Just about on topic...

j_mcd
j_mcd Posts: 473
edited August 2014 in Commuting chat
My mum is looking for a sit up and beg style bike to 'commute' to the shops. She just wants something cheap and as she lives in rural Cambridgeshire, hills aren't an issue so weight shouldn't be either.

I've seen this at Decathlon:

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/elops-3-blac ... 45409.html

But I have no experience of them as a company or the Btwin bikes either.

Don't supposed anyone has one or can fill me in on whether they're just going to fall apart in days.
Giant Defy Advanced 0 - Best
Planet X London Road - Wet
Montague Fit - Foldy thing that rarely gets used these days

Comments

  • Koncordski
    Koncordski Posts: 1,009
    How about a dutch town bike?

    http://www.amsterdammers.co.uk/ladies.htm
    #1 Brompton S2L Raw Lacquer, Leather Mudflaps
    #2 Boeris Italia race steel
    #3 Scott CR1 SL
    #4 Trek 1.1 commuter
    #5 Peugeot Grand Tourer (Tandem)
  • j_mcd
    j_mcd Posts: 473
    Hmm, they look pretty good. Certainly the kind of thing I'm aiming for.
    Giant Defy Advanced 0 - Best
    Planet X London Road - Wet
    Montague Fit - Foldy thing that rarely gets used these days
  • rubertoe
    rubertoe Posts: 3,994
    Btwin and Decathlon offer very good value for money with the triban being about the best bike on the market for a budget.

    Do not fear the french, they know their bikes

    I'm currently awaithing the Alur to give it a test ride.... they are rarer than hens teeth though.
    "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."

    PX Kaffenback 2 = Work Horse
    B-Twin Alur 700 = Sundays and Hills
  • Koncordski
    Koncordski Posts: 1,009
    These guys look good.

    http://www.dutchie.co.uk/
    #1 Brompton S2L Raw Lacquer, Leather Mudflaps
    #2 Boeris Italia race steel
    #3 Scott CR1 SL
    #4 Trek 1.1 commuter
    #5 Peugeot Grand Tourer (Tandem)
  • elbowloh
    elbowloh Posts: 7,078
    Koncordski wrote:
    These guys look good.

    http://www.dutchie.co.uk/
    The only problem with them though is that if one of them is ahead of you and going slow, you have to ride like a knob and undertake them.




    As you all know, you pass the dutchie on the left hand side............
    Felt F1 2014
    Felt Z6 2012
    Red Arthur Caygill steel frame
    Tall....
    www.seewildlife.co.uk
  • mtb-idle
    mtb-idle Posts: 2,179
    as above Decathlon are great, I often buy cheap kit in there and bikes are supposed to be good too.

    Issues would be limited number of stores. I think they only have two but i may be wrong. not an issue for me in Canary Wharf one tube stop away from Canada water but may be for others.

    Having said that it's never stopped many online companies from succeeding.

    BTW I actually winced when i clicked on that link but it's horses for courses I s'pose :cry:
    FCN = 4
  • Monkeypump
    Monkeypump Posts: 1,528
    J_MCD - I see you're in Guildford. Whilst not on the doorstep, there is big Decathlon store in Reading. I've had a good look at their bikes, and have to say the spec is generally impressive. Reviews are good too. The staff are very helpful, so would probably be worth a visit. Stock can be variable though, so phone ahead...
  • Torvid
    Torvid Posts: 449
    elbowloh wrote:


    As you all know, you pass the dutchie on the left hand side............


    You sir win the internet
    Commuter: Forme Vision Red/Black FCN 4
    Weekender: White/Black - Cube Agree GTC pro FCN 3
  • elbowloh
    elbowloh Posts: 7,078
    Torvid wrote:
    elbowloh wrote:


    As you all know, you pass the dutchie on the left hand side............


    You sir win the internet
    *takes a bow*
    Felt F1 2014
    Felt Z6 2012
    Red Arthur Caygill steel frame
    Tall....
    www.seewildlife.co.uk
  • rubertoe
    rubertoe Posts: 3,994
    elbowloh wrote:
    Torvid wrote:
    elbowloh wrote:


    As you all know, you pass the dutchie on the left hand side............


    You sir win the internet
    *takes a bow*

    Ffs don't encourage him.
    "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."

    PX Kaffenback 2 = Work Horse
    B-Twin Alur 700 = Sundays and Hills
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    Halfords do the Pendleton and a similar range of Dutch style bikes, not looked at them closely, Pashley do some as well, a mates wife has one complete with whisker basket.
    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.
  • EKE_38BPM
    EKE_38BPM Posts: 5,821
    The Decathlon bikes are very good value for money. Inexpensive rather than cheap.

    I have a BTwin Vitamin (a single speed rigid MTB) which only cost £70. I only use it for trainees and foul weather but I do enjoy riding it, its like a big BMX.

    It is well made and I'd have no worries about buying a BTwin bike for my mum.
    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!
  • seajays
    seajays Posts: 331
    rubertoe wrote:
    elbowloh wrote:
    Torvid wrote:
    elbowloh wrote:
    As you all know, you pass the dutchie on the left hand side............
    You sir win the internet
    *takes a bow*
    Ffs don't encourage him.
    Aww... give him his due... it was funny! :lol:
    Cannondale CAADX Tiagra 2017
    Revolution Courier Race Disc '14
    My Strava
  • Kieran_Burns
    Kieran_Burns Posts: 9,757
    The Rookie wrote:
    Halfords do the Pendleton and a similar range of Dutch style bikes, not looked at them closely, Pashley do some as well, a mates wife has one complete with whisker basket.

    How many cats died in the making of that? You unfeeling bastard.
    Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
    2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
    2011 Trek Madone 4.5
    2012 Felt F65X
    Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter
  • rubertoe
    rubertoe Posts: 3,994
    I was in halfords yesterday to get a new car seat for little toe (who btw is turning out to be rather an expensive hobby) and the missus who has no real interest in cycling was looking at a pendleton road bike, I am going to buy her one...
    "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."

    PX Kaffenback 2 = Work Horse
    B-Twin Alur 700 = Sundays and Hills
  • elbowloh
    elbowloh Posts: 7,078
    rubertoe wrote:
    I was in halfords yesterday to get a new car seat for little toe (who btw is turning out to be rather an expensive hobby) and the missus who has no real interest in cycling was looking at a pendleton road bike, I am going to buy her one...
    On average, the cost of raising a kid till the age of 18 is £250k.
    Felt F1 2014
    Felt Z6 2012
    Red Arthur Caygill steel frame
    Tall....
    www.seewildlife.co.uk
  • rubertoe
    rubertoe Posts: 3,994
    elbowloh wrote:
    rubertoe wrote:
    I was in halfords yesterday to get a new car seat for little toe (who btw is turning out to be rather an expensive hobby) and the missus who has no real interest in cycling was looking at a pendleton road bike, I am going to buy her one...
    On average, the cost of raising a kid till the age of 18 is £250k.

    they are lying, it is more than that.
    "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."

    PX Kaffenback 2 = Work Horse
    B-Twin Alur 700 = Sundays and Hills
  • rjsterry
    rjsterry Posts: 29,091
    Kieran_Burns wrote:
    The Rookie wrote:
    Halfords do the Pendleton and a similar range of Dutch style bikes, not looked at them closely, Pashley do some as well, a mates wife has one complete with whisker basket.

    How many cats died in the making of that? You unfeeling bastard.

    I assumed it was a basket for the mate's wife's whiskers.

    :oops:
    1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
    Pinnacle Monzonite

    Part of the anti-growth coalition
  • unscarred
    unscarred Posts: 208
    J_MCD wrote:
    I've seen this at Decathlon:
    http://www.decathlon.co.uk/elops-3-blac ... 45409.html
    Don't supposed anyone has one or can fill me in on whether they're just going to fall apart in days.

    The wife and I have owned two of these for a couple of years, so I feel I should comment.
    They're good bikes for the money, if predictably slow and heavy. I used one of them every day for the best part of a year to take my son to and from nursery, for which I added a double foot stand and a child seat. I've changed the brake pads and cables once since new.
    On both bikes the plate in front of the bottom bracket that the stand attaches to has broken off, albeit after significant use/abuse. This plate takes a lot of tortional force in supporting the bike with a small but heavy child wriggling in the rear seat, so maybe it's not surprising, or maybe it should have been stronger.
    One one of the bikes the bearings have failed in the rear wheel.
    It looks like since we bought ours the rear hub brake has been replaced with a vee brake, which is a definite improvement.
    I haven't had any experience with BTWIN's lifetime warranty yet, but Decathlon have always been good in the past. I think I've left it too late to claim on mine as I never registered them when I bought them.
    FCN 6 in the week on the shiny new single speed.

    FCN 3 at the weekend - struggling to do it justice!

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