Men's Challenge Dune 27.5 Inch Wheel Size Hybrid Bike - £119.99 + Free click & collect @ Argos

Remember, unless it is made of virgin supercooled carbon fibre then it’s a Bicycle Shaped Object and can’t be called a bike.

Bikes which cost less than the average family hatchback aren’t worth buying, are dangerous and are made of rusty cast iron.

All clear?

Purists will tell you to avoid BSOs and plump for £500+ bikes or a used one from a pro brand but they're missing the point and whilst quality should improve as you spend more money, even a hundred-quid job like this will be entirely adequate for going to the shops or down by the side of the canal with the kids on a sunny afternoon, plus you won't be paranoid about it getting stolen or damaged. After all, most people are perfectly happy with their Fords, Vauxhalls and VWs even though they're not real cars - maybe they should be buying used supercars instead of those rubbishy car-shaped-objects?

Some of course will retort about how heavy the cheap 'steelie' bikes are - but unless you have to carry it or ride up hills you're probably not going to notice once you're rolling if the tyres are inflated enough (in Europe bicycle weight seems far less important to them). Others will tell you how crap the gears and brakes are but as the design of either hasn't changed much over the decades that's more likely to be a case of poor adjustment or assembly and usually correctable. In any case, unlike buying used, you've got a warranty if it really is that bad.

The only thing I will say to avoid on cheap(er) bikes is suspension systems as they're generally poor performers and the money would be better spent elsewhere such as the crank. If you know you need suspension for where you'll be riding then the chances are you're also looking at trading up to a more expensive and better all-round bike anyway and you don't need my advice.

Would like to get one but think I'll be bike shamed by all the pros!!!

No offence to all that have posted so far but I'm disappointed by the quality of the comments. Where is the lycra bso brigade

My friends and I have started cycling recently. Some have been using the santander bikes which are available in London. I think this will be brilliant to buy for occasional riding so I have shared this with them. Heat also added.

Love the comments on a bike deal

Myusernamehasgone23414/06/2021 14:28

So the red special offer banner has thrown me, I'm not sure now … So the red special offer banner has thrown me, I'm not sure now of this is just the regular price for this.But seems a low price for an adult bike at the moment.Read lessRead more

It's just the standard regular recent price for this.
Could use CS cashback (10%) plus 5% Airtime Rewards or an Argos 20% off gift card to get it down to £100 though.

I remember back in the day I used to go to the Sunday market and buy mountain bikes for £20. Some days it was £50.00 and yes it used to be stolen

SFconvert14/06/2021 15:57

Good price considering the lack of bikes available of late.Yes this is …Good price considering the lack of bikes available of late.Yes this is fine for fair weather rides, but the cheap components like cranks (will likely rust easily), bottom bracket (probably isn't the sealed type so will get noisy after a while) and hubs mean using this in anything but fine weather will mean it deteriorates quite quickly.Read lessRead more

I suspect the kind of people who will buy this will be using it purely for leisure in the good weather we're currently having, and it'll be fine for that. Those who rely on a bike year-round to get to work or as their main form of transport will likely be buying something a little more expensive anyway, and quite probably not from the likes of Argos. Cheap bikes such as this are not long-term investments and if you want something to last a decade or more then it's probably not going to cut it, but if the cycling bug does bite and you decide you want something better you can always replace it then, or if it doesn't, walk away without having lost much in the process.

littld14/06/2021 15:23

Remember, unless it is made of virgin supercooled carbon fibre then it’s a …Remember, unless it is made of virgin supercooled carbon fibre then it’s a Bicycle Shaped Object and can’t be called a bike.Bikes which cost less than the average family hatchback aren’t worth buying, are dangerous and are made of rusty cast iron.All clear?Read lessRead more

There's a reason people comment on things like that on cheaper bikes. Riding a bike should be enjoyable. If you're cycling up a steep hill on this you will know about it. This weighs 15kg. You can get a 2nd hand bike for not much more money which weighs half that. Having a lighter bike makes your ride 100x more enjoyable. So the cyclists out there are just looking out for other riders who want to get into cycling and make it enjoyable. Yes i agree some people say you need a bike worth £3000 just to be any good but that's not true. Your local bike shop will get you a bike 10x better than this for not much more money and your cyclign will become enjoyable, This bike would be the equivalent of you in a mini towing a range rover up a hill. Get a bike that's half this bikes weight and the roles are flipped. You're now in a range rover towing a mini.

Myusernamehasgone23414/06/2021 14:28

Why?

Wait for it you haven't been introduced to the BSO yet (edited)

@myusernamehasgone234 same price as some of the trainers

stoney_Jedi14/06/2021 14:36

Wait for it you haven't been introduced to the BSO yet

Lol...... they are incoming

hatot14/06/2021 14:51

@myusernamehasgone234 same price as some of the trainers

Indeed
I've probably posted more expensive trainer deals in the past.

littld14/06/2021 15:23

Remember, unless it is made of virgin supercooled carbon fibre then it’s a …Remember, unless it is made of virgin supercooled carbon fibre then it’s a Bicycle Shaped Object and can’t be called a bike.Bikes which cost less than the average family hatchback aren’t worth buying, are dangerous and are made of rusty cast iron.All clear?Read lessRead more

Virgin supercooled carbon fire is the best though … I will not risk riding any other frame.

Abbadon14/06/2021 22:52

That is the beauty of Argos, you can get it delivered directly to a dump …That is the beauty of Argos, you can get it delivered directly to a dump in a different part of the country, often on the same day.Read lessRead more

My local Argos is next door to the dump... it's the exact distance you'll need to realise you've just made a terrible mistake (edited)

9etrader14/06/2021 16:15

in the market for a hybrid bike for a teenage son ; this or the carerra …in the market for a hybrid bike for a teenage son ; this or the carerra crossfire from halfords (or any other) ? I know they are in different price range so comparing apples and oranges ; but is it ? not heavy use but good use when weather permits in the park / road . . . .any suggestions most welcome and appreciated.Read lessRead more

The Careera will probably have an aluminium frame so lighter to carry around and better for going up hills. It should also have better quality gears (won't need adjustment so frequently and probably quieter/smoother in operation), and possibly disc brakes for better stopping power. Overall it'll be a better bike, and will be considered 'cooler' but it's more attractive to thieves too (the only bike I've ever had stolen was a Carerra), and regardless of make, no bike will last long if left outside in the rain and not maintained (i.e. oiling the chain, adjusting gears and brakes, etc) so your area and storage situation will play a big factor in the choice too.

stoney_Jedi14/06/2021 14:36

Wait for it you haven't been introduced to the BSO yet

Nope I tend to stick to posting trainers.

Myusernamehasgone23414/06/2021 14:52

Indeed I've probably posted more expensive trainer deals in the past.

Lollll seriously cheap no matter what the reviews or ppl say

Reminds my of my youth back in 80. Looks like Russian bike called "Ukraine". Same advanced technology... If the brake levers are made from plastic (looks like it) I wouldn't recommend to anybody.

19DembaBa1914/06/2021 15:09

I remember back in the day I used to go to the Sunday market and buy …I remember back in the day I used to go to the Sunday market and buy mountain bikes for £20. Some days it was £50.00 and yes it used to be stolenRead lessRead more

Seen adds like that on gumtree insanely low prices for bikes oblivious stolen and wanting them shift them quickly

Good price considering the lack of bikes available of late.
Yes this is fine for fair weather rides, but the cheap components like cranks (will likely rust easily), bottom bracket (probably isn't the sealed type so will get noisy after a while) and hubs mean using this in anything but fine weather will mean it deteriorates quite quickly.

Ooooof. The reviews for this are not good, lots of bits falling off that really, really shouldn't be coming off.

jrussd14/06/2021 16:40

Where can you purchase a 20% off gift card please?

Cashback site, complete savings. Buy something cheap on Argos or eBay. Click on CS welcome bonus ad that appears after you pay. Sign up for first month free. Claim £16.87 welcome bonus. Buy £100 Argos egift card for £80. Buy bike for £119.99 using £100 gift card. Cancel membership before trial month ends (or keep). Total cost of bike = £80 for gift card + £19.99 minus £16.87 welcome bonus = £83.12. 🚴

So the red special offer banner has thrown me, I'm not sure now of this is just the regular price for this.

But seems a low price for an adult bike at the moment.

Bizarre one size fits all sizing on these bike. I suspect this bike, which looks small to medium is not actually suitable for some giant with a 40" inside leg

• Suitable for riders with 32.5 to 40 inch inside leg measurements.

I would probably avoid this if you live somewhere hilly as it's got one gear at the front and the easiest gear on the rear doesn't look that big (24T maybe?)

dkj25514/06/2021 15:47

After all, most people are perfectly happy with their Fords, Vauxhalls and …After all, most people are perfectly happy with their Fords, Vauxhalls and VWs even though they're not real cars - maybe they should be buying used supercars instead of those rubbishy car-shaped-objects?Read lessRead more

You can't really equate this with a VW. Something around the £1000 mark without too many major compromises would probably equal a VW Polo. There is no automotive equivelent of this as the amount of compromise required to produce a bike for this price means that there's virtually no quality control and if it was a car people would be dying regularly.

Voted Hot

brad.fordbulls14/06/2021 14:28

Would like to get one but think I'll be bike shamed by all the pros!!!

It goes from A to B just like any other bicycle

whatever happened to those lovely cheap b’twin RockRider bikes that decathlon used to sell?

bought one for £99 some years back and it was brilliant

dkj25514/06/2021 15:47

Purists will tell you to avoid BSOs and plump for £500+ bikes or a used …Purists will tell you to avoid BSOs and plump for £500+ bikes or a used one from a pro brand but they're missing the point and whilst quality should improve as you spend more money, even a hundred-quid job like this will be entirely adequate for going to the shops or down by the side of the canal with the kids on a sunny afternoon, plus you won't be paranoid about it getting stolen or damaged. After all, most people are perfectly happy with their Fords, Vauxhalls and VWs even though they're not real cars - maybe they should be buying used supercars instead of those rubbishy car-shaped-objects?Some of course will retort about how heavy the cheap 'steelie' bikes are - but unless you have to carry it or ride up hills you're probably not going to notice once you're rolling if the tyres are inflated enough (in Europe bicycle weight seems far less important to them). Others will tell you how crap the gears and brakes are but as the design of either hasn't changed much over the decades that's more likely to be a case of poor adjustment or assembly and usually correctable. In any case, unlike buying used, you've got a warranty if it really is that bad.The only thing I will say to avoid on cheap(er) bikes is suspension systems as they're generally poor performers and the money would be better spent elsewhere such as the crank. If you know you need suspension for where you'll be riding then the chances are you're also looking at trading up to a more expensive and better all-round bike anyway and you don't need my advice.Read lessRead more

The cranks? Really? The least important bike component is the one you think should be splashed out on?

The BSO argument is because so many of these bikes use terms like "stunt" or "mountain" or "race" or "suspension" or "offroad" in their names or descriptions. They are definitely not for any of those purposes.
Yes, this is fine as an "A to B", "going to the shop"-bike, but so is any bike you find second hand on Gumtree. A £200 20 year old 200,000 mile diesel will do the same, but you wouldn't bad mouth someone advising against buying such a car marked up 10x by a local dealership, would you?

This bike is "OK". It will be heavy and a bit sluggish on longer journeys, and it will be annoying to use because of the tacky grip shifters that can never be properly indexed...but it will not get you killed or injured taking it off the beaten path. At the same time, though, the description makes use of the term "mountain bike", which this most definitely isn't even remotely close to resembling.

At £120, you aren't getting much for your money. I'm currently looking for a bike for my partner, and amongst all the second hand overly marked-up trash on sites like Gumtree, i've found a good number of bikes in this price range with infinitely better components: aluminium frame, cassette rather than freewheel, entry-level front suspension, replaceable Shimano components, etc.

Cheap bikes are a horrible false economy. If you don't enjoy riding it, you won't ride it, and you'll be sending this to join the millions of other Chinese store-brand bikes that nobody wants in the local dumps.

Hybrid normally means a cross between a road bike and a MTB. In this case, they are usimg the term hybrid to mean a cross between a bike and something you immediately want to take to landfill.

I have no idea who voted this hot above 1000C but you should think long and hard about the people you might have encouraged to buy this who will subsequently realise they made a mistake. People who can’t afford it.

The only reason this deal should be 1000 degrees celsius is if the bike metal was being melted down for scrap

RonM15/06/2021 19:00

But with furlough and UK push on walking, biking.. Why hasn't ukgov set up …But with furlough and UK push on walking, biking.. Why hasn't ukgov set up bike manufacturing in UK?. Jobs, known demand, possibility of decent bike standards, recycling and repair. Post furlough possibility of robotic construction to reduce costs. Nope UK will continue to buy from China.Read lessRead more

Thanks god they haven't, because those bikes would surely cost over a grand and normal people wouldn't buy them. There would be a 'highly qualified' board of 'irreplaceable' folks on several millions pounds a year, line of advisors, designers, health and safety officers, green policy managers, strong public relations dept etc. and a few guys on minimum wage assembling the bikes out of Chinese components. (edited)

in the market for a hybrid bike for a teenage son ; this or the carerra crossfire from halfords (or any other) ? I know they are in different price range so comparing apples and oranges ; but is it ? not heavy use but good use when weather permits in the park / road . . . .any suggestions most welcome and appreciated.

dkj25514/06/2021 16:19

I suspect the kind of people who will buy this will be using it purely for …I suspect the kind of people who will buy this will be using it purely for leisure in the good weather we're currently having, and it'll be fine for that. Those who rely on a bike year-round to get to work or as their main form of transport will likely be buying something a little more expensive anyway, and quite probably not from the likes of Argos. Cheap bikes such as this are not long-term investments and if you want something to last a decade or more then it's probably not going to cut it, but if the cycling bug does bite and you decide you want something better you can always replace it then, or if it doesn't, walk away without having lost much in the process.Read lessRead more

I can’t believe you’re calling this cheap? Over a hundred quid for a bike?

my first bike cost £85 and it’s still going strong

The issue with Bikes like this are that they generally cause too much frustration. Fine if you have no alternative and need a bike, however if you're buying with the purpose of giving cycling a go then just don't bother. The frustration with heavy riding and constantly having to tweak (or give up on) the brakes and gears means it's unlikely to give you the cycling bug.

Not the same price range really but I do think you can get a very decent starter bike for circa £300 new or more or less the same price as this second hand.

Couldn't believe what Halfords wanted to check and mend my old trusty station bike. Using the Energy Trust Bicycle £50 off voucher the bill for a chain, rear sprocket, new tyre and set of brake shoes, wheels were condemed due to noisy wheel bearings ( cones need grease) grand total £270! Buy two of these! (edited)

There are 3 main factors in determining the quality of a bike:
1) how much does it cost? Real bikes start at £3,000
2) how much does it weigh? It should require ballast on windy days
3) how long before it’s stolen? If it is still in your possession 10 days after purchase then it isn’t a real bike.

BSO.

I'd say this is an extremely bad deal. If you really are limited by budget to £120 you are far better finding a secondhand bike to buy. This will be an utter waste of money and you'll be disappointed. Just look at some of the 1* reviews.

It's like any of these Argos "too good to be true" priced products...for example that guitar they always sell super cheap....they are too good to be true and the product is a heap of junk.

I voted this cold to try and stop someone making a mistake. (edited)

Like a cowboy in the wild west riding a horse until it drops dead, I ride a bike until it is knackered and then leave it outside Lidl