Best Buy FAQ

supersonic

As many questions are asked over and over and, in response to a query in a recent thread, I have decided to construct a sticky for FAQ regarding 'what part should I buy for X pounds'.

But first we will discuss this ie what questions/prices etc ie 'I have £100, what disc brakes' - the consensus seems Deore. Fork for less than £150 for xc/trails? Rockshox Recon Silver.

Of course it depends on what fits, and readers can obviously start topics to discuss these things, but a general FAQ seems a good idea.

Any more price points/categories that you see asked often, and what parts would you suggest to answer the question?

cooldad

Decent pedals - MG1 around £30.

Chunkers1980

Decent proper pedals - Shimano SPD m520 less than £20 with cleats

MrM

Best value price point

thistle_

I don't know if seatposts has come up enough to be frequent (basic, not suspension or dropper posts)
The answers tended to be just get a cheap one, carbon ones are just for bling.

Wheels is one that comes up all the time. Might not be so easy to answer.

cooldad

Charge Spoon.

chrisw333

Best wheels c£200 (usually superstar) and best xc / trail fork for c£250 (usually Reba) gets asked loads.

Best value bars & stem is also popular.

All rounder tyre (realise this is a difficult one!)

How about best ladies bike at £350 & £500?

felix.london

Superstar brake pads?

felix.london

cooldad wrote:

Decent pedals - MG1 around £30.

Decent pedals - Superstar Nano around £40

felix.london

Don't see many requests for it but there should be a decent beginners tool kit on here

felix.london

Crankset, Deore/SLX?

cooldad

felix.london wrote:

cooldad wrote:

Decent pedals - MG1 around £30.

Decent pedals - Superstar Nano around £40

£80 if you actually want magnesium awesomeness, so no.

Woodmonkey

Most repeated questions are centered around budget, entry level or first upgrades.what bike £600? What full sus for £1200? What pedals first upgrade, had my bike 6 months want to make it lighter, what wheels? And the same answers will come up again and again. Give a list for the best budget options for most parts, and some upgrade options.

supersonic

Sort of is the question really, want to narrow it down to the most common ones. Sort of a 'look here first' sticky, but don't want it to be too congested.

Keep 'em coming.

Woodmonkey

Yeah just re read it, had some cider! 9 speed chains fit 9 speed bikes etc ( kmc for me)

supersonic

Any model of KMC? Seems to be a popular brand.

Woodmonkey

I have the x9 93(£19 ish) but have used the x9 73 (£15ish) both good, and the missing links are good to have in your kit.

cooldad

I buy whatever the cheapest KMC going is (the X9 73 I think). Never snapped one yet, and I tend to change them when I feel sorry for them rather than feeling a need to.
Also use them in 8 and 6 speed, same results.

Woodmonkey

cooldad wrote:

I buy whatever the cheapest KMC going is (the X9 73 I think). Never snapped one yet, and I tend to change them when I feel sorry for them rather than feeling a need to.
Also use them in 8 and 6 speed, same results.

I only upgraded when the more expensive one was on offer making it£1 more than the other, does say super light on the box though and I haven't snapped it

oxocube1

'All round best' tyres are one that comes up often, but that is very difficult to pinpoint which tyres are best as everyone has different opinions. Maybe have a shortlist of 5-10 tyres that are mentioned most? or have most recommended 5 tyres for particular types of riding (DH, Trail, XC etc.).

I certainly think though you should have best 3 bikes for different budgets so; £400 (list of 3 bikes), £500 (list of 3 bikes), £750 (list of 3 bikes), £1000 (list of 3 bikes) etc. Just so that people get a good idea of where to start.

I would have to agree with others though and add a few of my own:
Brakes Pads - £5 a pair from Superstar
Innertubes - £1.99 ea from On One
Frame Bearings - KaTec Bikes on eBay
Starter Toolkits - Bike Hand Toolkits from Wheelies

supersonic

Good stuff. I hope to update the What Bike thread too soon.

sofaboy73

best shoes for flat pedals comes up regularly, with shimano am41's seeming to get most recommendations when weighing up value / grip / durability

as others have mentioned, tyres must be the most common question, but very difficult to provide definitive answers. might be worth listing the most popular answers - rubber queens, nobby nic / hand dampf, mininion / high roller

entry level / 1-1.5K full suss seems to appear a lot as well

less common, but fairly regular - knee pads. kyle straits or fox launch pro

felix.london

sofaboy73 wrote:

best shoes for flat pedals comes up regularly, with shimano am41's seeming to get most recommendations when weighing up value / grip / durability

as others have mentioned, tyres must be the most common question, but very difficult to provide definitive answers. might be worth listing the most popular answers - rubber queens, nobby nic / hand dampf, mininion / high roller

entry level / 1-1.5K full suss seems to appear a lot as well

less common, but fairly regular - knee pads. kyle straits or fox launch pro

661 Kyle Strait's are defunct - they've been replaced by the Rage which don't seem to get mentioned as much as the Straits did. Think the Launch Pro's should get the slot

sofaboy73

dropper posts - reverb?

best value websites - rose, bike discount etc?

felix.london

Sub £100 Wheelset;

Merlin's Shimano M495 Hubs - Mavic X117 Rims - RT62 Rotors @ £70