Advice on gears, please! They're not what I remember!

[LollyKat]

That Graham Weigh is a really, really good shout.
Lovely little bike, handmade frame by a specialist builder, good range of low gears, its even got downtube levers.
And I bet the guy selling them rides a bike.

Toe clearance a bit tight, perhaps?

[slowster]

That Graham Weigh is a really, really good shout.
Lovely little bike, handmade frame by a specialist builder, good range of low gears, its even got downtube levers.
And I bet the guy selling them rides a bike.

Bemehan, that bike would probably be perfect for you. The seller even says on their website that they want customers to test ride their bikes before purchase, and that "should a [mechanical] problem arise within the first month, please contact us and we will fix the bicycle without charge"

You used to ride a drop handlebar bike before with down tube levers, so you already know that you are comfortable with that type of bike. To get a new bike like that now with a comparable specification and ride would probably cost well over £1,000.

Give them a call and ask them about arranging a test ride. If you like it and want to buy it, then just demand that Argos take their bike back and give you a refund.

Toe clearance a bit tight, perhaps?

I would not be particularly concerned about that. The bike only has flat pedals (like the bike in the OP's old picture), and a bit of toe overlap is something to which people usually quickly adapt. It's generally only ever a problem when making very low speed turns (which is unlikely on a road bike, as opposed to a bike being ridden off road on technical/tricky terrain). If the OP were later to decide she wanted to try clipless pedals, she would probably have already become sufficiently familiar with the bike that she would naturally avoid touching the mudguard with the tip of her shoe in a very low speed turn without even being conscious of it.

[LollyKat]

Toe clearance a bit tight, perhaps?

I would not be particularly concerned about that....It's generally only ever a problem when making very low speed turns (which is unlikely on a road bike...

Fair enough, and as you say it probably won't be a concern for the OP's stated use. I raised it though because it is something to be aware of, and might not suit everyone. Usually it is just an inconvenience, for instance when starting off up a steep hill. But as a commuter in traffic I have a few times had to pull off emergency stunts that simply might not have worked with toe overlap, with disastrous consequences.

[Bemahan]

Re: the Graham Weigh bike, I had seen this on the website but passed on it because I wasn't confident about the reach between the gears on the frame and also the brakes - I'm a bit rusty and on those larger style drop bars I'm used to suicide levers. Having seen the more modern style drop bars on the Argos bike, I do prefer them, especially how they're moulded so it's more comfy to hold them with your hand on top of the brake, if you see what I mean. I was also hoping for fatter tyres (32mm ideally, as on the 'bottom of the range' Decathlon men's bike) The Argos ones are only 28mm but that was 3-5mm more than most of the road bikes I could find.
Also logistically getting there would have been an issue - would have had to gone with hubby and his car and he's an NHS worker who has to plough over to Luton to work so tends to be shattered and have other things to do on his downtime.
Having said that, if the Argos one goes back then I'd try again to arrange a test drive on the Graham. I also enquired about a ladies Raleigh Panache 'small/medium' but that looked very small and the frame wasn't in particularly good condition.

[Nigel]

If the decision is made to return the Argos, and go with the Graham Weigh (check the frame size), then the shortcomings identified could be fixed, though probably cost a little more than the £50 "change" between the two bikes. (I'd be tempted to swap, if the GW is the right size).

The brakes could have in-line levers installed on the tops of the bars, so providing an alternative brake position (and levers which work properly, unlike the old suicide levers which got the name because they were frequently set so they couldn't actually stop a bike!). Not a difficult job to fit, and I'd hope the supplying bike shop could do that if asked and paid.
The gear shifters could be moved to a collar around the steering stem, a common arrangement many years ago. Needs a band-on clamp of the right sort (the shift levers move onto that), two cable stops to fit where the levers currently sit, new longer gear cables and with outer gear cables from handlebar to the stops on the frame.


Nigel

[mjr]

unlike the old suicide levers which got the name because they were frequently set so they couldn't actually stop a bike!

I used to have them. I think they got the name because even if set so they could actually stop the bike, there were at least two ways many of them would break if you attempted to do an emergency stop with them (the metal bending until it struck the bar and removed all control over braking, or the little tab that pushed the top of the main lever snapping), leaving you with no braking right when you wanted all you had. Being able to emergency turn or jump clear were even more desirable skills back then!

[Bemahan]

Update - currently waiting for a replacement front wheel to arrive

[Bmblbzzz]

Be careful with the QR on this one!

[Bemahan]

Be careful with the QR on this one!

I will be!!

[Bemahan]

Update 2 - decided to keep my options open as wheel was going to take a while to arrive so Argos are collecting the bike on Monday and will refund upon collection. I'm viewing the Graham Weigh bike on Saturday. Not terribly hopeful about it though because of the handlebar/brake/gearshift arrangement, although the frame and tyres (if a bit too narrow for my liking, and I'm not sure of the age) are very good. I know, thank you to Nigel, that I could have the brake levers added but unless everything else is "right" with the bike, I'll probably leave it.

[simonhill]

Back to square one - possibly. So why not fix your original machine. I know it's a pile of rubbish, but if you could get it working properly for not too much, then you would at least have a bike to ride.

Bikes, both new and secondhand are in high demand at the moment so maybe its not the best time to buy.

Fix up, ride and keep your eyes peeled for what you really want.

[Bemahan]

Hi Simon, I really don't like riding my husband's MTB bike for lots of practical reasons, not just the dodgy gears, and had got to the point that I'd rather not cycle than use that bike, even if it the gears worked properly.

[Trigger]

I think there is a middle ground here between a traditional drop bar tourer and a BSO from Argos.

There are plenty of upright ladies bikes with nice frames and reasonable components, wider tyres and easy to use gears and brakes that are a million miles from that horrible MTB.

A few examples, I don't mean specifically to buy these ones but the sort of thing I'm on about

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254596635640 ... Swp49evThs

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283874861038 ... SwIM5euWFI

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333595190559 ... SwrkJerclT

[jimlews]

I think there is a middle ground here between a traditional drop bar tourer and a BSO from Argos.

There are plenty of upright ladies bikes with nice frames and reasonable components, wider tyres and easy to use gears and brakes that are a million miles from that horrible MTB.

A few examples, I don't mean specifically to buy these ones but the sort of thing I'm on about

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254596635640 ... Swp49evThs

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283874861038 ... SwIM5euWFI

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333595190559 ... SwrkJerclT

Well done, "Trigger",

Especially your first link to the Dawes 'Elfor'. Instant Classic cred!
That design of ladies bike is much better than the usual 'twin lats' mixt type IMHO. Also the opinion of legendary and highly respected framebuilder Tony Oliver, who was most certainly right in this as in so much else!

I wouldn't mind that myself; and I'm no lady!

EDIT: Just noticed that the bakes will accept 'suicide levers'

[Trigger]

I think there is a middle ground here between a traditional drop bar tourer and a BSO from Argos.

There are plenty of upright ladies bikes with nice frames and reasonable components, wider tyres and easy to use gears and brakes that are a million miles from that horrible MTB.

A few examples, I don't mean specifically to buy these ones but the sort of thing I'm on about

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254596635640 ... Swp49evThs

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283874861038 ... SwIM5euWFI

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333595190559 ... SwrkJerclT

Well done, "Trigger",

Especially your first link to the Dawes 'Elfor'. Instant Classic cred!
That design of ladies bike is much better than the usual 'twin lats' mixt type IMHO. Also the opinion of legendary and highly respected framebuilder Tony Oliver, who was most certainly right in this as in so much else!

I wouldn't mind that myself; and I'm no lady!

EDIT: Just noticed that the bakes will accept 'suicide levers'

The other thing with going this route is that hopefully there would be some budget left over for a LBS to give it the once over and make any changes the new owner wants like wider tyres or cross top/suicide levers fitting.

I'd rather buy a used bike and have it set up for exactly how I want it, than being forced to adapt to poor quality BSO just because it's new.