Frame for Life! (Dolan, maybe)

hippy [quote]wappingwarrior So! how about some help with what I should be ordering!

1. What bikes can you get?
   
2. Which of those bikes have you test ridden?
   
3. Which one did you like best?
   

4. You have your answer. That'll be £50, please.[/quote]

5. Looking at a custom bike!!!!! So haven't seen it or ridden it! It doesn't exist yet ;-)

hippy [quote]Platini Speaking of Terry Dolan.....
http://www.tony-bell.co.uk/diary.php

Is that story about Dolan then? Is he some kinda nutter?[/quote]

In the documentary on Chris Boardman's final hour record (ie: the steel frame, "conventional" riding position) Boardman says that Terry Dolan is a volatile character, and has had a row with everyone in cycling - apart from him. But that doesn't mean this is about Dolan...

wappingwarrior 5. Looking at a custom bike!!!!! So haven't seen it or ridden it! It doesn't exist yet ;-)

I thought you said brick lane bikes? They don't do custom, do they? Or you don't mean 'custom frame' you mean 'not off the peg'?
Custom frame you should be talking to a frame builder and I think it's silly doing it for your first fix anyway.
Custom build you should go to BLB and ask if they have any bikes in your size, if they do, ride them. Then see points 3 and 4 above. :P

reverendmark In the documentary on Chris Boardman's final hour record

What's this documentary called? Where might I find it?

Bromey Video has it: http://www.bromleyvideo.com/shop/shop.php?c=viewproduct&pid=9&cat=4&sid=sid66ad81d8272f32bf92606d7d827b53ef

I'm sure an internet pirate will have it too... but remember home taping is killing music!

hippy [quote]wappingwarrior 5. Looking at a custom bike!!!!! So haven't seen it or ridden it! It doesn't exist yet ;-)

I thought you said brick lane bikes? They don't do custom, do they? Or you don't mean 'custom frame' you mean 'not off the peg'?
Custom frame you should be talking to a frame builder and I think it's silly doing it for your first fix anyway.
Custom build you should go to BLB and ask if they have any bikes in your size, if they do, ride them. Then see points 3 and 4 above. :P[/quote]

'Custom Build' then! Remember I'm a newbie!!!!!

I've ridden a few from BLB, put wasn't keen on the look! Like the fixed, just want something I like the look of, hence 'custom build'.

The Graham Weich in the window (orange) looks nice, but it's a bit pricey and is probably a magnet for thevies!

I know you're a newbie that's why I explained everything so nicely for you. :P
Unfortunately I am a untrendy dag so you're gonna have to ask one of the 14 million designers/artists/creativetypes on this forum if it's looks you want opinions on.

Try trawling Fixed Gear Gallery and Velospace for ideas.

It's not the look, I know what I like, it's the parts! I don't know a good wheel, frame or crank from a bad one! In fact, I have no idea about chains, brakes, cogs or anything!

Style wise, it's more colour, frame and handle bar style. Wish I can cover!

Hippy: thanks for your input! I won't take anything too to heart! I know what forums can be like!

Quick update! My firm has register for cyclescheme and all I need to do now is get written quote from the bike shop! My boss will approve it and I should then get the voucher within 5 working days! It's only a small firm and I've know the boss for 10 years, so shouldn't be any problems!

So just need to fill up the £750 with the parts I need/want/can afford!

Going with a black or white frame, short or cowhorn bars, front brake, flip/flop hub.

No idea whatelse! Like the idea of Velocity Rims!

go to brick lane bikes. tell them what you told us. ask for their advice. choose frame. equip with parts to the value of the remaining sum.

alternatively, buy fuji, pocket the change.

Doesn't sound like much fun!

Surely good wheels will mean less good crank! Must be some choices to be made!

Suggestion if i may. Listen to BLB. they know their shit.
talking to them is one of the best sources of info i have ever had. (putney cycles pretty much helped with everything too)

And don't go on a Sunday- epically busy.
With £750 you can get a most righteous bike.
I suggest you spend money where it matters: crankset and wheels- wheels are so fucking important in london- you want bulletproof quality.
Oh and don't go for a 'look'- ask their advice. It'll be useful.
Alternative have kiwicycles help you out (in Hackney) check his website.

This is all coming from recent experience. Also learn how to do stuff- ask them again, nicely. Learn as much as you can about the maintenance of the bike- that is vital, people ride fixed gears because the repair work is accessible ( also they are fucking fun ) and costs little.
Read up on everything. Sheldon Brown, Wikipedia, etc.

I hope that helps.

wappingwarrior It's not the look, I know what I like, it's the parts! I don't know a good wheel, frame or crank from a bad one! In fact, I have no idea about chains, brakes, cogs or anything!
Style wise, it's more colour, frame and handle bar style. Wish I can cover!
Hippy: thanks for your input! I won't take anything too to heart! I know what forums can be like!

Right.. it's becoming slightly clearer.. perhaps try some more stuff, browse a bit more, and narrow it down to a shortlist and then we can comment on individual parts, etc.

BTW: I'm a forumbot designed to output sarcasm to the nth degree. Taking a hippy comment to heart is bad for one's health.

i really think you'd be better off with a starter, then after a while you'd know clearly what you want.

peejay78 i really think you'd be better off with a starter, then after a while you'd know clearly what you want.

something nice in titanium perhaps ;)

or a langster (london)........

You could buy any off the off the peg bikes and swap parts out for whatever..

peejay78 i really think you'd be better off with a starter, then after a while you'd know clearly what you want.

Definitely agree.

There's probably no such thing as a bike for life, and if there was, when speccing it, I'd be glad I waited until I had a few years of experience riding fixed. A lot of off-the-peg bikes have pretty reasonable/neutral frames (in terms of geometry and handling, rather than 'look'), and you'll find that once you've become better acquainted with your steed, you start to get fussy about contact points and wheels etc. After a bit of experimenting with components till you know what you like, you'll probably have more suss about frames/forks.

That's when you can get your frame for life... but you'll probably be getting another frame for life 5 to 10 years after that - if you're not dead :-O

i rode a fuji, upgraded parts, got bob jackkson, swapped parts out, got new bits. wouldn't have done it any other way.

unless the langster london was around a coupla years ago, then i would have swapped my left leg for one, got first in the queue ahead of the birkencroc wearing microtrenders.

Hmmf.. said this on page one.. mumble grumble no one listens grrr mumble complain moan whinge :P

hippy Hmmf.. said this on page one.. mumble grumble no one listens grrr mumble complain moan whinge :P

Just reiterating your jaded words of wisdom, as the message seemed to have been tossed aside somewhere along the way ;)

Hmmm.. jade coloured frame to represent my outlook on life perhaps? :)

i was of the opinion we'd all been politely repeating the same message, subtly, over and over, and being politely ignored.

but well done hippy for getting there first.