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hey. if you are a student, save your pennies and build up a conversion. I suggest keeping your eye peeled for a cheap frame on ebay in reynolds 531 tubing and build it up. There are often wheels and other bits for sale on here. Read as many threads as you can (i refer you to the dolan for life thread, which will answer a lot of your q's ;) ).
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here are some nice cheap quality frames for eg
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Welcome!!! Bike polo at 1/3pm every Sunday around the top of Brick Lane in the EastEnd. have a look in the 'locations' tab at the top of the page to see where it is..... If that's not ur thing then there are always plenty of rides going on with many people on here.
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Hello.
Don't leave a bike outside over night reguarly unless it is a real beater you don't mind loosing.
Every where is close in central London when you are on a bike.
If you do what dogsballs says and build a convertion look in freeadds and junk shops tips local papers for a doner bike back up in scotland. It will be cheaper than buying it in London.
Bike polo or any ride is good to meet people. We are doing a little night ride at the end of september only short http://www.londonfgss.com/discussion/1282/2/2930-th-september-night-ride-dockyards-and-more-you-decidemeetthe-gypsy-moth/
Enjoy.
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Cheers!
Just read the 'dolan for life: what not to do' thread, good info. Thing is I have £450 from a recently sold bike, which I would invest in a new bike. The guy with his dolan ended up paying £550 for the components! Would it be easier (though not as fun) to buy the charge for £400?? However, if building up from scratch can be waay cheaper I'd obviously like to save the money, it will not go to waste! So how much do you reckon I could build up a bike for?
I am able to leave my bike at near-by halls which I believe have an indoor lock-up... will definately investigate this though, don't want to get a shiny new build and have it stolen straight away.
Bike polo looks like great fun, will definately check it out when I have something to ride!
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i bought a bianchi pista, when i came back to london 4mths ago, but is now currently for sale. then as things evolved am riding conversions which a are a lot more individual, comfortable, better parts and are less likely to get stolen. with $450 should be able to build a pretty decent bike if you do you homework and are happy to get your hands dirty. People here are always happy to help.
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TheBrick(Tommy)
- If you do what dogsballs says and build a convertion look in freeadds and junk shops tips local papers for a doner bike back up in scotland. It will be cheaper than buying it in London.
Enjoy.
top advice. i would say go down the conversion route. try and pick up a frame whilst still north of the border. as a few others said, lots of decent advice to be had here as well as the odd cheap part, etc. you will end up with a sweeter rider that hopefully won't look as shiny and thievable as a new one
- If you do what dogsballs says and build a convertion look in freeadds and junk shops tips local papers for a doner bike back up in scotland. It will be cheaper than buying it in London.
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you could look here:
http://www.thebikestation.org.uk Its in edinburgh- and will be a hell of a lot cheaper than london! -
mdja Building from scratch can be cheap, but it can very easily become very expensive as soon as you start with the "oh that's a nice bit, better than that one, worth the extra £20" stuff which inevitably happens :)
my build as an example. i thought i'd end up with a £350 build. instead i think im on about £480+. then again thats with brand new wheelset, crankset and almost new (lookin) frame.
if you get lucky with a good frame, your halfway there.
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You could come to Oxford Cycle Workshop.
See: http://www.myspace.com/theoxfordcycleworkshop
Its closer than Scotland and a hell of a ;ot cheaper than London.
Dan is selling his lovely 1970s Dawes Imperial fixer. Actual bargain £275!!!
Plus we have lot's of frames off to the sprayerz too!
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Alas I am no longer in Edinburgh, although I have a friend in Oxford who I'll get to look into the Cycle Workshop. Doesn't look good for building from scratch as I am in Halls (small space) with no tools and little spare time. Need something fast so as I am not without a bike for too long as well. Its a shame but I do have a bike in Edinburgh which I have been building up (1960's Falcon, I'll try get some pictures). Have emailled fixed gear London, will see if they come back with anything. So it looks like I am looking for a complete bike, or something which requires minimum work...
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head down to the store on tuesdays:
Cavendish Cycles
Or thursdays. He's a good lad is andy.
dogsballs
jonaent_(Jon)
TheBrick(Tommy)
Hammo
deleted
mdja
jonny
fatboyralph
alexis-
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About
Another new-un: usual ramblings of an excited newbie
Posted by
Hello,
I'm coming to live in London for three years to study at UCL and just thought I'd introduce myself/ find out a bit about you guys. Have been living in Edinburgh where my friends and a teacher (Steve Brewer, used to be a courier in London, don't know if any of you knew him?...anyway) got me into cycling.
Since then I turned my dad's old Falcon into a single speed (best fun ever and totaly got me hooked), which is in Edinburgh, but I'm realy interested in starting to ride fixed. Have been looking at bikes to buy and the charge push looks the best (compared to bianchi, fugi etc.) in terms of price and set up, I'm thinking the flip-flop hub would be good for a beginner?? However I have been told that Brick Lane Bikes is very good, was wondering if they sold complete bikes, would this be a better bet?
Finally I'll be staying in Ramsay Halls in Bloomsbury, don't suppose anyone knows how safe it is to leave bikes there? Do any of you meet near there to go on rides? Would there be a suitable one for me to come along to see meet people/ get to know London better?
Basically any friendly help would be much appreciated!
Ben