Trek make good bikes, there's a lot of choice and you'll know you're getting something decent. If there's something in their range that fits your desired spec and price range, then it might be ideal. But sale bikes are definitely worth keeping an eye on - Trek is perhaps a little bland and commonplace a brand and there are certainly more interesting bike out there.
― Mark C, Saturday, 19 September 2009 09:47 (fifteen years ago) link
any of you cats got an opinion of ARGON 18, by any chance? the local bike shop has a couple of their lower-end models in at the moment.
― surge gainsbourg protector (haitch), Wednesday, 7 October 2009 00:00 (fourteen years ago) link
I think they're fine, except a) it looks like you've got a bike from Argos and b) it reminds me of Comb4t 18...
― Mark C, Wednesday, 7 October 2009 17:17 (fourteen years ago) link
was not aware of the latter group, jesus christ!
― Hey Hey It's A Blackface Incident (haitch), Wednesday, 7 October 2009 23:49 (fourteen years ago) link
lol, what an unfortunate unrelated display name change
― Hey Hey It's A Blackface Incident (haitch), Wednesday, 7 October 2009 23:51 (fourteen years ago) link
Hopefully most people aren't aware of it, haitch! Is 18 the atomic number of Argon, or something?
― Mark C, Thursday, 8 October 2009 10:04 (fourteen years ago) link
anyone know anything about flying scots?
― coz (webinar), Wednesday, 14 October 2009 17:20 (fourteen years ago) link
Should I buy this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270469942198&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_9952wt_909
tbh I can't afford it till later in the week, and even then I am borrowing against my salary in january for the job I got offered, however it is really pretty.
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Sunday, 18 October 2009 13:31 (fourteen years ago) link
oh that looks niiiice. buy it, it's only money!
― racist of the falling leaves (haitch), Sunday, 18 October 2009 13:44 (fourteen years ago) link
yeah, tht is gorgeous, another buy it from me!
― coz (webinar), Sunday, 18 October 2009 15:10 (fourteen years ago) link
I restrained myself ;_;
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Monday, 19 October 2009 11:08 (fourteen years ago) link
that said, it didn't sell, so if they re-list for <1500 ...
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Monday, 19 October 2009 11:11 (fourteen years ago) link
hey haitch been thinking baot buying a bike from wiggle or chainreactioncycles in teh uk even w/postage of about AU$200, so many cheap non-horrible roadbikes O_O. u thot about doing this??
― wilter, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 03:20 (fourteen years ago) link
like some no-name brand alu frame w/full ultegra deilvered for $1700
― wilter, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 03:21 (fourteen years ago) link
i sorta been leery about the online stuff partly because i wanna try before i buy and partly because of the no-nameness, jees most of it is miles cheaper than what you can get out here tho!
― BARRY ROUBAIX (haitch), Wednesday, 18 November 2009 03:27 (fourteen years ago) link
even for the more exxy stuff, like competitive cyclist is clearing '09 cervelos including like built-up S2s with dura ace everything for half what that'd be here
― BARRY ROUBAIX (haitch), Wednesday, 18 November 2009 03:29 (fourteen years ago) link
yuh true. the bmc carbon thing w/ultegra for $2877 is intersting to me.
http://i50.tinypic.com/29vx9x5.jpg
― wilter, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 03:54 (fourteen years ago) link
watch for local price to rise 20% due to cadel halo effect, lol
― BARRY ROUBAIX (haitch), Wednesday, 18 November 2009 04:09 (fourteen years ago) link
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Raleigh_Avanti_Carbon_Race_2009/5360045551/
could pull trigger on this one i reckon
― BARRY ROUBAIX (haitch), Wednesday, 18 November 2009 04:19 (fourteen years ago) link
wow really cheap. too small for me tho :(
― wilter, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 04:21 (fourteen years ago) link
have also been considering this:
http://www.bikes.com.au/p/514314/2010-mbc-r1-carbon-shimano-ultegra.html
same price practically, and local!
― BARRY ROUBAIX (haitch), Wednesday, 18 November 2009 05:09 (fourteen years ago) link
wwoow
― wilter, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 05:19 (fourteen years ago) link
srsly considering that
maybe when i get back from the OUTBACK
lol
― BARRY ROUBAIX (haitch), Wednesday, 18 November 2009 05:22 (fourteen years ago) link
u could have it delivered, what else are u gonna do out there!!
That is a nice bike! Much nicer than the Raleigh imho. Also, I don't think Wiggle does no-name bikes - which are you thinking of? Focus? I have one - it's ace, and fantastic value.
― Mark C, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 11:02 (fourteen years ago) link
Hey Mark, I was thinking Cube. But after a bit of research it's obvs not a totally dodge bike co.
― wilter, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 11:08 (fourteen years ago) link
focus just got picked up for australian distribution and wiggle won't ship them over here any more. be interesting to see how much they land here for - the one in the ad i saw has deep-section carbon lightweights and super record so i assume that'll be pricey!
― BARRY ROUBAIX (haitch), Wednesday, 18 November 2009 11:31 (fourteen years ago) link
^^ha was just gonna say I tried to add a Focus bike thru wiggle and it didn't let me, that's why!
― wilter, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 11:34 (fourteen years ago) link
Cube are pretty decent - and (IMHO) one of the better looking brands. I'd be very comfortable buying one.
― Mark C, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 11:45 (fourteen years ago) link
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/images/focus-lzalco-excampy09-med.jpg
$6k for this on wiggle - will not land here under $12k if usual aus distributors are anything to go by
― BARRY ROUBAIX (haitch), Wednesday, 18 November 2009 11:47 (fourteen years ago) link
Do you have to pay substantial customs/VAT duties when importing an expensive item like a bike to Oz?
― Mark C, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 11:58 (fourteen years ago) link
nah vat(gst) is only 10%. market forces i guess.
― wilter, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 12:01 (fourteen years ago) link
..wouldn't hav a clue about customs actually tbh
― wilter, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 12:04 (fourteen years ago) link
local distributors just seem to ramp up prices on full bikes, parts etc to a massive degree. saw dura ace pedals at bike shop near work for $500 the other week, can get same off PBK for $380. lol mark-up is hueg.
― BARRY ROUBAIX (haitch), Wednesday, 18 November 2009 12:24 (fourteen years ago) link
make that $280, even worse!
― BARRY ROUBAIX (haitch), Wednesday, 18 November 2009 12:40 (fourteen years ago) link
maybe considering a canyon once they start shipping to aus again (they're working on this apparently). brilliant specs for such cheap bikes!
this is really hott in the blackcheaper alu option
― BARRY ROUBAIX (haitch), Friday, 20 November 2009 02:40 (fourteen years ago) link
wilter what u think baout malviern star 'oppy' - they're all the same frame (cept for the pro model which has an integrated seat post) - so internal cabling and carbon dropouts for all. meant to be pretty racey!
― Rosy Rube (haitch), Wednesday, 2 December 2009 00:55 (fourteen years ago) link
What's the deal with bikesdirect.com and motobecane bikes?
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/road_bikes.htm
Why are they so cheap, what's the catch? Googling up reviews seems to suggest they are OK, but to check the assembly/greasing etc. before heading out. Thinking seriously about my first paycheque at the end of january.
What else is out there for around $2000?
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Sunday, 13 December 2009 17:14 (fourteen years ago) link
Dude, get the Dura Ace Motobecane. It's even pretty. I had one when I was a kid (not a dura-ace carbon job obviously), it was a lovely bike.
― Mark C, Sunday, 13 December 2009 22:09 (fourteen years ago) link
Guys, what are the pros and cons of this bike (click the "Description" tag for info, spec etc.), which I am pretty close to getting via the cycle to work scheme (which effectively gives a 40% discount via tax relief):
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus_Killer_Bee_2010_Ltd_Edition/5360045262/
I should clarify it's for off-road use - may sound duh but enough people seem to end up with MTBs when they're just pottering around on tarmac...
― Mark C, Thursday, 14 January 2010 12:30 (fourteen years ago) link
http://i47.tinypic.com/2s7apgj.jpg
Got paid a bonu$ considering this^
― wilter, Wednesday, 27 January 2010 05:42 (fourteen years ago) link
that looks a treat
― well-hung parliament (haitch), Wednesday, 27 January 2010 07:39 (fourteen years ago) link
but is it silly to have goodish components on a steel frame IN THIS DAY AND AGE?
― wilter, Wednesday, 27 January 2010 20:20 (fourteen years ago) link
why would that be silly?
― his power told him (about the fish) (gbx), Wednesday, 27 January 2010 20:41 (fourteen years ago) link
heh just meant wrt frame weight. Think I'll do this.
― wilter, Wednesday, 27 January 2010 21:00 (fourteen years ago) link
ha i just bought a tt frame/fork/hs for really cheap. i wont have to race my cx frame in time trial after all, just transfer over parts, plus ive got a deep junk bin.
http://www.performancebike.com/images/performance/products/large/30-0789-BLK-SIDE.jpg
not very aero (the rear cutout is only cosmetic) but affords a decent position (steep seattube, slack headtube, shortish headtube).
― u b ilxin' (Hunt3r), Tuesday, 2 February 2010 20:23 (fourteen years ago) link
a bunch of my friends that race cross use the scattante cx frame just cuz it's so dang cheap. it's like the mac mini of bicycles
― avatar 2: the na'vi ending story (gbx), Tuesday, 2 February 2010 21:02 (fourteen years ago) link
Hey guys. It's been a while. I wish I could say I was as adventurous & committed as some of you, but the harsh winter has me trapped inside & getting my bike fix on the recumbants at my gym (a dubious replacement to be sure).
My purposes itt are this: This year, preferably before the onset of Spring, I plan to buy a used road bike - something fairly recent & of decent mechanical standards. Money is tight for me at present & as such, this will likely be more of a stopgap bike than anything: something more modern than my '76 Flandria (which I will be converting into a fixie) & a suitable step up for my second year w/ the sport, but also a bike that I will likely replace down the line a bit, money permitting, as I become more knowledgeable of technical matters and such & can either pick out "the bike" or, better yet, customize my own over time. So the "stopgap bike" should be of a level of quality and of recent enough manufacture that I could use it as a starting point for the process of upgrading components and what not.
I should mention that the biggest obstacle I have encountered thusfar in my search is the general availability of bikes which would be suitable for my height (I'm 6.2, my inseam is 33.5"/85 cm, and have thus gathered that the appropriate frame size range would be 60-62 cm/ 24".
I'm looking for something in the $3-700 range, but could possibly go up to the $1-1200 range if I find something I just can't say no to. FWIW, I currently live in Toledo, OH, tho I make regular trips back and forth to NYC & I plan to relocate back east sometime this Spring - so, I'm generally looking in the N. Ohio & mid-Michigan markets, but could conceivably work something out for the NYC general area.
The reason I am posting this right now is that I have a line on this bike: http://toledo.craigslist.org/bik/1584797046.html & would appreciate any general opinions & such on the bike & if it would be suitable to my needs. I'm going to go to dude's house & take a look at it this week & I would like to be able to bust out the wallet on the spot if it passes the rideability test.
thanks guys!
― Screeching Weerasethakul (Pillbox), Tuesday, 9 February 2010 05:08 (fourteen years ago) link