[Closed] Cheapish but decent bike for general use

What's 'cheapish'? New or used? Drop bars or MTB, or are you open to either.

Honest answer, haven't put any more thought into it than what I have written. My mind is a minefield at the moment and window shopping for bike stuff is one way of coping. But realistically this could be what I need, a multipurpose bike type thing.

Looking for suggestions at the moment, mtb or drops and probably second hand.

i would have give you a bike a month ago mate.   stripped and sent the frame to bike for africa.

if you decide to build one, which would be a good thing to do imho, i have a load of bits you can have.

i am sure we could get enough bits off folk on here to build you something.

What size frame do you need?

I’ve got a pair of drops from a NS RAG and a saddle that I can post our to you. I’m sure we can build you a proper all round frankenbike. A proper brilliant one of a kind.

Window shopping suggestion 1

Genesis Vagabond. £800-900 ish. Less if you can find used. Have never ridden one but sounds like the sort of general purpose bike / workhorse that might suit ...

https://epic-cycles.co.uk/genesis-vagabond

Or if your budget is much smaller, look for an On One Inbred used, either frame (you'd easily pick one up for under £50!) and build up. Or full bike (max of £200?). 26 or 28 wheel options.

Get yerself a voodoo bizango or something like that, so you can rag it around off road as well if you like/get the opportunity.

If you want to do a BigShop, there's an offer of a car for you here...

https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/not-very-subtle-stealth-ad-what-would-you-like-to-do-with-this-car/

Dutch roadster. Seriously kit it out with panniers and use it for transport. Comfortable, easy to load and ride, no maintenance. Will be the bike that’s always ready and you’ll have no excuse not to ride. Used for about 200. Gazelle, Batavus or Sparta.

The weight training is a feature not a bug.

I really don't know what to say. I honestly don't, apart from thankyou and i genuinely appreciate your replies. This was not a begging post by any means.

It is the building part that I was looking to do if I am honest. Hadn't thought of it as therapeutic though, just as something I could do and have a sense of achievement at the end of it. I know i have some bits and bobs lying around somewhere, mainly drivetrain parts. I also have an abundance of crappy kids bikes I need to get rid of, now the kids have all got decent bikes. Again, thanks to your generosity.

Size wise, my Stiffee is a medium, 17.5" frame. I am 5'8" tall with an inseam of 29" but my torso/arms are longer than my legs. In the evenings when the kids are sleeping and i can't sleep, i tend to have music on and frequent bikey websites, just because. Nothing else to do, except try to take my mind off things.

Thankyou all again, not the response I was expecting whatsoever.

If people are chipping in bits I've got some Tektro cable disc calipers I'm happy to send your way. Drop me a pm if you'd like them 🙂

I've plenty of cable outer (gear and brake) and a couple of pairs of 26" tyres, probably a saddle somewhere too. Someone sort a frame and we can get to work speccing it up 🙂

I have a pair of 29er XC Trek wheels and the fork off my Superfly (Reba RL 29er 100 or 120mm travel).  I think I have a derailleur somewhere and definitely have a stem and bars, some chainrings, pedals and a saddle.  I'm in France but will post if they're of any use to Gnumas (if someone has a frame to match, for example)

EDIT : and I might have some brakes - EDIT definitely have some 180 and 160mm Shimano rotors

EDIT : and have a 27.2 seatpost too somewhere

But, I missed the bit about you not liking 29ers so guess the wheels and forks are out 😀  Sorry!

Thank you again everyone for the replies, it is really mind blowing. I am sitting here again with tears in my eyes at what you are all posting.

Like i said in my first post, I have never liked 29ers, for no reason. I always thought they were better suited to taller people, which I am definitely not one of them. After having a 700c bike I see the benefit of larger wheels, especially for this sort of thing. If I am honest, a 29er first popped into mind for this reason. But i deleted that bit after posting hoping to have a wider recommendation of bikes to look at.

But the responses and messages are amazing. Thankyou all again.

If a frankenbike doesn't whet your whistle, then get a Calibre Dune. Best £480 I've ever spent on a bike…

I hear you about 29ers but I have a fairly decent Inbred 29er frame (steel) which you would be welcome to if you want it.

As you've already got an MTB that you like, I'd get something a bit different and more suited to the utility function you have in mind, amazing generous offers above though.

If you don't fancy the full on roadster approach as suggested above, then something akin to a flat-bar Roadrat or Charge Plug would be the ticket.

K1100t - quite happy with a frankenbike, thanks for your suggestion though.

I have had a message from orangespyderman saying I am welcome to the parts he listed, if that is the case then it seems like a 29er frankenbike is going to happen.

I will message everyone over the next few days, thankyou to you all. My mind is well and truly blown, again.

i have flat and drop bars. i have stems, saddles and seatposts. i have tyres, 700c or 29''.

i have mudguards and front and rear mechs.

a nice 700c pottering bike with guards and a rack is always a good bike to have.

you have a mtb, so something more useful for everyday stuff.

Hooray, new bike day! Post up a picture when it's finished.

There's a pair of Deore hydraulic brakes in my shed which would benefit from a bleed, but are servicable if you need them.