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Cheap plastic sledge we found down the parkBroken sledge

Cheap plastic sledge we found down the park

6
by dave atkinson
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Jan 6, 2010

8
£0.00

VERDICT:

6
10
Can't argue with the value but struggles with heavy use
Weight: 
500g
Contact: 
Your nearest pound shop
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A mixed bag, this one. On the one hand we found it in the park last time it was snowing, and it's been waiting in the cupboard ever since, so it's not like we had to fork out our hard-earned or anything. For general going downhill duties it put up with plenty of runs and though it wasn't the fastest sledge on the hill, it was quick enough for some laughs.

However, when we tried to use it as a cargo sled to pull some big snowballs around and make a jump, we found its limits. A small crack appeared in the base, which was enlarged by Dave trying to kick it back into shape, and the next run with Oli on board was a catastrophic fail, with the sledge basically snapping in two. neither end was usable as a mini-sled so we never got to try out our jump, though a bloke in a rubber ring gave it a go.

Overall then, above average preformance from our blue plastic friend. It only broke when we were being stupid, and it didn't cost us nuffin. We won't need a sledge again for about 17 years, so I doubt we'll miss it...

Sledging
Dave Atkinson

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

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8 comments

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jezzzer | 14 years ago
0 likes

when you gonna test the porsche?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/gallery/2010/jan/07/best-toboggan...

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Old Cranky | 14 years ago
0 likes

Is it still under warranty? You might be able to get your £1 back.

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Tony Farrelly | 14 years ago
0 likes

If London is anything like Bath - you shouldn't need to buy a sledge a quick walk to the park should sort you out with a wide selection of abandoned ones… who knows what else you might find, the canoe Oli mentioned above seems to have slipped its moorings so to speak

Avatar
OldRidgeback | 14 years ago
0 likes

I've been using a folding IKEA seat with my kids in the park, with a degree of success. I also had a piece of cardboard which wasn't much good. I'm not about to buy a sledge considering how rarely we have snow in London. I've dug out the skis my brother gave me for my eldest when he was little from our loft and my youngest can have a go with these tomorrow.

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NickInBath | 14 years ago
0 likes

The problem there is your vertical compliance / lateral rigidity ratio. Now, if it had been Campag.......

Have a happy new year. This has been a good start

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Oli Pendrey | 14 years ago
0 likes

Simon - It's good news I'm all fine...but sadly my Levi's have suffered a flesh wound!

My favourite 'sledges' of the day were; a canoe containing 6 teenagers, and a child's car seat. 1

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Fringe | 14 years ago
0 likes

i had a fertilizer bag and a bit of old hardboard which seem to share similar characteristics to your sledge there.. 4

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Simon_MacMichael | 14 years ago
0 likes

Ummm any news about how Oli is? He didn't snap in two as well, I hope?

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