The frustration of a (long distance) bike buyer...

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
Dudley Manlove
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Joined: 18 Jun 2009, 10:41am

Re: The frustration of a (long distance) bike buyer...

Post by Dudley Manlove »

As other have said, if you're in London and have a 2k budget for a tourer and want to buy it locally I'd consider at least going into Roberts and having a chat. I've only been in for frame repairs and a bit of a nose around but they're really very good at talking the time to chat to you and discuss exactly what you're after - very friendly, very helpful. Some of the other specialist London bike shops can be a little aloof imo, but maybe that's jsut me.
Brucey
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Joined: 4 Jan 2012, 6:25pm

Re: The frustration of a (long distance) bike buyer...

Post by Brucey »

RonK wrote: hehe - I don't think so. If you had read the OP's other thread you would know that Spa doesn't actually have a bike in stock... :roll:


d'oh! Never mind eh....! :roll:

I guess their website isn't 100% up to date then..... :shock: :shock:

to put it mildly..... :roll:

cheers
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pedalsheep
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Re: The frustration of a (long distance) bike buyer...

Post by pedalsheep »

+1 for having a chat with Roberts. They are also very good at servicing their bikes, if you live in London they would be the perfect lbs. c10 mins walk from East Croyden station.
'Why cycling for joy is not the most popular pastime on earth is still a mystery to me.'
Frank J Urry, Salute to Cycling, 1956.
indy
Posts: 42
Joined: 17 Jul 2010, 6:06pm

Re: The frustration of a (long distance) bike buyer...

Post by indy »

Just want to confirm a few things....

After the initial shock of having my bike stolen I started to look at what options I had in replacing it. I've long had the desire to have a custom bike made by one of the quality low volume UK manufactures i.e. Condor, Roberts et. al. At the time I wasn't expecting to have to budget for the cost of a new quality bike and with finances a bit fragile anyway I put things on hold. A few weeks ago I started to see adverts for 2011 Dawes Ultra Galaxy's for between £950 and £1200. I decided to re-start my look for a replacement grand tourer.

I made enquires to various 'quality' companies and to cut a long story short and to probably give greater clarity to my original post the 'problem' I had was that I didn't feel like I had the experience to spec a bike in order to get the most out of it. I became very aware that I was being advised to have this part or that part which seemed to an extent like I was buying somebody else's perfect tourer or at worse one of the companies 'bog standard' touring bikes. Was I getting the extra value out of the extra cost over say a more generic 'vanilla' tourer like the Dawes Ultra Galaxy? My initial "back of a fag packet" calculations seem to suggest that the custom option would be between £300/£500 more than a discount 2012 Ultra Galaxy. At the end of he days the Ultra G isn't' a slouch.

I'm not saying that I'm going to acquire years of experience by spending an afternoon talking things through with say Condor but I was hoping that by posting here and getting the forums feedback I'd feel more comfortable in making the non-safe decision to go with a low volume UK manufacture.

My budget of £2000 is for the entire package NOT just the bike. So out of my budget I'd also need to factor in the cost of panniers, lights modifications etc.

I hope the above makes sense!

BTW Cycle shop/dealers seem to be hugely bad at updating there websites when stock has sold out. A very well regarded dealer (amongst others!) has only just stopped showing that they have a 58cm 2011 Ultra Galaxy 'in stock' when they confirmed to me 2 weeks ago that they'd sold out.
bogmyrtle
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Joined: 5 Mar 2008, 10:29pm

Re: The frustration of a (long distance) bike buyer...

Post by bogmyrtle »

If you have £2000 to spend that's more than enough for a decent tourer. Other posters have given good advice on this. I'm a bit surprised that you dismissed the Ridgeback Panorama. It's a cracking touring bike. You could well afford one of those and bits of gear as well. I think the fact that youve seen Ultra Galaxies advertised a reduced rates is eating away at you. Retailers only offer reductions like this to reduce excess stock before new models come out and in the recent financial climate, not many retailers will have been keeping a lot of stock. It's therefore likely that there will only be a handful of the more difficult to shift sizes available at the discounted price.
As I see it your options are to buy something else, pay the full price for for a new Ultra Galaxy or buy second hand. You could look at other ways of financing your purchase which although would cost more in the end, would get you what you appear to want.
Another thing I find a bit puzzling is why you think you will need to make modifications to any new bike you buy. The majority of touring bikes shouldn't need any modifications unless through use you find this is necessary.
As far as 'kit' for touring goes, you only need to start with the basics and then you can build up other things through time.
A bike does more miles to the banana than a Porsche.
indy
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Joined: 17 Jul 2010, 6:06pm

Re: The frustration of a (long distance) bike buyer...

Post by indy »

bogmyrtle, I have nothing specific against the Panorama its just one of those completely non sensical prejudices... go figure. I know they aren't out/available yet but I've had words that would suggest a 'decent' discount can be had on the new 2012 Ultra's despite what appears to be Dawes rules that don't allow dealer discounts. As for modifications numerous people have advised to upgrade the wheels (which I probably will do) also If it didn't already have one as standard then a Brooks saddle. Yes am intending to pretty much start with the basic accessories regardless of which bike I go for purely from a monies tight perspective.

>seen Ultra Galaxies advertised a reduced rates is eating away at you.
I had a Super Galaxy for over 20 years, it never once let me down so yes I do have a soft spot for the Galaxy :)
johnb
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Joined: 28 Jun 2007, 8:05am

Re: The frustration of a (long distance) bike buyer...

Post by johnb »

Call me a cynic if you wish, but more and more while looking at this thread and the other
" companion " thread indy has going, I feel that both threads are a very, very subtle attack by subterfuge on Spa Cycles. Anyone else notice or think this?.
http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=60791
The lead Greyhound never has to look at another Greyhounds derrière.
indy
Posts: 42
Joined: 17 Jul 2010, 6:06pm

Re: The frustration of a (long distance) bike buyer...

Post by indy »

With regards Spa I mearly mentioned that after trying to order an item costing £1200 from them which they had listed as in stock right up to an including me inputting my credit card details I then find out via a phone call that he item was in actual fact out of stock. The error on the website was left un-rectified for quite some time.

Are you saying that this sort of thing is good practice?

>I feel that both threads are a very, very subtle attack by subterfuge on Spa Cycles
maybe another 'very' would be appropriate :?

I have no agenda here other than getting the best touring bike I can.
Ambler
Posts: 336
Joined: 1 Jul 2011, 10:40pm
Location: Surrey

Re: The frustration of a (long distance) bike buyer...

Post by Ambler »

Super galaxy might be worth a look. Could get hand built wheels and dyno hub and still have money for panniers etc.
If spa still have one that is.
indy
Posts: 42
Joined: 17 Jul 2010, 6:06pm

Re: The frustration of a (long distance) bike buyer...

Post by indy »

When I mentioned a dyno hub on the Dawes to a dealer the guy recoiled in horror citing the cost of 'rebuilding' the wheel. Do you in general know whats involved in fitting these hubs? and also the value of them over other dyno options i.e. a bottom bracket roller?
Cheers
bogmyrtle
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Joined: 5 Mar 2008, 10:29pm

Re: The frustration of a (long distance) bike buyer...

Post by bogmyrtle »

indy wrote:bogmyrtle, I have nothing specific against the Panorama its just one of those completely non sensical prejudices... go figure. I know they aren't out/available yet but I've had words that would suggest a 'decent' discount can be had on the new 2012 Ultra's despite what appears to be Dawes rules that don't allow dealer discounts. As for modifications numerous people have advised to upgrade the wheels (which I probably will do) also If it didn't already have one as standard then a Brooks saddle. Yes am intending to pretty much start with the basic accessories regardless of which bike I go for purely from a monies tight perspective.

>seen Ultra Galaxies advertised a reduced rates is eating away at you.
I had a Super Galaxy for over 20 years, it never once let me down so yes I do have a soft spot for the Galaxy :)


You could end up waiting for a discount that doesn't appear. If you really want an Ultra Galaxy you might as well just buy one at full price when it's available and spend less on the bling (£200 for lights is bananas). It comes with a saddle and wheels, you can sit on it and go places. Just buy it, get on it and get the wheels turning. I'm intrigued why changing the wheels is so important to you when you don't seem to have done any touring and don't give any indication about how much you intend doing.
A bike does more miles to the banana than a Porsche.
PH
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Re: The frustration of a (long distance) bike buyer...

Post by PH »

indy wrote:
I have no agenda here other than getting the best touring bike I can.


Then go buy yourself a Spa Ti Tourer. Read the reviews, have a test ride, then buy it. I would be shocked if you didn't conclude it was a better bike than your Galaxy.
I find the idea that good service can be counted in miles a little old fashioned and irrelevant. Many distance sellers can get a part delivered to my workplace in less time than most LBSs take to get round to ordering. For serious mechanicals, any bike shop is going to charge you the going rate even if you bought it there, they still have overheads. The free six month tune up consists of minor stuff every cyclist really ought to learn for themselves. Good service is of considerable value, I suggest even worth traveling for. Two grand for a bike that will last you decades, it is a big purchase in every respect, surely worth a bit of time and trouble getting it right.
johnb
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Joined: 28 Jun 2007, 8:05am

Re: The frustration of a (long distance) bike buyer...

Post by johnb »

You start thread " 2011 ultra galaxy clearance " Sun Feb 26 8.54 pm.

Snigbo posts link to ultra galaxy in Spa cycles Sun Feb 26 9.15 pm

You reply with an anti Spa rant Sun Feb 26 9.23 pm

you reply repeating your rant of 26 Feb
and now including your " buy a Spa Ti hard sell " Mar 8 8.07pm



Meanwhile you start a second thread on Sun March 4th.

"The frustration of a long distance bike buyer "

In your first post you state " I spoke to spa but its a days travel...... no mention of trouble you had prior to Feb 26 when you discovered prior to ordering that Spa had no stock of the bike you wanted, in the size you wanted.

See where this is going.

You again on this thread on Mon March 5 state " choice of Lbs or Spa " why mention Spa 7 or 8 days after you know and have posted here that Spa don't have your choice of bike in your size.

Fool me once ...................
The lead Greyhound never has to look at another Greyhounds derrière.
nmnm
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Joined: 14 Nov 2010, 6:03pm

Re: The frustration of a (long distance) bike buyer...

Post by nmnm »

Occurs to me that if you had the previous bike stolen and are pushing into the red financially for this new bike, you'll be in trouble if it too gets stolen. I recently toured France on a new road bike and felt I had to take more precautions in some places because I couldn't countenance losing it - there's a utility cost in having dearer gear. You might be happier with another 1993 Galaxy from ebay, if that's what you had before, or a bike not at the red line top end of what you can afford. An Edinburgh Bicycle £500 tourer with all new transmission, indexed gearing (!) and sti levers might feel wonderful after your old bike. I can't remember why you are spending 1k, or 2k.The Ed Bike comes in a beautiful blue colour, with white handwritten model logo, magnificent. No need to try before you buy - they only have 3 sizes! Are you middley in height? Get the middle one. People do tour the world on these. They're solid like your old Dawes but updated too.
Image
The best thing - they're reduced to £360 at the moment. All sizes in stock. The 93 Galaxy was doing great. This is a new bike you can enjoy, and get stolen twice over, not a problem! It's easy to latch onto a dream - the 2k bike - but our task is to recognise what would really make us happy and reshape our dreams accordingly. The way you describe your budgets and previous happiness with an old Galaxy, a 2k bike will give you buyers' remorse the likes of which you've never experienced. Complete anguish.
Brucey
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Re: The frustration of a (long distance) bike buyer...

Post by Brucey »

nmnm wrote: The way you describe your budgets and previous happiness with an old Galaxy, a 2k bike will give you buyers' remorse the likes of which you've never experienced. Complete anguish.


+1 on that. Can be a bit of a 'can't go for a walk without worrying' joy killer having a 'dream bike'...
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