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Office mate buying a bike!

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Started 12 years ago by lionfish
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lionfish
Member

Hello all!
My office mate is buying a bike! She's not cycled for many years (she's mid-twenties, and maybe hasn't cycled since school), and just wants a bike to get to and from the office and to pootle about town (so journeys less than 2 miles).

The bike station etc are out of bikes that she wants at the moment (they apparently had a bit of a run when the students came back).

She's given me links to several. I've not bought a bike for a while, and am not really very knowledgeable about bikes! I said maybe a local bike shop might be a good place to buy a bike, but I guess she's put off by the price..?

Obviously you get what you pay for, and any bike can look shiny in a photo on the internet...

But anyway, here's the links she's given to me! And my first thoughts about them.

http://tinyurl.com/d3d8szz (she's not buying it from Amazon, but it is coming flat packed!).
Thoughts: knee-jerk concern about flat-pack bike + cheap, with a chain-guard that looks like it might break quite quickly? Also I guess it might be quite heavy, but I guess she doesn't mind that too much. How reliable are such things, is this a bike-shaped-object?

Next a 2nd hand bike. (let's assume 2nd-hand bikes on ebay aren't stolen) http://tinyurl.com/d6d4bz4
I've no idea if those gears are a good idea, and I don't know what the price will do. Also I doubt I'd ride very far on that saddle (but I guess that doesn't matter). I'm a bit blank on this bike - it maybe seems ok..?

Another ancient 2nd hand bike: http://tinyurl.com/bnzy844
The brakes look a nightmare!!! ahh!

A new ebay bike. http://tinyurl.com/d7e9bpm Tiny picture, can't get any idea about the bike from it, or from this page. http://www.probikecycles.com/HeritageDetailpage.aspx?Bikeid=4
(dumb question: but why's it tell me the metal is an 'alloy' - aren't almost all metals we use alloys?).

Anyway, they're the ones she's looked at. So in summary, she wants an 'Amsterdam' style bike, for less than £200(!!!), she doesn't need to cycle too far (~2 miles max), and she's planning to hand over money this weekend!

What shall I suggest?

I'll send her a link to this thread I guess :)

Thanks for the help!!

Posted 12 years ago #
SRD
Moderator

Has she lookedat Soulcycles? they post their bikes on FB.

Has she looked at the revolution heritage 11 at EBC? on sale for 219.99. unfortunately it has derailleurs, but otherwise not bad for her spec.

The secondhand bikes on ebay (marlborough& raleigh) look cool to me, for what she wants, but while I swear by new hub gears, Iworry a bit about these old 3 speeders.

Posted 12 years ago #
sallyhinch
Member

I've not seen either in the flesh but if she could go up in price a bit there's Dutchie http://www.dutchie.co.uk/ and Bobbin http://www.bobbinbicycles.co.uk/ - the Dutchie needs some assembly though (not sure about the Bobbin). Bobbin birdie got a good review from Lovely Bike who is picky about her bikes.

Posted 12 years ago #
lionfish
Member

@SRD: Thanks for the quick reply! (she's out the office at the moment, so will relay when I next see her).

- soulcycles - I don't know if she's investigated them (will ask).
- EBC: She went there, and they were completely out. I think maybe she should wait for them to have more :) + I don't think she'll mind derailleurs too much ?? (will suggest maybe she asks them).
- Yeah, the 2nd hand marlborough ebay one looks good. Any one had experience of the rod-push brakes like on the Raleigh bike?

Thanks again SRD :D

Woohoo - will have all 3/3 of us in office cycling :)
minimoth's office is now majority-cycling (3/5)

so we're getting there :D

Posted 12 years ago #
fimm
Member

How tall is she? Bikes have sizes and she may be put off if a bike is far too big (or small) for her. (Though see Uberuce as someone who has ridden a bike that isn't really the right size for him for some time.)

Posted 12 years ago #
wee folding bike
Member

Alloy usually means aluminium alloy.

Old three speed hubs should be fine. They are very tough and you can get spares for them going back for the last 70-80 years.

Brakes would be more of an issue.

Posted 12 years ago #
Morningsider
Member

The fist bike you link to has a boxed weight of 20kg - unless it comes in a lead lined box then it is on the heavy side. Not necessarily a deal breaker - but I wouldn't fancy carrying it up tenement stairs.

Second bike looks like it has pretty nasty side pull brakes, which have poor braking capability on steel wheels. Don't know what to make of the third one - never seen brakes like that! Last one looks heavy but possibly servicable for short trips.

"Alloy" frames - takes me back! Frames were referred to as alloy to differentiate them from hi-tensile steel frames, usually indicating that they were lighter and stronger than steel. I haven't seen this term used for years.

It's a tricky one as £200 doesn't get you much bike - EBC have a possible contender at £220 (as long as your friend isn' too tall!):

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-heritage-11?bct=browse%2fbicycles%2fcommuter-hybrid-bikes

Posted 12 years ago #
lionfish
Member

@sallyhinch: I think her price limit might be flexible, especially when I show her the beautiful pictures!

Posted 12 years ago #
SRD
Moderator

if she does get tempted by the Bobbin or Dutchies can we please get a trial ride when it arrives? pretty please?

Posted 12 years ago #
steveo
Member

Not sure how much they are but the Paper-Bicycle matches the spec.

Posted 12 years ago #
crowriver
Member

Eastside Bikes have the Raleigh Caprice, which has 3 speed hub gears and is a bit lighter than the Viking and Probike options. No assembly required, after sales service no problem. Another £99 though.

Edinburgh Bike Co-op have a very good deal on their 2011 Revolution Heritage ladies' bike. Only £20 more than her price level. It's a good bike for the money, 7 speed derailleur gears rather than hub, but sports a decent rear rack as well as what looks like a Klickfix basket, plus a steering stabiliser spring to stop a loaded basket affecting the steering too much. Also a "deluxe Japanese brass bell".

Slightly different bikes, the Raleigh's front basket is lower down, attached to the brake bosses, but lacks a rear rack and some of the Revolution's extras. However the hub gears should be easier to look after.

On price alone the Revolution looks like a winner, and is a far better bike than the ones your friend has been looking at for only a couple of tenners more.

She can order online and select either free delivery or collect from store. Personally I prefer the latter, you just pay a deposit and the balance when you collect.

Posted 12 years ago #
lionfish
Member

@fimm: She tried some in the bike-station and she said a 19" frame was ok, but I'm surprised as she's quite tall. I'll maybe suggests she checks again - maybe if she goes to the EBC to ask about the revolution...

...also I'm aware that an uncomfortable/annoying bike can put someone off cycling quicker than almost anything.

@wfb: ty :) I always wondered what was so amazing about alloy. Cool stuff about the hub gears being so robust. The brakes do look more interesting though.

thanks all :)

Posted 12 years ago #
sallyhinch
Member

Paper Bikes start at £600 for the single speed. Worth every penny, of course, but you'd probably have to be riding a while to know that.

I'm seriously tempted by one of those Dutchies now... they do have back-pedal brakes though

Posted 12 years ago #
sallyhinch
Member

Paper Bikes start at £600 for the single speed. Worth every penny, of course, but you'd probably have to be riding a while to know that.

I'm seriously tempted by one of those Dutchies now... they do have back-pedal brakes though

Posted 12 years ago #
lionfish
Member

@steveo: yeah, the paper bicycles are wonderful, but I think they're a bit too expensive from what I remember.

Posted 12 years ago #
steveo
Member

Nothing like a "spend someone else's money" thread to garner lots of replies :D

Posted 12 years ago #
crowriver
Member

If she needs 19" frame then the 2012 Revolution Heritage is the one they have in 18" size, only 16" for the 2011 model. Same price as the Raleigh Caprice, which comes in 19" size.

Posted 12 years ago #
earthowned
Member

For what it's worth my other half bought a revolution heritage 11 from EBC last week and seems very happy with it.

I had great fun riding it around town, although got a few strange looks and comments ;-)

Posted 12 years ago #
sallyhinch
Member

Ooh, I could waste the rest of the afternoon on this. Also a Gazelle, which is a properly Dutch brand http://www.popiel.co.uk/en/gazelle-basic-r3t.html

Posted 12 years ago #
Uberuce
Member

Fimm - "Though see Uberuce as someone who has ridden a bike that isn't really the right size for him for some time."

True, but now when I get back on the too-small road bike, it feels horrible.

I can lend her my iron horse until Soul/Eastside/BikeStation come through. The brakes are extremely poor in the wet, but the 3-speed is still grand. If she's tall the size ought to be fine.

Posted 12 years ago #
tammytroot
Member

Also try Decathlon out at HG. Good specs and should have something in her price range.

Posted 12 years ago #
lionfish
Member

Thanks all for these suggestions! I think she's now overwhelmed :)

It seems like the rev heritage has the most votes so far.

I don't think she's investigated the popiel yet - again that might be just above her price range?

She's also started taking an interest in slightly different bikes: http://bikereviews.com/2011/11/2012-trek-belleville-urban-bike/

She's got most excited though by the Bobbins (thanks sallyhinch!)*.

I'll try to report back the choice she makes...

*Bobbins "Transform a Journey Into a Magical Adventure": I'm not sure that's what I want! How annoying when you just want to cycle to work and you have to have a magical adventure instead! :P

Posted 12 years ago #
crowriver
Member

If she likes the Trek Belleville she may want to look at the Specialized Globe Bikes series of urban hybrids. Very nice, not expensive, and I can vouch for the quality having owned a Globe Vienna 2 for 3 years now.

The Globe Daily 1 step-through may be of interest? A bit more than she was thinking about, but a nice bike. If she shops around may get a better price...

(They seem to have trimmed their range a bit, they used to have nice mini-cargo bikes with either built in rear rack or front porteur rack, but no longer...)

Posted 12 years ago #
Chimpofdoom
Member

Just to throw another one into the mix.. halfords have a range of bikes endorsed by Victoria Pendleton.

Not sure if they are any good, but seem to be getting reasonable reviews

http://tinyurl.com/ca5b9bb

Posted 12 years ago #
crowriver
Member

I saw a young man on a white Pendleton step through bike just off Easter Road a couple of weeks back. Despite it being a 'ladies bike' he seemed happy enough with it. Looked reasonable build quality as far as I could tell.

Posted 12 years ago #
Nelly
Member

This Pendleton Somerby appeared in the office bike park today - looks rather nice.

Secured with a real cheapo lock though, so glad its only £279, for the inevitable repurchase.

Posted 12 years ago #
gembo
Member

Liz Hurley might nick it, watch out

Posted 12 years ago #
Nelly
Member

Nah, she wants a Guvnor, innit

Posted 12 years ago #
lionfish
Member

I think this might be the bike she's thinking of going for...

...I'll just send her a message to see how the bike-buying is going! She spent Saturday looking around different bike shops, etc.

Posted 12 years ago #
DaveC
Member

Late to this but.... .. my first bike had those rod brakes and solid rubber tyres. It was a real bone shaker! A mate insisted I pump up my tures for the Three Glens on Sunday and I was reminded of what the solid rubber tures were like [numb bum]

Posted 12 years ago #