Decathlon Rockrider 8.1 - opinions please



D

Dundonald

Guest
Hi all,

does anyone have any experience with Decathlon bikes, particularly the
Rockrider 8.1 as found here http://tinyurl.com/2lr6df please?

By way of background I cycle regularly to work using the trans penine
trail, 19 mile round trip with a good selection of hills both ways (I
live in Sheffield) but I use a good old what I call boneshaker
mountain bike (it's an old Raleigh but in its day a good one).

In short I'm gonna be doing the C2C in 24 hrs for a charity so I need
an upgrade and I'm looking at spending £500 or less if I can on a new
bike. The Rockrider is so far one that I've been looking at. But
because I'm not exactly in the know with bike brands / quality etc I'm
not sure what else to look at.

Thanks in advance for any tips and pointers.
 
On Apr 5, 11:32 pm, "Dundonald" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> does anyone have any experience with Decathlon bikes, particularly the
> Rockrider 8.1 as found herehttp://tinyurl.com/2lr6df please?
>
> By way of background I cycle regularly to work using the trans penine
> trail, 19 mile round trip with a good selection of hills both ways (I
> live in Sheffield) but I use a good old what I call boneshaker
> mountain bike (it's an old Raleigh but in its day a good one).
>
> In short I'm gonna be doing the C2C in 24 hrs for a charity so I need
> an upgrade and I'm looking at spending £500 or less if I can on a new
> bike. The Rockrider is so far one that I've been looking at. But
> because I'm not exactly in the know with bike brands / quality etc I'm
> not sure what else to look at.
>
> Thanks in advance for any tips and pointers.


I don't have one of these but I chatted with a guy who works at
Decathlon in Nottingham and he really enthused about them (I think it
was this one, as well). He's not on commission, he's a bike technician
there. The spec is very good for the money.

I found this review:

http://www.bikemagic.com/review/rev.../Decathlon-Rockrider-8.1/rcn/56/rgn/1/v/1/sp/

It looks a good choice, doesn't it? Without having the brand to make
it so desirable for thieves.

Regards, Ed.
 
Dundonald <[email protected]> waffled thusly
> Hi all,
>
> does anyone have any experience with Decathlon bikes, particularly the
> Rockrider 8.1 as found here http://tinyurl.com/2lr6df please?


We used to live 'round the corner' from Decathlon Nottingham.

Their bikes are really very, very good value, but more importantly, very
good performers. We bought our son one when they first opened, the frame is
still here with the obvious stuff having been changed a few times, wheels,
chainset etc.

The staff are knowledgable, provided you speak with the bike specialists,
they take their sport seriously.

We'd definitely have them on a shortlist if we were after a new bike.

--
Paul - ***
 
in message <[email protected]>,
Dundonald ('[email protected]') wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> does anyone have any experience with Decathlon bikes, particularly the
> Rockrider 8.1 as found here http://tinyurl.com/2lr6df please?
>
> By way of background I cycle regularly to work using the trans penine
> trail, 19 mile round trip with a good selection of hills both ways (I
> live in Sheffield) but I use a good old what I call boneshaker
> mountain bike (it's an old Raleigh but in its day a good one).
>
> In short I'm gonna be doing the C2C in 24 hrs for a charity so I need
> an upgrade and I'm looking at spending £500 or less if I can on a new
> bike. The Rockrider is so far one that I've been looking at. But
> because I'm not exactly in the know with bike brands / quality etc I'm
> not sure what else to look at.


I don't know the Decathlon but points to consider:

If hilly, lighter is better.
Disk brakes do not add very much to stopping power (they add a little to
control and quite a lot to low maintenance) but they're heavier; they may
be the wrong compromise for you.

In this price bracket, also consider the Claud Butler Cape Wrath XC - it
has been consistently well reviewed as one of the best and lightest bikes
at the low end of the mountain bike market.

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
/-\ You have discovered a security flaw in a Microsoft product. You
|-| can report this issue to our security team. Would you like to
| | * Be completely ignored (default)?
| | * Receive a form email full of platitudes about how much we care?
\_/ * Spend hours helping us fix this problem on your own phone bill?
 
On 6 Apr, 01:48, "Ed_Zep" <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Apr 5, 11:32 pm, "Dundonald" <[email protected]> wrote:


<snip my post>

> I don't have one of these but I chatted with a guy who works at
> Decathlon in Nottingham and he really enthused about them (I think it
> was this one, as well). He's not on commission, he's a bike technician
> there. The spec is very good for the money.


Thanks Ed that's useful to know.

>
> I found this review:
>
> http://www.bikemagic.com/review/reviewProductReviews/mps/rpn/16517/pr...


Aye I had googled and come across this review prior to my posting here
in the group. The reviews don't give a lot of detail but they
certainly look positive.

> It looks a good choice, doesn't it? Without having the brand to make
> it so desirable for thieves.


Good point. Question - what do thieves normally go for though? This
goes back to my lack of knowledge as far as what brands are good
etc ...

> Regards, Ed.
 
On 6 Apr, 09:23, Simon Brooke <[email protected]> wrote:
> in message <[email protected]>,
>
>
>
> Dundonald ('[email protected]') wrote:
> > Hi all,

>
> > does anyone have any experience with Decathlon bikes, particularly the
> > Rockrider 8.1 as found herehttp://tinyurl.com/2lr6df please?

>
> > By way of background I cycle regularly to work using the trans penine
> > trail, 19 mile round trip with a good selection of hills both ways (I
> > live in Sheffield) but I use a good old what I call boneshaker
> > mountain bike (it's an old Raleigh but in its day a good one).

>
> > In short I'm gonna be doing the C2C in 24 hrs for a charity so I need
> > an upgrade and I'm looking at spending £500 or less if I can on a new
> > bike. The Rockrider is so far one that I've been looking at. But
> > because I'm not exactly in the know with bike brands / quality etc I'm
> > not sure what else to look at.

>
> I don't know the Decathlon but points to consider:
>
> If hilly, lighter is better.


Yes the C2C route is very hilly.

> Disk brakes do not add very much to stopping power (they add a little to
> control and quite a lot to low maintenance) but they're heavier; they may
> be the wrong compromise for you.
>
> In this price bracket, also consider the Claud Butler Cape Wrath XC - it
> has been consistently well reviewed as one of the best and lightest bikes
> at the low end of the mountain bike market.


Thanks I'll do a google on that see if I can find a review or two and
have a read.

>
> --
> [email protected] (Simon Brooke)http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
> /-\ You have discovered a security flaw in a Microsoft product. You
> |-| can report this issue to our security team. Would you like to
> | | * Be completely ignored (default)?
> | | * Receive a form email full of platitudes about how much we care?
> \_/ * Spend hours helping us fix this problem on your own phone bill?
 
On 6 Apr, 07:43, "Paul - ***" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Dundonald <[email protected]> waffled thusly
>
> > Hi all,

>
> > does anyone have any experience with Decathlon bikes, particularly the
> > Rockrider 8.1 as found herehttp://tinyurl.com/2lr6df please?

>
> We used to live 'round the corner' from Decathlon Nottingham.
>
> Their bikes are really very, very good value, but more importantly, very
> good performers. We bought our son one when they first opened, the frame is
> still here with the obvious stuff having been changed a few times, wheels,
> chainset etc.
>
> The staff are knowledgable, provided you speak with the bike specialists,
> they take their sport seriously.
>
> We'd definitely have them on a shortlist if we were after a new bike.


Thanks Paul, appreciate your feedback.