Cycling UK Forum

gbnz wrote: ↑11 May 2024, 7:00pm

Riley26 wrote: ↑11 May 2024, 3:27pm Anyone had experience with Argos bikes I'm after a bike for a 4 mile each way commute. I have attached a picture of the bike.

Can understand the price attraction, an incredible bargain. I've no need for another bicycle or experience of Argos bikes, but looked at one of those in detail just last week (Nb. The attraction of a brand new bicycle for £136, which I'd happily leave locked at the railway station for days, was tempting)

I've no doubt one of these, wouldn't remotely ride in the same as a brand name, £1k Giant or Specialized road bike. But all the other disadvantages, such as bolt on wheels, 36 spoke wheels, a full frame, plain gauge spokes, non STI gear levers, to me was an advantage for a commuter. Version I looked at had lower fitting, which could be used to fit a rack, jubilee clips would be needed, higher up (Nb. Had no issues for years, with that arrangement).

And wouldn't be swayed by arguments that hand made British Bicycles, made out of traditional steel, to traditional standards, by elderly men in a backroom, would be better. You'd probably find the Argos bicycle will be manufactured to far higher standards in some factory in Taiwan or China, the 900% cheaper purchase price, being the primary difference

Critical negative factor to me, was the exceptionally short head tube, giving an exceptionally low height for mounting handlebars and at least for me, horrific neck pain. Adjusting this would have required a new fork and/or steeply angled handlebar stem and/or adjustable handlebar stem. Significant cost & dubious arrangements to raise the handlebar height, to a satisfactory level