London Fixed-gear and Single-speed

Hi all,

I was just looking at the Ev*ns website and notice they now have a new section just for single speed bikes!

Seems a lot of people are jumping on the bandwagon.

I would like to suggest a sticky thread that gives info and objective reviews off all the off-the-peg bikes available.

Stuff like: ride quality, frame quality, value for money, upgradeability, comparisons to..., where available in London, etc etc. This could be kept up to date with new bikes as they appear.

I know a lot of people here custom build but I think a lot of people don't have the time/money/skills to build their own.

What you reckon? I've tried to find info on several bikes lately and there seems to be limited info on the net, apart from on manufacturer's sites!

John

No - if you want reviews/comment/opinions regarding OTP bike - just search through the threads, heaps there.

vb is very selective of his stickies.

Yeah no one read faq stickies e.t.c waste of time.

Anyone too lazy to wait patiently for a suitable bike/frame to appear on Ebay, then build up your own bike? If so, here are the latest off-the-pegs from the shops: http://www.londonfgss.com/thread9085.html

don't be a penis, it's not compulsory, nor is it worthwhile for a lot of people. it's meant to be about cycling, not pretty lego projects for big boys

nimhbus, my bike was stolen, a Klein (already 2nd hand) that I'd been working on. So since I'm always broke, I was looking at Ebay for a cheap-ish replacement. It ocurred to me that if I had £350 or more spare, I could get myself one off the peg. But I've got kids, and bills, and I maxed my card, so even the £350 isn't there. But, since I'd done the searching, I just thought I'd share it, since maybe somebosy else might be in the same boat?

fair enough, i thought you were saying that one should always preferably build up one's one bike from scratch, unless one is lazy..

Good man grenville, not that i'm looking for a bike but it's still interesting to see how many new offerings there are this year. Also a bit disappointing to see the 08 pista is completely identical to the 07.

Unless you build up a bike front crap components, does it not just work out cheaper to buy one off the peg in the end, or at least the same? Or, how about a second hand off the peg. I saw a fuji track go for £150 on ebay (linked from here), and I can't believe you could build one for less?

Cheers asm, I forgot a few though. Maybe someone will comment on any of these bikes that they've either tried out or owned? A few more added:

Mosquito Bikes - http://www.mosquito-bikes.co.uk/htdo...php?name=bikes
FIXIE Inc Peace Maker £415 [MrSmith has shown me that this is frame only price - expensive!]
FIXIE Inc Black Jack £595 [ditto]

On-One - http://www.on-one-shop.co.uk/acatalog/Road_bikes.html
Pompino £499.95

I like the look and the price point of the FIXIE Inc Peace Maker, the Charge Plug, and the Giant Bowery.

do you really like the the price of the fixie inc?
you do realise it doesn't come with wheels? or chain, or bars, or chainset or......

Damn, I thought it was built. No good to cheapo me. :((

not looking for one either but...
http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/produc...es_-_Messenger

SE BIKES Draft (2008) £249.99
TREK Soho S (2008) £350.00
SE BIKES Lager (2008) £365.99
etc. and the usual suspects
TREK T1 (2008) £800.00

havent seen or heard of any of these.

"the 08 pista is completely identical to the 07."
except for the colours, the condor name stamped on the headtube and the decals. plus you can spec them with whatever parts you want.
TBH i can't see what they needed to change?

Might be talking about the Bianchi.

yeah and the 08 is 50 dorrah more then the 07.

07 pista love.... though its headed towards polo bike

i see. i suppose it's not really 'off the peg' either

Shinscar the sleuth, with a probably unbeatably priced single speed road bike. The "SE Bikes" look like they might be chinese made. With the cheap one being plain guage and 27lbs in weight, its probably not going to be at the top of Xmas lists. The slightly more expensive one at least has the decency to be cro-mo. And that one weighs 21lbs. Not bad. A good find actually - I've lived in London 24yrs, and I'd never heard of the Triton cycle shop.

Hi,

I thought i'd log on and add some details about the bikes.

The SE Bikes are made in Taiwan and come out of the same factory as GT Bikes. SE made there name in BMX in the 80's with bikes like the PK Ripper, Quadangle and Floval Flyers.

The draft is designed to be a cheap but serviceable road bike. But i would tend to agree with the coments above, its basic and comes with a one piece crank and basic parts.

The Lager on the other hand is a great bike especially for the money. The frame is decent and its all there, the only thing it lacks is a fixed cog and lockring (it just comes supplied with a freewheel).

As for us weve been in the same building selling bikes for the last 18 years. :-)

Take it Easy

Luke - Triton Cycles

Man you guys have got some legends signed up to your label. Respect.

and there is the Touche for £550, from Pearson Cycles in Sutton*.

(*nb - buying one can involve visiting Sutton high st - one of the most depressing places on earth)

If you can use one of the 'bike to work' schemes you can usually only buy complete bikes, and I know quite a few people getting a first ss/fg bike this way.

Sutton High St is indeed one of the most depressing places in earth, but the shop is great. It's been there since 1860 and is still run by the Pearson family.

Indeed mr. Smith I was referring to the bianchi pista. how can you use it as a polo bike chris??!?

This is obviously the perfect bike for me, as I live in Se5, and i do quite like lager.

well back up polo and trick bike... i dont know how else i shoudl use it... i have the custom brew for everything else

A few more off the peg bikes.

An own brand effort:
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwP...c003155c002910

Specialized taking on the Bad Boy: (interesting styling)
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwP...c003155c002910

Edinburgh Co op's is a 26 inch wheel does this make much difference?

pompino not mentioned? Great value

I like the SE, used to lust over SE Bikes when i was a kid, some mates had PK Rippers and Quadangles... My BMX looked dull next to them.
Might be tempted buy one and fit new parts to my spec? Still, gotta get some other bike I've had my eyes on, but it's not coming easily!

Off the peg?

Well I like it anyway, and for less than 700.

yeah, it's a cool frame, good price

if the build i'm doing turns out to be too big, its going to look mighty tempting....
I need a more track specific bike anyhow.


[Edit]- anyone heard anything about these:
Rocky mountain boroughs 2008: near as doesn't matter 650 gn from wiggle

or a Felt TK2 2007 for £700 with delivery.

The question is, which is the better deal (my bets on the felt):
wiggle

The Felt has a Sugino crankset...

I got a charge plug for christmas (my first fixed) and its a cracking bike, highly reccommended

just don't lift it ;)

how would you? even if you wanted to, you couldn't.

Just got an email fro0m Parker :
Felt Dispatch Single Speed Road Bike[COLOR=#ff0000] £475.00[/COLOR]

What can I say, I've got thighs like a Russian Shotputter ;)

$699 in US £450 if they bring it to uk - had a ride on one in Colorado and was nice enough

if you can work out a way to get one over here:
The masi speciale fixed works out on the right side of £400.
link


or the masi speciale commuter which works out just on the wrong side of £300!
link

Did you folks see these? :
http://www.kiwicycles.com/bikesforsale.htm

those kiwi's look alright for the money..anybody have any experience with them?

$1060

:)

I've got a lager, I really like the frame although certain components could do with upgrading at some point (especially the crank, and maybe the rims). But for the money it rides way nicer than the other ones I tried (plug, wagon), the geometry doesn't offend your eyes, it is reasonably light and makes you want to ride fast which is the point huh? My first time riding fixed and I'm really loving it.
Plus there aren't that many around town and all the decals come off nice and easy which is always a bonus...

Ive been considering going fixed for months now and have spent quite a few hours reading threads on this forum to get a feel for bikes and components. It's a great forum.
The main reason for me wanting a fixie/ss is one of simplicity. My mountain bike takes up a lot of my time with cleaning and maintenance, I just don't want to add to this. Secondly theres the exercise benefits offered by one gear, especially when coupled with geared riding. But its the 3rd reason thats doing my nut in. I want to do a build. Its just so satisfying. I don't want to start collecting bikes though. I want to sort a bike out that ticks my boxes and then be done with it and just ride, ride, ride.

But building your own bike is not financially sound. I can build my own computer and save money but build my own bike and it would cost more!?!?!? WHY?

well, it may do if you buy all the parts brand new, but if you shop around (ebay etc) you can get some great 2nd hand parts and get a better bike for less. However, you do have to be quite good with bikes.

Ok, I did it. I bought one of the very same bikes I recommended for price - and so far so good.
I popped into CycleSurgery on Saturday, and walked out with a Giant Bowery '08. The service was faultless, and they even threw in some lights, because I bought anti-puncture tyres, and a few other bits, and they knew I was past my budget.
Well the bike is good. Very, very strong frame, which tracks well, and the set-up was good also. I'm a heavy guy, and its the only bike I've ever had where I can't feel any flexing. Sure you get what you pay for, but apart from being undergeared for me, I do like it. A good deal for me. Oh yes, I've been riding it everyday since, and haven't renewed my Oyster card.

I bought a Lemond Fillmore a couple of weeks ago from Brixton Cycles. Was very happy with their service - a lot of good advice for someone who hasn't ridden a bike for about 3 years. Got spds put on at the time, and had my first "forgot to unclip at the lights" experience yesterday - was very funny...apart from the blood running down my leg. Love the bike, but also feel it's a bit undergeared too - find myself spinning a few times on my commute when I wish I could go faster. Still haven't got the fixed side set up, so may get a different gearing put on it to try it out.

spin = win