You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Helped my brother in law build up his kids bikes yesterday afternoon - one had a bent and twisted fork so the, also buckled front wheel, would only go in on the piss, the other had bent dropouts and, again buckled front and rear wheels.
The components across both bikes were actually ok, but everything needed grease or adjustment. The frames felt like they made of Swiss cheese.
30yrs ago I used to build up crappy Halfords bikes in a Saturday job and I don't remember having half the problems these had straight out of the box. Used to be able to build one with full checks in around 15mins - these two took about an hour each and still weren't exactly running smoothly.
I think some of the toy shops got desperate and had to lower their standard of "BSO". A couple of the local shops near near me have got some absolute junk at the moment. Halfords and the good bike shop near my parents have been empty for months. The bike shop didn't even both with Sunday opening this Christmas
I spent all December trying to flog a Islabikes Rothan and Frog Tadpole without any takers so I guess everyone bought the crappy BSOs instead this year.
I spent all December trying to flog a Islabikes Rothan and Frog Tadpole without any takers
Did you try the FB group for second hand Islabikes? I advertised a Beinn on there and it sold in literally 10 mins. The chap paid in full in advance and drove 100 miles to pick it up.
30yrs ago I used to build up crappy Halfords bikes in a Saturday job and I don’t remember having half the problems these had straight out of the box. Used to be able to build one with full checks in around 15mins – these two took about an hour each and still weren’t exactly running smoothly.
20 years ago I used to spend January sorting out those bikes that Halfords knocked out in 15 minutes in the Xmas rush doing all the "checks"..... Took more than 15 minutes to sort most of them.
Being fair to the Halfords company policy of 15 minutes a bike....we only ever saw the worst unrideable ones..... So there's probably plenty out there ridable but it was a pretty shit policy for customer safety.
If my (imaginary) BiL asked me to sort out shitty BSOs he'd bought on the cheap, I'd probably decline.
Especially as anything that goes wrong with them from now on will be 100% your fault.
Never offer to fix someone’s BSO. It’s one of the Golden Rules.
I used to dread working Boxing Day in Halfords. The ticking of a freewheel accompanied by furious father insisting diabolical child's Christmas had been ruined by faulty bike. 9 times out 10 it was one they had insisted on building themselves.
Politely point out they have the forks on backwards (seriously) and tell them to come back in an hour.
Did you try the FB group for second hand Islabikes?
My wife tried to sell 16" isla bike and a beinn 20 small on there. Got some idea of price from ones sold on Ebay and other places and she was totally torn to bits for the price and for being a year out on the age of the bienn. Theres c***s everywhere but that facebook group seemed like it was full of them
Brother in law seems happy buying a BSO every 6-12 months rather than a used Isla/Frog.
What makes it worse is his eldest is 2 years younger than my son and his youngest 2 years younger again. He could have had a lifetime of well maintained used bikes for 2 kids that maybe still had some resale after then.
Their worst buy was a motorcross style lump of iron which had a fixed seat position. It lasted a couple of months at best.
Their latest is marginally better but still shit and was the cost of a used Cnoc 16.
Their argument is not wanting to give the kids used bikes, because used. Assuming that applies to youngest, part of basis he will expect new too but part because the crap they buy doesn't last.
How I used to loath building up kid’s bikes - even Frog are built with the low quality parts like Quando hubs and horrible plastic brakes. We’d get them back in a month later and often they’d be trashed - mudguards removed, brakes disconnected, levers bent, handlebar plugs missing, pedals all scuffed, paint chipped and the parents complaining they weren’t durable enough…
Maybe they are worse this year but we got my daughter a sub £100 unicorn bike from Halfords last Christmas and it's been fine despite a year of abuse and learning to ride without stabilisers. She loves it.
Same with my son's two year old bike although that was better to start with. We'll get them Frog/Isla/etc when they grow out of these but for now the less than premium bikes have been just the job.
My wife tried to sell 16″ isla bike and a beinn 20 small on there. Got some idea of price from ones sold on Ebay and other places and she was totally torn to bits for the price and for being a year out on the age of the bienn. Theres c***s everywhere but that facebook group seemed like it was full of them
I'm on various isla and frog groups on FB and I think I can say that I've never seen someone "totally torn to bits". Even when people try to flog something at vastly inflated prices because they think that all Beinn 20s are the same.
Always better buying a decent bike if you can. Not much choice in small sizes though. .Back in the 90s My eldest got a new 15" frame Giant rigid mtb. Reasonably light compared to Halfords specials. Handed down to two siblings with minimal maintaining. Still going strong when passed on to a friends kid.
I’m on various isla and frog groups on FB and I think I can say that I’ve never seen someone “totally torn to bits”. Even when people try to flog something at vastly inflated prices because they think that all Beinn 20s are the same.
I'm not on facebook so couldnt say which one it was but they were big enough arseholes that my wife pulled the add.