Moving to London from the States

hey,

so glad i found this!

i have been riding fixies for years now (in chicago, new york and bloomington indiana-of Breaking Away fame) and am coming to london to do a study abroad program. i'll be here for about 4 months and am not sure what to do about a bike.

i have a perfect bike here at home, a pretty fixie that's done me right, but the cost of shipping it or bringing it with me on the plane is OUTRAGEOUS! I love it, but given the round-trip costs (at least $250, like 120 pounds) it seems like it might be better to buy a bike in london and sell it at the end (or bring it home because I will probably be too attached). I really only want to ride fixed, but don't mind if it is converted.

How much would a working conversion or a decent used track bike cost me here? Bike prices seem radically different than in the US. Also, are there any bike collectives where I could put together a conversion myself? Bringing all the tools and components would sort of defeat the purpose of not bringing a complete bike. I've looked on gumtree and craigslist and nothing has really popped out at me.

I'd really appreciate any tips, loans, or nudges in the right direction.

-becca

hmmm.. is it really THAT expensive to bring your bike over on the plane?? Seems mad.. Have you booked your flights yet? Might want to try another company, I'm sure people here have travelled to and from the states and hopefully haven't paid that much.

I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have much trouble finding tools to put together a conversion, people here are usually nice, especially if you're a girl! ah, sorry, had to say it.. (sorry if you're not!!)

I think you'd be looking at £200 - £400 for a decent conversion, depending on how picky you are with your parts..?

I put my bike in a bike bag and Virgin flew it to and from NYC for free. Just checked it in as luggage.

It's worth investigating and ringing some airlines to check.

(the bike bag cost the best part of $200 mind...)

How much is shipping? Someone was sayng flying on Virgin bike are free. Dunno check it out. Anyway shipping cant be more expensive than buying a bike...

depends on how good you want. i'm sure someone could borrow you a polo bike with an option of selling it if you get attached.

International shipping of bikes is usually free or dirt cheap on planes. It either is part of your allowance (but you have to declare the larger dimensions) or you pay a small surcharge for the extra item (GBP 15 is what I'm paying to get my bike to and from the USA).

It's only US internal flights that are outrageous. I'm paying $100 to get my bike from Seattle to Chicago. Fucking nuts.

Bring your bike, it will be cheaper than buying. Everything here is double what you expect to pay.

yeah, i've looked into with my particular airline (american airlines) and they will charge me 110 usd each way, plus they specified that i have to buy one of their bike boxes -which i really can't believe. i've read a bunch of testimonials on other mb and such that have had no problem and bunch about what a huge pain in the ass it was. there is a good chance that i might get it through without any hassel or charges, but i am just not sure i want to risk it, especially since it would be hard to put everything else i would need for four months in the other checked bag.

so, i am thinking it would be best to get one here and at least feel like i am getting something for my money.
any recommendations for where to look for used fixies, especially non-internet venues?

also, unxetas, did you really have to say it? i hope all the bike tools in britian aren't owned by dudes looking for something more than helping out a fellow rider in need.

aaaah, it totally wasn't meant that way lol.. Just that there aren't many around and it's a good thing - diversity that is..

Are you in Chicago? Are you coming over in about a month? I could bring the bike here for dirt cheap on British Airways for £15.

I've flown my bike across the Atlantic a few times and never paid for it. Most international flights treat your bike as part of your standard luggage allowance. But I guess you're making a connecting domestic flight too?

Bringing your bike is definitely the cheapest option as stuff is pricey here.

Second option, maybe to just score a cheap rear wheel somewhere and bring that. That way you can throw if on a conversion and you'll be laughing.

Best places for 2nd hand stuff is bike jumbles (bike swaps to you), EBay, occasionally Gumtree, Brick Lane bikes, Fixedgearlondon and Kiwi bikes are all worth looking at.

The only good places for tools in central london is here:
http://www.56a.org.uk/bikeshop.html

Don't know if its still running.

One thing you do find is some folks have a lot of tools, depending on what you need someone may be able to help out.

thanks so much. i will definately look into your recommendations, pip.

i am going to keep my eyes open. i had planned on shipping it through the mail as i have to bring a fair amount of other crap for studying and living beyond just biking, but found out it would be 120usd to do so. if i have to spend a couple hundred bucks anyway, i'd rather get to play around building a new bike and then get rid of it at the end.

unfortunately, i am not in chicago right now, but in lovely bloomington, indiana. but thanks so much for the offer david.

i just had a new wheelset built, so i'll probably put that in the bottom of my bag and hope to find a beater or loaner. let me know if you stumble on anything good or wounldn't mind letting an old one go.

hi becca,

56a which pip mentioned is still running and well. they have parts as well as tools. last time i went they had an old road frame sitting there with a single chainring. since it's a squat type donation based thing i'm not sure what they want in return for a frame, but explain your situation and the rest will be easy i guess. or you can bring it back there once your study here is over. they pretty much have all the tools you need and now they've even got a park tools workstand. only thing they can do with is a proper lockring tool and headset tools... someone got spare ones to donate? there are a few usable 700c rims too.

one place to pick up a cheap frame is in walthamstow first saturday every month there's a recycling centre... alexis posted it somewhere. my mate picked up a 60's road frame for 25pounds.

best thing is with some lucky ones here managed to find discarded frames in skips!

and of course, keep checking this forum. from time to time people have stuff to get rid of for cheap or even free.

female fixed rider population is really rather low in london so i guess when you're here you'll have to get used to a bit of extra attention sometimes :)

as far as access to tools goes, i dunno if these places are any good (just found out about them),
http://www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk/workshop.htm
http://www.towerhamletswheelers.org.uk/workshop/
but they're what, once a month? bah.
i dunno, i think i agree with those that say bringing your bike may be the cheapest option. plus, then you're ready to roll from the get go.
london is a very expensive place, and you may find that those few bits that you end up paying for could have been better spent on other things, especially if you're just getting rid of the proposed build in the end. on top of it; and i am saying this as someone from the u.s.: the exchange rate is a bitch. srsly.

p.s.
you know that swimming quarry in Breaking Away? my friend chris and I spent aaaages trying to find it! we found all kinds of quarries (active, and non-), but none that could be used as a swimming pool. we got lost in the weeds and the woods... we thought we may have found it, but there was a rusted out car sunk in it, and oil rainbows on the surface of the water. super bummer.) anyway, pray tell, is there still a swimable quarry?

just watched the trailer for breaking away, and that quarry looks a lot like a matte painting shot..

what size frame are you looking for? with regards to tools, i've got some bits and bobs that you're welcome to use and there are people on this forum that will certainly have what you need. i also have a front and rear wheel that you can borrow during your time in London, so essentially you can probably just hunt down a frame and some parts and you'll be set. then when you leave, you can break it all apart and sell it on...

yeah people here are generally very friendly. So don't worry too mcuh.
It all will get sorted out.

thanks so much. i'm stoked there is a bike scene here that is so friendly and helpful.

i'll keep checking in. i get to london on the 13th and will be bumming around for the first week before classes start with the main objective of learning the city through riding around, so i am sure i'll see you around.

also, there are definately working quarries, including the breaking away quarry, as we cutters call it. i've been swimminging in it and jumping off the ledge for as long as i can remember. and like in the movie, we really have a track race here that only college kids are allowed to participate in called the little 500. but, they all have boring stock bikes and don't really care about riding and probably try to run me down with their suvs all other weekends.

that's awesome! It looks a lot like a painted shot in the trailer, but I guess that's just how scenic the place must look like in real life..

Make sure to come to polo on sundays.

what size frame do you ride?? i've got a few too many and might be able to lend you one of the bikes.