Cycle King

Bikes are expensive items aren't they? Well looking at Trek Specialised etc I'd got used to the
idea. However a number of people here have commented favourably on Cycle King shops so when I
visited one the other day I was amazed to find very cheap bikes, though barely a make that I'd
recognise except Raleigh. They suggested that makes like Integral(?) are as good as their Trek etc.,
equivalents at less than half the price - anyone else think so?

 

"Tenex" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Bikes are expensive items aren't they? Well looking at Trek Specialised
etc
> I'd got used to the idea. However a number of people here have commented favourably on Cycle King
> shops so when I visited one the other day I was amazed to find very cheap bikes, though barely a
> make that I'd recognise except Raleigh. They suggested that makes like Integral(?) are as good as
> their Trek etc., equivalents at less than half the price - anyone else
think
> so?

I had the fun of borrowing an Integral bike when my Dawes MTB was nicked last summer. I think
they retail at around £69 which is hardly surprising. The frame I think might have been made form
cast iron.

 

"Tenex" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Bikes are expensive items aren't they? Well looking at Trek Specialised
etc
> I'd got used to the idea. However a number of people here have commented favourably on Cycle King
> shops so when I visited one the other day I was amazed to find very cheap bikes, though barely a
> make that I'd recognise except Raleigh. They suggested that makes like Integral(?) are as good as
> their Trek etc., equivalents at less than half the price - anyone else
think
> so?

Check the quality of componentry, quality & weight of frame etc.

While you undoubtedly pay a premium for a 'good' name the old principle of 'you don't get owt fer
nowt' applies.

Cycle King is a pile it high, sell it cheap outfit -- so don't expect any help or service once you
leave the shop.

T

 

Tenex wrote:
> Bikes are expensive items aren't they? Well looking at Trek Specialised etc I'd got used to the
> idea. However a number of people here have commented favourably on Cycle King shops so when I
> visited one the other day I was amazed to find very cheap bikes, though barely a make that I'd
> recognise except Raleigh. They suggested that makes like Integral(?) are as good as their Trek
> etc., equivalents at less than half the price - anyone else think so?

Ride an Integral, then ride the 'equivalent' Trek (or vice-versa of course) .. you *may* feel an
immediate difference .. Mostly in the weight, braking and gear-changing departments ..

--

Completed 1698 Seti work units in 12907 hours http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/

 

"Tenex" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Bikes are expensive items aren't they? Well looking at Trek Specialised
etc
> I'd got used to the idea. However a number of people here have commented favourably on Cycle King
> shops so when I visited one the other day I was amazed to find very cheap bikes, though barely a
> make that I'd recognise except Raleigh. They suggested that makes like Integral(?) are as good as
> their Trek etc., equivalents at less than half the price - anyone else
think
> so?
>
>

I think that Cycle King (which if IIRC is Nick Thake at Sawbridgeworth, Herts) also owns/makes Hawk
bikes (again IIRC they have a couple of places in Coventry and the Black Country) I have seen these
bikes being knocked out at Saturday/Sunday markets as well as at Hawk outlets.

... by and large very cheap bikes and accessories aimed at the "below Halfords" market, if you get
my drift ..... but, as always "horses for courses"

Members of this NG will probably be best to deploy the barge-pole !

RG

 

james g wrote:
> "Tenex" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>> Bikes are expensive items aren't they? Well looking at Trek Specialised etc I'd got used to the
>> idea. However a number of people here have commented favourably on Cycle King shops so when I
>> visited one the other day I was amazed to find very cheap bikes, though barely a make that I'd
>> recognise except Raleigh. They suggested that makes like Integral(?) are as good as their Trek
>> etc., equivalents at less than half the price - anyone else think so?
>
> I had the fun of borrowing an Integral bike when my Dawes MTB was nicked last summer. I think
> they retail at around £69 which is hardly surprising. The frame I think might have been made form
> cast iron.

Actually this one was aluminium which made me even more sceptical.

 

Tony W wrote:
> "Tenex" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>> Bikes are expensive items aren't they? Well looking at Trek Specialised etc I'd got used to the
>> idea. However a number of people here have commented favourably on Cycle King shops so when I
>> visited one the other day I was amazed to find very cheap bikes, though barely a make that I'd
>> recognise except Raleigh. They suggested that makes like Integral(?) are as good as their Trek
>> etc., equivalents at less than half the price - anyone else think so?
>
>
> Check the quality of componentry, quality & weight of frame etc.
>
> While you undoubtedly pay a premium for a 'good' name the old principle of 'you don't get owt fer
> nowt' applies.
>
> Cycle King is a pile it high, sell it cheap outfit -- so don't expect any help or service once you
> leave the shop.
>
> T

I'd only called in 'cos of the many favourable comments about the Cambridge branch.

 

Tenex <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Tony W wrote:
> > "Tenex" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> >
> > Cycle King is a pile it high, sell it cheap outfit -- so don't expect any help or service once
> > you leave the shop.

My only experience is my daughters Raleigh bought from Cycle King in Ipswich. She had a problem with
the gears after three months and the service couldn't be faulted. Took it in, waited half hour, came
out with new rear shifter. No charge of course, and they had checked it over and adjusted the brakes
and the front changer.

Bill

 

In article <[email protected]>, Tony W wrote:
>
>"Tenex" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>> Bikes are expensive items aren't they? Well looking at Trek Specialised
>etc
>> I'd got used to the idea. However a number of people here have commented favourably on Cycle King
>> shops so when I visited one the other day I was amazed to find very cheap bikes, though barely a
>> make that I'd recognise except Raleigh.
[...]
>Check the quality of componentry, quality & weight of frame etc.
>
>While you undoubtedly pay a premium for a 'good' name the old principle of 'you don't get owt fer
>nowt' applies.

Cycle King also (at least sometimes) have end-of-line/last-years-model/ cosmetically damaged
ex-display/etc. bikes from better known brands. And when I recently wanted some replacement
bearings for a child's bike's bottom bracket, I tried about 5 LBSs wthout any luck before Cycle
King, who had some.

 

"Tenex" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Bikes are expensive items aren't they? Well looking at Trek Specialised etc I'd got used to the
> idea. However a number of people here have commented favourably on Cycle King shops so when I
> visited one the other day I was amazed to find very cheap bikes, though barely a make that I'd
> recognise except Raleigh. They suggested that makes like Integral(?) are as good as their Trek
> etc., equivalents at less than half the price - anyone else think so?

One word - AVOID.

I bought a Challenger bike from them a couple of years back, and pretty much from the get go it was
one problem or the other. They didn't appear to be either knowledgeable or friendly at the shop, so
invariably I had to take the bike to another LBS for repairs. It got so bad that I became known as
the 'guy with the Challenger bike' at the shop. Eventually, I tired of the bike's antics and one
summer evening I 'accidentally' left it unlocked near my local shopping centre. I'm now a lot
happier with my Trek 721.

--
Akin

aknak at aksoto dot idps dot co dot uk

 

"Tenex" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Bikes are expensive items aren't they?

They're a darn sight cheaper than cars!

--
Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W http://www.simonmason.karoo.net

 

In news:[email protected], Simon Mason <[email protected]> typed:
> "Tenex" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>> Bikes are expensive items aren't they?
>
> They're a darn sight cheaper than cars!

Are you sure? The CTC calculated IIRC that it costs about 12p/mi to run a bike (tyres, drivetrain,
brakes, cables, clothing etc) which is not a lot less than a small car costs to run.

Tony

--
http://www.raven-family.com

"All truth goes through three steps: First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed.
Finally, it is accepted as self-evident." Arthur Schopenhauer

 

Alan Braggins wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>, Tony W wrote:

> Cycle King also (at least sometimes) have end-of-line/last-years-model/ cosmetically damaged
> ex-display/etc. bikes from better known brands. And when I recently wanted some replacement
> bearings for a child's bike's bottom bracket, I tried about 5 LBSs wthout any luck before Cycle
> King, who had some.

I've noticed they (very occaisionally) have things like old model Carrera bikes - Halfords own
brand!. I actually bought a bike from them once. A Sachs Inia full suspension at a remarkable
markdown from the MRP. I had to readjust almost everything to make it what I would call rideable,
but its not bad at all for the money.

As far as parts go, they seem to have lots of outdated, overpriced rubbish, and one or two good
deals (like zefal clip on mudguards for a tenner) and their sales can come up with the odd bargain
e.g. alloy bar ends for four quid. V brakes are starting to appear on some of their bikes now....

I'd rate them as "worth a gander if you're the sort of person who likes the odd bargain from Lidl"
type of place.

Jim Price

 

"Tony Raven" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In news:[email protected], Simon Mason <[email protected]> typed:
> > "Tenex" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> >> Bikes are expensive items aren't they?
> >
> > They're a darn sight cheaper than cars!
>
> Are you sure? The CTC calculated IIRC that it costs about 12p/mi to run a bike (tyres, drivetrain,
> brakes, cables, clothing etc) which is not a lot less than a small car costs to run.

I'm not sure what figures they use, but I've just shelled out 500 quid on brakes; pads and discs,
two tyres and an exhaust part, not to mention 140 quid to tax and 340 quid to insure it and about
1500 quid a year on petrol and god knows what on depreciation.

Now, I'm fairly sure I'm not spending the thick end of 3 grand a year on my cycling habits. In
fact, I could buy a new bike every month of year for that sort of money.

--
Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W http://www.simonmason.karoo.net

 

"Tony Raven" <[email protected]> wrote in news:[email protected]:

> Are you sure? The CTC calculated IIRC that it costs about 12p/mi to run a bike (tyres, drivetrain,
> brakes, cables, clothing etc) which is not a lot less than a small car costs to run.
>

I can't believe this. I once did some rough calculations on my usage.

Just the money I would spend on petrol to get to and from work in a small car (I used to have a 2CV
and they don't come much smaller than that) would be about £400 per year. That covers a lot of bike
kit, servicing, etc.

Leaving aside the cost of buying the car vs. bike, and the insurance, MOT, service, etc that will be
spent on the car.

Toby

--
Remove spamtrap to reply by mail

 

On Sat, 24 May 2003 12:56:05 +0100, "Tony Raven" <[email protected]> wrote:

>The CTC calculated IIRC that it costs about 12p/mi to run a bike (tyres, drivetrain, brakes,
>cables, clothing etc) which is not a lot less than a small car costs to run.

I think you'd need to compare similar degrees of costing. I believe running a car comes out at about
25p-28p per mile according to those formulae. But ICBW.

The amount quoted sounds about right if you include clothing and so on. I just totted up a year's
supply of chains, lubricant, tyres and batteries and came to about 6p/mile over 4500 miles. I
haven't bought any cycle clothing this year. Yet

Don't forget to charge the car acount for the cost of a gym membership, though, and a new pair of
trousers in a larger size every year ;-)

Guy
===
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I bought my Ammaco aluminium mountain bike from the Croydon Cycle King and must say they're pretty
weird. Although outwardly helpful, they actually make a botch-job of practically everything
(probably because some of staff don't even seem to be out of school).

At least three key elements of my bike (including the rather important pedal bracket!) had to be
totally replaced immediately after I bought
it. On one occasion they totally incorrectly screwed on my rear sprocket catridge but - eager to
get me out of their shop - reassured me that "some oil will sort it out"!

For the past year, th shop has employed that dubious sales racket of continually claiming to
have ALL their stock on sale. Obviously they're hoping to dupe bargain-hunters (hey - it had
worked on me!)

They also show great disrespect for customers. Like a lemming, I again shopped there recently (I
need my head examined) and was amazed to see that they just stripped the cast aluminium pedals I
wanted off an in-stock bike. They left the price of that bike the same and replaced the stolen
pedals with poor plastic ones, commenting to me "hehe - the customers won't spot the difference."

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS? I'd shop elsewhere in future. I think their bikes are only average value
despite supposed 'sales bargains'. Also, the problems my Cycle King bike had virtually reduced me to
insanity for months after I bought it.

Toby Barrett <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> "Tony Raven" <[email protected]> wrote in news:[email protected]:
>
> > Are you sure? The CTC calculated IIRC that it costs about 12p/mi to run a bike (tyres,
> > drivetrain, brakes, cables, clothing etc) which is not a lot less than a small car costs to run.
> >
>
> I can't believe this. I once did some rough calculations on my usage.
>
> Just the money I would spend on petrol to get to and from work in a small car (I used to have a
> 2CV and they don't come much smaller than that) would be about £400 per year. That covers a lot of
> bike kit, servicing, etc.
>
> Leaving aside the cost of buying the car vs. bike, and the insurance, MOT, service, etc that will
> be spent on the car.
>
> Toby

 

On Sat, 24 May 2003 12:56:05 +0100, contributor Tony Raven had scribed:
> Are you sure? The CTC calculated IIRC that it costs about 12p/mi to run a bike (tyres, drivetrain,
> brakes, cables, clothing etc) which is not a lot less than a small car costs to run.
>

According to the AA, cars are about 50p/mile (depending on size and mileage), taking into account
Insurance, Servicing, Tax, MOT before considering consumable parts (tyres, exhausts, wiper blades,
etc.), fuel, parking charges, tolls, etc. and finally the depreciation on the originally outlay.

Gary

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