useless new bikes

[peguinpower]

Not everyone needs a super dooper nanotech self adjusting gnar eating smile generating stop on a dime high zoot bike

I've got a commuter 99 dollar wally world bike. I worry not when I chain it up at the local grocer.

 

[SNAKEBITER]

I remember having this arguement in the 90's.
The fact is that the retro bikes of today were the cutting edge technology but a few years ago.

With this constant need for change, things move on quickly.

Who remembers when the Quadra's and the Judy's first came out?
All that technology was asking for trouble with all that rebound damping and oil cartridges.

What about the V-brakes?
All the stories about the thin pads that would wear out in just one ride!
(Did that ever really happen?)

The thing is that technology filters down and that is what gives us retro bikes.

What was seen as unreliable 15 years ago is now seen as solid old technology.

As for the £99 bikes, they sell like hot cakes in the Spring and Summer and gather dust in the Autumn as people lose interest.
They are heavy, cumbersome and good only for putting people off cycling.

 

[PedroB]

I don't have a massively long bike history and can't speak with a huge amount of authority, but having had my first proper mtb (a 1998 Saracen) nicked out of my shed about 6 months ago the insurance company offered me a few replacement options. In the end I opted for a Cube Aim which, is probably of similar 'value' and placement in the market as my old Saracen was.

What amazes me is the spec on the Cube is way higher for around the same money. Wheras on the Saracen more or less all of the components like brakes, bars, stem, seat/seatpost, pedals were generic alloy parts, tyres were Saracen own brand, everything on the Cube is branded. Easton bars and stem, shimano cranks and brakes, fsa headset, Schwalbe tyres. etc etc.

After 6 months with the Saracen I'd replaced the (snapped) bars and a mangled bottom bracket. The Cube hasn't missed a beat.

Finally, what I think we should probably prod ourselves and remember is that the bloke cycling to work, looking to buy a £99 bike might not be able to afford anything else.

 

[Rich Aitch]

Until a few years ago the mill on the edge of town, which is now yuppie flats was home to a few different businesses. One of them was Castle speakers that made hi-fi equipment. In 2003 or 4 they were brought out by the people who'd brought the other local money-no-object speaker company Wharfedale. Production moved to China for both companies, their HQ moved to a nameplate in an office doorway down South and Wharfedale became an almost in house brand for Argos with their name attached to cheap MP3 players and portable tellies for peoples' kitchens and other sundry tat. This mirrors the race to the bottom of Muddy Fox, Falcon etc. Where the present owners of the name have nothing in common either commercially, geographically, or even- if we are honest- image wise with the original business and it's ethos. I know that early MF's fell apart but at least they aspired to be something special and innovative.

 

[legrandefromage]

Until a few years ago the mill on the edge of town, which is now yuppie flats was home to a few different businesses. One of them was Castle speakers that made hi-fi equipment. In 2003 or 4 they were brought out by the people who'd brought the other local money-no-object speaker company Wharfedale. Production moved to China for both companies, their HQ moved to a nameplate in an office doorway down South and Wharfedale became an almost in house brand for Argos with their name attached to cheap MP3 players and portable tellies for peoples' kitchens and other sundry tat. This mirrors the race to the bottom of Muddy Fox, Falcon etc. Where the present owners of the name have nothing in common either commercially, geographically, or even- if we are honest- image wise with the original business and it's ethos. I know that early MF's fell apart but at least they aspired to be something special and innovative.

I worked for that company - its the 'International Audio Group' and the HQ is now in Huntingdon. They also bought Audiolab, Quad and the intellectual property of TAG McLaren Audio.

 

[highlandsflyer]

Why now do so many bike makers like saracen,muddy fox diamond back etc etc make absolute c**p bikes with c**p components? what happened?

Karrimor used to make fantastic outdoor equipment bitd but since being taken over by cock and bull corp their gear's as much use as a chocolate fire guard :-(

1997 Karrimor Panther still going strong - me on the other hand...

Pah!

I still use my dad's 1970 Berg sac!

Mind, it is only because it fits my laptop nicely, and is exactly the right size for the hand luggage restrictions on Easyjet for my 'commute' to London.



I remember buying a racer in the 90s that was made of what seemed like tinfoil, and the components just sheared off in the main. It was the forst ad I saw when my hand built machine failed. Had jumped on plenty of crap bikes before that, but as you grow older you become more discerning.

So I reckon, in the main, that things are very like they have been for a few decades at least.

There are plenty of crap bikes around, I have to agree.

I just don't think things were a lot different in percentage terms twenty years ago.

I also reckon you can pick up amazing bikes today for very little relatively.

Just a tad heavy, but that is to do with strength and spec, rather than cheapy nastiness.

 

[Raging_Bulls]

It's like saying all cars other than Ferraris are crap.

Luigi follow only the Ferraris.

I've had the "pleasure" of collecting a £99-ish Decathlon bike some years ago. Luckily I brought along a toolkit when I picked it up, because they hadn't even bothered to tighten the bolts that held everything together.
After a month, the repair costs were higher than the price of a new one.

So yes, cheap modern bikes are junk. however once you move up a bit, there are proper gems to be had at a reasonable price.

 

[JamesM]

What about the V-brakes?
All the stories about the thin pads that would wear out in just one ride!
(Did that ever really happen?)

Yes!!!

 

[RadNomad]

Why now do so many bike makers like saracen,muddy fox diamond back etc etc make absolute c**p bikes with c**p components? what happened?

Because that's what most people want.

Part of your problem is that you think they're cr*p, but they're not. My Orange C16-R commuter had Alivio and STX parts on it because I didn't want it to attract thieves. Many people on here think that Alivio and STX are cr*p, but Alivio and STX work perfectly. People who want to spend a lot more money to save a few grammes are just obsessive. Some people will spend more on a headset than others would spend on a complete bike, but all headsets work pretty much the same.

You do get what you pay for but i'd say your comment has merit. Bottom end Shimano is like buying the cheapest BMW, you've already avoided the utter cr*p by buying a reputable brand. Check out the no name v-brakes and suspension forks on supermarket bikes. Utter and complete rubbish. Even second hand, half-used, bottom-rung, 20 year old Shimano will easily outlast and outperform new unbranded cr*p. Top end Shimano is excellent yes, but their modest stuff is still very good.