You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
A few items to get you over the free postage mark.
Headset for £2 - https://www.wiggle.com/p/brand-x-integrated-is42-45x45-headset
Frame strap for 99p - https://www.wiggle.com/p/nukeproof-horizon-enduro-strap?color=blackcopper&sizeStandard=Short
Bike wall holder for £2 - https://www.wiggle.com/p/lifeline-wall-mounted-folding-bike-rack
Vice grips for £2 - https://www.wiggle.com/p/lifeline-pro-vice-grips
Local TK Maxx has got bridgedale wool fusion trail socks in for £7 a pair. Worth a check if you're nearby to a store.
You know how you end up wishing for a very specific set of features in a saddle, then find exactly that but massively overpriced? Well Cyclo-Monster are selling the Selle Italia Flite Boost Superflow 'endurance' for £99 down from £210 (is £135 at Wiggle). So now only slightly overpriced 🙄
Basically the shape of a Selle Italia Flite Boost (which seems to work very well for me) but with slightly more padding (I had to take my existing Flite Boost off my turbo bike as after about 45 minutes as I was getting some pretty acute pressure points on my sit bones). Am hoping it could be a perfect long summer days/Audax saddle.
Anyway, still expensive but might be a good shout for someone else.
Thanks I've left a review. Hopefully won't have to return the lever as it's a pain with all the custom forms. Last European return I had to make was with gorewear and the package got stuck in customs for 6 weeks.
..
@cp thanks for the heads up on the prime wheels. They were too good a deal to pass up on even though I couldn't get the code to work...
Damn! I'm in the market for a lightweight 27.5 wheelset for my 11 year old, he's going to be racing xc next year and I wanted shift some weight from his Trek. None left now 😞
The ratchet spanner set from wiggle/crc liquidation sale is sold out. Added to basket and the next day found they were all gone.
But thought to oneself. WTF do I need a set of ratchet spanners for, everything on the bike is allenkey or torx.
Whats next ?? Oh look, a full set of reduced cone spanners. Ideal for a bike wheel with no ****ing cones.
Added to basket and the next day found they were all gone
This is [insert deity] telling you you didn't want it that badly after all. Much like the cone spanners.
Damn which one of you bought the 500lb nukeproof spring I was just about to order
This is [insert deity] telling you you didn’t want it that badly after all. Much like the cone spanners.
Yeah I had a basket full of stuff that you think “for that price I might as well” that mostly sold out before I got around to ordering, you then realise you didn’t really want it anyway.
had a pair of the level ultimate brakes in my basket, two fronts, but I was plannig to faff with to make a front and rear. £140 for the pair, but today that's gone up to £190. :-/
https://www.orangebikes.com/shop/components/bike_components/sram_guide_re_brakes
Guide RE brakes for £106 for a pair. seems like a deal
Guide RE brakes for £106 for a pair. seems like a deal
£90 at Tredz. I ordered a pair last month and they came retail boxed with bar clamps included.
If you go for the sram, be aware that the RE doesn’t have the “bleeding edge” port, whereas the Code R does. If that matters.
Just spent a few quid at Ribble, GX chains and NX cassettes were a good price. 👍
Shame they don't have anymore Challenge Baby Limus tyres.
I cant help but think that Halfords/Tredz buying up DHB, Prime, Nukeproof, Ragley etc would be a absolute no-brainer even if they don’t buy CRC/Wiggle themselves.
I'm not sure they do really though?
Nukeproof - known for a few good DH / enduro bikes and some good value pedals.
Prime - buy some carbon rims and some chosen/bitex/novatec hubs, et voila you have an in house carbon wheel brand.
Vitus - probably much better than Boardman off-road, but on-road I'd suggest they're aimed at the same markets.
DHB - unless you take on the designers/buyers then you're stuffed at the next product cycle in 6 months time, and like the wheels you could probably build a good value in-house brand relatively quickly/easily just by hiring them directly.
Ragley - mostly hardtails, which brings up the biggest reason why they wouldn't be a good fit. Halfords already have (at least) 3 in-house brands selling recognizable bikes. IF they announced tomorrow that Voodoo was making a serious hardtail, Carrera was getting back into serious road bikes, and Banshee was going to make a trail / enduro FS people would be interested and probably buy them. They could hire the right people and do that, they don't need yet another set of brands.
My guess is if they're sold it'll be to some non-cycling business looking to diversify, like Planet-X was last year.
But most of halfords own brands have a stigma about them don’t they. If Halfords started dishing out own brand carbon wheels by bikehut most wouldn’t touch them but the same people probably wouldn’t hesitate at buying prime stuff. The same goes for their kit vs DHB, Vitus vs Bordman, Ragley vs Voodoo etc etc. All the CRC house brand would appear a step up for Halfords on what the sell now even if they all come from the same factory, and you would question any of them being on tredz 🤷🏻♂️
Yeah, I think Vitus vs Boardman would be the toughest one to resolve in the road & gravel sphere, both make great bikes at fair prices. But otherwise the Chiggle brands have a bit more prestige.
I think the main draw for Halfords would be the platform, branding and market position of CRC & Wiggle as indisputable market leaders in cycling retail though. The branding would be sorted out later.
Could see them having Chain Reaction shops within their branches, instead of Bikehut ones.
But most of halfords own brands have a stigma about them don’t they. If Halfords started dishing out own brand carbon wheels by bikehut most wouldn’t touch them but the same people probably wouldn’t hesitate at buying prime stuff. The same goes for their kit vs DHB, Vitus vs Bordman, Ragley vs Voodoo etc etc. All the CRC house brand would appear a step up for Halfords on what the sell now even if they all come from the same factory, and you would question any of them being on tredz
Except that stigma is all Halfords making. If they were interested in running a higher end brand they've had plenty of chances over the years. They controlled Saracen for years, and Voodoo is previously Joe Murray's brand (formerly of Kona during their glory days), Carrera is an Italian roadie brand from the 80's.
DT Swiss 270 Ratchet Freehub (HG) – £16
370s, but I 'think' the ratchets are identical to those on other DT Swiss hubs. In which case this is worth it just for the internals as spares. Can't work out how many teeth they are. Obviously won't be 54t but 24 would be good.
Except that stigma is all Halfords making.
Maybe, but buying CRC solves that problem. Instant credibility.
370s, but I ‘think’ the ratchets are identical to those on other DT Swiss hubs. In which case this is worth it just for the internals as spares. Can’t work out how many teeth they are. Obviously won’t be 54t but 24 would be good.
If it's the Ratchet-LN one I bought, then it's not. It's:
a) just the freehub, not the ratchet rings, just the alloy shell and bearings.
b) it's for a ratchet converted 370, not a 270/350. Although someone suggested they can be made to work with the right combination of ratchet drivers and seals.
Maybe, but buying CRC solves that problem. Instant credibility.
Same as it did for Saracen, Voodoo and Carrera?
I think most bike buyers are fickle, they'll buy whatever MBR name their trailbike of the year. So buying Vitus would be a great move right now as the Escarpe held that accolade. But unless they put the money into developing new high-end models that's only got a very finite lifecycle. If Halfords were interested in having £2k+ bikes on the shop floor they could do that with far less cost up front just by stocking Trek/Specialized/Scott/Giant. And if they wanted to have their own brand there's a whole host of defunct ones they could resurect (see Brant's recent tease about buying the Onza brand for peanuts from the Mooore Large liquidation, for £5k+fees anyone could have owned a "reputable" MTB brand).
Those brands only have more kudos because they aren't Halfords own brand, making them a Halfords own brand doesn't make sense. Plus Voodoo and Carrera are really popular with everyone except STW members as they are well priced, well speced, high value bikes from a reputable shop... According to the normal person on the street.
Same as it did for Saracen, Voodoo and Carrera?
Assuming they bought Chiggle as a going concern, this would be on a totally different level.
It'd be a fundamentally different business.
I don’t think Vitus beats Boardman or Voodoo TBH.
Maybe, but buying CRC solves that problem. Instant credibility.
Would it be that much of an improvement over owning Tredz?
Would it be that much of an improvement over owning Tredz?
I'd say so. CRC and Wiggle are massively bigger and more slick (new website excepted), with much more market share.
But back to the bargains, nice chain guide for £8 in two of the colours:
Nukeproof Chain Guide ISCG 05 Top Guide | Wiggle
I don’t think Vitus beats Boardman or Voodoo TBH.
Probably some nuance between individual models in there but to me:
Vitus - well sorted range from budget hardtails, through the Escarpe being MBR trail bike of the year a couple of years ago to Kyle Strait's Ramapage bike.
Boardman - still making really oddly shaped mountain bikes, and the CX pro was the C2W bike of choice back when the limit was £1k. The Adv gravel bike looks good value for money but that's about as exciting an accolade as their range gets.
Voodoo - There was the Bizango Pro Carbon launched last year with GX and SID's for ~£1700, then it disappeared from all their sites leaving jus the Suntour/Judy forked bikes you see on the shop floor.
I’d say so. CRC and Wiggle are massively bigger and more slick (new website excepted), with much more market share.
But wasn't profitable, so business as usual won't be the case. Whoever buys CRC I'd hypothesise it'll either be someone within the industry and it'll be much smaller operation going forwards consolidated with another business (e.g. just another shopfront for another distributor, or Trendz, etc). Or it'll be another VC or someone like THG (but not THG) that just specializes in mail order warehouse companies and wants one doing bikes.
just the freehub, not the ratchet rings
Yeah, of course, should have thought about that for more than five seconds. Why would a freehub come with ratchets...?
Yeah, of course, should have thought about that for more than five seconds. Why would a freehub come with ratchets…?
Because DT are the only company with the brand clout to be able to charge you separately? I can't imagine anyone else getting away with it 😂
It worked out for me as I already had a set of ratchet upgraded 370 wheels with an XD hub that I wanted to run an SS kit on.
What, other brands include them with a replacement freehub? I clearly need to change my brand allegiances...
But wasn’t profitable,
We don't know that for sure. I've heard that it was the only profitable bit of the group (from someone who knows someone in head office).
I also don't think Chiggle is a step up from tredz. It's was normally cheaper but not better. Tredz I've always found good, not the fastest but is been clear that an item will take longer and the Comms were good. They are also willing to add items from their suppliers to the site if you are after something (random but of a CK headset was one they added for me).
It's probably been done but CR have a Lifeline TT-01 magnetic turbo trainer for £9.99 seems a bit of a bargain. Down from £99.99
It’s probably been done but CR have a Lifeline TT-01 magnetic turbo trainer for £9.99 seems a bit of a bargain. Down from £99.99
Fluid one is £19.99 which is probably worth the extra.
If you do decide on a turbo trainer buy one of the cheap yoga mats to put underneath. Folded up with the turbo on top of it, it gives a bit of wobble which makes indoor riding much more comfortable.
https://www.wiggle.com/p/beelite-eco-yoga-mat
Thanks for the PSA on the Turbo. Just ordered a fluid, code didn’t work, couldn’t find anything cheap in stock to bump it up so payed the large item postage- £3.49!! Bargain, my first ever Turbo trainer, if I don’t like it I’ll give it away!
. Just ordered a fluid, code didn’t work, couldn’t find anything cheap in stock to bump it up so payed the large item postage- £3.49!!
You'd have still paid the 3.49 if your order was over the nominal 20 quid threshold as it's a bulky item.
Anyway, total bargain for a fluid turbo
You can also get a thru axle adapter for that turbo, might be worth getting to future proof it
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/p/lifeline-thru-axle-adaptor-tt-02
650b prime carbon gravel wheels back in stock
https://www.wiggle.com/p/prime-orra-650b-carbon-gravel-wheelset
On the subject of wheels I was just looking at a pair for my Onza Jackpot. There is stock supposedly coming soon of a Hope Wheelset reduced from £999 to £1 ! 😳😳😳
christophert21
Free Member
650b prime carbon gravel wheels back in stock
https://www.wiggle.com/p/prime-orra-650b-carbon-gravel-wheelsetAnd out of stock again...
Complete turbo novice, can that fluid turbo be used with Zwift?
It's literally right in front of you in the product description.
The Lifeline TT-02 is now in the Zwift classic trainer hardware list. The Zwift team have configured the power curve to Zwift software and so with the addition of a speed and cadence sensor and ANT+ stick you can now ride the trainer on Zwift with improved accuracy. Convert to a smart trainer with a speed and cadence sensor and ANT+ stick then ride your favourite training software programs like Zwift.
Nukeproof Chain Guide ISCG 05 Top Guide £7.99 Copper or purple only
https://www.wiggle.com/p/lifeline-steel-chain-lock £2
Wiggle are shifting ANT+ usb adapters for £2.99 if they're of any use to anyone Zwifting with a PC.
Halfords had an exclusive deal with Voodoo but hardly put any stock in their shops which was weird as their bikes are designed my a MTB hall of famer FFS.
So what would be the point of buying lesser brands for sale in Halfords ?
They would need to buy the retailer brand instead
I bought a pair of the Kinesis Sector Gravel wheels for my sons mountain bike, I'm now looking for a fast lightweight pair of xc tyres for it.
Has anyone seen any good deals on 27.5 high spec xc race tyres going cheap?
I've looked but theres is so many sales on at the moment that it takes a while to sift through the tyres only to find that the ones you fancy have either sold out or are only available in some odd size/colour.
Has anyone seen any good deals on 27.5 high spec xc tyres going cheap?
Have a look at Merlin mate: Mountain Bike Tyres | Free Delivery Available | Merlin Cycles
Cheaps commuter tyres.
I've spent more money at Ribble than CRC/Wiggle.
Merlin is one of my favourite shops but nothing jumping out for high spec xc race tyres, plenty of wired bead or OEM spec compounds.
Thanks for the link though.
Wiggle are shifting ANT+ usb adapters for £2.99 if they’re of any use to anyone Zwifting with a PC.
Ordered one last week for a tenner, box turned up wide open with the ANT+ adaptor missing, just had the refund email and re-ordered it for £3 along with the lifeline speed/cadence sensor set for £10 (linky) x2
Could see them having Chain Reaction shops within their branches, instead of Bikehut ones.
I'd see it the other way, Halfords might buy Chiggle, but the main asset Chiggle have is their online retail presence.
Halfords would need to bring capital to clear any remaining debts, and then apply a bit more strategy and management going forward; Figure out what to stock in the aftermath of their going into administration (and what not to), rationalise the product lines to minimise the risk of Chiggle getting into the same position.
But I'd largely keep the online and high-street retail businesses as as possible separate. Keep the BikeHut/Halfords brands separate from the Chiggle ones for both parts, accessories and bikes, maybe share a couple of things? possibly bring Chiggle's 'Lifeline' tools into the bricks and mortar shops if it helps bulk the orders for scale(?) otherwise separate them as much as they can. They actually serve slightly different markets (IMO).
Another bargain (IMO):
would be the Brand-X road bike, Specifically the 8 speed Microshift version because it has a more sensible 11-28 cassette, the Shimano tourney versions is probably fine but a 14-28 cassette sounds silly.
Zero Carbon parts to induce 'angst' (probably not the lightest bike ever).
But £200 for a perfectly servicable commuter/trainer/spare road bike makes good sense (IMO)...
See also the Various Vitus 'Mach 1' Utility bikes in SS or Nexus Hub gear format, they look pretty good options for town/pub/utility type bikes...
Could somebody point me in the direction of a 12 x 142 700c wheel for use on a turbo only? 11 speed freehub 🙂
Those silly cheap carbon wheels just arrived 🙂
Only the one pair. I'm not a monster.
https://www.wiggle.com/b/prime?index=n&productTypeAttributes.wheelSizeFacet=700c&sortBy=priceAsc
12/142 rear with shimano HG
just get the prime barouder £59.99 or the more expensive Attaquer £99
Has anyone seen any good deals on 27.5 high spec xc race tyres going cheap?<br />
BikeInn has Vitoria Barzo and Mezcal in 650b for £25ish.
Hmm, not impressed with the grip on the Barzos, even allowing for them being a very entry level tyre in my opinion
Interesting, I really rate the barzos for grip with remarkably low rolling resistance, but I guess it depends what you want them for and what your expectation is for the application. It took quite a few rides for the tread to lose the release agent (they were scary on wet tarmac to begin with!), but they've been excellent since and spear to be wearing well.
@CP. To be fair, I'm not the most experienced off road biker so you may be right. I rode them mainly on wet rooty single-track in the woods I swapped them for maxxi shorty's front / back and could barely move lol. Now on maxxi high rollers and enjoy the balance.
Race tyres (which were asked for) are very different to trail tyres. Barzo is a great race tyre in the Graphene compound and set at the right pressure, but nothing like the ultimate grip levels a soft compound trail tyre can manage.
Thanks for the link to the speed/cadence sensor - I've ordered that and a chain checker and a couple of other things to get free delivery.
Oh God, I'm so sorry, I hadn't twigged we were talking road tyres - I saw barzo and stupidly went straight to mtb tyres.
Forget me!
+1 thanks for the speed/cadence sensor psa, I’ve ordered to go with the turbo trainer!
Has anyone used the Prime 650b alloy gravel wheelset?
I was looking for some winter wheels for my gravel bike. Any tyre recommendations for Yorkshire winter roads and byways?
BikeInn has Vitoria Barzo and Mezcal in 650b for £25ish.
G2 TNT 2.25" 27.5" Barzo & Mezcal pair is about £66 delivered from BikeInn, I don't think I'll get a better pair of xc race tyres for less money.
Unless someone else has seen some other bargains?
Edit: Sorry if I wasn't clear, the tyres are going to be used on an 11 years olds bike and will be used for xc racing. I'm going to pair them up with the Kinesis Sector Gravel wheels as they're pretty light, cheap and fit his bike.
I'm thinking of building him up a specific bike for this but there aren't many small lightweight xc frames and sus forks about for a cheap price so so will probably just stick to his Trek Marlin and try to take as much weight off it as I can without breaking the bank.
Were there ever any 27.5 xc weight frames? Not going to be long before my eldest will need a bigger bike again. I've already got a set of DT xr331 27.5 rims to keep wheel weight down but frame+fork look more difficult to find.
The £299 Nukeproof scout frames are 2.3kg
the Orbea MX range as pretty close as can be to small XC, possibly a little heavier
my nipper was on them from 24" to 27.5", just sold my 12 year olds one which was running a light manitou fork and dt xc wheels, no real frame only option however afaik
I don't know if we've done the LifeLine Performance 39 Piece Tool Kit but £40 seems a mad deal for anyone starting to do maintenance at home.
Were there ever any 27.5 xc weight frames?
Remember when Giant went all in on 27.5?
They had XTCs, Anthems etc. and I'm sure they must be pretty cheap secondhand now that everyone's racing on 29.
Remember when Giant went all in on 27.5?
They had XTCs, Anthems etc
There has been a couple on Ebay but still going for decent money.
His Marlin frame is apparently about £2kg so not lightweight but not super heavy either.
It's proving a bit tricky to build a lightweight small mtb on a budget but that's part of the fun.
Were there ever any 27.5 xc weight frames? Not going to be long before my eldest will need a bigger bike again. I’ve already got a set of DT xr331 27.5 rims to keep wheel weight down but frame+fork look more difficult to find.
@nixie
I've got a medium Anthem Advanced 27.5 in my n+1 collection. With black box SIDs. It's currently waiting for my eldest to grow into but he's not moving fast enough and I don't think he's bothered. If you're interested LMK and I'll dig it out.
The £299 Nukeproof scout frames are 2.3kg
And need a 140mm fork. Not light or particularly xc orientated.
the Orbea MX range
She had the 24" version but we switched to a Vitus for 26". The orbea is nice though (other than lack of dropper routing on the 24").
yer no dropper routing on the kids 27.5 either, but if you go in through the brake grommet and out under the BB with the rest of the cables, you can then use the guide for the 2x derailleur that's not fitted and put a small hole in the back of the seat tube. works a treat 😉
osprey 1.5l hydration lumbar reservoir (bumbag shape) £7.60-£8
Where are the insultingly cheap 27.5 rear wheels at?! Come on CRC, find another sofa and dig deep.