CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Stuff

Cheap Bike (second hand) and Good Lock advice

(15 posts)
  • Started 11 years ago by russellelly
  • Latest reply from kaputnik

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  1. russellelly
    Member

    I've just moved to Edinburgh and am looking to commute to work by bike. It's only a mile, but I'd rather cycle than walk. Trouble is, there's nowhere in my flat for a bike to be securely stored. I've got a fairly new Dutch-ish-style bike, but I'd be gutted if it was stolen (and I'm not sure I want it locked outside for weather reasons either), so I think I'd rather leave it in Glasgow (where I am most weekends) and get a cheap one here.

    So, I'm looking for recommendations of places to buy second-hand bike (say, £100 max less if poss) that isn't stolen (!) and what locks I could buy to tie the bike to some railings on a busy main road (Charterhall Road, Blackford) that would stop it getting nicked.

    Thanks! :)

    Posted 11 years ago #

  2. Morningsider
    Member

    Try the Bike Station for reconditioned second hand bikes, good value:

    http://www.thebikestation.org.uk/edinburgh/

    Buy the best quality d-lock lock you can afford. Abus or Kryptonite are well regarded makes.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  3. Nelly
    Member

    Pop up to The Bike Station - its pretty close to you, they will sell you a decent 2nd hand bike and a lock as well - is there anywhere you can lock up off the main drag?

    Charterhall is not a crime hotspot, but a bike on the main road will be visible - and any lock can be broken - there is at least one thread on here about locks!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  4. Nelly
    Member

    Morningsider - great minds !

    Soul cycles up at Brougham st (near Tollcross) also sells used bikes.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  5. Uberuce
    Member

    http://www.facebook.com/soulcyclesedinburgh
    http://eastsidebikes.com/
    http://www.thebikestation.org.uk/

    The Bike Station is the cheapest of the three, being essentially a thrift shop. Gumtree and eBay require more caution, but plainly do exist.

    The bad news is that you've picked the worst time of year to bag a bargain - brace yourself, the students are coming. They've pretty much cleaned out all of the above, although that is only temporary spike in demand.

    It's been said for years that drop handlebars are are more effective deterrent to thieves than any lock, although this is apparently becoming less true. I certainly wouldn't secure either of my dropped-bar bikes with a weedier lock than I do my MTB.

    I think there's some mileage in the principle, though - these bikes are getting stolen because some people are willing to pay cash and not ask questions, and that kind of person wants a big manly grr MTB.

    The kind of person who'll buy bike from the dodgy scrote in the dodgy pub probably wants a Dutch sit'n'beg even less than they want a skittery road bike, so you might be fine with that.

    A £60 D-lock will stop anything short of a bottlejack or heavy duty bolt croppers, neither of which your average thief has access to. Professional thieves do, but they are unlikely to be targeting the kind of bike you have or want.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  6. sallyhinch
    Member

    Whatever the bike and whatever the lock, don't always lock it in the same place where an opportunist can see it and make plans to go and get some bolt cutters. Move it around a bit so it isn't a daily temptation.

    That said, I locked my bike every night in full view in South London to our house's railings and the worst thing that happened was foxes marking it.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  7. SRD
    Moderator

    or get a folder and you can use it for going back and forth to waverly/glasgow too :)

    Posted 11 years ago #

  8. russellelly
    Member

    Thanks all.

    WIll check out The Bike Station this week (was planning a one-man-boycott given their support of the nicewaycode, but that's probable cutting my nose to...). The idea of moving it about a bit day to day makes a lot of sense, as well as picking a thief repelling bike type

    Posted 11 years ago #

  9. russellelly
    Member

    @SRD - contemplated that, but I'm in a flatshare with a live in landlord and some _very_ light carpets :/

    Posted 11 years ago #

  10. wee folding bike
    Member

    russellelly

    I tried a boycott with the royal baby nonsense but then Craghoppers and Asda got in on it so I had to capitulate or be naked and starving. Well… probably just the starving bit really, I've got a few shirts in the cupboard already.

    In Glasgow the Common Wheel sells second hand bikes. I got a Raleigh 20 there earlier in the year. It sits happily and unmolested at the train station. This could be partly because it's brown. I haven't connected the DynoHub yet.

    http://www.commonwheel.org.uk/welcome

    Or get a folder and some heavier carpets.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  11. sallyhinch
    Member

    ooh yes, plus one recommendation for Common Wheel who built me my beautiful blue touring (well, everything) bike that I've done thousands of miles on. They're not necessarily that quick though - I don't know if you'd be able to walk in and out with a bike of your choice.

    If you get a folder, invest in many pairs of black trousers if you're carrying it upstairs. I love my Brompton but I now have too many paler pairs of trousers adorned with nice oily chain patterns...

    Posted 11 years ago #

  12. wee folding bike
    Member

    I think Common Wheel only open on certain days for sales. They should be able to help out if you email them.

    Some people find it easier to carry an unfolded folder. If you put it on your right then the chain is away from you. I only ever had problems with the S2L-X as it has a 54t chainring which sticks out a wee bit from the folded package. The defolding clip makes unfolded carrying easier but I rarely engage it.

    I was considering a lighter pair of pants as the zip offs suffer from differential fading and I think lighter ones might fare better. I haven't quite got round to it.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  13. Radgeworks
    Member

    Ye canny boltcrop this yin!!

    Hiya Russellelly

    Your bike will not be stolen if you buy one of these badboys for locking it at home.
    All other 2nd hand advice is spot on, a nice bunch of folks here eh!
    R :-)

    Posted 11 years ago #

  14. Coxy
    Member

    Pragmasis are are good and slightly cheaper alternative to Almax:

    http://securityforbikes.com/security-chains.php

    Posted 11 years ago #

  15. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I think WFB's Raleigh 20 suggestion is pretty good. Plenty of them kicking around on cheap 2nd-hand sale. Will get you moving around town, fit most sizes of adults and are hugely unappealing to your average sportswear-conscious ne'er do well.

    Posted 11 years ago #

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