Not Active - MERGED with OTP thread (Under £700 off the rack recommendations)

Hi all, long-time listener first-time caller. I need some help with an off-the-rack SS purchase. My trusty old Charge Plug Freestyler (2010) got nicked 2 weeks ago. I want to replace it with a steady workhorse (preferable with bullhorns or riser) in the sub £700 range that I can thrash commuting and across London in the weekends. I've been looking at the following but I can't find anywhere to test ride them all:

1. Bombtrack - Arise 2015 (£599): would need to swap the drops out but looks well set for on-road and light off-road (not something I'm into... yet)
   
2. Cinelli - Bootleg Mystic Rats 2015 (reduced on wiggle to £600): setup well for what I want but warned off the aluminium frame as hard riding (does have a carbon fork though).
   
3. Brick Lane Bikes - custom (£699): would need to add brakes and swap drops
   
4. Quella - One 2015 (£549)
   
5. State Bike Co - Contender 2015 (£599)
   
   

Any advice or suggestions/reviews gratefully received as it is slim picking for honest reviews on the web for most of these bikes. It's all just marketing spiel repeated on every site. Thanks!

Please merge with the OTP thread.

Why not buy/wait for something to come up 2nd hand for the same price and get more for your money as a result? You're in the best place to do that (Classifieds section)

Genesis Flyer is around that price point at £599.

I've been commuting on mine for about 6 months now - love it.

Second hand Pompino's are £150-250. Better option.

Which thread would that be?

get a 2nd hand surly steamroller.

dont buy Quella fixie pls

what size are you looking looking for? i got a 14bike co SS frame. .very small though. .pm me if interested

definitive OTP

"On The Piss"?

6'2" so looking for a relatively large frame. Will scratch the Quella off the list. Also now looking at a Kona Paddy Wagon (TT) 2015. Anyone had experience of this brand/range? I can see a few old ones were floating about in the classifieds.

Just bumped it for you.

Go for a Pompino. More versatile than the Surly as it has lots of mounts for racks and brake bosses. Also they are very cheap for complete bikes second-hand, then swap the parts you want to change.

off the peg

Thanks mate, rookie linguist here.