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Many of the Bile Specialists do sell on the internet so prices tend to be no cheaper than calling in to see them.
How rude Trev! Surely they are not that unpleasant?
teemyob wrote:
I bought one from Halfords a couple of years ago and ended up taking it back twice and so fed up the third time took it apart and rebuilt it myself.
Correction - you probably didn't re-build it Trev. It sounds as if it wasn't "built" in the first place.
After Smilo's note about possible frame breakages it's worth mentioning that Trek frames are guaranteed for life.
He's also correct about the weight of a bike too, but with some qualification I feel. A very light "el cheapo" treader will probably take more effort to ride than a slightly heavier good quality one, because everything will be so much smoother and comparatively friction free.
You need a certain amount of weight to give the strength needed for gentle off-piste riding - unless you plan to spend £3000 for a titanium and carbon fibre frameset!!!
Don't be fooled either by excessive claims about ultra light aluminium frames. Ally is lighter than steel of course, but it's also weaker and therefore needs thicker tube walls. So particularly on cheaper bikes an aluminium frame can actually be heavier than a decent Reynolds steel frame.
Steel frames are more comfortable to ride because they are springier and have a bit of "give". Ally frames are "dead", and more prone to breaking due to stress fractures, though it is very uncommon unless the bike is severely ill treated.
If you want the interesting technical stuff have a look
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You might also look up Sheldon Brown's various websites. He died recently which is a great shame as he was extremely knowledgeable and a total loony - so great fun the read his stuff.
Hope this helps Tony - you will soon wish you had never asked such a simple question!
Last edited by Zebedee on Tue Apr 15, 2008 8:36 am; edited 1 time in total ______________________________________________________________
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Trying to question and answer the forum too much before going to work, typing error I meant vile people at Halfords.
Trev.
In fairness to Halfords it all depends on the staff they have in the bike section of any particular branch.
Anyone living near Tewkesbury can buy a bike from that branch with confidence. The bike "saleman" worked for umpteen years in a specialist bike shop just down the road which closed down a couple of years ago, so he really knows his stuff.
He's a really nice guy too, and only too willing to answer questions when he's not too busy.
Just to balance the books a bit - though I still wouldn't recommend Halfords unless you have this sort of "inside" knowledge of a branch.
We've got a couple of reputable bike specialist locally so I will go and do some exploring.....
teemyob wrote:
I meant vile people at Halfords.
Trev.
That's very cruel! - we aslo have a Halfords locally and the assistants are quite nice lads in fact one of them has invited me to his 13th birthday party.
______________________________________________________________ Tony
Life is what happens while you´re making plans.
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WOW, Are Dawes still made , my first bike when I left school. paid for it weekly from my first job, bought from Harry Quinn in liverpool who handmade bikes,
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WOW, Are Dawes still made , my first bike when I left school. paid for it weekly from my first job, bought from Harry Quinn in liverpool who handmade bikes,
Well that depends on what you mean by "made".
They used to be made entirely at the Dawes factory in Birmingham. I believe they still do some "assembly" there but all the parts (frame, gears, wheels etc) are imported from the far east.
Pretty much the same story with many other items nowadays.
Trevor
______________________________________________________________ Smile - Be happy
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Well each to his own I suppose, but I find cycling very enjoyable. Its a great way to explore the countryside, seeing things that you would otherwise miss going any faster. Keeps you fit too
Trevor
______________________________________________________________ Smile - Be happy
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