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Post by Humph on Jul 18, 2016 14:09:07 GMT
We're off to France soon for a holiday. We go most years by car, fully laden and with our bikes on the roof. We use our bikes every day to get around the local area, to nip to the beach and to avoid the traffic on the coast roads by using the very well laid out dedicated cycle paths.
There is of course a downside to taking them with us, not least the effect it has on fuel consumption on a long journey. Also, our bikes are shall we say, quite good quality and fairly vulnerable to theft if left parked on their own or even on top of the car. Anything short of a heavy duty motorcycle lock wouldn't deter a serious thief.
Hiring bikes would be an option but given that we use them every day while we are away that could work out fairly expensive too.
On previous trips, I've noticed that many of the big French hypermarkets sell cheap bikes for as little as €80 in some cases. Now I know enough about the subject to know that these will be rock bottom quality, but I have mused on just buying some while we are there and either leaving them behind or gifting them to a charity shop or whatever when we leave.
Anyone ever bought one of these budget bicycle shaped objects?
We'll be doing about 20-50 miles a day including forest trails ( so bumpy at least ) over a couple of weeks so they'd need to be robust enough to cope with that.
Not sure how serious I am about doing it but just curious to know if anyone else has?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2016 14:43:36 GMT
Yes, I have, although not on purpose, rather through ignorance of what I was buying.
Heavy, both in weight and to propel, nasty gear changes, awful saddle, grabby brakes, punctures.
Perhaps these are things I could live with, I suspect that they are not things that you could live with. Particularly not for 20-50 miles a day when you are used to so much better.
The theft risk is an issue, but presumably they are insured? And three bikes is EURO 240 (although I bet its more). Is the increase in fuel consumption and the cost of insurance *really* more than that? And sufficiently more than that to warrant lessening your enjoyment?
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Post by Humph on Jul 18, 2016 14:47:44 GMT
No, of course you are right, on all counts. But y'know, I think about stuff. Too hard usually. 🤓
Edit- WDB will no doubt be along soon to tell me I need a towbar mounted rack...yes I know...
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2016 14:55:05 GMT
I don't really subscribe to the logic of holidays where cost becomes an issue. I would always rather do something sufficiently within my means that I can do what I want without stress. If I was faced with a holiday likely to cost so much money that I needed to think about it, I wouldn't enjoy it.
I don't love holidays as it is, but that would be too much.
So I always assess the likely total cost of doing it nicely with comfort and facilities, and decide if I can live with that.
And I'm sure you can.
Especially with all the money you save by not being much of a drinker.
Oh no, wait......
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Post by Humph on Jul 18, 2016 14:57:20 GMT
Very true. No it's not that, I'm just overthinking it as usual. As you were.
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Post by Humph on Jul 18, 2016 15:05:52 GMT
Anyway, I'll have you know I haven't had alcohol for a week ! Well, apart from last night that is, but we had a barbecue and you can't have a barbecue without gin can you? Oh and on Saturday I suppose there might have been just a couple of small ones, but nothing that would count.
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Post by Hofmeister on Jul 18, 2016 15:09:03 GMT
Yes, I have, although not on purpose, rather through ignorance of what I was buying. Heavy, both in weight and to propel, nasty gear changes, awful saddle, grabby brakes, punctures. Perhaps these are things I could live with, I suspect that they are not things that you could live with. Particularly not for 20-50 miles a day when you are used to so much better. The theft risk is an issue, but presumably they are insured? And three bikes is EURO 240 (although I bet its more). Is the increase in fuel consumption and the cost of insurance *really* more than that? And sufficiently more than that to warrant lessening your enjoyment? A quick check online reveals the cheapest you'll easily* get bikes is about €107 each *Nearest Carrefour, Decathlon etc. |
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Post by Humph on Jul 18, 2016 15:11:25 GMT
Yes well, maybe, no but, yeah but, no...see that's cheating actually.
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Post by Hofmeister on Jul 18, 2016 15:13:21 GMT
Anyway, I'll have you know I haven't had alcohol for a week ! Well, apart from last night that is, but we had a barbecue and you can't have a barbecue without gin can you? Oh and on Saturday I suppose there might have been just a couple of small ones, but nothing that would count. We understand Humph, really we do. Its just a convenience thing, the gin was in the house, handy. You'll not need to know that Tanqueray Export is on offer in Carrefour for €15 a litre......... |
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Post by Humph on Jul 18, 2016 15:27:18 GMT
I suppose that is mildly interesting, or would be if we do decide to have a drink on one of the evenings while away...😋
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2016 21:31:47 GMT
I don't think the Decathlon bikes are that bad actually. I haven't bought one, but a work colleague has done hundreds of miles on hers (including London to Paris) without too much complaint.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Jul 19, 2016 7:55:29 GMT
WDB will no doubt be along soon to tell me I need a towbar mounted rack...yes I know... Well, it works for us! I've not done the maths but let's try now. Assume each trip is 1000 miles there and back (dismounting the carrier once there, as we do.) With the bikes on the back, we get about 8 miles to a litre; let's suppose that would drop to 6 with the bikes on top, so it's about 60 additional litres a trip. We've had our towbar rack since 2009 and it's about to make its seventh long holiday trip, so that may mean it's saved - or will have saved - 400-450 litres in that time. Has that covered the cost? Well, yes, if it's the £300 we paid for the rack; no, if you count the cost of equipping two successive cars with detachable towbars we wouldn't otherwise have needed. There are other compensations, though. Noise is negligible, and there's little danger of forgetting the bikes are there because they're conspicuous in the mirror. You can even carry a roof box too, if you have one of those little cars that won't accommodate your luggage inside - although you should really have an E estate for the self-levelling. But best of all, you can use the Télépéage lanes on French motorways, and cruise through without even stopping. Try that with a roof carrier and you'll be picking bits of red and white chain out of your bikes for the rest of the trip. |
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Jul 19, 2016 8:00:10 GMT
WDB will no doubt be along soon to tell me I need a towbar mounted rack...yes I know... ...conNaughty Worduous... Really? I can say 'arse' but not a synonym for 'highly visible'? Lucky I don't live in Scunthorpe - ex-steel town near the Humber! |
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Post by Humph on Jul 19, 2016 9:59:44 GMT
I am tempted by a towbar rack, not least because my new car has a panoramic sunroof ( did I mention that before ? ) and although the windrush is minimal without a roof rack when the roof is open but is intrusive in the same circumstances with the rack on. That and goodness knows what dripping off the bikes into the car after they've been used.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Jul 19, 2016 10:47:03 GMT
If you do, buy an Atera. Ours has been quite superb: easy to fit, once the towbar is on (test-fitted ours last night; no repeat of last July's panic), easyish to load (although that will depend on the size and variety of the bikes, very secure once it's on. But the best trick is when we stop for a break and need to access the luggage; the whole bike holder slides aft on rails, leaving the tailgate clear. It needs a firm shove to get it up and locked again, but it makes a loud reassuring click and pops up a green safety button to show all is well. The Thule equivalent relies on loosening the clamp on the towball to allow the frame to tilt, which may save a little weight but seems much less secure to me.
The mechanism of ours has survived a couple of mishaps, including being reversed into a Tarmac ramp while I was attempting a tight about-turn after a navigational error. The frame lost a little black paint but none of its function. Highly recommended.
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