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Old August 13th 03, 10:02 AM
bikingbill
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Default Cheap Bikes vs expensive bikes - what are the real differences?

Peter Clinch wrote in
:

Pyromancer wrote:

Having read quite a few threads (well, glanced through them when time
permits, anyway), I've noticed that the "wisdom of the group" appears
t

o
be that an entry-level machine should cost between 350 and 500 quid


It depends what area you're looking at. For someone starting off with
a general purpose bike just to get about on I'd personally put a good
entry level at around £200, for which you can get a sound basic bike
that does the stuff as long as it's sensibly specced (i.e., no full
suspension or disc brakes at that price). In that area you've got
mass production economies of scale and supply competition is intense
to keep prices low. OTOH, if you want good sports machinery (on or
off road) you'd probably be better off spending the £350-£500
mentioned above.

that spending well over a grand for a good upright or 'bent is
perfectl

y
reasonable.


Yup!

Anyway, the thing I'm wondering is what, exactly, do you get for the
extra money? I'm not knocking it, just curious as to what is the
real difference between a 100 quid ex-catalogue hybrid from the bike
shop down the road and the kind of (to me) esoteric hardware that
gets mentioned here?


Everything just works better, smoother and more easily for longer.
Adjustments tend to be more infrequent, and when they need doing
they're generally more painless. Things don't break off because
they're poorly made. The whole riding experience is a more
pleasurable one, with your bike almost coercing you to get out and use
it.

Pete.


FWIW I'd warn against the sub-£200 bikes. A friend bought one, but there
were too many 'compromises' to make it a good choice. Heavy frame,
clunky gear change, awkward riding position, dreadful saddle. Result is
it's seldom used. I feel at this price the bikes are built down to the
price. £300+ is probably a better mark for a beginner. Unless they can
find a 'last-year's model' £300 bike reduced or get something 2nd hand.
Regards, Bill
--
Cyclists are always well-balanced.
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