Felt Dispatch

FatLarry

I've decided to treat myself to a fixie for Christmas...

I have about £600 to spend and want something that is fairly racy, with drop handlebars (with brakes on the drops), a flip flob hub, modern "non retro" look.

The nicest thing I've seen so far is a 2010 Felt Dispatch, but I've read mixed reviews on them.

I've also just noticed through doing a search on here that Boardman do a fixie that I'll go and take a look at.

Anything else I should consider in that price range?

owenlars

Pearson do three very ggod ones starting at about £500

markos1963

A guy at our club had a Felt and has had nothing but problems with it(especially bottom brackets).
I have had a Boardman for about 2 months now and can thoroughly recommend it. Its nice and light(8kg) due to its aluminium frame and seems to be robust. The brakes are average Tecktros but stop ok and the gearset is nice and smooth. The wheels are its strongest point, Formula hubs with DB spokes and Mavic Open Sport rims, they are a sensible choice as they are light and stiff to aid climbing rather than the flashy deep rim aero ones you get on other fixies. The only downside I can see is the low level finishing kit(Ritchie Comp) and the truely awful tyres(Conti Ultrasports) but these are cheaply upgraded and can be a way to personalise the bike. For £499(even cheaper for me as I bought it on C2W) I think its a bargain and being so simple you don't have to worry too much about Halfords messing up the prep!( although I have to say my local Cycle Republic are pretty good)

nic_77

Hi... What are the clearances like on the Boardman? i.e. what are the biggest tyres you think it'll take? I gather the clearances on the Dispatch are very tight, hence why I have eliminated this option for my winter fixed commuting bike...

My current favourite is the 2010 Pompino, or Genesis Day One Cross, or...

markos1963

nic_77 wrote:

Hi... What are the clearances like on the Boardman? i.e. what are the biggest tyres you think it'll take? I gather the clearances on the Dispatch are very tight, hence why I have eliminated this option for my winter fixed commuting bike...

My current favourite is the 2010 Pompino, or Genesis Day One Cross, or...

My Boardman will easily take 25mm tyres with a mudguard(23's fitted at the moment) might be a bit tight with 28's and a mudguard especially at the rear(too tall I think)

FatLarry

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to take a look at a Pearson tomorrow...

ride_whenever

My old pompino is currently running 30mm cyclocross tyres, however there is zero clearance with this (it is rubbing on the mudguard bolts!) with 28 you could probably still get mudguards in.

Mark Alexander

+1 for the Pompino.

I have 2 Felts the F3 and F4. Friends have the F1, F55, Z series and the track T2 I think all excellent.

For SS/fixed Pompino for me.

dreamlx10

I've decided to treat myself to a fixie for Christmas...

Why not buy a "FIXED" while you are at it ?

Mark Alexander

Good point, only strange lot that say "howdy" and "ye ha" a lot say fixie,

dreamlx10

Good point, only strange lot that say "howdy" and "ye ha" a lot say fixie

....and, "Campy", "flip-flop", etc, etc...

Mark Alexander

what should flip-flop be then?

dreamlx10

what should flip-flop be then?

Fixed-Gear hub or double fixed. As I was told by my local wheelbuilder a flip-flop is a type of footwear !

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Pompinos are on offer from £499 at the mo at Planet-X / On-One...

2oldnslow

At least 800km a month training on my 2008 Dispatch with nary a problem mind you I did replace the wheels on purchase with some handbuilts. For which thanks Paul still true as a true thing despite my almost 14st. Rarely if ever gets ridden in the wet though as it spends it's life in Riyadh.

Mind you I'm only going on my own impressions of actually owning one and not what some mate/club member said so what do I know.

Zachariah

Gary Fisher Triton.

highwaymunky

Trek 2nd District. It's so pretty. Mines on order.

http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/urban/district/2nddistrict

stickman

Saw a Globe Roll 2 in Cycling Weekly in racing green/cream, beautiful. Haven't be able to find it on the web though.

Jimbo.

Zachariah wrote:

Gary Fisher Triton.

I've recently purchased one of these, and very nice it is too. HOWEVER:

1) Unless I'm mistaken, the rear brake caliper fouls the rear rack mount, so you've have to get inventive with any pannier fixings (p'haps bending the arms and fixing them to the inside of the eyelets, rather than the outside)

2) The brakes are censored . I think it's due to the pads, mind. The levers feel quite nice, TBH.

3) The bar tape is VERY thick. Be prepared to change if you've small hands/prefer thinner bars/tape.

4) Whilst the bike is supplied with a lockring, I can't see any provision for it (i.e. stepped, opposing threads on the hub), so no fixed-wheel action despite the flip-flop hub.

5) The rear freewheel is a Dicta jobbie. Seems to work fine, but not highly rated by the SS 'ers, and to remove, you'll be needing a dedicated (and f. rare) tool, unless you destructively remove it as per the Park Tools method (http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=46)

It may sound like I'm moaning, but I'm not, really: the ride itself is lovely, the frame reasonably well finished (decals under laquer, etc...although some welding spatter), the saddle rather nice (personal, I know), the tyres tolerable, and most of what could be considered *bad* points can be easily rectified. Plus, call me a tart but the blue/white/black scheme is lovely. Lob on a set of orange rims and you've your very own Gulf/Le Mans/GT40 tribute paintscheme!