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I'm going to start a new job which is about 3k away. Both my bikes are quite expensive so I'm going to get something basic to commute on. As I want to be able to go home via Aldi I'm looking for something completely undesirable to thieves. On the other hand I don't want anything too awful.
Any ideas?
you do not need to get a bso. Just go second hand, with something with rigid forks. I ride a rigid modified Gt aggressor,with semi slicks from about 10 years ago.Its been heavily upgraded though with better bars and cranks, shifters as stuff has worn out. etc. wheels are still original though I still use two decent d locks with a wheel cable on it though.
As above, but then splatter paint all over it to make it less bling.
Jackson Pollock never got his bike nicked. Fact.
Decathlon will do an ok commuter for a couple of hundred quid, less if you'll ride a step through frame
second hand ftw. I've seen bso's stolen before just for being shiny and new
Used Dutch shopper.
As I want to be able to go home via Aldi I'm looking for something completely undesirable to thieves.
I long ago came came to the conclusion many theives nick stuff for the same reason vandals smash bus stop windows, desirability has nothing to do with it.
Also poor veiling of your aldi sneer.
ebay or gumtree etc, but make sure you can get mudguards on it because at that distance you'd be best to ride in your work clothes
but you still need to lock them because it's a PITA having it nicked, getting home without it and then replacing etc....
(personally I'd walk in and run home!)
Get on ebay and pick up a "crappy old ten speed". spend a little if you need to get the gears working OK, get a hex key or security skewer for the front wheel and D lock the frame and the back wheel.
Accept that it might get nicked.
Cheers all. I did consider walking in but at 0600 every second counts. Mudguards are a good shout.
Also poor veiling of your aldi sneer
It was literal. I shop at Aldi as it will be only a few seconds detour on my way home it seems silly not to take advantage.
So 2nd hand rigid with a half decent drive chain and get my 6yo nephew to paint it.
Old MTB or hybrid with slicks and guards.
1992 raleigh mtb for me. £15 off ebay. it had almost never been used!
not my first £15 raleigh from ebay. Seach by nearest first.
Elephant Bike
Genuine British postal bikes, handmade in the UK
? Professionally restored
? Limited edition & going quickly
? You buy one, we give one to charity
? New RRP £644.99, our refurbished price from only £250
Facebook Marketplace, set radius to about 15 miles, budget to £100, buy the first one you see that has a micro-adjust alloy seatpost and alloy cranks (my usually-reliable markers of something cheap but acceptable). Personally I'd favour hydraulic discs, rigid and singlespeed for complete lack of maintenance required.
FWIW I use a steel Voodoo Wanga SS with rigid forks for that distance commute, popping to the shops, etc - cost me £170. Have a cable lock long enough to go through both wheels and the frame, and don't tend to leave it locked up longer than ten minutes or so.
[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/real-classic-bicycle-mens/253172240581?hash=item3af23dd0c5:g:QWIAAOSwg9dZx9Pl ]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/real-classic-bicycle-mens[/url]
This, or one the same but closer to you, bolt or zip tie some battered panniers to it for shopping and job's a good un. For winter, you can find kits on ebay with dynohub wheel, lights and cables for cheapness, like this:
[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/real-classic-bicycle-mens/253172240581?hash=item3af23dd0c5:g:QWIAAOSwg9dZx9Pl ]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/real-classic-bicycle-mens/253172240581?hash=item3af23dd0c5:g:QWIAAOSwg9dZx9Pl[/url]
http://shop.guildfordbikeproject.org.uk/epages/es145992.mobile/?ObjectPath=/Shops/es145992
Freshly serviced POS whilst donating to a good cause
I think your own veil just dropped there with regards to what you yourself think of Aldi! The OP could have put in any local supermarket there and the concern would have read the same.Also poor veiling of your aldi sneer
Good advice all round. Cheers all.
Orange 5?
I think your own veil just dropped there with regards to what you yourself think of Aldi!
Veil? No my good man, i wear my disdain proudly upon my ruffle cuffed shirt sleeve and insist the help shop only at fortnums.
I got a £50 1993 Kona Hahana for just this sort of purpose.
Looks pants, rides lovely (especially with 2.35 Big Apples)
Ebay
recyckabike, hybrid, full guards. black paint and lots of free reflective things.
job jobbed.
3km Would be some bodged SS MTB with full guards and a rack.
Make sure it's 26" as thieves will know it's worthless.
Marin, surely?
Old retro Marin's are cheap as chips, light enough and perfect for your use. Also Raleigh as mentioned or GT. Basically anything mass produced and without a retro/niche price tag.
If it's reliable, it's not a BSO, it's a bike. 🙂
Popped back in and see I've set the wrong link for the dynamo kit.
[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28-Front-Wheel-Complete-Set-with-Hub-Dynamo-Remodel-Kit-Union-LED-20-Lux/382224106577?epid=2232868134&hash=item58fe550451:g:i2sAAOSwdGFY0kkc ]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28-Front-Wheel-Complete-Set-with-Hub-Dynamo-Remodel-Kit-Union-LED-20-Lux/382224106577?epid=2232868134&hash=item58fe550451:g:i2sAAOSwdGFY0kkc[/url]