Ok so I've been checking out the website... more window shopping bce I dont have the spare cash at the moment and I'm wondering, HOW can they be so cheap!?

Anyways, was just wondering if anyone has one of their bikes... I don't have the spare cash now but one day I might!!!

SB,

I bought a Cell Team about 18 months ago. I can't say I am a regular rider or anywhere near an expert but it certainly does the job for me. I know of at least one other CR that has bought one, and I haven't heard anything too bad about them.

And who knows, one day I might even use it to do my first tri.

SB,
I will say straight up that they sponsor our tri club and I have personal friends who work there. Please accept the following in that light.

The bikes use generic Asian sourced frames that you would see rebadged at any bunch ride in Australia, ie the frames are fine.

The components are all generic Shimano items and work with the renown Shimano accuracy.

This only leaves assembly and accessories to consider and both these items are fine as well. As always seat and handlebar choice is very personal but this applies to any bike purchase.

Cell is owned by a retailer, Albert has never professed to being a cyclist. They therefore apply standard retail ideas to the shop rather than the standard bike shop mark-ups that many others rely upon. Cell is all about turn-over.

At Kurnell on Sunday Cell bikes were everywhere.

Shot'is

I believe like most things you get what you pay for - have a good look around and you will find other bikes in this price bracket, not as well known, manufactured on mass and put togeher here, some have cheaper coponents etc

sometimes bargains can be had and to some a cell bike or similar is a bargain - e.g. full carbon for around 2k - but they are not put together with the same quatlity of others but if all you want is to ride the odd tri, go in the odd big charity ride and some basic training - then why not until you wear it out - I think about it and say stuff it - go an extra 1k and get something of great quality with a great reputation you know will go the distance.

As specifically for Cell have not heard too many negative things only a bike shop said the parts were hard to come by and repairing them was fiddly so keep this in mind - if in sydney use them as your service shop and interstate I know 99 sell and would service but just be mindful. I have also heard that for heavy riders they may not be the best frame etc but that could be BS

IF your on a tight budget I would think about it, if you see one at a ride or race then ask te owner what they think as well.

Hi Stella. I purchased one about 6 months ago and haven't had any problems so far. But then I'm new to road cycling (which is one reason I was after something low cost to start with) and haven't exactly ridden it a lot either , yet.

Best person to ask on this site is Will.

He has done several thousand or more kms on his Cell bike, getting ready for Ironman Australia. He raced on it last year as well.

I have no affiliation wilh Cell. However I do know a person there who worked at a couple of my local bike shops many, many years ago. Balance Tri Club members (I have no affiliation) on this site have referred to him as Ice.

Cell do tell an interesting story about to guy who rode syd to bris on soem bikes - very entry level - but shows what can be done.

I have a cheapie training bike and in about 6 months racked up over 2000kms - the shop services it fine - not cell but similar quality.

I think the general pitch is unless you know you need an expensive bike than go for something cheaper - just be aware of the hidden costs (servicing, parts etc) and understand the general quality (hyundai vs bmw concept) - it does make me laugh to see some guys who buy their first ever bike a 6k racing machine with zipps but I am a firm believer in spending what you need to and can

I do not think your money will be wasted and then you can think about a few extras

I have one of their entry bikes - the S2200 - and love it! CELL sometimes put their bikes on Ebay, and I was lucky enough to get it for $299 - reg price is $499. I've had it for about 6 months now, have done a fair bit of riding on it, and had no problems at all.
I didn't want to spend bigtime on a bike as I wasn't sure how much I would actually ride it, but I'm really happy with it.

hello all

Was actually in the CELL shop today looking at a bike purchase.......staff were friendly helpful asking me what i wanted it for and how many kms i intended to do per week,not only did they show me cell bikes but also other makes and models in my price range.

As i have only a certain $$$ figure to spend it was good to c what can be obtained!

Another couple of overtime shifts and that full carbon fibre bike may become a reality!

I was looking at their bikes too - in the end I opted for a beginner felt off ebay for my first bike about 5mths ago but Im seriously thinkign about upgrading now Im into this big time. Their carbon tri-bike for about 2.5K$ looks too good to be true - I saw one at the last tri and it looked pretty cute, didnt get to ask the bloke riding it.

People have said same about their carbon - the frame is generic (thats ok-I aint lance armstrong) , the parts are shimano - so they're all the same right - shimano parts is shimano parts.

I dunno - its a toss up between Carbon for 2.5k with ultegra or something liek a specialized or trek or someone on alloy that is 2.5k but is alloy.

I saw EMC bikes the other day that looked very sweet at the 2k price range.

Im figuring on keeping my felt to commute to work (and for my son to use) and getting a ride for weekend and racing (plus my felt is not Red so clearly is not fast enough).

I still got a huge way to go on developing the engine though but figured the 140k's week commuting +60k weekend ride will soon pile that on.

Thanks for the input ppl!

I was actually looking at the $500 ultra beginners road bike (pretty sure it's the same as Didge's) plus the pedal and shoe set for $129... I can't see myself needing anything fancier for a long time to come and I have my Trek hybrid for commuting (and it aint a big commute!).

Their pedals are a great price online as are their shoe prices. The only thing Inoted on their beginner bikes was the gear shift - I think on some they used the old style shifters down on the frame, most modern bikes have integrated shifters into the brake levers for road bikes , I think its much safer that way because your concentration is always at road height ahead of you not looking down to shift and your fingers are always near the emergency stop levers... just one thing to think about.

I did read a guy who said he bought the s2200 to ride to work and was using it on a hard commute for a year or so without having any drama when I was looking for my first bike.

Not sure about that thomo.

True, I own a cell "team" bike since june 2007 and have been riding quite a bit on it. But on the other side, I know pretty much nothing about bikes and what makes them good/bad. This is my first road bike so can't really compare. But here's my view on it any way.

My opinion is that it does the job like any other bike. I believe Cell buys big volumes of their generic frames and big volumes from shimano, which is why they can offer such good prices. For my use, my frame is as good as any other standard alu frame and the components are shimano 105 which are pretty reliable. I have been doing quite a lot of kms on it in the past 6 months (I commute to Dee Why from Bondi 2-3 times a week + long rides on the week-ends), and have had no issues with it. As any other decent bikes, take care of it (regular cleans & services), and it will last.

The only issue I had with the bike (something broke in the Bottom bracket/crank arm at IM last year) wasn't their fault and they replaced it under warranty straight away.

One advise if you buy one: replace the tyres, they were crap and I kept getting punctures. Changed to decent tyres and no problems since.

The only issue I have with Cell is the service when you go in the store. I find them (the ones I have spoken too) not very helpful. For example, you better know what size you need. For me, they just told me to stand next to the bike/saddle and said "that's your size!". When I asked the guy what size: 56cm meant, he wasn't exactly sure... I took a friend there and he bought a bike. At the end, the salesperson said he didn't have the time to set him up on the bike as the store was too busy.

just a word of advice.....

when i started looking at getting a bike last october i wanted to get the cheapest i could find.....$700 was my first thought. complete novice, didn't know how long my latest craze would last.....

then i discovered the differences in componentry.....and decided to spend to spend double.....and that was really only a jump from shimano sora to tiagra.

already i'm wishing i'd spent twice that amount again.

upgrading is expensive. cycling is addictive

i dont have any experience with cell bikes, but have been checking out their site for a while.
their bikes seem extremely good value, and a year or so ago the value seemed unmatched in australia.
but, i'd now have a look at the new malvern star bikes. dont laugh - malvern star has gone back upmarket. carbon frames, 105/ ultegra/ dura-ace. they're getting good reviews too . i'd check them out as an alternative to cell, they're competitively priced.

I have had a few bikes over the years and when my wife wanted to start riding some research was needed.
ended up going for a Cell bike from the website...delivered for under $1200...main criteria was minimum shimano 105. bike has carbon fork and shimano wheels and with over 2000km of hassle free riding was a great choice.
If you have no mech aptitude ( I have a mate ) then maybe buying from a bike shop would be a good idea...most important to get set up correctly...amazing how many people I see that are set up totally wrong...seat way too low - bike not correct size - clunky gears.
Cycling is great fun...get out there.

PS...running is fun too !!!!

if you can i recomend a giant they would have to be the best value for money bike on the market althougth i own a felt most of my mates ride giant and im pretty sure they have long warranty

thomo - Ice is a very special person to me and would help anyone who wants to buy a bike through Cell Bikes. He has helped many budding triathletes or cyclists along the way.

StelleBella - if you need further referrals etc. i'm happy to help out.

Will - do you actually own a Cell bike?? i'm curious to what you bought. We have several of them at home.

Cheers,
AK

Will - i find this upsetting to read. Ice is the man to contact at Cell. Ask me next time at swim squad for an introduction.

Cheers,
AK

I have a mixed story - I have a Cell Triumph. I got lucky when I bought it - the guy (an older fellow) selling it to me (Sat before SMH Half '07) spent about an hour setting me up on it - couldn't speak highly enough of the service I got instore. When you're in Sydney, they're fantastic.

Moved to Brisbane late in '07, and I had a rear seat stay fail (carbon fibre part) on me late in '08, which, eventually was covered by warranty (frame replacement). There seemed to be a lot of confusion through the whole process (I get the bike servied by 99 Bikes in Milton who were the Cell agent up here). Service and communication through the process was pretty ordinary - I'm of the school of thought that service processes are defined by how they handle exceptions, and Cell didn't distinguish themselves on that front.

As I mentioned above, if you're in Sydney they would probably be a good bet. My understanding is that the reason they're so good on price is because they're considered as a manufacturer by their suppliers so they get good prices. I do love my Triumph (named Darth for the flat black finish), indeed she performs very well for the money, but there is the lingering doubt for me...tough when you're leant over at 45km/h+

Yep, bought this one a while ago now






Sorry Aunty, I can't make it to Matt's swim squad anymore. I have changed jobs and now work in Dee Why. A bit far from Homebush...It's a shame as I really liked the sessions and it was a great group to train with...

Sorry if my comments sounded a bit harsh regarding the service. The salesperson i spoke to at Cell on 2 occasions wasn't very customer friendly I thought, but this does not mean they are all like that. Overall, I love my bike and and I think it hard to find similar quality for such a good price! Wouldn't change it for anything else...

except of course if I won Powerball, then I would buy this:

[quote name='Will' date='Feb 16 2009, 08:20 AM' post='430510']

Sorry Aunty,

Sorry if my comments sounded a bit harsh regarding the service.]

No probs Will. It is easy to get sh*tty service in alot of places these days.

The name to remember at Cell is 'ICE'... that's it!!

AK

ps. your choice of Time Trial bike is awesome!

Wait till after the BRW corporate tri when management are offloading their "old" bikes. If you go second hand you will save a heap of cash and get better components.

Cell do it well. They are efficient and cheap. But that might not really be what you need.

Personally I would also worry about the lack of street cred, but that's my shallow side!

Can give another thumbs up for the low end market Cell S2200, bought one about a month ago to get back into this demanding sport ;-), and nothing wrong with it. Yes, I agree you get what you pay for, but for the weight of it (around 9-10kg) it seems to go very well.

I've been away from the sport for around 10 years, and was very pleased with myself that i've only outlayed about $850.00 to get going again (shoes, pedals, etc).

The frame is a good starting point, my plan is to keep an eye on ebay and local shops and eventually, i'll replace the components to something like 105 or ultegra. It will make a great training bike if i ever decide to upgrade to something better.

Cheers
Steve

Now that is a nniiiccce bike!

yes, very nice!!!!

Quick question, the valve stems, are they extra, extra, extra long?
Or, is it different to the normal alloy rims.

Steve