Quality SS/Fixed

dhope

Folks,

I have a 2008 Alu Langster and enjoy it. Still, I want a new bike. There's some justification for it I'm sure but I can't quite place it so I'm just going with N+1 for the time being.

Got a short quick blast through Central London for the commute and I'm liking single speed.
So - if I'm upgrading just for the sake of it, any recommendations what to go for? Pretty and fast (I'd like it to start as FCN 3 - proper rapid/tarty shiny SS) and not entirely rigid/unforgiving as it'll be spending most its life dodging London potholes.

Suggestions, pics, opinions? Ta

snooks

Have you been to Brick Lane Bikes yet?

They can build you the tartiest of the tarty, or you can pick a frame and build your own

rick_chasey

Kona Paddy Wagon.

SS/Fixie flip flop hub.



Steel frame. I'm very keen on it, read good reviews.

The 2010 colour scheme is lurvely (see above)

2011 less so.

S'what I ride.

Can get it for £300 odd.

clarkey cat

http://www.condorcycles.com/Single-Spee ... e.tpl.html

dhope

Condor I do like the look of, and they're not far away from work. Could head over one lunch, maybe leave my wallet at the office.

Would the Kona be much of a change from the Langster? Steel vs Alu aside?

Clever Pun

you could build one yourself?

the condor classico is a very nice bike

this might also help
Clicky
or just give you too much choice

dhope

Ah yeah, dunno why I didn't check the other forum, ta for the list.
The Cooper T200 Champ also caught my eye.

jonny_trousers

It all depends on what you are after and how much you have to spend as the variety of ss/fixie bikes on the market is enormous. I would highly recommend you opt for a steel frame over aluminium, though, as it really does feel so much better on city streets.

If you are close to Condor then you can't be far from Mosquito and they stock some absolutely gorgeous bikes.

hatbeard

the OTP fixeds seem to be a bit of a rip off when you go up to the top end.

I'd get something with a nice frame sell the other parts you don't want and bespoke the rest yourself.

secretsqirrel

Rick Chasey wrote:

Kona Paddy Wagon.

SS/Fixie flip flop hub.



Steel frame. I'm very keen on it, read good reviews.

The 2010 colour scheme is lurvely (see above)

2011 less so.

S'what I ride.

Can get it for £300 odd.

I like that. 8)

Spotted the Band Wagon 2010 (next up to the Paddy) on merlincycles.co.uk for very good price (£499 from £820).

Jay dubbleU

Pearsons do a couple of passable ss/fixies

oodboo

How about a Vanmoof:
http://www.vanmoof.com/vanmoof-no5

dhope

Hrm, Band Wagon looks nice but possibly a little too shiny for my tastes. Maybe if it was my first SS but I've got a flat barred fixie in the Langster and quite like the idea of an older style (read poser) with drops.

Vanmoof is very distinctive but looks pretty weighty and far more of a cruiser. I know it's the rider not the bike that makes for a quick journey and CP would destroy me on a kids trike if he got up early enough to see me on my commute

Now if only Condors weren't so pricey :?

secretsqirrel

dhope[b] wrote:

Hrm, Band Wagon looks nice but possibly a little too shiny for my tastes. Maybe if it was my first SS but I've got a flat barred fixie in the Langster and quite like the idea of an older style (read poser) with drops[/b].

You must have seen the 2011 Band Wagon. This is 2010.

dhope

Ah, 2010 Kona is much nicer than 2011.
Kona seems perfect commute, Condor for sunny days' posing. Langster pub bike.

I think I've identified the problem. I want about N+3. And a shed to put them in.

clarkey cat

clarkey cat

fail

how do i post pics?

Clever Pun

clarkey cat wrote:

fail

how do i post pics?

use a link to an actual picture, you've linked a page there...

right click on the image you want and copy image location

jonginge

The image url has to end in .jpg (or other image extensions):
[img ]http://www.ifbikes.com/assets/images/products//Silver_Ghost_442x347.jpg[/ img] Remove the spaces in the img tags above et voila:[/img]

clarkey cat

clarkey cat

Oh yes. Thanks for that.

dhope

So I had a change of heart, or rather I got this off eBay for £350
http://www.cooperbikes.com/T200-steelracingbike.html


Picked up some clipless pedals and took it out for a spin this afternoon to its spiritual home - Primrose Hill.

First impressions? The brakes are a bit too close together and I haven't adjusted the Sturmey tension cable properly so the thing keeps slipping into top gear just before I pull away from the lights. Geometry completely different to both the Alu Langster and Carbon Boardman, will take some getting used to and not sure I have the saddle or bars at the right height/distance.

Feels good though, certainly more assured than the Langster (I think it does weight a little more) and I do think for £350 (okay, £400+ after train fare to get it and new pedals) I've got a bit of a bargain given the frame is a few months old and everything else is literally brand new and unridden (guy I bought it from bought the 57cm, realised it was the wrong size after a few months, bought the 61 and swapped the parts).

The search for the new SS/Fixed may be on hold, briefly. Though there's always this year's C2W scheme... maybe just upgrade the Langster to latest model... No! Bad Dhope! But maybe...[/url]