Boris vs BSO Beater

itboffin
itboffin Posts: 20,073
edited August 2011 in Commuting chat
When the TFL Boris bike scheme started I signed up, initially just using them for the odd trip and eventually using them for my short London commute, trouble is I am incapable of riding slowly in London (Thanks Chris) so I end up riding at max RPM resulting in a sweaty mess when I arrive at my shower free offices.

No nice for anyone, i've been considering buying a crap BSO/beater which I could leave at various stations, ebay etc has so far proved useless.

What's the general consensus on BB commuting, is it worth the hassle for 2 x 4 miles 5 days a week?

Against:
Heavy, slow, broken mostly and hard to find during rush hours

For:
Not my bike(s),cheapish
Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
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Comments

  • EKE_38BPM
    EKE_38BPM Posts: 5,821
    40 miles a week on a slow, heavy bike? I'd go with a cheap beater.
    FCN 3: Raleigh Record Ace fixie-to be resurrected sometime in the future
    FCN 4: Planet X Schmaffenschmack 2- workhorse
    FCN 9: B Twin Vitamin - winter commuter/loan bike for trainees

    I'm hungry. I'm always hungry!
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,816
    Cheap beater, a good fleabay/Gumtree buy should see you with something that is a good ride whilst looking like its worth 10p.

    We have an old Steel Townsend, cost £5.50 off ebay, I've spent about another £20 on it so its running decent wheels (Formula/Mavic 117) and tyres and good brakes and pedals, it still weighs about 27lbs but its free rolling and reasonable fun to ride - still only looks worth 10p though!

    Simon
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • outcastjack
    outcastjack Posts: 237
    beater all the way, Boris bikes are just no contest.

    Overtaking a fully lycra'd up guy on a very nice Cervelo in hyde park whilst carring a huge bag on my Ebay bike that is roughly twice my age is a memory I will always cherish! :D

    And coupled with a decent lock it should stay where it is fairly well too.
    I have left mine for periods of up to a week at various Railway stations with no signs of anyone even attempting to steal it.
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,073
    I can get a new steel frame, rigid forks, seatpost & stem for £40 delivered, add to that my old crap MTB wheels with a single speed conversion, some salvaged brakes, bars, pedals and saddle.

    It'll look like the cycling equiv of the rocky horror show but will still be quicker than a BB.
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,073
    outcastjack wrote:
    beater all the way, Boris bikes are just no contest.

    Overtaking a fully lycra'd up guy on a very nice Cervelo in hyde park whilst carring a huge bag on my Ebay bike that is roughly twice my age is a memory I will always cherish! :D

    And coupled with a decent lock it should stay where it is fairly well too.
    I have left mine for periods of up to a week at various Railway stations with no signs of anyone even attempting to steal it.

    I hear that almost as good as doing the same whilst riding a BB :lol:

    Took a no handed FGSS fakenger this morning who seemed to struggle on the col de hyde park ... loser!
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • SimonAH
    SimonAH Posts: 3,730
    Not a contest.

    What would.be fun though is disguising a good and fast bike to look like a 20 pound BSO
    FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
    CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
    Litespeed L3 for Strava bits

    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
  • EKE_38BPM
    EKE_38BPM Posts: 5,821
    itboffin wrote:
    I can get a new steel frame, rigid forks, seatpost & stem for £40 delivered, add to that my old crap MTB wheels with a single speed conversion, some salvaged brakes, bars, pedals and saddle.

    It'll look like the cycling equiv of the rocky horror show but will still be quicker than a BB.

    Tell me where you get a frame for £40?
    FCN 3: Raleigh Record Ace fixie-to be resurrected sometime in the future
    FCN 4: Planet X Schmaffenschmack 2- workhorse
    FCN 9: B Twin Vitamin - winter commuter/loan bike for trainees

    I'm hungry. I'm always hungry!
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,073
    EKE_38BPM wrote:
    itboffin wrote:
    I can get a new steel frame, rigid forks, seatpost & stem for £40 delivered, add to that my old crap MTB wheels with a single speed conversion, some salvaged brakes, bars, pedals and saddle.

    It'll look like the cycling equiv of the rocky horror show but will still be quicker than a BB.

    Tell me where you get a frame for £40?

    Bankrupt cycles ebay store :wink:
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • EKE_38BPM
    EKE_38BPM Posts: 5,821
    Nice one, pity no 59cm steel 700c fixie frames though. Not that I'm asking for much.

    I wonder how cheaply I can put a beater together for for my nephew?
    FCN 3: Raleigh Record Ace fixie-to be resurrected sometime in the future
    FCN 4: Planet X Schmaffenschmack 2- workhorse
    FCN 9: B Twin Vitamin - winter commuter/loan bike for trainees

    I'm hungry. I'm always hungry!
  • edhornby
    edhornby Posts: 1,741
    http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B3875.html?id=9aCrN92H

    perfect
    "I get paid to make other people suffer on my wheel, how good is that"
    --Jens Voight
  • sketchley
    sketchley Posts: 4,238
    What about that Thames valley police site. Ex stolen bikes. Should be able to get a beater on there.
    --
    Chris

    Genesis Equilibrium - FCN 3/4/5
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,073
    Well that's me sorted I think, BSO on order :lol:
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • iPete
    iPete Posts: 6,076
    Its certainly not the cheap option but an absolute winner for bopping around the city..

    brompton-s2l-2010-folding-bike.jpg
  • NGale
    NGale Posts: 1,866
    I have a cheap option bike for when I'm going to college in Plymouth, sure as hell I wouldn't take anything of value into the Devonport area where my colleague is based!
    Officers don't run, it's undignified and panics the men
  • Clever Pun
    Clever Pun Posts: 6,778
    iPete wrote:
    Its certainly not the cheap option but an absolute winner for bopping around the city..

    brompton-s2l-2010-folding-bike.jpg

    ^ awesome bikes really useful and you can take them in the pub.. You can also embarrass a lot of people without trying to.
    Purveyor of sonic doom

    Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
    Fixed Pista- FCN 5
    Beared Bromptonite - FCN 14
  • daviesee
    daviesee Posts: 6,386
    I thought the choice was between a BSO and a Boris beater :wink:
    None of the above should be taken seriously, and certainly not personally.
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    Get an old Trek hybrid. Mine is a 2006 7.2fx which is still going strong. It's slower than my new Boardman but actually much more comfortable. A really nice bike that I still use for pottering around and leaving at the train station for days on end.
  • bails87
    bails87 Posts: 12,998
    EKE_38BPM wrote:
    Nice one, pity no 59cm steel 700c fixie frames though. Not that I'm asking for much.

    I wonder how cheaply I can put a beater together for for my nephew?
    I'm thinking exactly the same, obviously not for your nephew though!
    MTB/CX

    "As I said last time, it won't happen again."
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,073
    10 docking stations before I found a BB today.
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • Jason82
    Jason82 Posts: 142
    http://www.bargainbikes.net/mens_bikes.html

    There is one called a hardass presumably you need to wear a leather jacket with it and a gay earring.
    Missing a Boardman cx team
    FCN = 9
  • bails87
    bails87 Posts: 12,998
    Jason82 wrote:
    http://www.bargainbikes.net/mens_bikes.html

    There is one called a hardass presumably you need to wear a leather jacket with it and a gay earring.

    You're just full of wit and charm aren't you darling.
    MTB/CX

    "As I said last time, it won't happen again."
  • davis
    davis Posts: 2,506
    bails87 wrote:
    Jason82 wrote:
    http://www.bargainbikes.net/mens_bikes.html

    There is one called a hardass presumably you need to wear a leather jacket with it and a gay earring.

    You're just full of wit and charm aren't you darling.

    Hands off. He's mine.

    *flounce
    Sometimes parts break. Sometimes you crash. Sometimes it’s your fault.
  • prawny
    prawny Posts: 5,451
    Place does stupid cheap bikes.

    www.hawkcycles.co.uk

    Free delivery too.
    Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
    Voodoo Bizango - 2014 - Dead - Hit by a car
    Vitus Sentier VRS - 2017
  • prawny
    prawny Posts: 5,451
    I do speak English by the way...
    Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
    Voodoo Bizango - 2014 - Dead - Hit by a car
    Vitus Sentier VRS - 2017
  • Jason82
    Jason82 Posts: 142
    prawny wrote:
    Place does stupid cheap bikes.

    www.hawkcycles.co.uk

    Free delivery too.

    The disney space police sounds interesting when I was young I always wanted a street hawk bike llike some of my lucky mates.
    Missing a Boardman cx team
    FCN = 9
  • shouldbeinbed
    shouldbeinbed Posts: 2,660
    Police auctions.

    Local bike recycling place

    Local paper small ads

    Ask people at work/intranet - pretty much every colleagues shed or garage will have a barely used bike taking up space
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,073
    Behold the monster lives

    5998328194_7a0bdb5eae_z.jpg

    Needs a much longer seat post and the chainline sorting, other than that it's commute ready.
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • clarkey cat
    clarkey cat Posts: 3,641
    it. is. revolting.

    but strangely beautiful.
    Dolan Mythos
  • rjsterry
    rjsterry Posts: 30,056
    My eyes!
    1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
    Pinnacle Monzonite

    Part of the anti-growth coalition
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,073
    rjsterry wrote:
    My eyes!

    My knees :?
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.

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