Bike snobbery - or is it?

[FMJ]

if: Trek 9000+cracks=BSO (according to pete's logic)
then: Manitou+cracks=BSO

After all, outside of a few a few garage queens and dusty NOS ones hidden away that have yet to have the clock start ticking by installing headsets, they're all cracked, so they must be BSOs.

 

[highlandsflyer]

May I add, on the ship we have a 1991 Emmelle Cougar

Maybe they handle better on a ship...

I think the secret is they handle LIKE a boat.

My mate captains a Maersk ship and they carry a car about. How about getting a monkey bike or a moped?


This whole debate about BSOs etc. is a bit daft.

Some of these bikes are built up on exactly the same frames from the same factories.

Most basic aluminium frames ten years ago were pants, now there is a much higher base quality level.

Fettling and some basic upgrades can make most of the cheaper bikes serviceable.

The same application of time and effort can make the cheapest reliable, if heavy.

The truth is there is a lot more being had for your money nowadays.

The Carreras for example.

I hammered a Kraken around the Strathpuffer course a few years ago after blowin out a shock. Very decent bike.

Referring to them all as BSOs is the same ignorant stance as calling all Beatles records over produced.

Let's face it, some people refer to Raleigh bikes in the same dismissive way.

This is not bike snobbery, it is pure ignorance.

The same way people referred to Skoda cars a few years ago, it took years of putting out quality cars for VAG to overcome the blinkered views.

I played at a funeral a while ago in Barry. A guy at the funeral played at one time in a decent band, he commented on the guitar case I had not yet opened, and made a joke about 'those' being 'ok for beginners' based on the Yamaha name. Once I took it out and played it and he had spent half an hour noodling on it, he was blown away.

That is the same kind of prejudice.

There is another thing.

Go to Asia.

Take a look at the pot holed roads and the bikes they are all riding.

Almost without exception those bikes would be scorned here.

But these people actually ride their bikes, in rough conditions, for thousands of miles a year. They just look after them with skill.

Last time I was over one of my friends came home in his lunch break clutching a bunch of spokes and a hub. In half an hour he had rebuilt a wheel and was back to work.

They are means of transport, not glorified toys.

The amount of riding some of these 'bike snobs' do does not really qualify them to comment on the reliability of bikes at all, and their bikes are really nothing more than Chelsea Tractors, rarely spinning a wheel on the mud.

Bike Ignoramuses rather than Bike Snobs.

 

[Neil]

May I add, on the ship we have a 1991 Emmelle Cougar

Maybe they handle better on a ship...

I think the secret is they handle LIKE a boat.

My mate captains a Maersk ship and they carry a car about. How about getting a monkey bike or a moped?

This whole debate about BSOs etc. is a bit daft.

Some of these bikes are built up on exactly the same frames from the same factories.

Most basic aluminium frames ten years ago were pants, now there is a much higher base quality level.

Fettling and some basic upgrades can make most of the cheaper bikes serviceable.

The same application of time and effort can make the cheapest reliable, if heavy.

The truth is there is a lot more being had for your money nowadays.

The Carreras for example.

I hammered a Kraken around the Strathpuffer course a few years ago after blowin out a shock. Very decent bike.

Referring to them all as BSOs is the same ignorant stance as calling all Beatles records over produced.

Let's face it, some people refer to Raleigh bikes in the same dismissive way.

This is not bike snobbery, it is pure ignorance.

The same way people referred to Skoda cars a few years ago, it took years of putting out quality cars for VAG to overcome the blinkered views.

I played at a funeral a while ago in Barry. A guy at the funeral played at one time in a decent band, he commented on the guitar case I had not yet opened, and made a joke about 'those' being 'ok for beginners' based on the Yamaha name. Once I took it out and played it and he had spent half an hour noodling on it, he was blown away.

That is the same kind of prejudice.

There is another thing.

Go to Asia.

Take a look at the pot holed roads and the bikes they are all riding.

Almost without exception most of these would be scorned here.

But these people actually ride these bikes, in rough conditions, for thousands of miles a year.

Last time I was over one of my friends came home in his lunch break clutching a bunch of spokes and a hub. In half an hour he had rebuilt a wheel and was back to work.

They are means of transport, not glorified toys.

The amount of riding some of these bike snobs do does not really qualify them to comment on the reliability of bikes at all, and their bikes are really nothing more than Chelsea Tractors, rarely spinning a wheel on the mud.

Bike Ignoramuses rather than Bike Snobs.

Agree with it all.

I've got relatives who work / live abroad, and have cycled in plenty of different environments, seeing people in other countries and the bikes they use.

And as you say, many use bikes we'd pour scorn on - but they use them, day-in, day-out, in fairly harsh conditions and just get on with it.

Now true, there are supermarket bikes and other bikes that are truly awful, not up to much use, or even correct setup. However, there are bikes that are better than that - a Raleigh Mustang from BITD may not have been a proper MTB - but then it wasn't really marketed or positioned as one, they term used was ATB, IIRC - but wasn't a BSO.

True, chromed steel rims weren't great - but then many budget bikes had chromed steel rims BITD. They didn't fall apart, and could be setup correctly.

There were BSOs BITD and are, now, but it seems there's much more being tarnished by this label, than truly deserves it.

 

[IDB1]

All that aside (and most of it makes sense).. is it not in 'our' remit to encourage folk with BSO's (or low-rent rides) to invest their hard-earned in something a little 'better'?

I mean.. when the rear mech, bar ends and hubs explode on their Apollo, the repair bill may be better utilised in a nicer ride?

 

[highlandsflyer]

That generalisation about Apollo bikes makes as little sense as the Skoda jokes.

 

[IDB1]

That generalisation about Apollo bikes makes as little sense as the Skoda jokes.

Twas just an example. . . random name of a brand not renowned for quality bikes purely for the purposes of the post..

 

[highlandsflyer]

I know what you meant, but we are just the UK dwellers and brands are not the same world wide.

Of course I encourage people to get a better bike rather than fix a crap one. Yes there are crap bikes.

Not really what my previous post was about.

One of my mates was riding one of those Apollo full sussers a few years back, he had a puncture and I went to throw it in the back of my car.

Felt like it was made of lead! But he is a 20 odd stone ex pro rugby player and had ridden it to and from work for four years with no issues.

There is no way they should get away with selling those as if they were suitable for downhill, I think it would snap if he had tried that.

However, there are plenty supposed high end bikes that are not fit for purpose either.

Halfords are selling some decent bikes at decent prices. I personally don't shop there, but the future is unknown and I may.

The Boardman bikes are changing perceptions even in the cycling community. Kona and Voodoo, I mean these are quality brands.

If they wanted to start producing carbon fibre Apollos at knock down prices they could, and they would stack 'em high and sell 'em cheap.

The Carrera I had a burn on was as good as plenty Trek, GT, Marin, etc.

Now think back a while, and remember how Carrera was considered? Mainly due to who sold them.

Well, today's Carrera could well be tomorrow's Apollo.

Meanwhile many of these 'quality' 'high end' 'exclusive' brands are disappearing into history.

The last laugh I feel may well be had by these supposed BSOs.

 

[highlandsflyer]

Just to add, in my extended research I encountered this...

Apollo Vortice Urban Mountain Bike

available at Halfords.

Who comes up with these names???

 

[Scarfacexxx08]

This is what i consider a BSO of today, and yes its a pile of sh*te and this would set you back £300. Now if i had £300 to buy a bike with i would comb ebay/forums and i know i would find something 100 times better. Saying lower end bikes from manufactures such as Kona, Marin Scott etc are BSO's i think is wrong, sure they might not have the best gearing etc but these things can be upgraded over time, the frame won't be sh*te

 

[mikee]

but thats the point
people dont have enough knowledge to seek a £300 bike from
e-bay etc ,and its second hand too
so they buy the disc braked suss thing from cost co or where ever
as in my mate scouse" dem lamboghini bikes is mint "