And this is something Halfords need to address. Compare it to mobile phones, computer consoles etc and it's far better value (and it won't be crippled by an OS 'upgrade' in 18 months time). I spent 300 back in 2000 on effectively a BSO and I thought that was a hell of a lot. I didn't know better at the time (age 11) but a couple of years later I bought a proper bike from a friends older brother for 250 used and the difference in ride quality was startling. I love my ridgeback and gave had nothing but reliability and pleasure from it. The difference between comfort and performace is unreal. Average is just that, whatever year it is. Yes there's a place for cheap bikes, but not at the expense of the safety and enjoyment of the rider. I've just purchased 2 Ridgeback Traditional cycles and so glad I read artice..hope u can give me advice on the purchased Ridgeback (Traditional) 349 each Ebay - gumtree etc. Oh, and I saw a bike (sold online) called a GMC Denali, name officially licensed from General Motors to promote their jumbo luxury monster 4x4 SUV. I am already looking at buying a good bike from my local bike shop. One thing nobody has mentioned yet; the online bike stores who are selling 2009/2010 bikes at huge savings. In the summer of 2013 I cycled 1400km from Kilkenny to Lyon and suffered no more than one broken spoke and since then I have been cycling 12km and back to work each day without any problems whatsoever. I have hammered that bike on and off road for nearly 10 years and it has let me down once, when the derailier holder snapped. A BSO is a false economy. So for the grand total of 162 she now has an excellent quality hybrid bike that rides like a dream, she loves it. That day (five years ago) was the last time I set foot in Halfords. I bought my son a $700 Norco for $109. Because I can quite happily leave it locked up at a train station/shop with minimal fear that some thief would bother to steal it! Utterly disappointed with bike I bought it is a collection of heavy junk metal on wheels. The brakes performed very well in the dry but abysmally in wet conditions. Got a decent aluminum MTB frame and building it up as a commuting bike, leaving the old 'Herc' as backup. But simarly specd bikes from more premium retailers were heavier, had cheaper gearing components and were a bit ugly! Trouble is, once we touch it every single problem with it from then on is our fault. Have done some refurb / servicing my self and still going fine. I bought my car for less it's got a heater 4 seats and a stereo.your 5grand bike gives you nothing but debt and a sore arse. Nice article! This is a list of all the BSO companies in North America. Light is not necessarily faster - that is down to power, endurance and aerodynamics - it just feels good and it is easier to carry a light bike, of course. buy a cheap new bike" article. after a few months of cycling it and trying out my brothers Carrera, I realized what a piece of shit it is. Like my earlier Trek, the components are very good - not top of the range mind - but decent quality. I pretty much reckon I can ride any bike at the speeds I do "heavy" or not. Which i put down to my lack of cleaning more than anything. That means weak in some instances. No amount of effort would convince him that our cheapest bike was not like-for-like. It is absolutely fine. This story does have an happy ending though. It is a shame that the bike manufactures dont seem to do this category of model anymore, ie. Great Set is Handy for fixing car Tools,Auto,and MORE!! When I need to go somewhere I go on this - I don't race. I do like this article, but its does fail to point out that you MAY get a good BSO. The tyres were unbranded and performed badly in the wet. Alternatively, if I raise the seat to get sufficient "leg stretch" in order to pedal through a full 360 degrees, I cannot then reach the ground. I bought a "Trax" maountain bike from Halfords for 79 last year for a 400k tour. I later bought my daughter a used bike there for $129. I run a hs bike club, love all kinds of bikes, and am not a bike snob. So sometimes you can be lucky. Never a true word said to be honest. The big problem is, however, how does one put forward this message to the wider public who buy cycles solely by price? I pretty much agree with this. I do agree however with cheap suspension. What a relief! It cost me 29.99 from Tesco and is top quality. Some people in NZ even apply for finance to buy these so called bikes. 200 euros, everything is bottomline shimano. Started riding to work a few weeks ago, using my old '73 Hercules I got as a kid. I know it's tough when budgets are tight but I would certainly recommend taking a bit longer to save up in order to get the benefits in the long term. Typical "bike-Shop mentality". I have several bikes in my household - a vintage road bike, a couple of cheap kiddy MTB's, a Dawes MTB, Specialized custom MTB, Gary Fisher custom MTB, a cheap full suspension MTB, 2 full custom BMXs and another roadbike. In the past I have owned some very good mtbs including an Orange C6 until it was stolen. I have lost with this bike though. As an experiment I purchased a BSO on the classifieds newspaper ads for $35 (AMF Ten-speed). BSO's really are terrible, just get a 2nd hand single speed bike; low maintainance, lighter and durable bikes with fewer moving parts, cheaper to boot. I just rebuild what others have binned.For no money I've a Bates track bike , a nice Trek Antelope, various 531 raleighs and horror of horrors my wife's Reebok Freedom. "I see these BSO things being ridden. The route is flat (except for one moderate bridge) and well paved. The brakes have since been replaced the rst fork replaced with marzocchi the stem replaced the handlebars replaced the wheelset basically completely rebuilt the bike. The gear levers were made of plastic, as suggested here, and while I had no immediate problems, would not expect them to hold up long term. I saved up for a LONG time (& used my redundancy chq too) to buy my Dawes Galaxy. I don't think everyone should buy very expensive bikes but far too many people seem to buy very cheap bikes which look good to get started cycling. Think about it, some bike shops run a "Savings Club" you can purchase a cycle for summer by saving with the shop through the winter or use the Savings Club for Xmas, Easter or Birthdays, you will be supporting your cycle local shop, who in return supports you and will help you enjoy your purchase. To put cheap suspension on the front was a waste of time, so I paid $100 for an overhauled set of Maz Bombers, and the necessary adapter bits. I have recently bought myself a rather tasty Cannondale at about 2/3rd the RRP from 2010 and about 500 cheaper than a similar spec 2011 bike from my local bike shop. They can be used on cars, truck, motorcycles, buses, trains, planes, caravans, etc. But the biggest problem is that a lot of people who buy cheap expect skilled mechanics to fix them for a cost relative to the cost of the bike. - H.G. I adjusted the derailleur system to perfection, and tuned the brakes until it worked to perfection in my mom's garage. So, I returned to the shop and bought a Voodoo Marasa, this time costing 350. Anyway, hope this is informative. (Haven't been on a bike since I was eight.) Had I known then what I know now, I would have stripped it down completely and rebuilt it. This article may be about economics, but it cannot apply to the hundreds in my position. I thought that the trickle down effect would be able to make a bike stop and go reasonably well at any price, time and again I am reminded that a BSO is not pleasant to ride. And they have their place on school campuses or around town where theft is a problem. Great article! (Said with tongue in cheek) I have a well used 1972 Honda C50 which is covered in surface rust, blows a bit of smoke when it gets really hot but rides nicely and works every time I choose to ride it. While you might get a lighter bike for more bucks there is no tried and true value equated to the dollar value. It lasted really well with nothing going wrong other than a seized rear brake.. as for bikes from halfords or supermarkets Stems and handlebars are different size. It was Acid Green and looked ok, after I disposed of it I bought a Giant Revel 2 with decent components. Now I have a GTA .. Great term, bicycle shaped objects, love that polite term for trash, although I am not to sure about the comment about handlebars the wrong way up, in days of old often handlebars were reversed upside down as a means of shifting center of gravity on load for roadsters in village point to point events. And, since this is a bike which is used to commute and also to get to the shops at the town centre, I really don't want to shell 300+ in something that can be snatched easily (I have a sturdy-looking D-lock, but still!..). We are supposed to take 20 mins to assemble each bike out of the box which is a joke. great advice, some cheap bikes are so unconfortable with plastic grips and rock like seats that tbh if bits started to fail it would be a blessing as you would perhaps purchase a better quality bike witch with better brakes etc would be both more fun and safer. The pedal crank fell off and will not tighten. We sell them and give the money to charity. Suggesting it is built to a standard. Was always breaking spokes until they were replaced. That's my monthly wage. Whilst I'm sure that you love your Viking, the Viking and ridgebacks are in different leagues. I would be pleased to receive any ideas for my "Recycle Rental" scheme which takes in klunkers and BSOs and turns out rideable bikes. Never seen that before. It cost about 80, if I remember correctly. The problem is that most people see 100-150 as the going rate for a bike and anything over that is seen as excessive or needlessly expensive. I always have and always will make sure these bikes are safe and legal before they leave the shop, with the customers satisfaction at the forefront of my mind, but these are really only good for leisurely rides and commutes (even though they have full suspension) they are much better suited to flat asphalt. he spent over $200 on his BSO and last I talked to him, logged 750 miles on it-NO problems. The gear system is efficient. This physical limitation means that, on a 17 inch frame (for example), when I have the seat at a height where I can just reach the ground with my toes, I cannot do a complete 360 degree turn of the pedals, because when the rear pedal is at 3 'clock, I can just about get my heel on the rear pedal. Trax are just a joke. These are still given away free (I was given mine). It's on its 3rd set of tyres, back sprocket and chain, has been robbed though I miraculously recovered it by pure chance of being in the right place at the right time though the brooks saddle and the suspension seat post had been replaced. No pleasing some people, but there is definitely a market for cheap bikes there. But then again, if you don't know any different, you're stuck with BSO's. I've always had cheap bikes and assumed cycling wasn't for me but now I can't get enough of it when the sun is shining. Setting up gears and brakes on my scott tends to be something to look forward too after tinkering with non-responsive deralieurs and tension adjusters all day. If you don't know what you are looking for a cheap bso seems brilliant. Thanks for the other parts of the writing, it was a good read. Kids today are subjected to such rubbish. i am more and more becoming a mountain bike enthusiast. My "expensive" bike was a bargain and I'm glad I didn't buy a BSO. My favorite story is of a Certified Toyota mechanic who came to me with his BSO. I bought the Colnago on Ebay and changed the Shimano groupset to Campagnolo. I have had very expensive bikes in the past, my usual commuter is a Trek and the yes a quality bike is much nicer to ride in all respects; that does not mean however a cheap bike is not fit for general use. I'm very interested in your products; could you send me some detail reference information? Lots of maintenance because of miles. I squarely blame Walmart for creating this business model, everything ,must be CHEAP. The brakes no longer were adjusted. it did not last because of its quality it lasted because i loved my bike(Always doing maintenance) it just cost me less than 80 dollars. I agree, that a good bike mechanic is highly recommended for building, testing and maintenance of a bicycle, and buying online with build it yourself might be risky, however, the large bicycle retailers such as Halfords or Evans should have enough quality control to do the needful. Even then, if 75 is your budget you'd have a more reliable bike that a shop will likely be prepared to repair when it needs it (and it's not likely you will), if you bought a reasonable simple second hand bike for going to the shops for the price. I think this article is quite true. Then, last year I bought an old Raleigh Mustang off of Gumtree for 20 smackers. So if your broke or tight don't give up hope. 20 years later I'm still riding it and the only thing I've altered is the front forks. I've spent just a few hundred quid on servicing. High quality materials and construction to ensure exact OEM fit and finish. I have recently completed my 2000th mile, a little over a year after having bought a 70 British Eagle from Asda. Forget it! This is a brilliant article. Personally, I ride used bikes. Even if one wanted to "do it yourself" - one would have to buy tools - none of which are cheap. LOL,I cry so as not to weep. I now find that I want to go a little farther afield and the 6 gears make it hard going up hills, however I cant afford to pay 300+ for a bike so am looking to buy a second hand one for 100 - 150, can anyone suggest a few names that I should look for that might be suitable. Found one BSO full suspension for 300 (RRP 400 apparently?) He laughed at me but I'm still enjoying my bike every day. They don't see the point in spending more than they have to on something they don't use. Several child seats, basket, pannier and towing a full up to the brim and HEAVY Burley De-lite trailer - it is nothing short of a work-horse and has been great value for money. If you want something to ride short distances and leave in a risky location (but still securely locked!) A bike should cost therefore 150. I agree that cheap bikes are nasty. I bought two Ridgeback bikes brand new from a reputable cycle shop. They truly are a complete waste of good metal and should be ground up to make spares for decent bikes! Donated it. U.S. citizen, cyclist most of my life. your article is spot on, well done, i am an independent cycle dealer. Having said that, in late 1998, I bought a Carrera Banshee (from Halfords - sorry) for about 350. My parents weren't particularly wealthy and bought what they thought was a good buy. I have wanted to mtb for quite a while, and I know someone who will sell me a good quality Kona Coiler for 500euros, unfortunately my dad thinks that cheaper is better and keeps bringing me around Halfords, looking at all the sh!tty bikes for under 200euros, how would be a good way to explain to my dad that i need a good quality bike not a sh!t one, and get him to part-buy me this bike. I liked your article on cheap bikes - it put me off buying one from Sterling House. I was bought up on BSO's. Determined to get some value for the investment, I used the bike regularly, clocking up over 100 miles in just a few weeks before the inevitable trouble. I am a regular rider with a 8 mile hilly round trip commute and use such such a bike (an old Apollo XC.26 from Halfords, I paid 25 second hand). "Cheap" machines are a scourge - and dangerous. Simple but good rigid MTBs. I work at a charity bike shop and we receive donations from the public of old bikes and make them safe and fit for use. There were some great bikes produced in the early/mid nineties by the likes of Trek, Specialized, Saracen, Orange, Cannondale, even Raleigh (to name but a few). How ever the frame and wheels have lived. Will surely keep this in mind while purchasing. Something fails and repairs are expensive so it sits in the shed for the next 10 years. I quizzed him because I can get a nice 12 megapixel Tevion compact camera from Aldi for about 50. No breaks since no matter the hill climb. - Risk of theft - already mentioned in other comments. (ie reebok) But probably have nothing to do with the brand they advertise? Unfortunately our used bike supplier has retired. I left the bike in a zip-up nylon cover in a semi derelict garage for 12 years. Around 10 years ago I bought a 24 gear Raleigh hybrid for around 500 euros - it looked good and it was a Raleigh (I had been brainwashed into believing everything British was the best as a kid). Some also require electronics and electrical safety approvals testing. i always say if these Assuming I do not pop my clogs prior to riding the restoration this one will be for life. If a bike goes wrong on the road there is no equivalent of the AA or RAC. Wayne seems to think that most of the commentators above are, effectively, snobs. I have only replaced the cables and brake pads in all that time. going to try a Boardman next. All this bollocks about cycling being elitist and for rich people is exactly that, bollocks. cycling experience. Wonderfully written & structured article! everything that moves) which were all well on their way out. Then replace all the dire and truly awful parts for better quality one's and get to work with your kids. So, while you may have some good points, there is a good niche for my style of bike. I think a total of 500 over twenty years is quite cheap - 25 quid a year - laughing, mate, just laughing. The difference is astonishing. In the USA, we can buy Huffy and Roadmaster bikes for under $100, at Walmart.These are pretty reasonable bikes, and will certainly last longer than 2 years. Many people want to buy a bike and the 100 - 150 mark is enough for them, but they also want it to be new. I bought a Merida Matts bike about 20 years old. My view was that most bikes are not used and end up cluttering up the shed or garage. The first time it was a complete waste, the rear derailluers didnt move at all or change Soo I thought I'd give it another chance and bought another bike(full suspension). It's not done very many miles and things have kept coming loose. I have a rule if it won't go together well in the workshop, it won't work well on the road. I still have it, although I bought a fairly similar new one two years ago, which is a pleasure to ride. I have a Specialized FSRxc full susser and decided to take a family member out for an off road ride on his Apollo BSO. Just don't forget second hand. Why? I then thought a 17 inch frame with 28 inch wheels would give me a bike with a longer wheelbase than a 26er, which would enable me, with the aid of a hockey stick seatpost, to position the saddle further back than normal to get the "leg stretch" that I spoke of earlier. Please quote me your price and order payment terms and delivery time. Well I bought some lights, and about 5 years ago I fitted some new tyres, and then bought some better lights last year, but cant really blame the bike for light technology moving on! Cheap bikes have a place in the market, some people are on a limited budget and the only option they have is to purchased one of these cheap bikes with cheap components - good on you if you are one of the people that have purchased one out of necessity (much better than relying on public transport and will keep you fitter). Am now looking to upgrade to a hard tail with either v-brakes or discs (the raleigh has cantilevers!). Unlike most BSOs it didn't have fake suspension or grip shifts, instead it had horrible fat tyres, bottom of the range disk brakes and it never felt steady at any speed. James. It was heavy and the twist grips far too stiff and the rear mech had a mind of its own. I could tune it in about 20 minutes and be certain it will run as it is meant to. It was from what I thought was a reputable brand whose initials are 'CB'. I'm interested in your product,if you could send me more data I appreiciate this. Not always true. It still looks as good as the day I bought it even though I ride it daily in all weathers. i could remember the gone good old days when i had bought 40 tesco cheap throw awaya BSO way back in 2007, i can garantuee you it all happened what is narrated above ended up spending more than the actual bought price in fixing one or the other parts every week. The KTM was an entry level mountain bike but so far no complaints about it. and rode it another ten years. The stores always blame the consumer, they call it demand. I will never by a cheap bike. Profit, Profit, Profit, i have been offered hardtail Thieves probably prefer your type of bike to mine! Enjoy your riding if you become a regular rider get a better bike, I personally still enjoy riding this very cheap bike especially when overtaking people on very expensive Hoofin fast bicycles at times :-), The BSO is the reason why many people don't ride a bicycle. In that time, I have covered literally thousands of happy miles on that bike, including up and down mountains in Wales (on the road, i'm not into that through the trees stuff), have done the London to Brighton twice and the London Bikeathon at least 10 times and always put in a very respectable time (and I am not that fit). Trying to set up the gears on these bikes is nigh on impossible. You will find that if your bike was assembled by the Saturday guy, you may not be onto a winner - but they do have their seasoned mechanics in the odd shop. It came in a box, and the instructions said all it needed were the pedals fitting, the handlebars loosening and turning through ninety degrees, and a quick check of nuts and bolts. Xylonbikes. It rides nice and smooth, the brakes are razor precise, the gears all work. It is the individuals choice, but it annoys me when I'm now nearly 80, overweight, ex heart attack who needs exercise. I made the mistake of buying a Saracen from Halfords some years ago. After making that change, the bike's performance actually went up a notch. A couple of years ago I bought cheap brand name bike from a cycle shop for occasional commuting. Real wheel bent shortly after purchase, some balls (bearing) in crank case break off in day 2 thus getting kat kat kat noise.. Maybe 3-4000 kms on it. The brake arms are so thin, The replacement brake blocks will not fit unless "packed out" with washers. My wife needs to read this article - she thinks a hundred quid BSO is enough to lay out on a weekend bike so the 600 budget ive set myself for a decent hardtail has got her reaching for the rolling pin. Sadly, they end up thinking cycling is difficult and they get less joy from it as a result. It's an old school hardtail with basic RST suspension forks. Now riding norco and never had an issue. A few days later I noticed what I believe to be the same bike on the back of a rag and bone man's flatbed lorry. their assembly standard is abysmill the brakes dont work properly(levers come back to the bars) and the gears arent checked and set up properly The "Savings Club" is an old classic way of paying Mine was rattly, the brakes not quite right, saddle loose and bell missing. I can't agree more. Those cheapies from the department stores are rubbish. It was a just under under 5 mile round trip, cycle path all the way. It weights about 12kg regardless and due to the heavier tubing makes an excellent touring bike. Plus, if you put "knobblies" on it - you could have fun enjoying "light" off road. It had a $1000 frame. I returned today from a 45k jaunt around Canterbury and Whitstable today and I am literally wetting myself at the thought of planned 500k tour in France next year. This was fascinating, and I have to say I am totally convinced. Disc brakes, 650b tyres 24 speed Shimano. If you can't afford new, buy used but keep looking to find a "real" bike. Please enable cookies in your web browser to improve your shopping experience. A gear shifter needs to make thousands of reliable changes and must hold a consistent position if the gear shifting is to work. No rust, no bent bits, and she still carries up to 7 carrier bags of grocery shopping, plus dog (in the trailer). Great article, have been googling for info on bad bikes, let me tell you in the USA it is even worse. I am 49 and have no interest in driving. Don't buy cheap stuff! I could not agree more, I bought a bike a year ago, having not rode a bike since I was a young teenager and all I was worried about was how much it would cost! But, this is a big but!! Total parts and labour 90. My next triple butted steel framed mountain bike may cost me more than the 30 pounds I paid for the last one if more people spent some time on the internet getting a little wiser. I currently own and use (almost daily) a Specialized Sirrus Elite Disc 2014 (Flatbar/Hybrid) and it's a nice bit of kit, runs fast & smooth, brakes are great and the frame is nice and light. But you have eloquently and without the deep frustration I often hear described this situation. I certainly agree with this article, although not with all of the comments. I certainly agree that buying a proper bike is a better investment than a BSO. We're genuinely here to help and don't put pressure on people to buy and discourage buying beyond their means. People, don't kick someone for riding a cheaper bike than you because they're biking and having fun. Many of us are on limited household budgets and have kids that grow like bamboo. Great article. Yes, it is a heavy bike, and it will never win any speed trials or a fashion contest.but I love it and it has never let me down. I spent 300 on 2 full suss mountain bikes. I even shelled out for some fancy grips and bar ends. I used to have to build BSOs (we called them that too..) and after a while my colleague and I refused to sign any paperwork claiming the bike was safe for sale, having to explain to customers why we had not signed the document. Doesn't stop them wanting them of course. Home > Products > Plastic Clips For Cars > Auto Plastic Bumper Clips Plastic Rivets Halfords 8mm Plastic Rivets, Good facility and production process control to produce good fasteners product, Internal control for good production process. Maybe the department stores will start training their assemblers better & have free "break-in" & adjustment warranties! Mistake. I can truly say off the shelf the parts are awful. Wish I had read this before buying a Claud Butler last week for 310 pounds. after everyday of cycling to school i really notice how low the quality is but i adapted and took care of it. The brakes are razor sharp. Both wheels were buckled out of the box so I sent it back and got another one which was exactly the same!! Don't buy "Apollo" or "Viking" bikes or any similar thing because essentially they are not really bicycles - they look like a bicycle and that is where the similarity ends. I joined my employers cycle to work scheme, however I was limited to one place to purchase from- Halfords. Would be good to have a comment on the benefits of extra gears. I ride a 10-year-old Halfords Apollo BSO, the cheapest bike they were selling at the time - under 100. I actually have people expressing interest on the bicycle. The tubes installed were oversized and when I looked for the source of the two slow leaks, I found the excess tube folded over on itself inside the tire! 3. Nice ride. BSO's for as little as 12 +VAT & Full Suspension for I would like to know more about the product and prices. So you can still sometimes get quality at a bargain price, if you're lucky, but I would never expect to get such use from a cheap and nasty catalogue bike. I work for a well known bicycle and car parts retail chain that sells bicycles ranging from the excellent quality right down to BSO's. We bought a bike (a fair few years back) that really couldn't be called that for my oldest daughter. I fitted new, quality ball bearings (the cones and races were fine), a brand new chain which I adjusted for size, and a stem-mounted friction lever instead of the SIS indexed twistgrip. It is a bike in the old mould and it will, already has, cost me more than a BSO to end up with a pile of bits in my bedroom and there will be more because I am salvaging its bits as much as I can rather than 'buying new'. They were totally useless and horrible to ride. Apart from the seat and the brakes everything else is original and still working fine-ish. The parts should last you years, but of course things happen on the road and that is all part of cycling. There seems to be a general assumption that if something looks similar then it is the same.
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