fingers crossed for me!

Thank you all for your contributions

Josh107 · 4 Sep 2009 at 22:45

If you buy a piece of crap it will end up gathering dust in the garage, because it will be a chore to ride.

Buy a decent bike and you'll see what all the fuss is about and might actually enjoy it.

Draeger · 4 Sep 2009 at 22:48

Josh107 said:
If you buy a piece of crap it will end up gathering dust in the garage, because it will be a chore to ride.

Buy a decent bike and you'll see what all the fuss is about and might actually enjoy it.

Although it would appear at first to be a bit of a blunt and straight to the point comment/observation, I would totally agree with that.

Andelusion · 4 Sep 2009 at 22:51

Plus a cheaper bike might not be as safe to ride, especially if its a ~£100 Halfords piece of poo.

Jingo... · 4 Sep 2009 at 23:06

Josh107 said:
If you buy a piece of crap it will end up gathering dust in the garage, because it will be a chore to ride.

Buy a decent bike and you'll see what all the fuss is about and might actually enjoy it.

I know what all the fuss is about, hence the investment of my Marin - but it's one of those instances of finding the balance of not having to spend ~£300 to find she will not have time to cycle/can't be bothered when it's wet outside etc but I don't want her having something that will fall apart.

Her old bike - aka the shall I repair o matic - is an extremely old heavy raleigh so it's not like she'll get put off riding if it's not a Whyte/Orange etc.

Armadillo · 5 Sep 2009 at 00:33

Why is it no one lists the internal diameter at the end of bars?

Bought a set of bar plugs, don't fit in my bars, even with the screw fully undone the rubber thing is too fat. Second set of bars laying around, same. Third set of bars they drop right in, no fuss, nice and secure when done up, but come right out when undone.

So obviously not all the bars have the same internal diameter, yet no one lists it. The bars don't list their internal diameter and the bar ends don't list the diameter of the rubber before it's compressed. So even if I buy a another set of bars, it's going to be total luck whether they fit easily or not.

Why does no one list that info, even if just the bar ends had it listed it would save a lot of hassle.

Jonny ///M · 5 Sep 2009 at 02:10

I feel your pain, had FSA 300 bar and stem with hope bar ends which was all good. Now the bars on my big bike are some no name things and have like 5mm walls and the bar ends don't fit!

Armadillo · 5 Sep 2009 at 02:36

. Bars on mine are just the standard gt ones that come on an avalanche 3. Second set of bars they don't fit are some old club roost ones and set they go in are a set of Truvativ Hussefelt ones.

Just seems ridiculous that it aint listed, just that small bit of info would save so much hassle.

One way or another they are getting in the gt ones, they are just a tiny bit too big to fit in, so mini drill with grinding attachment is coming out tomorrow, gonna open the ends up a tiny bit. Bars are a bit battered anyway, so if I ruin them, don't really matter or might just sand the rubber down a bit.

ichabod crane · 5 Sep 2009 at 07:46

Jingo... said:
No problem at all - I understand where you're coming from - I was just hoping for a cheap resolve.

I'd love to have the budget of £300 as that's probably something I'd snap up, but as I have ~£100, I might just pick up a cheapy to see if it's something that will get more than 6 weeks use before gathering dust in the garage

If things do get well used then an investment purchase may be in order - fingers crossed for me!

Thank you all for your contributions

She is more likely to enjoy riding on a well designed ladies bike than a cheapo piece of steel? I forked out for the Myka for my better half and she loved it!

SDK^ · 5 Sep 2009 at 09:10

My girlfriend has a Myka and it's an impressive bike. I've even tried it out on a pump track and 4x circuit and it was smooth and fast.

His and hers Specialized bikes

oddjob62 · 5 Sep 2009 at 16:21

Finally finished of the front wheel for the fixed and gave the new geared a good testing this morning, so thought i'd take some pics

MrKnifey · 5 Sep 2009 at 18:33

Just picked up a second hand Giant Reign for some XC abuse. Will post pictures and spec up later

Cant wait to give it a thrash at Afan tomorrow