I take your point. There is this though:- I have cycled 1700 miles so far this year with a hybrid and have had one puncture (Lucky I know and this can happen on any bike) and have had it serviced once and that was six weeks after I bought the bike ane came free. The only things I have done is cleaned it and kept it lubed up. As regards hills, having gears means you can 'get used' to them. Over time, as you get fitter, you learn how and when and in what gear to attack. I guess what I am saying is that having gears gives you more scope and even my crappy hybrid I had last year didn't go wrong on the gear front, was just a bit rough after a while. Also, you can get some cracking deals right now as LBS's are selling off their 2013 stock to make way for the 2014 models. I got my Specilized Sirrus sport for £425 after some light haggling from my LBS; down from £500.
It's literally for a 2 mile each way trip I do 4 or 5 times a week in the city centre, no hills, quiet roads, just wanted something a little quicker and more fun than the current 20 minute walk or the incredibly lazy 5 minute drive. For £150 for a nice looking brand new fixed wheel - should do the job nicely. We'll see how I go and I'll let you know!
From reading the review on the site the bike isn't a fixed gear but a single speed freewheel bike. The product naming is a little confusing 'SCHWINN RACER FIXIE STYLE SINGLE SPEED ROAD BIKE' Still looks awesome for the money!
http://www.sportsdirect.com/mba-deluxe-track-bike-933026?colcode=93302618 Reviewed here: http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/urban/product/review-mba-track-bike-11-44485 Similar budget fixie, but it's actually alloy framed and forked which makes it about 3KG lighter...thoughts?
You'll find the steel frame will give a smoother ride as it'll absorb more of the bumps. That is pretty cheap for a fixie, would need to throw some drops on it to be a full track bike.
Good times. I just want to point out, that since I looked at those state bicycles bikes I've been HOUNDED on facebook to like their page and "customise and build" their bikes. I'm kind of tempted by the Sports Direct bike.... Do I need a 5th bike?
For now it needs to be more like Number of bikes = Current Number of bikes + [Value of new bike/(Cost of wedding + Cost of sonos unit - money in bank)] So currently I have about 4.056...
I bought an umbrella once when I walked past as it was raining and they were only 5 pounds....in it's favour, it did last until I got home, and then one more entire outing, then it kind of broke. Needless to say I have not been back and bought anything else from there.
Theres a knack for shopping in there. Its all about choosing what brands to go for. Personally I quite like Bikeradar, so if they've managed to get a load of old stock from a bike manufacturer I'd trust it. However anything that is Muddyfox, No Fear etc stay the hell away from. Decathlon is a much better budget sports store to go for.
my friend told me all about his new fox gear - it wasn't fox gear at all, it was muddyfox gear. A subtle, significant, important distinction.
Decathlon is an awesome shop I am glad they've built one in Southampton as I could only visit that shop when I saw my brother up in Sheffield, they do some pretty decent cheap as chips inner tubes, cheap climbing shoes also & tents . LOL, bet he was chuffed he got his Fox gear at a really great unbelievable price either that or he didn't know the difference .