Buying a cheap spare bike.. advice?

Ok.. I am looking for a cheap spare bike to give to visitors/friends
so they can ride with me. I have dismissed the Trek.. I posted about
before, as I don't think it's what I need. Thanks very much to
everyone who responded, it taught me a lot.

I am considering this bike, for its low price and mucky looks which I
hope will deter thieves (with the aid of a couple of D-locks).
Here is a pictu
http://i23.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/e7/a3/effe_3.JPG

Seller says it has been ridden twice, and has since been collecting
dust. Was bought 2 years ago. 18 gears. That's all. Looks ok?

I might view it before buying, might just bid on it and pay in
advance. How much do you think it's worth? Thanks!

bornfree wrote:
Ok.. I am looking for a cheap spare bike to give to visitors/friends
so they can ride with me. I have dismissed the Trek.. I posted about
before, as I don't think it's what I need. Thanks very much to
everyone who responded, it taught me a lot.

I am considering this bike, for its low price and mucky looks which I
hope will deter thieves (with the aid of a couple of D-locks).
Here is a pictu
http://i23.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/e7/a3/effe_3.JPG

Seller says it has been ridden twice, and has since been collecting
dust. Was bought 2 years ago. 18 gears. That's all. Looks ok?

I might view it before buying, might just bid on it and pay in
advance. How much do you think it's worth? Thanks!

That kind of bike should be OK for what you want.

It would give a smoother faster ride on roads and paths if you changed the
knobbly tyres (meant for soft mud) for slicker "road" tyres. Also an
adjustable handlebar stem would help make it fit each of your various-size
friends & visitors.

If you post the full eBay item link rather than just the picture then we may
get a better idea about the details and value of this particular bike.

You'll probably find something similar advertised in your local papers or
shop windows that would save you having to bid in advance. Of course it's
always good to examine a bike before buying, and also you can haggle on the
price.

~PB

bornfree wrote:

Ok.. I am looking for a cheap spare bike to give to visitors/friends
so they can ride with me. I have dismissed the Trek.. I posted about
before, as I don't think it's what I need. Thanks very much to
everyone who responded, it taught me a lot.

I am considering this bike, for its low price and mucky looks which I
hope will deter thieves (with the aid of a couple of D-locks).
Here is a pictu
http://i23.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/e7/a3/effe_3.JPG

looks like a apollo mtb?

Seller says it has been ridden twice, and has since been collecting
dust. Was bought 2 years ago. 18 gears. That's all. Looks ok?

2 years ago with 18 gears will be fairly primitive.

I might view it before buying, might just bid on it and pay in
advance. How much do you think it's worth? Thanks!

apollo bikes tend to be rather cruddy even when new it has to be said.
a shop in surbiton sells bikes like that for £35 give or take.

roger
--
www.rogermerriman.com

On 8 Apr, 12:24, "Pete Biggs"
p...@pomegranateremovehighlyimpracticalfruitbiggs .tc wrote:
bornfree wrote:
Ok.. I am looking for a cheap spare bike to give to visitors/friends
so they can ride with me. I have dismissed the Trek.. I posted about
before, as I don't think it's what I need. Thanks very much to
everyone who responded, it taught me a lot.

I am considering this bike, for its low price and mucky looks which I
hope will deter thieves (with the aid of a couple of D-locks).
Here is a pictu
http://i23.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/e7/a3/effe_3.JPG

Seller says it has been ridden twice, and has since been collecting
dust. Was bought 2 years ago. 18 gears. That's all. Looks ok?

I might view it before buying, might just bid on it and pay in
advance. How much do you think it's worth? Thanks!

That kind of bike should be OK for what you want.

It would give a smoother faster ride on roads and paths if you changed the
knobbly tyres (meant for soft mud) for slicker "road" tyres. Also an
adjustable handlebar stem would help make it fit each of your various-size
friends & visitors.

If you post the full eBay item link rather than just the picture then we may
get a better idea about the details and value of this particular bike.

You'll probably find something similar advertised in your local papers or
shop windows that would save you having to bid in advance. Of course it's
always good to examine a bike before buying, and also you can haggle on the
price.

~PB

I don't want to attract more buying competition to it which is why I
am leaving out the URL

But here is the exact discription:

"Adult bike, mens. Apolo Tremor. Although I bought it 2 years ago,but
I have only used it twice. The rest of the time it has been gathering
dust in the shed. It has 18 shimano gear.Rides well."

And the only other picture

http://i23.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/e7/a3/f2d3_3.JPG

As for the adjustable handlebar stem... don't think there's much I can
do about that.. it either has it or it doesn't.

Any estimates on the value of the bike greatly appreciated!

bornfree writtificated

Seller says it has been ridden twice, and has since been collecting
dust. Was bought 2 years ago. 18 gears. That's all. Looks ok?

A six speed block at the back prolly means a freewheel instead of the
more modern and stronger freehub. Expect the odd broken axle if it's
going to be ridden hard off road or bump up and down kerbs a lot. The
gears will also be bottom of the range[1]. The rims look like they
may be single walled, so weaker and possibly (?)more likely to go out
of true(?). I'd be pleasantly surprised if the hubs had decent
sealings to prevent water getting in and washing out the grease.

That said, if it has only been ridden twice the drivetrain should be
okay (to fix worn components normally costs more than these bikes are
worth - they're normally so far gone that you need a new chain,
cassette and often chainset - £40 for that lot before labour). Might
need the gear cable tightening a tad to account for the cables bedding
in.

With light use in good weather it'll do what you want. £40 is
probably a fair price if it is in good nick. Though I'd be looking to
pay less it is prolly worth the extra £10-15 pounds on yer standard
used second hand bike just 'cos you won't have to fettle it too much
before it rides well.




[1] Strictly speaking, they'll not even be in the range, they're that
low.

bornfree wrote:

I don't want to attract more buying competition to it which is why I
am leaving out the URL

Understood, but it's unlikely that anyone reading this newsgoup would be
interested in it, especially after what Roger and Mark have revealed - that
it's rubbish.

Look around and you'll find better quite easily.

As for the adjustable handlebar stem... don't think there's much I can
do about that.. it either has it or it doesn't.

Of course there's something you can do about it. You buy a stem and fit it.
They can be quite cheap.

Any estimates on the value of the bike greatly appreciated!

£5

~PB

Pete Biggs wrote:
bornfree wrote:

Any estimates on the value of the bike greatly appreciated!

£5

Given that time == money to some extent, and you don't have to go
looking any harder if you get this, I'd put it a bit higher than that...
but not much... And while, say, £20 may be four times Pete's estimate,
in absolute terms it's still not much. And that should include any
postage or cost to pick it up.

If I have a friend visiting that wants to borrow a bike they use my
folder while I use either the tourer or the freighter. Everyone has a
bike to ride and I don't have something that's basically dead space in
between loans. The folder has no particular security problems as it can
be folded up and carried inside places if locking it is not thought
sufficient.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

"bornfree" wrote in message
...
Ok.. I am looking for a cheap spare bike to give to visitors/friends
so they can ride with me. I have dismissed the Trek.. I posted about
before, as I don't think it's what I need. Thanks very much to
everyone who responded, it taught me a lot.

I am considering this bike, for its low price and mucky looks which I
hope will deter thieves (with the aid of a couple of D-locks).
Here is a pictu
http://i23.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/e7/a3/effe_3.JPG

Seller says it has been ridden twice, and has since been collecting
dust. Was bought 2 years ago. 18 gears. That's all. Looks ok?

I might view it before buying, might just bid on it and pay in
advance. How much do you think it's worth? Thanks!

If all you want is an occasional bike, then maybe http://www.freecycle.org/
is worth a looksie ?

"Roger Merriman" wrote in message
k...
bornfree wrote:

Ok.. I am looking for a cheap spare bike to give to visitors/friends
so they can ride with me. I have dismissed the Trek.. I posted about
before, as I don't think it's what I need. Thanks very much to
everyone who responded, it taught me a lot.

I am considering this bike, for its low price and mucky looks which I
hope will deter thieves (with the aid of a couple of D-locks).
Here is a pictu
http://i23.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/e7/a3/effe_3.JPG

looks like a apollo mtb?

Seller says it has been ridden twice, and has since been collecting
dust. Was bought 2 years ago. 18 gears. That's all. Looks ok?

2 years ago with 18 gears will be fairly primitive.

I might view it before buying, might just bid on it and pay in
advance. How much do you think it's worth? Thanks!

apollo bikes tend to be rather cruddy even when new it has to be said.
a shop in surbiton sells bikes like that for £35 give or take.

roger
--
www.rogermerriman.com

I had an Apollo Tremor that lasted fairly regular road use and the
occasional off-road bash around the Lakes. It's heavy and fairly primitive
but I got a good 8 years riding out of it with no major problems. The gears
are not great, and the chain could jump off more than you'd like if shifting
quickly. Overall it's quite heavy too, but for the price it's been an ok
bike for me.

Colin

In article f8c62871-19ab-41fd-afa2-df12326158a2@
1g2000prg.googlegroups.com, bornfree
says...
Ok.. I am looking for a cheap spare bike to give to visitors/friends
so they can ride with me. I have dismissed the Trek.. I posted about
before, as I don't think it's what I need. Thanks very much to
everyone who responded, it taught me a lot.

I am considering this bike, for its low price and mucky looks which I
hope will deter thieves (with the aid of a couple of D-locks).
Here is a pictu
http://i23.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/e7/a3/effe_3.JPG

Seller says it has been ridden twice, and has since been collecting
dust. Was bought 2 years ago. 18 gears. That's all. Looks ok?

I might view it before buying, might just bid on it and pay in
advance. How much do you think it's worth? Thanks!

Pile of junk, I wouldn't pay the starting price, but if all you want is
a very basic bike for occasional use then I suppose it might be OK.
Just don't expect it to work very well or last very long. These bikes
typically get used a few times then consigned to the shed because
they're just not nice to ride.