Ever hear of a bike called: Klondike?

AlanD

Looking to buy a cheap hybrid type bike for some local cycling. Stop using the car for the shop and things like that.

Anyway, not looking for anything fast, fancy or rugged.

So saw this bike today called a Klondike Flyer. Looked good, was nice a light, had thin wheels (i.e. not rough MB tyres) and had a decent shimano gear selector. Oh and it had front suspension. 219 euro for it. Seemed like good value, but those of you on here who know more about bikes than me.....is it good or bad?

Can't find much on google....

pete4130

I think I've seen them around. As far as I could make out they seem to be pretty cheap generic mountain bike with suspension fork. I'm sure if you looked around you'd see very similar or identical frames/bikes with different graphics and different brand names.
Generally as a rule I would avoid a bike with suspension forks for commuting. In my opinion suspension forks are meant for proper mountain biking and off road use. I'm guessing you generally cycle on roads which will have a few potholes and provided you don't smack into kerbs or hit big potholes you would be fine without them. They actually slow you down alot as your leg power gets absorbed somewhat into the suspension and the extra weight of those heavy suspension forks will be noticeable on hills and accelerating. Cheap suspension forks probably won't last more than a year or two before leaking or stop working properly (I do cycle roadbikes though and I am probably biased here a little too)
I'd do a bit more research on the internet and ask a few more Q's on here before committing to buying. There are some good 2nd hand bikes out there that are cheap and good, you just have to look until you find the right one.

Pete.

Membrane

I'd echo the advice from the other poster, you'd get something considerably better for that type of money if you buy second hand. There's a used Claud Butler Chinook currently listed on eBay for E200 "Buy it now" (starting bid E150). That is an entry level hybrid, but considerably better than some new mongrol with suspension.

mockerydawg

pete4130 wrote:

Cheap suspension forks probably won't last more than a year or two before leaking or stop working properly
Pete.

It would be lucky if it even worked for a year. The seals and rubber boots do nothing but look nice. They may look cool but you will waste money on them getting serviced. Go rigid, its not as harsh as it sounds!

AlanD

yeah good points lads. Have looked at a few other bikes, rigid and not rigid. The cheaper ones are obviously steel which means pushing a big heavy yoke around the place. Not in to that. So to go for something light with aluminium frame would be the intention.

Now, say with that Chinook on eBay, with the skinny wheels. If, say, I wanted to put a child carrier on the back, would the skinny tyres make much of a difference? I'd only want to dop it the odd time.

Chinook looks like good value though.

Thanks for the advice.

pete4130

I bought a Claude Butler Chinook 2.5 years ago, rode it until last summer and upgraded to a Spec Allez sport as it was going cheap. I sold the Chinook onto my housemate who is stii using it. All thats gone wrong with it over that time is the two tyres that came with it needed to be replaced, some new brake blocks for the back brake and just recently the chain broke which is practically nothing on a 2.5 year old bike thats easily clocked at a couple of thousand miles. The first summer I had it I cycled the North Coast in Antrim from Portrush out past the giants causeway and back it coped fine. The saddle that comes with it isn't the most comfortable but its definitly good value for money and tough. Alot of courriers were buying them hand over fist because they were were such good value and fast enough bikes.
Lots of people are afraid of road bikes with skinny tires thinking they will buckle easily or lack grip. I've seen countles friends get on my road bikes and be instantly amazed at how easy they are to cycle and how fast they go and they are hooked!
I'd recommend the Claude Butler Chinook 2nd hand for sure. The Giant OCR 4 is also a good entry level road bike that isn't too expensive if you fancy something with drop racing style handlebars.

Pete.

AlanD

Good advice Pete. I'll look in to finding one or something similar.

I'm assuming they are a light bike?

pete4130

They would be much mucy lighter than any of the cheap generic suspension mountina bikes. I'm assuming that the cheapo susp bikes used cheap high tensile steel frames with oversize tubing. It's the only thng that could expalin what makes them so incredibly heavy (not good for acceleration or climbing any hills!).
The Claude Butler Chinook light enough. It's an aluminium frame with cromo forks (cromos is steel that has a good weight to strength ratio). I think the Giant OCR 4 is the same, aluminium frame with cromo forks.
These bikes wouldn't be as light as a €600 or €700 road bike though but plenty light enough to zip around on. The more expensive bikes are lighter due to components such as carbon fibre seat posts, carbon fibre forks, lighter rims, lighter cranks etc.... but that spec is starting to get more towards road racing competetively or more serious commuting needs.

The Chinook is a tough bike, tougher than my Specialised Allez for general communting. I don't think you'd go wrong with something like a Chinook or the OCR 4 ( I think they don't make the OCR 4 any more, it might be called the TCR 4, which would mean an older model OCR 4 would be cheaper again).

Make sure you get a bike that fits you properly too. If the frame is too small you'll feel really cramped on it and uncomfortable. If the frame is too large you'll feel a bit stretched on it. Go into a bike shop like cycleogical or cyleways and have a look at a few bikes and see what size they recommend for you. I'm 5'11" and I'd ride a 56cm frame generally. I can get away with a 54cm just about or a 58cm at a bit of a stretch. When you go into the bike shops ask to take them for a test ride and see how they feel. I know Penny Farthing Cycles on Camden/Wexford Street area have a good range of Claude Butlers in stock. There is a bike store on Nocholas Street (near Christchurch) that do Claude Butler too. So try befopre you buy, see what you prefer and then see whats on the 2nd hand market so you have an idea of what your buying. Once you get a road bike you'll never wnt to ride any other bike.

Pete.

AlanD

thanks Pete....

that Claude Butler from eBay is gone.....pity. Seemed like good value.

AlanD

seeing as eBay Chinook bike is gone and I don't have that much patience to wait for another to turn up

how would an Apollo hybrid bike for 189 euro in Halfords work out? It's aluminium, light, no suspension. Gear shift is one of those grip shift thingy's which isn't as good as those quick shift shimano setups. But seems like good value......