Keep me away from EBay

Quoted message said:

I want a road bike and have a reasonable amount of cash to spend.

I want a 54-56cm frame, reasonably new and with better than entry level level components but
without going mad. I am going to do a few miles on it nest year and would like to think I may enter
the odd race.

I like the Trek 1200 / 1400 but haven't had much exposure to anything else being a mountain
bike boy.

I am spendng my entire life, it feels like, tracking things in EBay and need to regain my sanity.

If you can recommend a bike, know of a bike for sale (reasonably locally to me - I live in
Herts and work in London) or have a bike to sale which you think I might be interested in,
please let me know.

PLEASE DO NOT POST LINKS TO THINGS ON EBAY!!

Hi Ian,

If you have a reasonable amount of cash to spend then is buying something brand new a possibility?
At least that way you get to personally try the different styles and frame sizes, rather than
'chancing your arm' with something on Ebay. The risk is not so much buying a bad bike, but it's
pretty difficult to feel comfortable on a frame that just isn't right from the outset.

Good luck in finding something.

GarryB

"GarryB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I want a road bike and have a reasonable amount of cash to spend.

I want a 54-56cm frame, reasonably new and with better than entry level level components but
without going mad. I am going to do a few miles on

it

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

nest year and would like to think I may enter the odd race.

I like the Trek 1200 / 1400 but haven't had much exposure to anything

else

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

being a mountain bike boy.

I am spendng my entire life, it feels like, tracking things in EBay and

need

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to regain my sanity.

If you can recommend a bike, know of a bike for sale (reasonably locally

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

me - I live in Herts and work in London) or have a bike to sale which you think I might be
interested in, please let me know.

PLEASE DO NOT POST LINKS TO THINGS ON EBAY!!

Hi Ian,

If you have a reasonable amount of cash to spend then is buying something brand new a possibility?
At least that way you get to personally try the different styles and frame sizes, rather than
'chancing your arm' with something on Ebay. The risk is not so much buying a bad bike, but it's
pretty difficult to feel comfortable on a frame that just isn't right from the outset.

Good luck in finding something.

GarryB

What do you call a reasonable amount of cash? I have a 2 month old Litespeed Siena Titanium frame
with carbon rear end. The frame is in as new condition. I paid (the RRP, no discounts available)
£1400 for the frame and I'm open to offers. I will be putting it on eBay in about 3 weeks time if I
don't sell it privately first.

Size is ML which equates to 55cm. Probably the last frame you'll need to buy (unless you decide to
buy a tri bike like me!). No replies to me email, it's clogged with MS stuff, get back on here if
interested and I'll give another address.

Expensive frame yes, but if you want the best....

Oh, and I'm in East London, close to Epping Forest.

--
Mark (MSA)

Bike shop assistant... "We couldn't repair your brakes, so we made your horn louder"!

phenian said:

I want a road bike and have a reasonable amount of cash to spend.

I want a 54-56cm frame, reasonably new and with better than entry level level components but
without going mad. I am going to do a few miles on it nest year and would like to think I may
enter the odd race.

I like the Trek 1200 / 1400 but haven't had much exposure to anything else being a mountain
bike boy.

I am spendng my entire life, it feels like, tracking things in EBay and need to regain my sanity.

If you can recommend a bike, know of a bike for sale (reasonably locally to me - I live in Herts
and work in London) or have a bike to sale which you think I might be interested in, please let
me know.

Following the recent spate of postings here about the bargain 'Apollo TdF 100' bikes at Halfords, I
dropped into a Halfords yesterday to see what the fuss was about. They'd sold out of the TdFs, but I
was impressed by the competitiveness of some of the things they had. Worth a look, if you don't want
to spend out for either a 'good name' bike or a handbuilt.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) jasmine.org.uk~simonOpen ↗ ;; Sending your money to
someone just because they've erected ;; a barrier of obscurity and secrets around the tools you ;;
need to use your data does not help the economy or spur ;; innovation. - Waffle Iron Slashdot, June
16th, 2002

"Simon Brooke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

phenian said:

I want a road bike and have a reasonable amount of cash to spend.

I want a 54-56cm frame, reasonably new and with better than entry level level components but
without going mad. I am going to do a few miles on

it

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

nest year and would like to think I may enter the odd race.

I like the Trek 1200 / 1400 but haven't had much exposure to anything

else

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

being a mountain bike boy.

I am spendng my entire life, it feels like, tracking things in EBay and

need

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to regain my sanity.

If you can recommend a bike, know of a bike for sale (reasonably locally

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

me - I live in Herts and work in London) or have a bike to sale which

you

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

think I might be interested in, please let me know.

Following the recent spate of postings here about the bargain 'Apollo TdF 100' bikes at Halfords,
I dropped into a Halfords yesterday to see what the fuss was about. They'd sold out of the TdFs,
but I was impressed by the competitiveness of some of the things they had. Worth a look, if you
don't want to spend out for either a 'good name' bike or a handbuilt.

Personally I wouldn't touch a Halfords bike with a barge pole. That's just my opinion though, and
wouldn't suggest others took my view without making their own mind up.

--
Mark (MSA)

Bike shop assistant... "We couldn't repair your brakes, so we made your horn louder"!

Quoted message said:

Personally I wouldn't touch a Halfords bike with a barge pole. That's

just

Quoted message said:

my opinion though, and wouldn't suggest others took my view without making their own mind up.

As a side track really i'd just like to ask the reason for this opinion of yours?

Cheers Michael

Halfords bikes, its not the bikes its the way the are set up well thats my experience anyway

Michael Kent said:

Quoted message said:

Personally I wouldn't touch a Halfords bike with a barge pole. That's just my opinion though, and
wouldn't suggest others took my view without making their own mind up.

As a side track really i'd just like to ask the reason for this opinion of yours?

Just to butt in and add my 2p....

Bikes come into a shop boxed up straight from the factory. The factory basically puts together a
collection of parts with a frame for as low a cost as possible. Cycle parts are enginerred to fairly
fine tolerances and require correct adjustment to withstand the rigours of use. This does not happen
at most factorys.

At a good bike shop an experiance mechanic, or someone working under her close supervison, will
spend about 40 mins to 1 hour assembling and adjusting the bike. Tasks will include checking and
adjusting bearings, brakes, and gears. Wheels should be checked for trueness, dish and correct
tension and be stress relieved. Frames should be checked for alignment, damage and faulty wielding.

If these tasks are not done, the most expensive bikes will become trash in a few hundred miles,
bearings may be damaged, spokes may fatigue and later break, gears may fail to change and get
damaged by the resultant grinding, brake blocks may rub the tyres or wear unevenly, cables may be
damaged by being poorly clamped, the bike may not ride straight, the frame may fail.

For a shop in a good location that employes adult mechanics and pays them decently that will cost
around £20. A good shop will be prepared to cover that to ensure its reputation and because the
owners and staff love cycling and want to be fair to the customers. Large chain stores will see it
as an expense and will also fail to pay enough or offer job satisfaction and advancement to retain
good mechanics.

Shops that sell mainly kids bikes, or bikes to people who don't actually ride them much can get away
with it. Shops that sell to adults who use their bikes for transport or pleasure riding will find
their time and money eaten up by angry customers returning with defective machines.

If you are a good mechanic and are prepared to spend a day (it will take _you_ that long) or are
prepared to take the risk, or don't intend to actually ride the thing buy a bike from halfords.
Otherwise, buy a bike from somewhere that sells quality bikes to adult cyclists, does repairs and
employes adults.

--
Andy Morris

AndyAtJinkasDotFreeserve.Co.UK

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