I am tempted...

whyamihere
whyamihere Posts: 7,716
edited August 2010 in The Crudcatcher
For no reason whatsoever, to buy one of these: http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/vitamin-117071608/

I don't have space for another bike. I have reason for another bike, but certainly not for that one. But it's so cheap... I suppose I could kind of half justify it for riding to the shops/uni on (relatively high crime area), and I suppose I wouldn't be hugely concerned about leaving it out in the rain under a cover rather than in our proper bike area...

So so cheap...
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Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    true.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • El Capitano
    El Capitano Posts: 6,400
    Very, very cheap! Be rude to not buy one really.
    1 2 3 4 (Dead)5 6
  • Kiblams
    Kiblams Posts: 2,423
    I have one...
    HandsomeDog - OrangeCommuter
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,716
    It would also allow me to put my Carrera back into pure MTB mode. It's got a rack and panniers on at the moment as I have to use it to go to the shops on, which is just wrong. And I could make back some of the money I'd spend on this by selling the rack I needed for the Carrera (disc brakes meant the rack I already had wouldn't fit).
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,716
    Kiblams wrote:
    I have one...
    How likely does it feel that it's going to instantly fall to bits?
  • Kiblams
    Kiblams Posts: 2,423
    Its solid as a rock, the chain is the beefiest chain I have ever seen and everything just works. I have been commuting 5-10 miles daily on it for about a month and a half now.

    One thing i changed after 2 days was the gearing, as it is 36-18 when you get them and that was just too spinny for me, so far I have swapped the freewheel for 16T but will be changing the chainset before too long as it's still spinny for my relatively flat commute.

    If you have any questions just let me know and I'll do my best to answer.
    HandsomeDog - OrangeCommuter
  • El Capitano
    El Capitano Posts: 6,400
    Kiblams wrote:
    If you have any questions just let me know and I'll do my best to answer.

    Who was the 2nd gun-man on the grassy knoll?
    1 2 3 4 (Dead)5 6
  • Kiblams
    Kiblams Posts: 2,423
    El Capitano wrote:
    Kiblams wrote:
    If you have any questions just let me know and I'll do my best to answer.

    Who was the 2nd gun-man on the grassy knoll?

    Jack Leon Ruby... shhhh! :wink:
    HandsomeDog - OrangeCommuter
  • addivllangirb
    addivllangirb Posts: 322
    Ok now i'm kinda sold on getting one as a hack/pub/commute bike. Damn it i didn't need another reason to spend money........
    Eldridge Grade 08
  • MacAndCheese
    MacAndCheese Posts: 1,944
    I'd use that for my commute, the only thing I really don't like is the lack of Aheadset - I hate the old style of headset!
    Santa Cruz Chameleon
    Orange Alpine 160
  • Kiblams
    Kiblams Posts: 2,423
    MacAndCheese wrote:
    I'd use that for my commute, the only thing I really don't like is the lack of Aheadset - I hate the old style of headset!

    For me this was a positive, the more it was incompatible with the latest technologies the less likely I am going to want to upgrade it :lol: Afterall it was bought purely as an urban hack for going into town and getting to work.

    Just as an example of how sturdy the bike is; I regularly ride the bike down stairs with loaded panniers over the rear wheel and weigh almost 16.5st myself.
    HandsomeDog - OrangeCommuter
  • Tolk
    Tolk Posts: 775
    Very tempting!
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,716
    Kiblams wrote:
    If you have any questions just let me know and I'll do my best to answer.
    Any idea how happy Decathlon are going to be about me taking it away in a rideable condition, rather than boxed? If I can ride it out then it'll be easy to get, if not, I'll have to wait until someone with a car can give me a lift...
  • Andy
    Andy Posts: 8,207
    whyamihere wrote:
    Kiblams wrote:
    If you have any questions just let me know and I'll do my best to answer.
    Any idea how happy Decathlon are going to be about me taking it away in a rideable condition, rather than boxed? If I can ride it out then it'll be easy to get, if not, I'll have to wait until someone with a car can give me a lift...

    Oh HAI! :wink:

    Had a look at one today actually. Nothing spectacular but looks a solid bike. Comes with a sticker saying 'Ready to ride' so i assume you can ride away
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,716
    Andy wrote:
    whyamihere wrote:
    Kiblams wrote:
    If you have any questions just let me know and I'll do my best to answer.
    Any idea how happy Decathlon are going to be about me taking it away in a rideable condition, rather than boxed? If I can ride it out then it'll be easy to get, if not, I'll have to wait until someone with a car can give me a lift...

    Oh HAI! :wink:

    Had a look at one today actually. Nothing spectacular but looks a solid bike. Comes with a sticker saying 'Ready to ride' so i assume you can ride away
    I may be spending some money then tomorrow, if I can be bothered to go there...
  • Kiblams
    Kiblams Posts: 2,423
    whyamihere wrote:
    Kiblams wrote:
    If you have any questions just let me know and I'll do my best to answer.
    Any idea how happy Decathlon are going to be about me taking it away in a rideable condition, rather than boxed? If I can ride it out then it'll be easy to get, if not, I'll have to wait until someone with a car can give me a lift...

    Took mine away in a rideable state, the take the bike from you for about 10-30 minutes to 'safety check' it. You can use the time to go and pay for the bike using the barcode card thing they give you and do some browsing, then the security guards let you out with the receipt.

    I rode the bike around the carpark before whipping off the front whee to shove it in the car and take it home. :D
    HandsomeDog - OrangeCommuter
  • spongtastic
    spongtastic Posts: 2,651
    I'm getting one Saturday, mate on the wind farms got one and they's ace
    Visit Clacton during the School holidays - it's like a never ending freak show.

    Who are you calling inbred?
  • Kiblams
    Kiblams Posts: 2,423
    Oh and in case you guys missed it, theres a pic of mine in my Sig under the link OC (Orange Commuter)
    HandsomeDog - OrangeCommuter
  • Wappygixer
    Wappygixer Posts: 1,396
    whyamihere wrote:
    Kiblams wrote:
    If you have any questions just let me know and I'll do my best to answer.
    Any idea how happy Decathlon are going to be about me taking it away in a rideable condition, rather than boxed? If I can ride it out then it'll be easy to get, if not, I'll have to wait until someone with a car can give me a lift...

    All Decathlon bikes are ready to ride, no boxed bikes here :D
  • paul.skibum
    paul.skibum Posts: 4,068
    That would make a decent commuter/pub bike for sure. Quite tempting.
    Closet jockey wheel pimp whore.
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,716
    Well, I got myself one, and I'm impressed. Seems solidly put together, and the short amount of riding I've done on it were actually really good fun. The handling's a lot nicer than I was expecting, and I nearly went over the front the first time I braked (I'd expected the brakes to be crap and grabbed a handful, they were actually really good).

    I also got a kickstand fitted for an extra £2 or something. Considering its intended use, that seems a bargain to me.

    The only criticism would be the really low spinny gear. I can see myself getting a new freewheel to sort that out, or I may just ignore it and force myself to relax and take it slowly...
  • Kiblams
    Kiblams Posts: 2,423
    whyamihere wrote:
    The only criticism would be the really low spinny gear. I can see myself getting a new freewheel to sort that out, or I may just ignore it and force myself to relax and take it slowly...

    Don't say I didn't warn you :wink:

    A kid in halfords swapped out my freewheel for me for free when I bought it :D
    HandsomeDog - OrangeCommuter
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,716
    Kiblams wrote:
    whyamihere wrote:
    The only criticism would be the really low spinny gear. I can see myself getting a new freewheel to sort that out, or I may just ignore it and force myself to relax and take it slowly...

    Don't say I didn't warn you :wink:

    A kid in halfords swapped out my freewheel for me for free when I bought it :D
    Why would Halfords do it for free? ;)
  • Kiblams
    Kiblams Posts: 2,423
    whyamihere wrote:
    Why would Halfords do it for free? ;)

    I was wearing short shorts and a low cut top... :wink:
    HandsomeDog - OrangeCommuter
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopi ... highlight=

    :wink:
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,716
    Oh, and just so you all know it exists:
    vitamin.jpg

    Seat's currently down because a very short female friend wanted a go and I couldn't be bothered to put it back up afterwards yet. I'm going to find the bolts for my rack at my parents' over the weekend, then I'll add the rack and it'll be ready for a life of servitude.
  • spongtastic
    spongtastic Posts: 2,651
    any idea what the seat post diameter is?
    Visit Clacton during the School holidays - it's like a never ending freak show.

    Who are you calling inbred?
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,716
    spongtastic wrote:
    any idea what the seat post diameter is?
    26.0mm.
  • thekickingmule
    thekickingmule Posts: 7,957
    I think I may have to invest in one of these. It can replace my current commuter which I think is slowly dieing.
    The spinny gear might be useful for the long slog up some steep hills home, but could be a problem coming down some nice steep hills to get to work. Hmmm
    It takes as much courage to have tried and failed as it does to have tried and succeeded.
    Join us on UK-MTB we won't bite, but bring cake!
    Blender Cube AMS Pro
  • compo
    compo Posts: 1,370
    Am considering. However, how hard is it to replace one of the cogs? What tools are needed etc?
    GREAT SUCCESS!

    Canyon Nerve XC7

    Stolen Carrera Vulcan

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