HELP! POOR AND MISERABLE

Super Domestique

LeicesterLad wrote:

5 Minutes left...£155, should i buy? :?

So did you? :P

LeicesterLad

Super Domestique wrote:

LeicesterLad wrote:

5 Minutes left...£155, should i buy? :?

So did you? :P

No :oops: Couldn't bring myself to do it, it went for £160 in the end, barely worth that new, let alone 2 years old and used! Maybe im just being fussy!

Super Domestique

TDF....................

Avanti Roman

You did the right thing.

New Airlite 100, Btwin Fact 3 or Carrera TDF all decent buys.

Giant OCR:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3006153.htm

DermotD

If you have been on an old troublesome bike just about anything will be an improvement at this stage.

The following link is for a new Raleigh Strada that apparently has a RRP of 399 and is available at 199 which is a heck of a saving. The Spec looks good enough.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2011-RALEIGH-EXR- ... 167wt_1195

On this site, Bikeradar, there is a review of the Claud Butler Criterium which can be got for about 299. I just bought one and am very pleased with it. I'm in my 50's, well over weight and was looking for something to entice me back on the bike but didnt want or see the need to spend silly money. It got a very good review on this wbsite so I went ahead and am glad I did. Sure I could have bought something 2 or 3 lbs lighter for 3 times the money but what was the point?

The Raleigh Airlight 100 is available on a number of eShops at 300 and that seems to be great value too. It costs nothing to call into a few bike shops and get a feel for these bikes.

LeicesterLad

DermotD wrote:

If you have been on an old troublesome bike just about anything will be an improvement at this stage.

The following link is for a new Raleigh Strada that apparently has a RRP of 399 and is available at 199 which is a heck of a saving. The Spec looks good enough.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2011-RALEIGH-EXR- ... 167wt_1195

On this site, Bikeradar, there is a review of the Claud Butler Criterium which can be got for about 299. I just bought one and am very pleased with it. I'm in my 50's, well over weight and was looking for something to entice me back on the bike but didnt want or see the need to spend silly money. It got a very good review on this wbsite so I went ahead and am glad I did. Sure I could have bought something 2 or 3 lbs lighter for 3 times the money but what was the point?

The Raleigh Airlight 100 is available on a number of eShops at 300 and that seems to be great value too. It costs nothing to call into a few bike shops and get a feel for these bikes.

Whats with the 28mm tyres though!

Super Domestique

Further to my comment about in store haggling. I just spotted on halfords site that they have launched their 2011 range so I would be pushing them for extra discount on either the TDF, which I openly have a soft spot for, or the virtuoso which is same price. Apart from my TDF biased I would target that model with the "well the tour is a wk in and you wouldn't want to be left with one after the event" line of haggle.

LeicesterLad

Super Domestique wrote:

Further to my comment about in store haggling. I just spotted on halfords site that they have launched their 2011 range so I would be pushing them for extra discount on either the TDF, which I openly have a soft spot for, or the virtuoso which is same price. Apart from my TDF biased I would target that model with the "well the tour is a wk in and you wouldn't want to be left with one after the event" line of haggle.

Didn't really want to stretch, but looks like my only option, been scouring Ebay / Gumtree for days and theres no options on there.

LeicesterLad

Ive found a Gaint SCR4 in good nick, £250 and its mine, is that too much? i know its basic spec, but at least i know Giant have a good reputation...

DermotD

LeicesterLad wrote:

DermotD wrote:

If you have been on an old troublesome bike just about anything will be an improvement at this stage.

The following link is for a new Raleigh Strada that apparently has a RRP of 399 and is available at 199 which is a heck of a saving. The Spec looks good enough.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2011-RALEIGH-EXR- ... 167wt_1195

On this site, Bikeradar, there is a review of the Claud Butler Criterium which can be got for about 299. I just bought one and am very pleased with it. I'm in my 50's, well over weight and was looking for something to entice me back on the bike but didnt want or see the need to spend silly money. It got a very good review on this wbsite so I went ahead and am glad I did. Sure I could have bought something 2 or 3 lbs lighter for 3 times the money but what was the point?

The Raleigh Airlight 100 is available on a number of eShops at 300 and that seems to be great value too. It costs nothing to call into a few bike shops and get a feel for these bikes.

Whats with the 28mm tyres though!

your original query was for a bike suitable for the weekly commute, some Sunday miles and a cycle event in Sept. You also say you are an unfit smoker. The difference between a 23 or 25mm tyre and a 28mm tyre will hardly really make a big difference in that situation ;-). If you get to a fitness level where you want to get a bit more serious you can always purchase a second set of wheels set up for whatever it is you do and use the set that came with the bike for your commuting etc thereby saving the goods ones from wear and tear.

The Claud Butler is fitted with 23mm wheels if its really important and the Airlight 100 has 25mm.

Certainly if you have the confidence that you know what you are looking at secondhand go for it but every item you buy secondhand has a history (good or bad) and you take the risk, there are no guarantees or consumer protection and by the time you find out it will generally be too late.

ollyridesfirst

LeicesterLad wrote:

Ive found a Gaint SCR4 in good nick, £250 and its mine, is that too much? i know its basic spec, but at least i know Giant have a good reputation...

To be honest a lot of the bikes mentioned on this thread around the £250 - £300 mark have relatively the exact same spec. £250 for a road bike can't be bad...