Foffa Bikes

Although your frameset is supposedly 100% cromo, the quality is terrible and they are really not that light. Since you moved production of your frames from Taiwan to China*, the quality of the welds has become very poor and the tube profiles on the fork and stays are horrible. The only particularly good thing about the frameset is the cast track ends and instead of using the built in chain tensioners, you've opted for 1 really cheap and nasty lollipop tensioner, on the drive side only, which I'm guessing has saved you about 2p per bike. The Charge does have cheaper track ends but otherwise the quality of the frame, especially the tube set, is of a significantly higher standard.

As for componentry, you did not mention the saddle. The Charge comes with their Spoon saddle and while by the nature of bicycle saddles, it will not be a perfect fit for everyone, it is probably the best middle ground saddle I know of in it's price range and it is a country mile ahead of the retro styled cheapo you have chosen for your bikes. The seatpost albeit a budget alloy affair is still significantly better that yours, which is fitted with a pressed steel clamp I might add.

The headset you use is one of the worst components on your bikes and like all cheap threaded headsets, the tab washer is made of cheese, making it an absolute nightmare to adjust. Charge have seen the error of their ways and gone back to a threadless setup this year. It's half decent quality, easy to adjust and it will stay tight!!!

You mentioned the sealed hubs and I'm glad to hear you will be speccing sealed bearings in future. These are a big plus, especially as a lot of people buying these kind of bikes are not always that hot on maintenance. Otherwise, apart from the aesthetics, I wouldn't say there's much in it between the two wheel sets.

Finally there's the little details, like the quality of the bar tape and the chrome cable clips that the charge comes with.

This may sound harsh, although I'm sure you will agree, no harsher than your criticism of the Plug but it is my honest opinion. If you go back a few pages, you will find that about this time last year, I was singing the praises of your bikes over the Charge Plug. They really were very good but unfortunately, just as you were starting to get it right, you have slashed costs, on every component and now they are very cheap.

So I guess in summary, that's where I think the extra hundred pounds goes and personally I think it's worth it.

*I am quite aware that there are many products made in China of as good or better quality than many made in Taiwan, you get what you pay for etc. but I believe this is the case in this particular situation.

This is an excellent review of Foffa bikes, and underpins why the business ethic of the Foffa bikes deserves derision