Big dilema thanks to Halfords, and now this beauty on eBay..

Roougers

I have been really keen on getting a SS bike for the last 6 months and being a bit tight and a general concern about the amount of redundancies at work, I ordered a Carrera Zero off the Halfords website last week to give it a go

Now, in the space of 2 days my employer has extended my contract for a year, given me a payrise, and Halfords rung me to say the bike would be another week at least. To cap it off, I was pootling around on ebay and fell in love with this.....



I just find it awesome.

Its way more money than I wanted to spend, but it just looks at me in the way a Labrador puppy with big 'friend for life' eyes would. If I start comparing it to similar things I will just get all confused, but I do need some advice.

Its been a long time since I had a road (ish) bike although I rode competitively at Uni and im 15st now compared to 11st back then so I am concerned if I can even ride the damn thing!

I also dont know that much about them.

Finally is that just too much to spend?

Aww, a woman would just buy the bloody thing and think about the consequences later!

pangolin

Hi Roougers

You don't say how much the Pearson is, can you post a link to the ebay page?

Roougers

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PEARSON-TOUCHE-FIXED-WHEEL-SINGLE-SPEED-ALLOY-ROAD-BIKE_W0QQitemZ110092616326QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Bikes_GL?hash=item19a2080286&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1688%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50#ebayphotohosting

Same as it is on their website which I would never have went on.

Jay dubbleU

First rule - its never possible to spend too much on a bike

Don't forget the Pearson is hand built to your spec so you can have the gear ratios, wheels, tyres, seat post etc that you want

ScoTTyBEEE

Lovely bike, I'd expect it to me more imho.

If I was going to buy a S/S I would definitely buy that. Wouldn't even look elsewhere.

Just gotta know your size!

snig

thats the bike I'm waiting to get,I would say its way better than Halfords,be a big girl and just get it,the guys at pearsons are great to talk too,so buy straight from them rather than ebay,it'll save them loads in ebay fees and you can also change the bars and gearing for free(and ofcourse see about any upgrades you might want)but the standard bike as is will still be the way to go.

il_principe

I have one of theses, it's a fab bike. As snig says:

1: don’t buy something from Halfords.
2: don’t buy the Pearson from ebay, buy it direct from Pearson.

I’d suggest calling Pearson and having a chat about your requirements, they’re a friendly bunch!

Here’s my Touche:

Deadeye Duck

I'd say go for the pearson, and get it from them directly. Gorgeous looking bikes.
Incidently, what's your commute in aberdeen? I wonder if I'll pass you on the way.

Roougers

Deadeye Duck wrote:

I'd say go for the pearson, and get it from them directly. Gorgeous looking bikes.
Incidently, what's your commute in aberdeen? I wonder if I'll pass you on the way.

Normally I use the Newmachar - Dyce cycle path cutting off at pittmedden road all the way round to the kirkhill industrial estate. Sometimes I vary it going out to Kintore and the backroads to down to the airport. All tolled tis about 13 miles round trip.

What about you?

Deadeye Duck

I go from woodend to portlethen. I've changed the route now, from what's stated below (if you click on the graph). I now just head straight towards Holburn Junct using queen st, then down holburn street to garthdee, and then the rest is the same. It comes in at around 18mile round trip but it's ruddy hard work when you're as unfit as me. Thankfully I'm getting used to it now and it's not hurting as much. I can stay on the bike the whole way now

Roougers

Deadeye Duck wrote:

I go from woodend to portlethen. I've changed the route now, from what's stated below (if you click on the graph). I now just head straight towards Holburn Junct using queen st, then down holburn street to garthdee, and then the rest is the same. It comes in at around 18mile round trip but it's ruddy hard work when you're as unfit as me. Thankfully I'm getting used to it now and it's not hurting as much. I can stay on the bike the whole way now

Thats a pretty decent route tho, I used to cycle a lot round Banchory Dev and Blairs when I was a kid, and at least you dont have to do battle with any of the A92. Really lovely part of the world IMHO.

I've got fond memories of going past a council tractor in my Raleigh pacer in 1989 down that massive hill on South Anderson Drive towards where Asda is now (it was Fine Fare in my day). Wouldnt even attempt that road now its so busy.

ex-pat scot

I believe you can cash your Halfords bike to work voucher directly at Pearson...

Deadeye Duck

Roougers wrote:

Deadeye Duck wrote:

I go from woodend to portlethen. I've changed the route now, from what's stated below (if you click on the graph). I now just head straight towards Holburn Junct using queen st, then down holburn street to garthdee, and then the rest is the same. It comes in at around 18mile round trip but it's ruddy hard work when you're as unfit as me. Thankfully I'm getting used to it now and it's not hurting as much. I can stay on the bike the whole way now

Thats a pretty decent route tho, I used to cycle a lot round Banchory Dev and Blairs when I was a kid, and at least you dont have to do battle with any of the A92. Really lovely part of the world IMHO.

I've got fond memories of going past a council tractor in my Raleigh pacer in 1989 down that massive hill on South Anderson Drive towards where Asda is now (it was Fine Fare in my day). Wouldnt even attempt that road now its so busy.

I've only been in Aberdeen a few years, so I didn't see it when it was 'Fine Fare' (you old codger ).

I did try heading down Anderson Drive on my first attempt at commuting, as It was the most direct route. Never again. Bloody cars down there are all out to get you. I had some one beep at me about 9 times in 3 or 4 seconds then overtake with about 2 inches to spare, and the other lane was completely empty! I caught the car back up at the lights on garthdee roundabout and tapped on the window. As it wound down, I opened my mouth but was met with an old man shouting "Get on the fucking pavement you lunatic, you'll get both of us killed with that wreckless attitude. Kids these days think they own the fucking world!"...and that was when the road was quiet!

Like I said, I'll not be going back down anderson drive any time soon