Cheap mountain bikes
15 March 2011, 11:54 AM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Cheap mountain bikes
Looking to get myself and the wife a cheap bike each for some excercise and a bit of fresh air on local bike paths (that's off road just to make it clear to the bike haters 
). Apart from Halfords/Argos/Tescos/Amazon is there anywhere else that does cheapo bikes that will last more than 5 minutes?
I've looked in local specialist bike shops and they are expensive, geared up for the enthusiast and not stocked up with bikes for cheap entry level which points me back to Halfords again.
I missed out on this:
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/raleigh-overdrive-09-p96785
as there is no stock anywhere and that's the sort of thing i'd like - a brand at a non brand price!
My current bike is a 23 year old Rayleigh mountain bike rusted to bits in the shed - frame's ok but chain is knackered and so will the tyres and brakes be so best off chucking it out at the tip I guess.
). Apart from Halfords/Argos/Tescos/Amazon is there anywhere else that does cheapo bikes that will last more than 5 minutes?I've looked in local specialist bike shops and they are expensive, geared up for the enthusiast and not stocked up with bikes for cheap entry level which points me back to Halfords again.
I missed out on this:
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/raleigh-overdrive-09-p96785
as there is no stock anywhere and that's the sort of thing i'd like - a brand at a non brand price!
My current bike is a 23 year old Rayleigh mountain bike rusted to bits in the shed - frame's ok but chain is knackered and so will the tyres and brakes be so best off chucking it out at the tip I guess.
Last edited by Bravo2zero_sps; 15 March 2011 at 11:57 AM.
15 March 2011, 12:04 PM
#2
You could try these, but it depends on how much you want to spend really. I suppose the likes of Halfords would have the cheapest readily available options.
www.chainreactioncycles.com
www.chainreactioncycles.com
15 March 2011, 12:20 PM
#4
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: A big town with sh1t shops: Northampton
Posts: 21,366
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would say don't buy cheap, you'll not ride them cos they're heavy and not very well made, but people don't want to hear that! My MTB was "cheap" at £600. I liked one which was twice that and the rest! 
15 March 2011, 12:26 PM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Cheap's the only option i'm afraid as far more important things to spend cash on. The deal above for £100 is the sort of thing i'm looking for as it's heavily discounted to the same price as a Halfords bottom of the range one and going to be far better, well much lighter anyway.
15 March 2011, 12:31 PM
#6
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 1999
Posts: 779
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So first off do not go near chain reaction at the mo. They are having a major security problem with cards currently. How much do you want to spend is key. Paulscycles.co.uk are worth looking at for some old model deals. Also if you are near a decathlon store them they have some good offers
15 March 2011, 12:39 PM
#7
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: A big town with sh1t shops: Northampton
Posts: 21,366
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Or buy second hand. Like you, there will be people out there who think buying a bike will do them good, then they sit in the garage for years, gathering dust until one day they think they're never going to use it again and then advertise it for sale! 
Trending Topics
15 March 2011, 12:53 PM
#11
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: A big town with sh1t shops: Northampton
Posts: 21,366
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
15 March 2011, 01:05 PM
#14
I'd definitely go to Halfords, their stuff is pretty good on a budget, plus you can see it, feel how heavy it is and look at the build quality.
TBH, you need a decent light-ish frame, and decent wheels. The other components are readily and cheaply(ish) replaceable when they do wear out/break.
Or look on e-bay for someone upgrading after a year or so.
My lad, for example, just bought an £800 trials bike, under two years old, off e-bay for under £200, it wanted the brakes bled and a new rear tyre, £25.
As far as frames are concerned:
Alloy: lighter, (than all but the BEST steel ones), but stiff so can be a harsh ride.
Steel: springier, but tending to heavy and can rust.
Look for METAL V-brakes, stainless spokes,TRY the saddle, TRY the fit, as regards reach and riding position.
TBH, you need a decent light-ish frame, and decent wheels. The other components are readily and cheaply(ish) replaceable when they do wear out/break.
Or look on e-bay for someone upgrading after a year or so.
My lad, for example, just bought an £800 trials bike, under two years old, off e-bay for under £200, it wanted the brakes bled and a new rear tyre, £25.
As far as frames are concerned:
Alloy: lighter, (than all but the BEST steel ones), but stiff so can be a harsh ride.
Steel: springier, but tending to heavy and can rust.
Look for METAL V-brakes, stainless spokes,TRY the saddle, TRY the fit, as regards reach and riding position.
15 March 2011, 01:06 PM
#15
ive a friend that trades in mountain bikes, if you send me a pm ile forward you some details, I should of thought you would get two top spec bikes for around £200. these are bikes that are returned with slight problems, he buys hundreds of them and makes good bikes from the bits
15 March 2011, 01:15 PM
#16
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: A big town with sh1t shops: Northampton
Posts: 21,366
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ive a friend that trades in mountain bikes, if you send me a pm ile forward you some details, I should of thought you would get two top spec bikes for around £200. these are bikes that are returned with slight problems, he buys hundreds of them and makes good bikes from the bits
Are you saying you're friends with someone who likes BIKES???
15 March 2011, 01:19 PM
#18
Guest
Posts: n/a
Thanks for the replies so far. For example seen a Rayleigh mountain bike (an established brand with how long they have been around) shimano gears etc so is the issue with this the weight of it compared to the more expensive brands because it's a steel frame?
15 March 2011, 01:34 PM
#20
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Edinburgh (ish)
Posts: 8,089
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Alcazar's post was good. And yes, cheaper bikes tend to be heavier, the lighter the better for those hills.
I would say the main thing is to keep it simple - don't get anything with full suspension on a burget as you will end up with a weighty pogo stick!
If it was me I'd go for a base level Giant for about £200, with front suspension fork and v brakes. The Raleigh may well be fine though.
HTH
Andy
15 March 2011, 01:39 PM
#22
Dont buy the absolute cheapest, would aim for a known brand's cheaper range and dont go for anything with suspension, disk brakes or any other fancy features, they really cant do a full suspension Mountain Bike with disks for £79.99, I reckon £200 is about the right price point but the real value is in buying the second hand garage ornaments people have tucked away, dont buy one off me as it will look nice and clean but will have a knackered drivetrain, some crap tyres bunged on to sell, worn hubs etc, so dont buy off anyone who actually uses them !
You can get great value for ones that need a little work, like fixing punctures as it seems too comlicated for most of the population, I got my last MTB for peanuts off a young guy locally as he had "run out of ideas" about fixing the puncture and didnt have time, so I picked it up from his workplace (kitchens of a local bistro on min wage) for £150, it was worth over £200 but no bids on bay due to the flat tyre, he sold it as unloading a can of slime into the tyre didnt work !
You can get great value for ones that need a little work, like fixing punctures as it seems too comlicated for most of the population, I got my last MTB for peanuts off a young guy locally as he had "run out of ideas" about fixing the puncture and didnt have time, so I picked it up from his workplace (kitchens of a local bistro on min wage) for £150, it was worth over £200 but no bids on bay due to the flat tyre, he sold it as unloading a can of slime into the tyre didnt work !
15 March 2011, 01:41 PM
#23
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Bring back infractions!
Posts: 4,554
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Any new £100 bike will be pretty cr*p but will work and if you're happy with that then go for it. Riding around on any bike is better than no bike. Around £400-500 would buy you a good quality, new, entry level mountain bike. Look at the lower ends of the ranges that Trek, Specialized, Scott, Marin, etc. sell. Alternatively go second hand, there are a lot of enthusiasts out there who like to have the latest kit so their old bikes are often sold with only a few years wear on eBay etc.
15 March 2011, 01:42 PM
#24
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Edinburgh (ish)
Posts: 8,089
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You can get great value for ones that need a little work, like fixing punctures as it seems too comlicated for most of the population, I got my last MTB for peanuts off a young guy locally as he had "run out of ideas" about fixing the puncture and didnt have time, so I picked it up from his workplace (kitchens of a local bistro on min wage) for £150, it was worth over £200 but no bids on bay due to the flat tyre, he sold it as unloading a can of slime into the tyre didnt work !
You bought it from Corradoboy then J4cko?
15 March 2011, 01:50 PM
#26
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Some country and western
Posts: 13,488
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Shame - I quite fancy a carbon race bike.
But I'd bet you get good money for it on ebay. I'd be confident if anyone bought it for £500 they would make some money.
We sold some hybrids on ebay and got about 2/3rds of the cost back after nearly 2 years use.
But I'd bet you get good money for it on ebay. I'd be confident if anyone bought it for £500 they would make some money.
We sold some hybrids on ebay and got about 2/3rds of the cost back after nearly 2 years use.
15 March 2011, 01:54 PM
#28
Scooby Regular
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Newcastle
Posts: 1,981
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
15 March 2011, 01:55 PM
#29
CorradoBoy wouldn't have a Bike, nothing so grand, he has a Skoda Diesel, but it is so powerful it has to have controls for the driver and the passenger to reign it in.
Ok, cheap shot, I actually really like the Fabia VRS.
Ok, cheap shot, I actually really like the Fabia VRS.