Choices for my cycle to work scheme bike

Clever Pun

I've got a grand to spend and 2 choices

Condor Pista single/fixed gear then pick up a cheap brompton somewhere

Very nice brompton then get round to building my own fixie over time?

Any suggestions as to which route you would take given the choice? (either way I'm getting some light new shiny things for my existing bike)

Useagewise I could see me using the brompton occasionally when I'm going out for the odd beer after work and general train useage. plus the missus might use it occasionally going to work

the fixed gear would get more proper use on a commute depending on how I get on with it, I will be getting both over time

attica

This might affect your descision:-

If your C2W scheme is using Halfords as a supplier, they don't stock Brompton. My company's C2W scheme ran last October, Halfords agreed to get a Brompton from an LBS for a chap at my work, he's been paying for it since October and took delivery last week!

Just a thought

BentMikey

I would spend more money on the bike you're going to use most. Best of all, I'd spend more money on both. :P

TheBoyBilly

Get the Brompton via the C2W scheme and then have the satisfaction of making a fixie to your own spec. Go on, you know you want to.

Clever Pun

TheBoyBilly wrote:

Get the Brompton via the C2W scheme and then have the satisfaction of making a fixie to your own spec. Go on, you know you want to.

I do... would give me a sense of achievement as well as lets face it I wont be building a brompton

yes I want to spend lots of money on both BM, that's a given

Attica, I'm going nowhere fricking near Halfords... I'll be going to condor and speccing up both bikes I suspect

attica

Don't blame you CP, I was forced down that route, got my bike and gave it a full service before taking it out on the roads, Johnny Halford had probably just taken it out of the packing case, turned the handlebars to face the same way as the front wheel (ish) and sent me on my way!

sonnyb

Halfords is not so bad, I used the C2W scheme to buy a Boardman Urban Pro for £700. It is isuperb. Light and very good quality components.
Here is a pic......





Plus my other bike........

Clever Pun

back on track people

brompton or fixie?

graham_g

Brompton. Definitely.

The Brompton is a big outlay (there's no such thing as a cheap one - they do not depreciate like other bikes) so best to stump up through the C2W scheme as your actual outlay will probably be recoverable at any time in the next few years should you eventually sell it.

A Condor fixed wheel bike has got to be a major target for theft, and a very expensive way of getting a fixed! You could put something together yourself for far less than you could find your second-hand Brompton (I reckon that about £200 is very easily doable, possibly a good deal less depending on the 'donor' bike). Then you would have something that is less nickable, cheaper to replace and a bit more unique, plus you will know the bike inside and out after building it up yourself.

Hope that helps.

Clever Pun

Cheers Graham G, that's what I needed to hear... the justification of the bromptons not dropping in price makes sense financially...

not too worried about the nickability though as I've got secure parking, but making my own fixed gear should be a nice summer project for myself

Expect threads along the lines of what the frick do I do now soon enough

Edit should I consider a Moulton? just having a quick shufty and came across this

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=70643

TheBoyBilly

Moultons are good, very good actually, and have loads of fans.....but they don't fold, they split (not necessarily a good thing on a station platform) . For commuting I would go for a Brompton everytime as they just do everything so very well. Nicely engineered and to the spec of your choice too.