Post-Christmas Clearance Bargain Bikes

[Gizmo!]

Thought it'd be a good idea to have a thread for bargains spotted on our way around bike shops or the Bay... Sales season, plus people offloading unwanted stuff after Christmas.

Personally I could do with a winter roadie... Couple of hundred quid for a decent one (Spesh Allez, Giant TCR?) would be ace...

Anyone else looking for something?

[anonymous-user]

Bigger brands = smaller discounts... in general you are best to find out what size you need then just buy something that you can make fit with some adjustments to seat, stem etc... and not worry about the brand. Everyone will be looking for a discount on the popular brands.

Also, given shops will have limited numbers of the popular sizes, if you see it, buy it. If you are taller or shorter than average you have.more luck getting a bigger discount...

[yellowjack]

pablo said:

If you are taller or shorter than average you have more luck getting a bigger discount...

Whilst this is true, discounts at the extremes of frame sizes being larger because they are less popular, it also follows that you should, as advised, 'get in quick'. By virtue of their being less popular, there is often less stock in the smaller or larger sizes. Pablo's advice is good, and I would second it - don't get hung up on buying a 'big brand' bike, look around for something of good quality, with a deal that still brings it in within your budget. If you are unsure about the brand reputation, do some swift research, and get yourself onto a bargain.

I bought myself a Merida roadie just over a year ago. A brand I'd never heard of, but discovered during a period of research to find suitable bikes within my budget. Orbea and Bianchi were among other brands I looked at, and things like Blue, Planet X and Ribble. I hadn't bought a new bike since about 1993, so all of these machines were new and wondrous to me. I stayed away from 'the usual suspects' of Trek, Specialized, Giant et al, simply because, even as a returnee to cycling, I could see that I could get more 'bang for my buck' elsewhere. Happy coincidence meant I was looking to buy during the 'sale season', and I ended up with a bike with a much higher specification than the one I was looking at, and I 'only' had to stretch the budget by £100 to get onto a machine 2 models further up the range.

Good luck to all who are looking to buy right now - do your sums, do your homework, don't take any flannel from salesmen, and keep on pushing them for reductions on the bike, and as much value as you can squeeze from any kit and accessories you add on. The extra goodies (shoes, pedals, etc) can often be had at a much sweeter price than you could ever negotiate after you buy the bike.