Exactly what i found, welcome to the brotherhoodcameroncyc wrote:
I have been really surprised by this bike, out of the box it has been comfortable and really I am only changing it to suit personal preference, rather than any real issue with it.
So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby ldrcycles » Thu Sep 13, 2012 10:10 am
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby pauls51 » Thu Sep 13, 2012 11:03 am
There is not a day that goes by that my mate doesn't remind me of this.
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby ldrcycles » Thu Sep 13, 2012 9:14 pm
Thanks, started out just as a silly experiment and now i'm the ambassador for cheap bikes haha.misterhorsey wrote:ldr, I am in quiet awe of your appetite and skills for BigW bike improvement. Its awesome.
I guess you're supplying the quality that has been stripped out of the supply chain with cheap chinese manufacturing and silly Australian retail pricing.
And just for anyone looking at Lasco cranks, i was looking at my other single speed this evening (1986 Dawes Shadow) and realised the cranks on it are actually Lasco (although branded as Origin8). They've done about 1100k so far and no issues. And they're pretty blue .
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby uglybob » Fri Sep 14, 2012 10:57 am
snapping a hanger when you're out on a mtb isn't usually because of what bike you're riding - it'll depend on what rock you hit, or what stick you decided to flick up into your drivetrain & destroy it all... a $10,000 S-Works will still snap a hanger just as quick as a $98 BigW bike!pauls51 wrote:Mate and I were picking up my new mountain bike several years ago (F4) and he had to wait an extra 2 weeks. He wasn't happy about that and wanted to come out with me so he ran down to Big W and bout and off the shelf MTB for $69!... we took it out to the comm track at Lysterfield and guess whose bike broke first??? Yep, cannondale snapped a R/D hanger and old mates BIG W bike kept on going... Every now and then he takes it out and still smashes the trails, the rims are slightly out but the thing is still going strong after 7 years!!!!
There is not a day that goes by that my mate doesn't remind me of this.
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby cameroncyc » Fri Sep 14, 2012 11:00 am
Will look at cranks and bars and all that jazz later down the line..
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby Mulger bill » Fri Sep 14, 2012 11:04 am
But you can't buy replacement hangers in W so yer frame is toast...uglybob wrote:snapping a hanger when you're out on a mtb isn't usually because of what bike you're riding - it'll depend on what rock you hit, or what stick you decided to flick up into your drivetrain & destroy it all... a $10,000 S-Works will still snap a hanger just as quick as a $98 BigW bike!pauls51 wrote:Mate and I were picking up my new mountain bike several years ago (F4) and he had to wait an extra 2 weeks. He wasn't happy about that and wanted to come out with me so he ran down to Big W and bout and off the shelf MTB for $69!... we took it out to the comm track at Lysterfield and guess whose bike broke first??? Yep, cannondale snapped a R/D hanger and old mates BIG W bike kept on going... Every now and then he takes it out and still smashes the trails, the rims are slightly out but the thing is still going strong after 7 years!!!!
There is not a day that goes by that my mate doesn't remind me of this.
London Boy 29/12/2011
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby ldrcycles » Fri Sep 14, 2012 1:30 pm
True, except a big w bike will usually have either no hanger, or one that's part of the dropout and not replaceable .uglybob wrote: snapping a hanger when you're out on a mtb isn't usually because of what bike you're riding - it'll depend on what rock you hit, or what stick you decided to flick up into your drivetrain & destroy it all... a $10,000 S-Works will still snap a hanger just as quick as a $98 BigW bike!
Such an awesome story though.
Cameron, i haven't got any personal experience of those wheels from reid but i believe they are Quando hubs and Stars Circle rims. My Dawes has wheels with those bits, and i've used maybe half a dozen wheelsets for road and MTB with Stars rims and Quando hubs. As you said they are cheap and you do get what you pay for, they aren't very smooth but they do the job, and i've not had any issues with any of them.
I would go for it, if nothing else it is all experience. I learned to do mechanical work by stripping Huffys and Repcos i picked up at the tip.
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby cameroncyc » Fri Sep 14, 2012 6:35 pm
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby ldrcycles » Fri Sep 14, 2012 10:40 pm
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby Backdoorboss » Sat Sep 15, 2012 11:45 am
I got the Reid wheels on my Big W bike. they are 120mm spaced.So the process has begun...will buy the wheels tomorrow and fit them. I assume that there is nothing special that I need to know about fitting these types of wheels? Is the axle length standard, can post the link if need be. Not having any experience with them, I think I may scour the forums tonight. Cheers for the help everyone
I had to put a nut on the other side of the hub to get my chain line right on mine though.
Probably because I changed the bottom bracket and cranks out as well.
Have been using the Reid wheels since April pretty much everyday rain or shine and no problems so far.
I would get the sealed bearing ones for $60 if you don't plan on doing much maintenance though, but that is up to you.
Have fun with it & welcome to the brotherhood
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby cameroncyc » Sat Sep 15, 2012 8:55 pm
Thanks for that, picked up a set of the unsealed ones today at the Brisbane store, happy to do the maintenance and get hands on. They were supposed to come with tubes, but they forgot to put them in, so I will have to get in contact with them as I don't have any tubes with the right valve here. Busy over the next few days, which is frustrating, eager to get it moving along.Backdoorboss wrote:I got the Reid wheels on my Big W bike. they are 120mm spaced.So the process has begun...will buy the wheels tomorrow and fit them. I assume that there is nothing special that I need to know about fitting these types of wheels? Is the axle length standard, can post the link if need be. Not having any experience with them, I think I may scour the forums tonight. Cheers for the help everyone
I had to put a nut on the other side of the hub to get my chain line right on mine though.
Probably because I changed the bottom bracket and cranks out as well.
Have been using the Reid wheels since April pretty much everyday rain or shine and no problems so far.
I would get the sealed bearing ones for $60 if you don't plan on doing much maintenance though, but that is up to you.
Have fun with it & welcome to the brotherhood
What tires did you put on yours Backdoor?
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby Backdoorboss » Sun Sep 16, 2012 11:58 am
The tires came with the wheels. 700x23c Kenda tires.cameroncyc wrote:What tires did you put on yours Backdoor?
Looking at them now, I probably should be replace them. Get better ones if you can spare the coin.
Cheers,
CS
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby ldrcycles » Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:20 pm
I'm a big fan of Maxxis Refuse in 23c, cheap online and no flats. Both my singlespeeds have 28c Michelin City tyres but i'm thinking of changing one to Refuse tyres, can be a bit of a hassle to get fatter tubes with long presta valves.
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby Backdoorboss » Sun Sep 16, 2012 2:08 pm
They are not bad, I haven't had a flat yet so no real complaints.ldrcycles wrote:How have you found those Kendas?
Haven' had any real scares while cornering.
The tread on the rear tire is a little worn, perhaps a little prematurely.
For what I use it for I guess they are fine. I might swap the front one to the rear one tonight.
A guy from work uses the Maxxis Refuse, he has nothing but praise for them aswell.
I did just get a new set of tyres Vittoria Rubino's,they were cheap and had good reviews, will give them a go and compare once my next bike project is done.
Cheers
CS
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby cameroncyc » Sun Sep 16, 2012 4:12 pm
In the meantime between now and when I can get a new set of tires, is there any way that I can get the 700x35 stock tire on the 700x15 rim, or is this just stretching it too far?
Thanks guys.
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby ldrcycles » Sun Sep 16, 2012 9:01 pm
As for buying tyres, the local bike shop is the place to go when you need them in a hurry, but it's more expensive.
Case in point, the 4 shops in my area are around $40-45 for Maxxis Refuse, this ebay listing has them for $29.50 delivered. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MAXXIS-REFUS ... 35bba696eb" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby cameroncyc » Mon Sep 17, 2012 5:06 pm
Either way I have got some Clinchers on order from Wiggle at the moment, free delivery being a major bonus! So it looks like for well under $200 I will have a fully functional fixed gear. All the other aesthetic stuff can come in time, just happy to have a fixed gear now.
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby ldrcycles » Thu Sep 27, 2012 8:50 pm
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby thomashouseman » Fri Sep 28, 2012 7:13 am
ldrcycles wrote:plastic derailleur.
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby cameroncyc » Fri Sep 28, 2012 8:57 am
My understanding is that they sold out pretty quick where I am and then didn't restock, so they are all out there in the wilderness...
Now to my bike, have fitted the Reid wheels and the new Tires (Zaffiros). Still running both brakes, not willing to risk that just yet, but having ridden on it for a bit now, happy with the setup. Now for a new saddle, pedals (no retention yet, as a rookie, my thought is this is safer for when I think I can freewheel... ) and numerous other bits and pieces..
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby Comedian » Sun Sep 30, 2012 7:00 pm
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby bychosis » Sun Sep 30, 2012 7:25 pm
Edit: Just noticed why the pic of the preset above, crank in foreground.
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby ldrcycles » Sun Sep 30, 2012 9:11 pm
Same, to start with i thought 'hooray another one has been spotted in the wild! Oh hang on, oh'.bychosis wrote: Edit: Just noticed why the pic of the preset above, crank in foreground.
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Re: So how bad is a Big W bike, really?
Postby AndrewBurns » Mon Oct 01, 2012 8:08 am
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