My dad wants a BSO

I was talking about bikes with my old man on the phone earlier and he said he fancies one himself. He was raving about a BSO he saw in Carrefour in France for €99, a full-sus mtb ("it had an aluminium frame and Shimano gears and everything!"), which caused some silent swearing and facepalming at my end. I told him he'd probably find something similarly priced/specced in ASDA or Hellfrauds, and then gave him the spiel about why this was a false economy and a Bad Idea.

Amusingly, he seemed happier about the idea of buying a bike from ASDA than from Halfords, but otherwise I'm not sure he listened. First off, he seems convinced that a full-sus mtb with knobbly tyres is what he needs for some light riding on the paths around where he lives. Second, he doesn't think he needs to spend much on a leisure bike. I think I need to show him some half decent alternatives that won't bust his wallet, but won't be so horrible to use that it'll sit and rust at the back of the garage after its maiden voyage. I'm thinking this is the kind of area he needs to be looking at:

...but I might be talking mince. Any better ideas?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=69530
might be worth a look for the same kind of money.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1984-FRANCESCO-MOSER-TT-51-151-HOUR-RECORD-ROAD-vintage-tt-bike-Campagnolo-gc-/360400301516?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53e9882dcc&clk_rvr_id=272980422061#ht_17036wt_1043

I was going to suggest my friend freddie's bikes:

http://www.capitalcycles.co.uk/bikes-and-accessories/bicycles/

cheap, cheerful with fantastic customer service.

But maybe that corratec is better as it's 50% off.

Sounds like what he needs is a hybrid with semi slick tyres. Dawes or Carrera are decent enough. I realise Carrera comes from Halfords but then so do Boardman bikes.

http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=52241

However the road to hell is paved with good intentions.....will he really thank you?...But then i'm a pessimist crossed with a fatalist.....upshot...i'm never disappointed but have been called a miserable git [more than once].....perhaps let him do it his way.

As long as Radar isn't starting a fight resulting in them never speaking to each other again, I see no harm in suggesting alternatives. Especially considering he's simply more knowledgeable about bikes than his dad is. Dad would do wise to take it to heart but if he doesn't so be it.

I've tried to 'help' so many non-cycling friends and associates and almost all of them end up buying whatever the local big box insists is the cool thing. I usually try and steer them towards basic used road bikes, single speed or hub geared, but the rough temptresses of full suspension and knobby tires almost always win out.

shuffles dejectedly out>

Riding the bike should be fun for him, so dont try to zap any element of a fun flashy modern bike.

I realise getting a BSO with full suss is a terrible idea. But perhaps having something that looks sporty/modern/edgy is what he has his heart set out on?

Bikes like that revolution are incredibly geeky. Why not get a front suss GT or similar, as they look "radical" n all that. I know he doesnt NEED the suspension, but it might be fun for him to ride and bounce over stuff.

If you can convince him to get something purely sensible, look into a carrera subway 8speed, which you might need to find second hand on ebay. Great practical bikes, 8 speed hub, roller brakes etc. Cheap.

I was going to recommend the Kona Smoke. You could buy them with Deore for £200 ish but it looks like they're discontinued.

That Kona Dew looks bang on for the money.

Sure Decathlon do some okayish cheap bikes. I know they get some shit but my girlfriend's bike is now 18 months old, cost £140 and has stood up really well to commuting every day with only the odd bit of tinkering by me.

He should either buy the dirt cheap bike he fancies which, at £99, is pretty much throw away money or go for a better quality recognised brand name but second hand. The second hand route should mean he can get almost all of his money back by reselling it if he either gives up on the cycling idea or loves it to bits and wants to upgrade.

#IMO

just go with him to asda or halfords and say 'well this is OK but.....' and get something thats atleast not awful, just a front sus bike with semi knobly tiers and see how it go's from there.

then go for a ride with him on your super flash bike and say, try this out, and follow it with 'told you so' when he remarks that your bike is much nicer to ride.

I think I might just take my bike up the road next time I go to visit and let him have a wee go, and he can compare it to my brother-in-laws full-suspension Giant thing. Hopefully he'll get the idea. Thanks for the suggestions, definitely a couple of bikes for him to look at there.