I had a guy stop me last night...

i was bored, i thought it might be fun (to eat snow)

tallsam Quite why you'd want to eat snow unless you absolutely had to is beyond me.

Oh come on, *every*one likes to eat snow. Unless it's yellow, of course. The other day it was raining, I was thirsty, I started licking my umbrella. Free water. Nice.

I thought that was lemon-flavoured snow? What?

I went into BLB and dropped £900 on a new custom fixed, my first! So I may be consider as a bandwagon jumper or trend follower and I'm definately a newbie!

But....

The only reason I starting looking into fixed, was my Hybrid's gears needed sorting twice a year (tried and failed myself many times), a new chain & set every year and was getting pissed off dropping large chunks of cash on maintenance each year. Was only in BLB cause my gears were out 'again' and was sick of Evans poor workmanship (and price!). BLB sorted my bike in 5 minutes and charged peanuts!

I saw the fixed bikes and asked about them, as I'd seem plenty of couriers using them and had seen a few without any brakes (how did that work!)!!!! When I was told about riding fixed/SS and low maintence (no gears at the time was all i wanted) I went away and spent a couple of weeks reading up about it. Found out not only would it be cheaper, but it would improve my fitness, less likely to be stolen, although I'm not sure how true that is now, lighter and more fun to ride, I was hooked on the idea!

Rode a couple of bikes to get a feel for it, then sorted out my budget, found cyclescheme through the sticker on BLB door, max budget then rose! Decided against starting cheap and adding bits, as this would be more expensive long-run. Went for good frame and wheels and got a custom built.

I'll be riding my new bike for a long time, so I'm not jumping off when it's no longer cool. I've been riding daily since I was 12. I've gone through 2nd hand racer, to MTB, to racer, back to MTB. Then found Hybrid's about 10 years ago and have been using them ever since as they suit my use. Now I've found fixed and expect to be riding that until something else more suitable is invented. Just wish I'd found out years ago!

So I'm a newbie who's just bought an expensive custom fix, but I'm not doing it to be cool, I'm doing it cause it suits. I expect to be treated as a newbie, I expect to ask stupid questions, I expect to fall off at the lights, I expect experience fixers to look down on me as an ''all the gear, no idea'' w**ker. But.....If I stick at it, I'll soon be doing the same to other newbies.

That's the way it works! And I'm happy to play the game.

What did you get then?

And screw all the gear no idea peeps, they would have it if they could afford it. Jealousy is a terrible thing.

benanza What did you get then?

And screw all the gear no idea peeps, they would have it if they could afford it. Jealousy is a terrible thing.

you got that right.

i'm saving up for some sidis. The 50p jar's looking' big!!

wappingwarrior

So I'm a newbie who's just bought an expensive custom fix, but I'm not doing it to be cool, I'm doing it cause it suits. I expect to be treated as a newbie, I expect to ask stupid questions, I expect to fall off at the lights, I expect experience fixers to look down on me as an ''all the gear, no idea'' w**ker. But.....If I stick at it, I'll soon be doing the same to other newbies.

Newbies rock. Welcome aboard, the more the merrier :)

dont believe the "less likely to be stolen" myth! get yourself a beastie lock or 3.
can we see a picture of your bike:)

only two comments this week:

the funny one was as I pulled up outside the Somerfield in Tulse Hill the other night and the local tramp said "fixed wheeler" - i guess beggers have got to have their fingers on the pulse

the other was from a roadie who knew his business when he pulled up alongside me at some lights and said "nice chainset, that will last you forever"

I'm a newbie too. Been riding my mates Bianchi Pista for 2 weeks while he was scared to ride it because of the lack of brakes. I was slowly saving for a bike and then sold some crap on eBay and got a Fuji Track for £275. I'm enjoying it so far and I'm looking forward to getting fitter cycling to work and just like it in general. There's no scene at all here in the north east so there's really no bandwagon to jump on.

where is this £900 bike then? that's a massive shitload of money for a new bike/first fixed. i'm intrigued.

nb: you don't have to justify yourself, unless you feel guilty about it.

i was in the pub with cajeta and we chained our bikes outside, her hetchins, my bob jackson. a man commented "those are some really lovely bikes" and i got a warm glow inside on account of my vanity.

i have had 3 'roadies' say "that's a beautiful bike" while i have been spinning round richmond park, somebody put a pic of my bike on flickr with the comment "lovely"
so i suppose it must be :-)

same happend to me... I went riding Rich.Park the weekend , when there was the Duathlon, another cyclists passed by and made same compliment.
Even though I love my ride for being my ride I do not consider it worth prasin', but feels nice anyhow.
and... I freely admit I am not a noob I have been riding for long..Can I stay anyway ? : )

I want to see what you carry home from BLB for almost one grand !

Pics please, pics please.. that must be an awsome ride !

Come on, do not be bike-shy !

did this not turn heads... everyone who passed by just have to LOOK at these 5 bikes.
you know who you are, respective owners :)

Haven't picked the bike up yet! Waiting on the voucher from CycleScheme!!!!!!! I've paid a deposit, so they were nice enough to build it, then show it to me!

• 53cm Bio frame painted black (£350 with forks)
• Black velocity wheels.
• Flip/flop hub
• Black chainset
• Gold chain
• Black short bars
• Titainium Shimano 105 Brake caliper
• Silver metal pedals with straps
• Black seat post
• Can't remember the saddle make.

Don't ask anymore, cause I don't know until I pick it up!

I'll change a few things once I get used to riding it. Might change to bullhorn's if I find the short bars too difficult at first. It's also got cheap grips on at the mo! So I'll find something nice later. Look forward to learning more about gearing and otherstuff!

I've got it covered on my house insurance (direct line) for theft away from the house and have an Abus Granit Lock 1000/100, plus a Abus D-lock for protection. Thinking of Datatagging it as well.

Looks great, is really light and is just how I imagine it. Can't wait to take it for a spin.

Come on CycleScheme, I'm off on holiday next friday!!!!!!

I'll take some pictures as soon as I pick it up!

edmundane

did this not turn heads... everyone who passed by just have to LOOK at these 5 bikes.
you know who you are, respective owners :)

A List????? but without names.... with bikes!

whose is the Samson in the middle? with the DA hubs?

jonaent (Jon) [quote]edmundane

did this not turn heads... everyone who passed by just have to LOOK at these 5 bikes.
you know who you are, respective owners :)

A List????? but without names.... with bikes!

whose is the Samson in the middle? with the DA hubs?[/quote]

Reminds me of this (at the Prologue) you know who you are!

lol @ list

jonaent (Jon)

A List????? but without names.... with bikes!

whose is the Samson in the middle? with the DA hubs?

the samson belongs to hops and is definitely one of the best bikes i've ever seen!

Mine's the purple & green Diamant in both pics

what a great day that was.
funny that somebody took the pic and called it 'courier bikes'

I'm still disappointed you guys didn't manage to get them lined up in rainbow order :)

edmundane

did this not turn heads... everyone who passed by just have to LOOK at these 5 bikes.
you know who you are, respective owners :)

Whose is the orange pursuit with the aerospoke? I met you up at King X when Heather was over... You rode past us outside the John Snow last night but zoomed by before we could figure out your name. Doh!

that be Dave, (dt)