BBC Watchdog: Flat Pack Bikes / Bicycle Shaped Objects

BBC consumer affairs programme Watchdog examines the growing trend for superstores to sell cut-price flat-pack bicycles. Five people try to build and ride self-assembly bikes bought from Argos, Asda, Halfords, Tesco and Toys R Us. First broadcast 5th November 2009.

See: http://girv.in/51

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• bbc
• watchdog
• bflatpack
• bso
• bicycle
• bike
• tesco
• asda
• halfords
• toysrus

[hedleythorne]

I bought a Halfords bike, assembled in store, and it broke. I also broke both my arms in the process. I now know the only way to cycle is to spend decent money on a decent bike and have if properly maintained.

[girv73ni]

@hedleythorne Wow, that's awful! What happened?

[TheBrucemountain]

Goes to show you do get what you pay 4. Be prepared to pay atleast 275+ for a decent bike that YOU WILL ENJOY, built by someone who knows how to spot a dud! If you cannot afford a proper bike, then buy a second hand one and then get it checked over by a reputable cycle only shop-simply! a good service costs only £40 more or less by a tenna! Halfords suck, argos and the rest need to stick 2 everythin other than bikes, these things are not bikes...they are utter shite!

[mrzkhan1]

@hedleythorne i nearly got killed when my apollo phaze fell to bits on the road, been through 3 of them within 6 months! ever single one of them went wrong

[4crevis]

Dumb, you do not have to be a professional bike builder to build a bike from a box... front wheel on... handlebars on... peddles on... how fucking difficult is that! You may have to adjust the brakes, easy... you may have to adjust the gears, also easy... you would have to be a complete idiot if you couldn't do that... it's basic machanics... you don't even need the instructions it's pure common sense... you're not building it from the frame up for crying out loud... Fuck me!

[eckstream1]

@dno1967b

Expensive bikes do not have quality issues...

You have to remember what the bike is being used for!

I can fly through a rock garden at 40mph with no issues on my Santa Cruz Nickel ($3100 US)

Of course I properly maintain my bike and have it serviced on a regular basis... Just like my car.

Maybe the problem is retarded parents buying a Walmart bike for a kid that wants to ride Whisler Bike Park. It happens all too often!

[Graunerd]

I have just bought a £200 bike at Halfords. We were just given the box. No offer to build it and no mention of after care. No tools were supplied. The enclosed booklet was just a general booklet with a space for 'pre-delivery inspection' and the store stamp which implies the bike is not intended for self assembly. Halfords saying they encourage people to let Halfords assemble them is just the usual commercial puff and nonsense. The front wheel bearings are also very rough in action.

[kaleigh79]

if you want a good bike.. buy one at a bike shop.. not at walmart or a discount store..