i'm waiting for the BIKES100 code

Love the 100kg+ men in lycra who think they are at the Olympics, deriding this bike because it's 2kg heavier than it should be hahaha

It's only 2kg more than your average Aluminium bike so I would not say it was crazy, ride it in just your underpants and you will be back on track weight wise.

Best source for bike maintanence, what this man did not know about bikes was not worth knowing http://www.sheldonbrown.com/bicycleGears.html

Lots of standards cycles have to comply with both British and European before they can be placed on the UK market. Bicycles are exhaustively tested for frame strength, braking distances and many other tests. When you look at dangerous bikes its more likely to be performance related bikes or higher end brands. Decathlon had to recall 4 years production of one of their bikes because so many frames were failing. Decathlon had re-designed the frame instead of using one of the manufacturer's proven designs so they had their own fashionable looking bike and sacrificed safety in doing so.

http://www.bike-eu.com/laws-regulations/nieuws/2017/3/decathlon-recalls-2012-2016-e-bikes-10129228

You don't have to look hard to see many Decathlon entry level bikes have components below that of this bike. This for example is a lower end derailleur than the Shimano Tourney and featured on some Decathlon bikes.



I've never seen a sub Shimano tourney derailleur on a halfords bike although it wouldn't surprise me if a basic child's bike had one.

Many of the most dangerous bikes with common frame failures have been designs in pursuit of low weight at the higher end of pricing. Certainly if you put in folding bike frame failure pretty much all hits will be Tern or Dahon both companies in pursuit of making light weight folding bikes at premium prices.

I'm just trying to put a bit more realism in this debate, yes low pricing is factor in decreasing safety but so is reducing weight, reducing frame tube thickness or butting. Making components out of light weight low density metals or making tyres as thin as possible. Many of the most expensive bikes have the lowest maximum rider weight limits for obvious reasons. Carbon frames are the most likely to fail. Aluminium frames suffer from fatigue and get weaker with time. So many variables. Most of the these cheap bikes are over-engineered to be strong with less regard for weight so it seems unfair to present this bike as in some way weak, the frame at least is likely far stronger than most premium bikes.

As well as the 'Trek', I've also had a variety of Carreras and Boardman's I've been quite happy with - still do have a now rather tired Banshee X that I'm actually using for riding on the road at the moment (I've got a dodgy shoulder and so soft-squigy 6" travel to absorb impact.)

There's plenty of other budget bikes I'd avoid too.

I'd still always suggest going second hand - I couple of years ago I got a 2012 Giant Defy 2 for £170. Last year I paid a similar price for a year old Charge Crater that'd barely been used - massively better value to my mind.

There's a plethora of regulations and restrictions placed on car manufacturers that ensures the consumer ends up with a vehicle that is safe to both the driver and others around you (notice how indicator stalks are in the same place, brake lights are roughly the same height level on all cars etc?).

Arguably there are significantly less restrictions placed on bike manufacturers which means you end up with components made of tin foil, regular breakdowns, premature ware etc. My point is it's worth saving for a more reliable bike than getting something like this just 'cause it's cheap. I've seen Halfords jobbies where within months brake pads have warped, wheels buckled, pedals have literally fallen off and in one case the bikes fork was installed the wrong way around by Halfords own bike "mechanics". Buyer beware!

OK, you've actually gone back to one of Halfords own imported bikes which do represent very good value much of the time. I thought you were going to be a bike brand snob. Definitely a nice bike at that price if you can get it as its on clearance. Obviously the other issue is the bike of this thread is male geometry and that is a woman's bike. Woman's frames aren't designed to take quite the same weight as men's and being aluminium will likely be a bit weaker. Not much lighter either. That is actually a very good value bike though but not directly comparable with this bike. This bike isn't a hybrid its a fully rigid mountain bike and most men wouldn't want to ride a woman's bike either.

Ok, it's only available in small, but I think I'd be tempted by this and it's not even twice the price: http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/pendleton-drake-hybrid-bike?_$ja=kw:drytinder|tsid:40392&cm_mmc=Affiliates-_-PerformanceHorizon-_-drytinder-_-TopLink&_$ja=kw:drytinder|tsid:40392&cm_mmc=Affiliates-_-PerformanceHorizon-_-drytinder-_-TopLink

Yes, you get less gears, but Sturmey Archer should be really sturdy and overall the components seems more likely to last.

...which is probably proportionate to the cars on the road.

I dont know a great deal about bikes but like anything, if you treat it right it will always give you value for money.


With the exception of my ex-wife

Good point, the cars I see most broken down are Peugeot and fords.

I don't think that is fair but it would be better if you gave an example of a bike you feel has better components at twice the price and then people could follow the link to see if that is true. As Halfords sell huge quantities of bikes in the UK and import themselves direct from the factories they have both economies of scale and lower costs. It's difficult for big brand bikes to compete with that. It's likely this very same bike would cost £150 from a bigger brand found at your local bike shop because of the way the bike is distributed with so many parties needing to make a profit on it and the bike company itself having high costs to promote its brand.

Here's a similar bike at Decathlon which is an even bigger retailer than Halfords that directly imports itself. It has the front deraileur, and triple chainset to give more gears and a threadless headset but you are getting towards 2x the price of this bike and losing easy height adjustment of the handlebars for additional strength but neither of these bikes are suitable for off-road bumps so it seems like overkill and weight is similar between them. I think the simplicity of the gearing on the Ridge is a strength. You'll have to work harder at times but in the pursuit of fitness this is probably a good thing and you'll spend less time off the bike trying to adjust the gears without the triple chainset. Also for most people Halfords is more local.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-300-mountain-bike-id_8284495.html

From what I've seen the quality of those brands isn't particularly bad - they're just low spec.
They don't use inferior components, you just only get the basics, rather than the long list of extra you might get in, say, a Fiesta.

I think it was pointed out somewhere that in reality the individual components on a bike like this in reality probably cost about 50p each to make - once you add on profit etc along each step of the way.
If you double your budget, you're likely getting items that cost, say, £5.50 each to make. Similar profit for manufacturer, but other costs a smaller proportion, so relatively a lot better deal.

Bikes are like cars and people still buy Dacia and Kia. I don't pass a disproportionate amount of broken down ones!

A little research and you can get a good bit better spec DIY second hand one for a lot less.[/quote

Did have a look around. Wanted new. Could have picked a s/hand one up for £700 . This was this was the best spec out there , for a new £1k bike . This is crank driven. Not wheel driven. Goes off road with no problems. If U just want a bike for commuting , U can pick a s/hand one for a few hundred quid , as U said.

Generally these bikes are pretty much fit for purpose and still enjoyable to ride. The heavier weight makes them uncompetitive with dearer bikes performance wise but they have great weight capacity and are good for improving fitness. The normal issues with such cheap bikes is rushed assembly in the factory so grease may be missing. The rear axle might be a bit too weak so can get bent with heavier riders or drops (replace with a chromoly rear axle). Obviously at this price point there are compromises and you can't perform drops and take over rough uneven ground but fine for bridleways and loose surfaces. I rode for many thousands of miles on such a bike doing a commute of 8 miles each way per day. It did exactly what I wanted help me improve my fitness and loose a lot of weight.

A little research and you can get a good bit better spec DIY second hand one for a lot less.

From memory; pedal, chain and wheels went out of true *really* quickly.

http://wooshbikes.co.uk/?bali Just bought one of these. Made in china, but really well put together . Best thing I ever bought. U can really get around with this. If U have got £1k to spare. Very good investment.

I have just ordered a bicycle for my partner on May Day. I wondered if I could get it cheaper with this code.
It was more expensive. When I ordered it, there was a Bank Holiday 20% discount.

Christ, people complaining because it's Halfrauds, yet recommending to buy a secondhand bike that you have no idea how it has been used! It's CHEAP. For a reason it has 6 speed, to get the price down. But you could upgrade it to 18, the frame is made for it. This might break, that might let you down, and all the usual rubbish about Chinese. Nearly everything around us comes from China today.
Anyway, I like this old guy's ingenuity - he's in the 65 and up age group. Wonder what the cops think when they see him riding it!
He says he bought this bike because he had an 80cc petrol engine he wanted to fit to a bike for a project.
The bike had to be sturdy, 26 inch frame without spring suspension or rear disc brake. No need for fancy gears.
The bike was easy to assemble and the engine fitted like a glove. The bike now goes uphill like a train, freewheels downhill, and can be pedalled with motor off, if somewhat hard work, as the bike is a bit heavy now. Overall quality fine and very good value for money. Halfords service was excellent. That's some recommendation. He ought to publish details how to do this mod. :smile:

Tempted to get his for my 12 year old son who will not give a monkeys it's not got competition parts on it or weighs more than a £3000 bike. I saw one in store last week and it looks great for the money.

Specialized is a brand.

Yes it may be fine to get you down the shops and back, but good luck when the brakes fail on a steep hill, or the chain snaps and you're stranded. Bikes are something really worth saving up for or buying quality used. Don't buy these bike shaped objects from Halfords- it'll only encourage 'em to make more!

Decathlon have a decent range of beginner bikes starting at ~£150. They have the pluck to guarantee the components for 3 years and the frame for life, and you'll almost certainly receive better service in their stores.

I'd rather ride a Boris - London Bike, even with Santandar logo on it, cheap and Halfords recked two of my previous bikes in past, wrong parts fitted to a bike that cost me £1,500 and young staff who didn't have got a clue, when I asked them for an Armadillo tyre. I now take my bikes to a local independent dealer, where most of the staff are cyclists, that ride in races from beginners to advance distances. Yes, it does cost a little more, but I get my bike back in the condition to ride in events or too work. With great service and friendly professional staff. I'd give this a miss, spent a little extra and get yourself a 'Specialized', worth the money to spend little extra!! Its Cold, its must be Halfords!!!

And what are the several items that broke? The reason I ask is I purchased a bike very similar to this from woolworths many years ago and nothing has failed, the woolworths bike was only £30 in there closing down sale.

2kg more than your average full suspension aluminium bike, maybe?
It's 4.5kg more than my 6" travel full suspension bike, but that did cost me a good bit more, despite being second hand.

However, that's not why I'm going to criticise it.

A while ago I got a similar cheap halfords bike to ride at Glastonbury festival - something that wouldn't be the end of the world if it got stolen. Despite not exactly being an 'extreme' environment, several bits had broken by the end of the festival, despite not having that much use (mostly just to and from my campervan.)

Also, while not having any gears at the front does stop people messing up gear changes so much, it looks like you get a pretty poor range at the rear - no granny gear, which would have been nice in this case.

On a positive note, at least you won't have to buy a lock as no-one is going to steal this bike.

Good info. Any tips on dating women from Powys?

Love the 100kg+ men in lycra who think they are at the Olympics, deriding this bike because it's 2kg heavier than it should be hahaha

I have no idea how they manage to make and sell these for £85 or less, but I do know they won't be worth it!

Wow, disposable bike.

Best source for bike maintanence, what this man did not know about bikes was not worth knowing http://www.sheldonbrown.com/bicycleGears.html

15kg is a crazy weight for a bike without any suspension but for the price it's probably okay. I'd be more worried about the quality of the components to be honest.

BIKES20 not working again it's only BIKES10

Keep in mind that if you reserve one and they only have 1 or 2 instore the stock will include the display model.

Just worked for me, make sure you type it in capitals and use BIKES20 not BIKE20

Use BIKES20 and it's £68

I've used it before. It adds a noticeable amount of weight to the wheels, exactly where you don't want to be adding weight.

Halfords will put it in for you when you buy a new bike and guarantee it for two years so seemed like a good option.

I put slime in my mountain bike tyres a few years back, used the bike as a work horse pulling a Halfords bike trailer and road it off road a lot. Never got a flat for a good 2 years plus, then one day I got a large thorn in the tyre that the slime could not manage to seal, when I went to repair the inner tube I could see several puncture locations were over the 2 years the slime had done its job. I have a few bottles of slime but I only ever put it in a tube after I have had my first puncture, simply because if you put it in a brand new tube and the tube turns out to be faulty you have wasted half a bottle of slime.

I have a Giant hardtail MTB that cost £800 (although much less to me as I bought it through the "cycle to work" scheme).
I look at bikes like this and think they would be completely inadequate for my needs, but unlike all the other bike snobs I won't deride them. Others will tell you that you should save your money and get a second hand Scott or something, but let's face it - for £75 you won't even get a used "decent make" bike.
These bikes, whilst pretty terrible, are fine for light use/the occasional outing with the kids, etc... I wouldn't expect to be comfortable on one of these, but I grew up riding a Raleigh Grifter - and that was a beast.

Have ended up getting two - one for myself and one for the Mrs (She knows it's a man's).
Just got a call from Cheltenham telling me it will be ready for pickup tomorrow afternoon. (Picking up the other from Evesham!)
Asked them to "fit" slime in both wheels as we seem to live in a very thorny part of the country!
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-maintenance/bike-puncture-repair/slime-bike-tyre-sealant

OOS Edinburgh

Sold out nearby and not available for delivery :-(

EDIT: Found one!

There is also 4.5% Quidco which covers reserve and collect items plus good to know that Halfords will build the bike for you before you pick up for free if you ask them :-)

I'd love to see steve peat ride this into the bomb hole at grenoside