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dibs on the nitto bar. PM.

52 for 5"11 is not one size too small, thats like riding a girls bike. hehe.

edmundro: I wish I am as efficient as you. How long did you spend researching bike building before you took the plunge? How much did you spend on buying the right tools? Did you install your own headset and lace your own wheels? The thing I'm afraid of is getting parts that don't work together and messing up the chainline. I also have to take into account the tools necessary if I'm building it myself and keeping to a budget. I'm sure all the research can be done over a weekend, what if you are fussy and want particular component for a particular price. But I have to agree, if you want to have a quick build and not too fussy, it definitely can be done.

BleakReference: Do you mind telling us what sort of bike you got and how much did you spend?

ps: some pictures would be great.

You can forget about IRO frame unless you can wait for months. Only cavendish brings them in and they have not yet received the frames from the last order. Most of the frame is pre-order. I think I'm tenth on the waiting list for any left overs. IRO mark V is going for around £220 and £270 for angus.

There is no evidence that the BLB branded frame is an IRO. They may be from the same taiwanese OEM/distributor but that does not mean they have the same geometry and tubing or even the same factory. But at £199 a frame it definitely worth it. Go for a test ride, they have prebuilt bikes.

Another frame I'm seriously looking at is alienbike frame. It is a lugged double butted cro-mo steel track frame. Weight in at 1900g frame and 740g fork for a 53cm frame. A raw frame and fork is £239($399) and painted frame £269($449) and shipping £36.85($61.50). I'm not sure how much is tax, but let put it at 20% and given that they are willing to ship it with a "wholesale value", you may not have to pay so much tax. Looking at £320. If anyone wants to do a group order, that price can come down even more.

For £65 more, you can get a off the peg bob jackson for £365. Personally I wouldn't do it, every tom dick and harry and their grandmother is riding one.

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/

I have come to a conclusion that £700(This is due to the fact that the pound has weaken significantly) is the bare minimum you need to build a **new **bike with new components by sourcing your gear from online retailers. This bike will have the absolutely cheapest bottom of the line generic recommended components. The cheapest decent track frame I found is the BLB frame(IRO?) coming in at £199, the IRO Mark V around ~£220 which is hard to come by. Then you have your standard formula/ambrosio/system kit and some rigida rims. And this is building it yourself. And NO this would not be a very nice bike, it would be a nice basic custom cheapo bike.

It is possible to build it cheaper by using 2nd hand gear, but it needs a lot of patients and time to constantly hunt down parts on ebay and various other places. Unless its a pet project or time is cheap for you, it may not be worth the time.

Looking at the BLB OTP bikes at £675 and Condor bikes certainly looks like a bargain. Maybe I can even buy these bikes break them down and sell the parts on ebay, it would be a profitable business.

Anyways, I still haven't gotten a bike. :(

If they can sell the whole bike for the price they list, ofcourse they are making money. This only tells me that profit margin on this bike items are extremely high.

Superprecise: What is OOL?

I went to condor to enquire about buying just the parts for the potenza. On their website the potenza is £699 for complete buildup and £399 for the frameset. I was wondering if I could buy everything except for the frame for £300. I asked the guy and he was kind enough to give me the potenza build sheet. I tried asking whether I could buy just the parts for £300 and the figures on the sheet don't seem to add up, by this time he has had enough and gave me a dirty look and smack down, so I dare not pursue further. Here is the sheet.

Pifco: I will ride the bike for a while and see if indeed I need to change the sprocket, I think I most likely will. Found the miche 18T on wiggle for £12.59. Thanks

edscoble: I do prefer the charge plug racer colours and the racer comes with a deep v rim. I'm can't remember what the guy at 14bikeco said, I think they have different type of tubing and fancy lugs, the one he quote me is for a basic frame. Even then its kinda cheap cause you can have any colour you want. I wonder if their frame builder is any good.

Crispin Glover: A bianchi pista 2009? Can I try it out first?

t-4003: The problem is the gf noticed that the bike can only ridden by one person, thus the vespa.

forms: I agree with you. £150 will not take me very far. Safety first, add Dia Compe BRS 101+Dia Compe "dirty harry" lever+wire(£22.5+£12.5+£5=~£40)+ Vittoria Rubino+tubes (£20x2=~£40) + Miche 18T sprocket (~£15) + riser bar+grip (~£40) + Rigida DP18 (£23x2=~£46) Total: ~£181, There is no doubt that the charge plug racer have better components and is more bang for buck. The fuji bottom bracket is sealed.

hugo7: I'll probably get 2x really heavy duty locks ~4kg?

pigfarmer: Is london roads that bad? Now I'm a bit worried for the fuji track.

Well, today was a bad day. Damn teh rain. Got out of the tube and it started drizzling and the guy at condor didn't allow me to test ride. Asked him how long to build a potenza, he said 8 weeks. I thought the frame is OTP, all they need to do is assemble right? Anyways, went back to london bridge evans which is nearest to me and also checked out onyourbike shop. Started pouring again, atleast evans and onyourbike said I can take it for a spin, but I was too scared to ride in the rain. heh. So fingers cross it won't rain again tomorrow.

Basically charge plug racer is a better deal. Let see who rides better. Btw, how much does a 2nd hand plug or fuji go for? I can't find any on ebay or here.

Superprecise: Thanks, I'll pm him.

illy: I think its because I looked like a total noob wanting to be the cool guys.

dannyasteriod: yes sir! understood sir!

Archi Pelago/edscoble: thanks

forms: The difference between the charge plug racer and fuji track is £150. I definately need a brake for the fuji. Would the extra £150 of the charge plug racer be a better deal or should I can go much further with the fuji track with the £150 upgrades (new wheels..etc)?

thanks.

I know this should be in a different thread but what the heck.

Which of this bike builds is the most bang for buck?

Charge plug racer ~£550 (going to test later)
Fuji track ~£400
Bianci pista ~630
Condor potenza £699 (Condor) (going to test after this post)
Surly steamroller £675(Brixton bike) (tested)
Ellis-Briggs fixed £849
BLB fixed £750 (tested)
Specialized Langster £450

Just got back, was at condor and didn't get to test ride their bikes cause they were closing, will try again tomorrow. Saw the gold classica custom bike and the custom frame sitting on the shelve(those lugs!).

Ohyes, forgot to mention the total price does include the £50 for wheel building and £50 frame building. I just forgot to put it on the list.

edscoble: hey, I didn't get a UTFS from you. heh. I won't be too picky on the component as long as the cheapo parts don't break and have abit of a resale value.

Nick G: I did tell them I have about £1000 to spend and I've also choosen the few cheapest components they have.

sorethroat: The lead time at 14bikeco is about 2-3weeks if they don't already have a frame in my size.

Harry.Major: I have a really bad habit of doing research on every single bit before I take the plunge. The good thing is, I always get the best bang for buck and decent items. The bad thing is it takes so long to do the research I waste alot of time. This time maybe I'll take the advise most people here agree on, and buy an OTP while doing more research. If I bought a £500 bike and ride it for 6 months and sell it for £250. I would only lose out on £250 and that is only 2.5 months worth of tube fare.

Superprecise: Yup, as mentioned above. I'm quite hands on, I'm sure I can see videos and read on the internet to how to build a bike. Since this is my first build, I think its better to watch and learn from a experience mechanic. I think I'll get a OTP, ride it sell it and build a custom.

John H: I'll have a look at the Specialized Langster.

M-X: no cyclescheme for me.

squoocher: different wave length, but I do like the way you think.

dooks: "brake leavers" It is exactly how it is printed on their spec sheet.

pigfarmer: The dreaded winter. I actually was planning to get a vespa scooter, atleast in winter it won't be so bad. For the moment, I'll get a bike first.

Now I will concentrate on choosing the right OTP. Currently fuji track and charge plug racer is the cheapest option. I really like the look of the red condor potenza, can't wait to test it tomorrow. I'll do some searching here and ebay for 2nd hand bikes.

Another option would be to get a really nice classic frame(I like fancy lugs), and get really cheapo parts. From the condor website, the price of whole bikes minus and frameset is around £200-£300. So if I spend £500 on a nice classic frame and goto condor to get them to build the rest. It should be quite decent.

Would the cheap fuji track bike put me off riding fixed because I get what I pay for?

To the rest, thanks for the advise.

lenk

Hello fgss, I am on the breaking point with london underground. It is too hot, stuffy and packed like sardines. So I came to a conclusion that I need a change of lifestyle and for health reason(the tyre on my waist is starting to contrict blood flow to my brain) to commute on a bike. The last time I rode a bike on a daily basis was probably 13 years ago on my first MTB(with suspension! coolest kid on the block).

I went to 14bikeco to get a rough idea how much it would cost. The head mechanic was really helpful and explain a lot of the parts to me, thumbs up. Here is the quote I got.

Wheels

tyres+DP18+ambrosio hubs: £210

Bike

frame+forks(basic lugged): £450
headset(Tange): £30
stem(Odyssey 12): £61.99
handle bar(Gussett): £35
brake leavers: £10
bartape/grips: £12.99
brake cable: £6
brake caliper(System EX): £25
seat pin(System EX silver): £15
seat bolt: £5.99
saddle(concor): £69.99
crankset(Sugino messenger): £105
chain(510): £10
sprocket(dura ace): £16.99
lock ring(dura ace): £10
bottom bracket(Sugino messenger): £35
pedals(Odyssey+power grips): £40

Total: £1254.95

Currently here is the short list of OTP that seems to be favorable on this forum.

Charge plug racer ~£550 (going to test later)
Fuji track ~£400
Bianci pista ~630
Condor potenza £699 (Condor) (going to test after this post)
Surly steamroller £675(Brixton bike) (tested)
Ellis-Briggs fixed £849
BLB fixed £750 (tested)

My budget is only around £800-£1000, after reading this forum and some advise from friends, I was told not to spend so much just incase I don't like riding. Would I be able to build a custom bike for around £800-£1000? If so, can you guys help me spec one up in my budget.

PS: I have used the search and read a lot of post on this forum already before you flame me :)

I would be using this mainly for commuting and also maybe do some simple trick riding over the weekends. Maybe try wheely and barspin, not going to do crazy superted jumps over stairs and all that. Any advise would be much appreciated.

thanks
lenk

thanks slowstephen, Is it true that different frames will fit differently even if they are of the same size? or that all 53 frames is the same fit?

Nhattattack: will do the next time I come in.

I'm 5"9 and I find 56 a little big, kinda scared I'll bust my nuts.

need sunglasses for those

I just tried an old model 53 steamroller at brixton bike. I don't really know whether it was good bike cause its only the 2nd fixed bike I've tested(1st being the 56 BLB fixed bike). I had no problems riding it and it is more comfortable than the BLB(maybe the BLB is too big for me). Brixton bikes gonna build a new model black steamroller for me to try out this week.