Terrain Richmond sale

Please be fair and thoughtful in your opinions. No rants please.
Post Reply
pagoda
Posts: 1
Joined: 8 Jul 2017, 11:50am

Terrain Richmond sale

Post by pagoda »

Hello everyone,
I'm usually a motorcyclist, but I have a bicycle I use once or twice a month to get exercise or when my motorcycle's at the garage. I need to get a new bicycle and noticed Tesco is having a sale

https://www.tesco.com/direct/terrain-ri ... d=546-8086

I know that cheap supermarket bikes ('bike shaped objects') aren't good for many reasons but they're ok for occasional use as in my case. Does the Terrain Richmond seem pretty cheap for an aluminium frame road bike?

Thanks,
Sebastien
Vorpal
Moderator
Posts: 20700
Joined: 19 Jan 2009, 3:34pm
Location: Not there ;)

Re: Terrain Richmond sale

Post by Vorpal »

Cheap supermarket bikes *can* be okay for occasional use, but many are not good value for money. I don't know the bike in question.

For cheap bikes, I usually recommend Decathlon, like https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-100- ... 77732.html

If you don't have a Decathlon nearby, something like http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/r ... -road-bike is likely to be better value for money than the Tesco bike.

Also, for the £140 you propose spending on a Tesco bike, you can get something second hand that has somewhat better components, will last longer, and be repairable. You can look for a community cycling shop / charity, like http://www.hubandspokeharlow.co.uk/web/ or a secondhand shop like http://stationbicycles.co.uk/ Or, if you say what part of the country you are in, maybe others on here have some recommendations.
“In some ways, it is easier to be a dissident, for then one is without responsibility.”
― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
User avatar
Spinners
Posts: 1678
Joined: 6 Dec 2008, 6:58pm
Location: Port Talbot

Re: Terrain Richmond sale

Post by Spinners »

Hi Seb! To quote your own post it looks like a bicycle shaped object but it will disappoint. Avoid.

Go Gumtree or Decathlon.
Cycling UK Life Member
PBP Ancien (2007)
Vorpal
Moderator
Posts: 20700
Joined: 19 Jan 2009, 3:34pm
Location: Not there ;)

Re: Terrain Richmond sale

Post by Vorpal »

What size are you? Would something like this viewtopic.php?f=40&t=115469 suit you?

I don't know the OP, or the bike; he says there is some wear, so it might be a good idea to take with someone who knows bikes if you want to consider purchasing it.
“In some ways, it is easier to be a dissident, for then one is without responsibility.”
― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
Bonzo Banana
Posts: 416
Joined: 5 Feb 2017, 11:58am

Re: Terrain Richmond sale

Post by Bonzo Banana »

I don't agree with the posts suggesting Decathlon at least not the Triban 100 which is an awful bike certainly no better than this Tesco bike. You really need to go up to the Triban 500SE before Decathlon start getting more decent. The Triban 100 used to be £220 and even that seemed far too high for this crappy freewheel based bike but now is £250 and simply isn't worth anywhere near that value especially with the 500SE only £50 more. I'd actually rather have the Tesco bike with its wider range of gears and pretty similar component level. £140 is a good price for what it is but really you need to double your money before you can get a decent entry level bike with a cassette based rear wheel and few important upgrades in quality. We are going into discount bike time soon at the end of August into September when bike dealers clear out this year's models to make way for next years. That would be a good time to buy.

I'm not against the Tesco bike in principle but Tesco will not be able to provide any support beyond simply refunding if the bike is faulty and needs returning. Same situation for Argos, Toys R Us and other cheap bike providers at least Halfords and Decathlon can offer some support although some of their stores seem to have poor cycling customer service going by their reviews and forum postings. Also Decathlon have had a lot of recalls for low quality frames but this hasn't effected road bikes just mountain bikes and e-bikes.

I am biased though I bought a Vertigo Carnaby road bike from Tesco for £65 which had mostly a claris groupset and a cassette based rear wheel and was fantastic. At the time of the offer people in the hotukdeals thread were saying spend more for often far inferior bikes like the Triban 100. Bikes should be judged on product not perceived brand quality. The Decathlon Hoptown 300 is an absolute junk quality bike. The issue with Decathlon is unlike Halfords where they have different brands for different quality levels with Apollo being their low end brand, Decathlon sell all their bikes under the same brand and some of them are appalling.
Post Reply