Seems like an OK bike for pootling around on... Not like I'm training for the Olympics or anything! I've just bought this for £50 in Asda Taunton. It feels very light (I managed to get it in the car by myself) and so far it's been quite easy to put together. The box says suitable for 28-33 inch inside leg so best for teenagers or little adults?
Top comments
shelliebish to androidavis
7 May 1613#3
I'm quite happy so far... It's a nice sunny day & I've enjoyed having the wind in my hair - even if I only use it a handful of times, it's better than driving everywhere & getting fat!
shelliebish
7 May 165#26
I was by myself, trying to get a stupidly oversized bulky box into the back of my car, getting it around a car seat & dog cage - so yes, it being light was a bonus!
ArthurDent1
7 May 165#11
No suspension, road tyres, alloy frame... could this be the first ever £50 supermarket bike that's acutally worth buying?
Seems pretty good for the price.
souljacker
7 May 164#22
Love the description "it's very light, I managed to get it in the car myself" , is there a bike available that would actually be too heavy to lift by yourself?? :confused:
The fact you can lift it doesn't make it very light :stuck_out_tongue:
All comments (81)
androidavis
7 May 16#1
As long as you buy this bike knowing full well there are better bikes costing between £120 and £350, and that some parts may not last long because it is cheaper quality - then good spot and thanks for sharing! :smiley:
shelliebish to androidavis
7 May 1613#3
I'm quite happy so far... It's a nice sunny day & I've enjoyed having the wind in my hair - even if I only use it a handful of times, it's better than driving everywhere & getting fat!
Peaches_ to androidavis
8 May 16#33
I'm looking for a bike in that price range (though the cheaper the better!) any recommendations? :-)
m1chaels
7 May 161#2
Does the box say anything about the assembled weight? Does it have suspension? How many gears? What sort of brakes?
shelliebish to m1chaels
7 May 161#4
It says it's a lightweight 6061 alloy frame (whatever that means!), 18 speed shimano gears & has smooth rolling 700c tyres (according to the box)
JohnnyUtah
7 May 162#5
Well said. :smiley:
tezray
7 May 161#6
my carrera vengeance is that alloy and wheels are 700c I just have more gears seeks quite descent for that money
pibpob to tezray
8 May 16#38
You mean it's good at going down hills? :smiley:
Johnnnnnno
7 May 161#7
There are more details about this bike on the Falcon Cycles website. Seems Ok for the money.
Considering the price, I would say it's a pretty good spec!
tezray
7 May 16#9
didn't realise it is a hybrid I would have bought this last week instead of my carrera I was after a hybrid
xmanrho
7 May 162#10
for 50quids, this deal is super hot. ouch it burns!
ArthurDent1
7 May 165#11
No suspension, road tyres, alloy frame... could this be the first ever £50 supermarket bike that's acutally worth buying?
Seems pretty good for the price.
crazymonkey
7 May 161#12
Is this a national deal?
wenttoabetterplace
7 May 163#13
The best supermarket bike I have seen on HUKD. Which isn't necessarily saying much - but Shimano gears are a safe bet, SRAM MRX shifters are reliable, v-brakes are nice (compared to the rubbish disk brakes that often end up on such bikes). The headset is old school and pretty naff...but overall, it looks like a decent bike. Should be relatively lightweight compared to the monkey metal steel bikes that usually find their way into supermarket store rooms!
(Of course, this is more suitable for children/teenagers or short adults. If you are tall, don't get a small bike - it'll be uncomfortable and pretty unsafe)
bonzobanana
7 May 16#14
Great price but spend time setting it up because cheap bikes often don't get brilliantly assembled in the factory. Often they don't include grease where its needed or put very small amounts in plus parts may not be tightened correctly. This looks like it could be a geniunely good bike set up correctly. Nothing amazing but definitely fit for purpose.
MAdam98
7 May 16#15
Strip and sell job. Get a decent profit
UncleWilly
7 May 16#16
Come on! Someone post "BSO" - it's a HUkD tradition!
bonzobanana to UncleWilly
7 May 161#18
It's not a good example of a BSO because it lacks terrible front suspension and even worse rear suspension. The frame is aluminium not steel (not that I have a problem with steel frames) and the gearing components do seem to be branded mostly. Some of the decent brands have entry level Shimano gears on their entry level bikes pretty much like this bike. For anyone looking to buy a bike for the summer and also considering a similarly priced dual suspension bike I recommend strongly you go for this bike instead.
Jakena
7 May 161#17
Was it just a mens bike, or was there a female version? I can't really see the picture very well
ArthurDent1 to Jakena
7 May 161#20
Just one model - but why would you need a female version? For £50 i's not going to be a perfect fit for anyone, but as long as it's the right size it'll be fine for occasional use/short trips.
shelliebish to Jakena
7 May 16#25
I'm a girl & it's fine for me - I'm only 5"4 though so someone bigger may struggle!
SFconvert
7 May 16#19
Do you know what the bottom bracket is on this? One of the main problems with these supermarket bikes is that they have poor cup and cone bearing type bottom brackets, which are fairly unsuitable for any sort of wet weather riding and generally don't last very long and require adjustment frequently if you do any sort of mileage on them.
Cosmic_Mastermind
7 May 162#21
The frame and forks are probably fine, but I would not trust any of the other components. For £50 you're getting components that cost pennies and a bicycle assembled somewhere in the poorer parts of East-Asia by workers paid pennies who have virtually zero interest in doing the job properly.
I'm not a bike-snob; when it comes to ordinary bicycles (road bikes, hybrids, town&country bikes etc, etc) I think there are some real bargains to be had for under £200; only competition cyclists need "performance" components, but when you get to the sub-£100 price bracket, things start to get dodgy. £50? Expect snapped brake callipers, misaligned drive chain, chain frequently coming loose, and terminal rust within 6 months.
If you are going to ride that bike, check that the handlebars are properly secure and that the front wheel is secure; it's not unheard of for them to come flying off of cheap bikes, resulting in serious injury. If you were riding a motorcycle at 30mph, you'd expect it to be roadworthy, but people sometimes fail to apply the same logic when they are cycling downhill at 30mph on a bike they bought for £65 from Sports World or wherever. Seriously, do check that the bike is safe to ride; it has not been inspected by a real bicycle mechanic.
Personally, if I wanted to buy a cheap brand new bicycle, I'd keep my eyes open for anything made by Giant during the sales - but make sure it's the right size; that is so important. Choosing a bike is like choosing a pair of shoes; either it fits or it doesn't.
souljacker
7 May 164#22
Love the description "it's very light, I managed to get it in the car myself" , is there a bike available that would actually be too heavy to lift by yourself?? :confused:
The fact you can lift it doesn't make it very light :stuck_out_tongue:
othen
7 May 16#23
This sounds like quite a good bike for the money, and one can never have enough bikes. Even if the bottom bracket bearing is the cup and cone type, it is pretty cheap and easy to change it to a sealed bearing, which would make this a nice bike.
Heat added, I'll have a look in the local Asda in the morn.
SFconvert to othen
8 May 16#31
Yes but it will cost £40 plus to get a bike shop to do it, plus the embarrassment of taking it into the shop. Sure you can do it yourself if you have the tools, ie crank puller and bb spline tool.
JonjoKincade
7 May 161#24
Depends on the size of the person lifting and their individual strength and also the loading height of the car into which it was lifted.
shelliebish
7 May 165#26
I was by myself, trying to get a stupidly oversized bulky box into the back of my car, getting it around a car seat & dog cage - so yes, it being light was a bonus!
usetheforceluke
8 May 16#27
Only checked out this thread to read to BIKE NERD NONSENSE. and you guys did not disappoint :smiley:
thanks - hot deal BTW
rugman
8 May 16#28
Nearly up there with the legendary HUKD find on the Tesco Carnaby road bike (£65)
For occasional casual use or to get someone back into cycling, this is a great deal. You could sell this 2nd hand and easily get your money back, so no-risk if you use this as a stepping stone to something better
good one , not everybody needs a million dollar bike great find
EazyDuz
8 May 16#32
Finally a deal which isn't junk food. About time the health conscious came out the woodwork. Heat
EazyDuz
8 May 16#34
If it rusts of the drive chain is misaligned you can just take it back for a refund so no big deal tbf
shelliebish
8 May 16#35
It comes with a 12 month guarantee - so if it goes rusty quickly, I've lost absolutely nothing!
davej798
8 May 161#36
bike snobs, tech snobs, book snobs ect ect, what is it about this site? sometimes a bargain is just that, a bargain, relax chill. heat from me op. oh and grammer snobs feel free..
pibpob
8 May 16#37
I doubt rust would be covered, but then again the staff would probably be so surprised you bothered to bring it back that they'd honour it.
Jakena
8 May 16#39
Ah, thanks! I'm 5ft 6 1/2, but as someone said it might fit a 33" inside leg, I though it might be ok if the seat was raised all the way. Was the seat ok, as mens and female bike seats tend to be different
woodyafc86
8 May 16#40
I have a falcon renegade,got mine from halfords and only cost me £100 ..more spec than this,but this is still worth a buy if you want a cheap bike..heat added...
shelliebish
8 May 161#41
I'm very persuasive... I love a challenge! I managed to get a discount of £800 & a free leather footstool from furniture village over a mark the size of a postage stamp on my leather sofa!! Bring it on!
shelliebish
8 May 16#42
This is a man's bike... I have it on its lowest setting so there's plenty of room for someone taller than 5"4 (actually 5"3 1/2!)
othen
8 May 16#43
You are right about getting a bike shop to do it, but I've changed a few on older bikes (and the difference it makes is considerable of course). From memory the only special tool was the spline key to insert the new bearing (I had one anyway, however I doubt it would be very expensive), but the old cones are nearly always difficult to get out (I find the easiest way is to lift up the whole frame and clamp the bearing in a vice, then turn the frame around it. I find it looks odd but gives lots of leverage. The cartridge bearings are generally less than a tenner, so if one is able to do the work it could make a nice bike very cheaply.
I did intend to take a drive to the local Asda to have a see if they had one today, but the nice weather means that almost the whole population of the nation has found a need to go shopping this morn, so that will wait for another day.
:-)
Anyone been able to confirm if this deal is store specific or nationwide?
Sptaylor7575
8 May 161#47
Seems to be store specific, I have phoned about 10 stores around Cambridgeshire and all have said they have no bikes at all! :-(
usetheforceluke
8 May 16#48
we want more nerdy comments as most of the comments so far sound sane :smiley:
lehappymerchant
8 May 16#49
Seriously though, I'd be wary of riding anything that is bought from Asda for 50 quid.
jsinghk
8 May 16#50
Is in all stores
jsinghk
8 May 16#51
It*
wenttoabetterplace
8 May 16#52
You should judge it on the basis of the components used ... not just on your preconceptions/bias.
This really doesn't seem like a bad bike. The equipment used is serviceable, and the frame looks good. Just double check the wheels and all should be ok.
lehappymerchant
8 May 16#53
The weight itself is not an issue. I'm sure 99% of people can lift ~15kg no problem if it's a small cube with a handle.
The issue comes from the awkwardness and the large area over which the weight is distributed.
rugman
8 May 16#54
Got the ladies version the Falcon Fresco, same price, same spec, just ladies style frame. Meant for the mrs but mt 11 year old daughter has nabbed it.
Had to tweak the front derailleur, and slacken off the rear hub, but all good. It weighs 13.3kg built. Compared to daughters 24inch wheel cheap mountain bike, its 3kg lighter and rolls really well on those 700c,38mm tyres
Gonna try and grab another for the mrs. Tjanks op
freebie5
8 May 16#55
Good bike for the price, if you can still find one in stores. Our stores are now full of BBQs....
clemk1001
8 May 16#56
I thought most bikes were good going down hills, it's going up that I have the problem with!
topcaty
8 May 16#57
Great deal
gabberandy
8 May 16#58
Cheap junk.
shelliebish
8 May 16#59
Do you have one then?
a_and_s
8 May 162#60
What? Even Janice on checkout 7?
tinkerbellian
8 May 16#61
Hope you enjoy your new bike OP. Almost feel jealous, my new hybrid cost me three times this a few weeks ago :disappointed: however I love it soooooooo much :smile: So nice to get out when the weather is as good as it was today.
andyruns
8 May 16#62
Dont suppose anyone had success finding one in the west of scotland?
GAVINLEWISHUKD
8 May 16#63
A bike you can lock up outside Asda and will still be there when you come out! Hot just for that.
Chances are that most people who will buy this will only use it this summer while the weather is warm. So let's say 20 weeks. That's £2.50 a week or 35p a day.
shelliebish
8 May 16#64
Well that's cheaper than a mars bar a day and better for me too! Based on that calculation, this was definitely a good deal worth sharing!
bonzobanana
9 May 16#65
A very cheap huge upgrade for these bikes is replacing the weak axles with hardened stronger axles in the wheels, new high quality bearings all round and of course decent amount of high quality grease. It will make the bike more suitable for heavier riders, improve bike reliability and make the bike far more satisfactory. Another upgrade would be adjusting spoke tension but that is a little trickier but still worth doing especially for the heavier rider. This can improve the strength of the wheels and their ability to stay true. Also good adjustment of the brakes is critical especially setting the toe in to prevent squeal. Lots of resources and information on youtube.
What's the point? It's a £50 bike; the sort of person buying this will just want to get out and ride not spend hours indoors doing all sorts of mechanical adjustments.
bonzobanana
9 May 16#67
The point is cheap bikes have poor bearings, soft axles and lack of grease. The freewheel design exerts more force on the axle and bent axles are common on cheap bikes. You are basically tackling the issues which are common failings on cheap bikes at a fairly low cost to improve the bike and transform its reliability.
tomton
9 May 16#68
HOT!
how large is the box?
rugman
9 May 16#69
About this big
mcrobbj
9 May 16#70
I don't think guarantees cover you not drying your bike, all bikes rust if you don't dry and lube
3guesses
10 May 16#71
About bicycle size.
JackStrapp
10 May 161#72
2'6" X 4' X 6" approx
Thanks shelliebish for posting just picked one up.
Jfuller
10 May 16#73
I can't find any stock around the East Lancs area. Has anyone had any success finding one in this area please?
mickgoodie
11 May 16#74
£50 for a station bike is cheap as chips (even if it lasts a year!) £335 at freemans which is a complete joke!
That Freemans price is unbelievable. £335 buys you a pretty damn good bike elsewhere if you know what you are doing. That bike to me should have an absolute maximum of £179.99. Roughly speaking I would expect to pay about £120 on average for it in a normal store and even allowing for a 50% catalogue up-price it should be no more than £180.
Biker Jeff
11 May 16#76
They will have only set it at that price, so they can drop it later and claim a bargain reduced price.
The Asda deal for this bike is well worth it.
shelliebish
11 May 16#77
But why would I use it in the rain? That's what I have a car for! My £50 bargain bucket bike is only for use on the brightest of sunny days, therefore I would expect Asda to cover it for anything & everything as it simply won't get used in this crappy English weather!
othen
11 May 16#78
Very silly comment.
gabberandy
11 May 16#79
Very silly comment.
othen
12 May 16#80
I'm pleased you concur gabberandy; I have no idea why you would have posted it in the first place. I'm really pleased you have recognised your mistake, and furthermore that you have realised it makes no sense whatsoever to make uninformed and unsubstantiated comments on HUKD.
Best wishes,
O
bonzobanana
12 May 16#81
If it really is junk then £50 is not cheap for junk. However the bike looks pretty reasonable and fit for purpose.
Opening post
Top comments
Seems pretty good for the price.
The fact you can lift it doesn't make it very light :stuck_out_tongue:
All comments (81)
http://falconcycles.co.uk/product/falcon-monza-2/
Seems pretty good for the price.
(Of course, this is more suitable for children/teenagers or short adults. If you are tall, don't get a small bike - it'll be uncomfortable and pretty unsafe)
I'm not a bike-snob; when it comes to ordinary bicycles (road bikes, hybrids, town&country bikes etc, etc) I think there are some real bargains to be had for under £200; only competition cyclists need "performance" components, but when you get to the sub-£100 price bracket, things start to get dodgy. £50? Expect snapped brake callipers, misaligned drive chain, chain frequently coming loose, and terminal rust within 6 months.
If you are going to ride that bike, check that the handlebars are properly secure and that the front wheel is secure; it's not unheard of for them to come flying off of cheap bikes, resulting in serious injury. If you were riding a motorcycle at 30mph, you'd expect it to be roadworthy, but people sometimes fail to apply the same logic when they are cycling downhill at 30mph on a bike they bought for £65 from Sports World or wherever. Seriously, do check that the bike is safe to ride; it has not been inspected by a real bicycle mechanic.
Personally, if I wanted to buy a cheap brand new bicycle, I'd keep my eyes open for anything made by Giant during the sales - but make sure it's the right size; that is so important. Choosing a bike is like choosing a pair of shoes; either it fits or it doesn't.
The fact you can lift it doesn't make it very light :stuck_out_tongue:
Heat added, I'll have a look in the local Asda in the morn.
thanks - hot deal BTW
For occasional casual use or to get someone back into cycling, this is a great deal. You could sell this 2nd hand and easily get your money back, so no-risk if you use this as a stepping stone to something better
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/falcon-nevada-hybrid-alloy-frame-18spd-hybrid-700c-adult-bike-99-store-asda-2228922
I did intend to take a drive to the local Asda to have a see if they had one today, but the nice weather means that almost the whole population of the nation has found a need to go shopping this morn, so that will wait for another day.
:-)
This really doesn't seem like a bad bike. The equipment used is serviceable, and the frame looks good. Just double check the wheels and all should be ok.
The issue comes from the awkwardness and the large area over which the weight is distributed.
Had to tweak the front derailleur, and slacken off the rear hub, but all good. It weighs 13.3kg built. Compared to daughters 24inch wheel cheap mountain bike, its 3kg lighter and rolls really well on those 700c,38mm tyres
Gonna try and grab another for the mrs. Tjanks op
Chances are that most people who will buy this will only use it this summer while the weather is warm. So let's say 20 weeks. That's £2.50 a week or 35p a day.
http://index.weldtite.co.uk/our-brands/bike-bits/all
how large is the box?
Thanks shelliebish for posting just picked one up.
http://www.freemans.com/products/falcon-monza-mens-hybrid-bike/_/A-26B033_?utm_source=GoogleProductList&utm_medium=PLA&utm_campaign=SportsAndLeisure_Bikes_AdultBikes&utm_content=26B033&ns_campaign=SportsAndLeisure_Bikes_AdultBikes&ns_mchannel=PLA&ns_source=GoogleProductList&ns_linkname=26B033&ns_fee=0&ordermedia=F0096&name=25PERCENTOFF&orderoffercode=M3BP&entry=3
The Asda deal for this bike is well worth it.
Best wishes,
O