How cheap were your current mountain bike(s)?

Northwind

Mental Mickey wrote:

It's clear some of you pay next to nothing, but you have to be able to build a bike from scratch in many cases if buying frames etc..from Ebay so that's not an option for some of us.

Why not? First time for everyone. Most people learn spannering by spannering.

bike-a-swan

I think my carbon 456 with rev teams, on one wheels, a mix of slx (most of the whirly bits) and xt (brakes + cassette) running gear and nuke proof finishing kit for something in the region of 1600-1700 squids wasn't bad going. Wheels may prove to be a weak link after next winter, but we'll see. I'd budgeted for a set of hopes and keeping the on ones as spares anyway, and haven't had to spend the money....

cooldad

Northwind wrote:

Mental Mickey wrote:

It's clear some of you pay next to nothing, but you have to be able to build a bike from scratch in many cases if buying frames etc..from Ebay so that's not an option for some of us.

Why not? First time for everyone. Most people learn spannering by spannering.

This. It's a bicycle not a rocket.

naefearjustbeer

I paid less that £100 for my first bike I trashed it n less than 20 miles, Next bike was £250 and it is still going strong as my town bike, My current Genesis Core 20 was bought on the cycle to work scheme at RRP of £729 before the tax discounts etc.

Mental Mickey

Northwind wrote:

Mental Mickey wrote:

It's clear some of you pay next to nothing, but you have to be able to build a bike from scratch in many cases if buying frames etc..from Ebay so that's not an option for some of us.

Why not? First time for everyone. Most people learn spannering by spannering.

It may be a bicycle and not a rocket as cooldad points out but not everyone is adept to mechanics, I can do basic stuff but certain things like front dérailleur adjustment I've tried and found myself in a mess, also weary about servicing suspension or brakes (don't mind changing pads though) from a safety point of view.

I think it's all too easy for people on this forum to comment that it's just so easy to fix everything yourself when in fact it's anything but....

I'll just add that tools are a minefield as you have to find out exactly what you need and can easily get it wrong with inexperience, you can do the wrong thing mechanically then 'it's all too late' and irreversible as I found out the hard way in the past, and if it;s all so easy and 'not rocket science then please explain why bike store mechanics exist at all? Everyone owning a bike just lazy then? I think not.

njee20

It may be a bicycle and not a rocket as cooldad points out but not everyone is adept to mechanics, I can do basic stuff but certain things like front dérailleur adjustment I've tried and found myself in a mess, also weary about servicing suspension or brakes (don't mind changing pads though) from a safety point of view.

There are a lot of online guides and You Tube videos that will help. It genuinely isn't a black art, with a little practice you'll be able to sort it.

You don't need to be able to service suspension to build a bike. Brake bleeding isn't difficult (it really isn't!), you just need the appropriate bleed kit. It's a very methodical process, I personally find it much less frustrating than many other things can be.

CycloRos

cooldad wrote:

Northwind wrote:

Mental Mickey wrote:

It's clear some of you pay next to nothing, but you have to be able to build a bike from scratch in many cases if buying frames etc..from Ebay so that's not an option for some of us.

Why not? First time for everyone. Most people learn spannering by spannering.

This. It's a bicycle not a rocket.

+1

There's very little you can't do yourself armed with the right tools and a bit of knowledge, equally there's nothing you can't easily bugger up yourself with the wrong tools and over confidence

But at the end of the day if it does go wrong just take it down your LBS (like you would have done any way) and eat humble pie. Remember you only really learn from your mistakes so don't be afraid and get stuck in!

wordnumb

CycloRos wrote:

cooldad wrote:

Northwind wrote:

Mental Mickey wrote:

It's clear some of you pay next to nothing, but you have to be able to build a bike from scratch in many cases if buying frames etc..from Ebay so that's not an option for some of us.

Why not? First time for everyone. Most people learn spannering by spannering.

This. It's a bicycle not a rocket.

+1

There's very little you can't do yourself armed with the right tools and a bit of knowledge, equally there's nothing you can't easily bugger up yourself with the wrong tools and over confidence

But at the end of the day if it does go wrong just take it down your LBS (like you would have done any way) and eat humble pie. Remember you only really learn from your mistakes so don't be afraid and get stuck in!

Additionally, it's better to learn the basic mechanics on a cheaper bike, that way your mistakes cost less.

Daz555

Mental Mickey wrote:

please explain why bike store mechanics exist at all? Everyone owning a bike just lazy then? I think not.

I'm at a loss!

Surely everyone by now knows that all bike related repairs only require mole grips and a hammer - not forgetting the essential items in my sig of course!

Graeme_aberdeen

does my old raleigh Grifter count? I think my mam and day paid £100 for it...lol

lets think......ok here goes

£100 - Grifter
£35 - old shimano effort bought from a mate "in trouble"
£free - got given a cheapo (got rid of cheapo)
£120 - Halfords apollo 1998 - 2004 (RIP you grip shift dolly)
£700 GT Agressor XCR
£950 Giant Trance X5
£1000 Edinburgh Cycles Triad 0

as you can tell the 3 most expensive didn't last long... bike to work scheme you say

current bike is Commencal Pasta 2003 Hard tail, bought it from a guy on classifieds here....it's actually the nicest i've ridden.

G

dan shard

Apollo something - free
GT agressor - £65 ebay
Cube AMS 100 - £650 ebay (rrp £1700) then sold for £850 on ebay to buy....
Trek remedy 8 - £1000 ebay (rrp £2600 ish)

happy days

NORTHERNSHAGGY

£300 GT Borrego 1996

£700 Specialized Rockhopper Expert 2009

£1650 Specialized Enduro Expert 2010

Northwind

Mental Mickey wrote:

if it;s all so easy and 'not rocket science then please explain why bike store mechanics exist at all? Everyone owning a bike just lazy then? I think not.

Some might call it laziness, others know that a lot of people just don't want to do it- makes more sense for them to pay someone to do it for them. Nothing wrong with that. Also there are some jobs that need specialist tools or real skill.

But, building a bike isn't complex. The hardest part is setting up the gears tbh so a good option is to bolt it together yourself then take it to a shop for finishing. Knowing how it all goes together becomes much more worthwhile when a bit drops off halfway up a mountain!

mingmong

Northwind wrote:

Mental Mickey wrote:

if it;s all so easy and 'not rocket science then please explain why bike store mechanics exist at all? Everyone owning a bike just lazy then? I think not.

Some might call it laziness, others know that a lot of people just don't want to do it- makes more sense for them to pay someone to do it for them. Nothing wrong with that. Also there are some jobs that need specialist tools or real skill.

But, building a bike isn't complex. The hardest part is setting up the gears tbh so a good option is to bolt it together yourself then take it to a shop for finishing. Knowing how it all goes together becomes much more worthwhile when a bit drops off halfway up a mountain!

Or ride out with a bike mechanic

sheepsteeth

Mental Mickey wrote:

if it;s all so easy and 'not rocket science then please explain why bike store mechanics exist at all?

because 14 year old children need a bit of pocket money.

MrChuck

My first, only and current MTB was £650 in 2006 I think- a Giant XTC SX. Since then I've probably spent about the same again on it upgrading/replacing parts as they've worn out.

estampida

the dates are all messed up in my head but, it sound about right

1980's Raligh Scrambler £ dunno
1980's raligh superburner £ " "
1990 ridgeback gs - £200 or summit
1991 raligh out land ( replacement for peugeot tim gauld edition i broke within weeks so I dont count it) £200-250
1992 Rocky moutain hammer (second hand £350 maybe)
1994 Kona Cinder cone £650 (with loads of stuff hope hubs, xt, ringle qr's DX thumb's I still own it)
2001 Fly bikes estampida £ base 450 (Bmx, a polished turd, and stolen!!)
2004 Kona coiler £1500 (again a polished turd, wotans rp23, hope, goodridge and still used)
2008 Kona cowan £1100 (broke within a year and they didnt want to know about it)
2010 Moutain cycle rhumble £250 (frame set, society xenos and lots of hope)

phew

Mental Mickey

Northwind wrote:

Mental Mickey wrote:

if it;s all so easy and 'not rocket science then please explain why bike store mechanics exist at all? Everyone owning a bike just lazy then? I think not.

Some might call it laziness, others know that a lot of people just don't want to do it- makes more sense for them to pay someone to do it for them. Nothing wrong with that. Also there are some jobs that need specialist tools or real skill.

But, building a bike isn't complex. The hardest part is setting up the gears tbh so a good option is to bolt it together yourself then take it to a shop for finishing. Knowing how it all goes together becomes much more worthwhile when a bit drops off halfway up a mountain!

I'm glad you recognise this as this is what I'm getting at, other than skill and knowledge, I also don't have the room or inclination (or particularly the desire to save monies required) to stock my shed with 1) Large set of tools covering all the range of jobs, 2 workstand, 3) Workbench + Vice (which is essential in my view after past experiences.

I don't really like the tone of some people on here when they make snide remarks such as 'it's a bicycle, not a rocket', highly patronising and there;s just no need for that. Especially considering that technology of the bikes has moved on considerably in the last 20 years.

Going by that analogy, I think I can safely assume that the maker of that remark and all the rest of you never, ever, have to employ the services of somebody else for any situations, because you do it all yourselves right?
Your computer crashes completely, dying a death and won;t boot up, your electrics go all throughout the house, your pipes burst in the loft, your washing machine/dishwasher stops working, your car breaks down on the hard shoulder, what are you going to do?

Of course, Da dun daaaaaaaaaaaa is it a bird, is it s plane, no it;s super forum man, you don't need to obtain help because you can do everything, after all, 'it''s not a rocket'. :roll:

Yeah right.

Northwind

Mental Mickey wrote:

I'm glad you recognise this as this is what I'm getting at, other than skill and knowledge, I also don't have the room or inclination (or particularly the desire to save monies required) to stock my shed with 1) Large set of tools covering all the range of jobs, 2 workstand, 3) Workbench + Vice (which is essential in my view after past experiences.

You don't need any of that stuff to build a bike though! Specialist tools, I meant facing tools, seatpost reamers, wheel jigs and the like. Arguably headset but I usually fit mine with a rubber mallet To build a bike you need only very basic tools- cable cutters, allen keys, screwdrivers, BB tool, cassette tool, T25 torq.

estampida

okay then...... whatever

but you only need a vice to remove a threaded cassette, not for much else, its possible to tear the bb threads out of a siezed bb with that sort of antics, but if it comes with a shed heyho

assemble, care for and keep an eye on it and it will come apart nicely, and stay away from shit parts,

and dont go out cycling ready for a lycra funeral, or with a fucking met helmet c/w chinstrap -

simple :shock:

sheepsteeth

Mental Mickey wrote:

[

Going by that analogy, I think I can safely assume that the maker of that remark and all the rest of you never, ever, have to employ the services of somebody else for any situations, because you do it all yourselves right?
Your computer crashes completely, dying a death and won;t boot up, your electrics go all throughout the house, your pipes burst in the loft, your washing machine/dishwasher stops working, your car breaks down on the hard shoulder, what are you going to do?

the things you have menitoned are all considerably more complicated than a bike, by a thousand miles :roll:

a bike is 9 pipes (ish) and a slack handfull of simple parts.

kaytronika

I stripped and rebuilt two 90s bikes with a Lidl £25 tool kit.

I'd take a modern frame to LBS to face the BB shell as I don't have the tool for that.
and perhaps install headset cups. Did it myself on an old steel frame.



If my computer fails I'll repair that too.

Stavromuller

Getting back on topic, got this alpine trail from the council tip. Spent a few quid on bits and swapped a few others.

Northwind

Good find that!

cooldad

Mental Mickey wrote:

I'm glad you recognise this as this is what I'm getting at, other than skill and knowledge, I also don't have the room or inclination (or particularly the desire to save monies required) to stock my shed with 1) Large set of tools covering all the range of jobs, 2 workstand, 3) Workbench + Vice (which is essential in my view after past experiences.

I don't really like the tone of some people on here when they make snide remarks such as 'it's a bicycle, not a rocket', highly patronising and there;s just no need for that. Especially considering that technology of the bikes has moved on considerably in the last 20 years.

Going by that analogy, I think I can safely assume that the maker of that remark and all the rest of you never, ever, have to employ the services of somebody else for any situations, because you do it all yourselves right?
Your computer crashes completely, dying a death and won;t boot up, your electrics go all throughout the house, your pipes burst in the loft, your washing machine/dishwasher stops working, your car breaks down on the hard shoulder, what are you going to do?

Of course, Da dun daaaaaaaaaaaa is it a bird, is it s plane, no it;s super forum man, you don't need to obtain help because you can do everything, after all, 'it''s not a rocket'. :roll:

Yeah right.

My remark was not patronising, it was exasperated. I do get fed up with helpless people. I will have a go at trying to fix most things, a bit of research and thought and you'd be amazed at what you are capable of.
For some things (electrical or gas problems) I'd call an expert without hesitation.
But generally I'm more confident in my work than most other peoples.
And last time my car broke down on the hard shoulder I did fix it myself.
Ironically I got the garage to do an oil change while it was booked in for it's MOT. (As I have just moved into a flat and don't have anywhere to do it.) The radiator hoses have to be removed to get to the oil filter and the moron forgot to tighten the clamps up. Accelerating up the on ramp they let go, massive cloud of steam and water, temp gauge shot up. Limped to the nearest garage, added coolant, bled system, problem sorted. It's not rocket science.
Frankly I don't give a toss if you don't like my tone, but you do seem a bit over-sensitive. Perhaps you should see an expert over your feelings of inadequacy.

njee20

+1 to the ongoing comments re DIY. With many modern bikes having internal headsets and BBs you could build a bike from scratch with 4/5mm Allen keys, cable cutters and a screwdriver. To compare to a car is stupid, sorry.

ilovedirt

njee20 wrote:

+1 to the ongoing comments re DIY. With many modern bikes having internal headsets and BBs you could build a bike from scratch with 4/5mm Allen keys, cable cutters and a screwdriver. To compare to a car is stupid, sorry.

Yes, you can BUILD a bike from scratch with just a few allen keys, but there are certain things the home mechanic can't do. I build/fix/maintain my bikes mostly myself, however when I built my 456 up, I took it to the bike shop for facing and to get the headset fitted, because funnily enough, I don't have the tools for facing (granted i could probably knock a headset press up from some threaded bar and washers, but I didn't have any spanners etc, as i'm a student and can't afford a load of tools, see where I'm coming from?). I also have a wheel in the LBS currently, as I have neither a truing stand or the skill to do it myself, and wheel building is something that requires real skill. Granted, if I see someone wheeling their bike into the LBS for a very simple issue, such as a flat tyre or something else pretty basic, that is pretty daft, but there are times when a professional mechanic is required.

cooldad

I agree there are some things (facing is one) where the cost of tools obviously doesn't justify DIY.
But you can install headset cups with a rubber mallet or hammer and a bit of wood. Wheels can be trued in situ (skill comes with doing).
Cost of an hours labour will buy you enough tools (set of allen keys, screwdriver etc) to do most jobs and most specialised tools (BB tool, chain whip etc are less than a tenner). Even a basic multitool will handle most jobs.

No more excuses. from lazy students. Get a job. (Although judging from your bikes you are not exactly poverty stricken)

MrChuck

Some things some special, spendy tools are needed or at least very helpful, and some things assume your time is worth nothing too. So I'll happily replace my drivetrain (BB, cassette, chain, mechs), bleed my brakes, replace cables, true wheels (after a fashion!) etc etc. Basically if I've got the right tools and I can do it with the bike upside down in my conservatory then I will.

But I won't, for example, cut down a steerer tube, face a BB, fiddle about with my Rockshox much, or fit a headset. That's because I either don't have the tools (and it doesn't seem worthwhile to buy them) , or I CBA to be kneeling on something and trying to saw it properly without a vice, or I just CBA full stop (for fork servicing).

So it's not rocket science, but people aren't losers just because they don't want to do it themselves.

cooldad

Where do you get losers from? Don't put words in my mouth.
But seriously a few minutes with a hacksaw will sort out a steerer tube.
Most jobs can be sorted a lot quicker than two trips to a shop.
If someone doesn't want to, or doesn't enjoy working on their bikes, fair enough, but the excuse that it's too hard is rubbish in most cases.
For those who can't change a lightbulb, obviously there's little choice.