To buy or rebuild......that is the question!!!!!

shaunos
shaunos Posts: 84
edited November 2008 in Commuting chat
I currently use a GT MTB for the daily commute and family rides (which include towing my daughter on a "tag-a-long"). My dilemma is as follows:-

1) I want to put rigid forks, and mudguards on the MTB, which is already in need of wheels/tyres/rear mech.

2)Do I buy another bike and "ebay" the MTB.

Gonna have about £200 budget! Are there any good bikes out there at that sort of price?

Any ideas and advice appreciated.

Comments

  • don_don
    don_don Posts: 1,007
    If you are fixed at about £200, then I suspect you'ld be better off spending the money on the mtb. You might get lucky and spot a cracker of a 2nd hand bike for £200, but I doubt it would be any better at trailer towing etc than the GT.

    Maybe better to save up for something quicker later on, perhaps when your daughter has grown out of the tag-along.
  • 2tired2ride
    2tired2ride Posts: 285
    Halfords sells the Subway 1 for like £184.99 or something which is a half decent bike at a great price!

    http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_240361_langId_-1_categoryId_165534
    "If we all had hardtails we'd all go down the hill, just slower"
    Nick Larsen


    Voodoo D-Jab Ti
    Boardman Road Team 09
    Boardman Urban Team 08
    Falcon 3 Speed
  • gtvlusso
    gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
    Rebuild! You will also learn how to fix if you re-build!!! get bargain bin parts and off you go!
  • shaunos
    shaunos Posts: 84
    Guess you've convinced me that its rebuild. Gonna be hunting the online sales and ebay for a few bargains.
    Not a problem doing the work ( built my own race bike ), was just wondering if it was possible to buy a hyrid/commuter!! type bike for around the £200 mark.
  • patchy
    patchy Posts: 779
    rebuiild. without a doubt. i might even have some rigid forks you can have for nowt...
    point your handlebars towards the heavens and sweat like you're in hell
  • Underscore
    Underscore Posts: 730
    shaunos wrote:
    Guess you've convinced me that its rebuild. Gonna be hunting the online sales and ebay for a few bargains.
    Not a problem doing the work ( built my own race bike ), was just wondering if it was possible to buy a hyrid/commuter!! type bike for around the £200 mark.

    As a starting point, last time I looked Merlin had a pair of their wheels in the sale for somewhere around £60...

    _
  • marchant
    marchant Posts: 362
    I was considering a post on a similar subject; got an old bike doing nothing except taking up space in my parent's garage and have been thinking about doing it up, a part or two at a time as a winter project.
  • shaunos
    shaunos Posts: 84
    Got a good deal on some wheels from sjs cycles ( Sun CR18 rims on Deore @ £50 ), need new tyres now.
    Looking at slicks, but have been using Specialized Hemispheres without a p******e for the past 6 years, so may get some more!!
  • Gussio
    Gussio Posts: 2,452
    If you are still in the market for rigid forks, I can recommend Kona Project 2's. They are not the lightest, but they bombproof and a snip at £50: http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/id38625.html

    For something more snazzy, On One rigid carbon forks are good value but won't leave you with much budget: http://www.on-one-shop.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Mountainbike_Rigid_365.html

    Re: Tyres, specialized Armadillos are pretty good in the puncture-resistance stakes.
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    To buy or to rebuild, that is the Question
    Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
    The slings and arrows of outrageous mark-ups
    Or to take tools against a sea of mudguards
    And by rebuilding fix them?
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • ansbaradigeidfran
    ansbaradigeidfran Posts: 526
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    To buy or to rebuild, that is the Question
    Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
    The slings and arrows of outrageous mark-ups
    Or to take tools against a sea of mudguards
    And by rebuilding fix them?

    I'm reading this with the Shakespeare episode of Doctor Who on in the background. :D
  • Gussio
    Gussio Posts: 2,452
    ansbaradigeidfran wrote:
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    To buy or to rebuild, that is the Question
    Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
    The slings and arrows of outrageous mark-ups
    Or to take tools against a sea of mudguards
    And by rebuilding fix them?

    I'm reading this with the Shakespeare episode of Doctor Who on in the background. :D

    Multi-tasking :)
  • shaunos
    shaunos Posts: 84
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    To buy or to rebuild, that is the Question
    Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
    The slings and arrows of outrageous mark-ups
    Or to take tools against a sea of mudguards
    And by rebuilding fix them?

    Got very poetic this morning on the way into work...........via the ditch!!!

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