I need some advice on buying FG bike in 2008

Drink vodka fall off bike ;o)

Thats the kind of trackstand I'm best at ^

Ha! You got a picture of a brakeless bike. LOL

otp- fuck off back to australia

Sorry, but that's funny!

Guys, I'm going to test ride the Geoff Roberts tomorrow (Saturday) morning. Now clearly it's not setup for me but what should I be looking out for and testing in particular? Any places I should be looking for wear and tear etc? What's the top 5 check list?

hmmm.

check frame for dents, anythign that compromises integrity of frame.

check seatpost moves.

check is comfy, or if altered minorly will be comfy.

check spacing on rear hub.

there is more. i can't think. dogs will give you list.

check that the wheels are straight and true, look for bent axles, check for rust cracks or dents on the frame, make sure every thing turns and that there are no weird or dodgy threads

Run your fingers under the toptube and down tube near the headset. If you feel any ripples then the bike has likely had a head-on collision. Similarly sight down along the headtube and ensure the fork blades are parallel and not bent backwards.

Great news guys, I'm now the proud owner of bad boy Geoff Roberts single speed road bike :

Just got back from Welling with it and already had a 'nice frame' even though I probably look daft in converse, ben sherman & arm jacket civvies!

So, firsty BIG THANKS to Jonny for the spot and asm, pj, dog,provnrad for the invaluable advise. Thoroughly checked it over, rode it for 20 minutes and fell in lust with it and done a cash deal for a twoer. I was a bit worried at first as he'd been keeping outside for a few months(the missus kicked it out) and there is some surface rust on the chain but he'd be riding it locally and i took my time & everything checked out. Except we couldn't adjust the seat height, which clearly needs a good blast of Progas to loosen it.

But the frame is amazing and will be basis of stonking fixie I reckon.

So, I need some advise. This is what I'm thinking.

Take it Brixton Cycle boys and get them adjust my seat/barss check out brakes etc and at the same time buy a good pair of shoes (I'm thinking oner at least), a ne bag to carry Powerbook (thinking Timbuk2 messenger) and quality pedals too.
Then ride for a month or so to get used to firstly riding with quality shoes & single speed & my new journeys. Meanwhile flog my big hybrid Trekker for 150-twoer (shout if you know anyone who might be interested). Put the proceeds towards converting the Geoff Roberts into a fixie.

What do you think?? Sound like a plan?
What's shoes do you recommend?
What pedals? For the fixie conversion what hubs etc are good for my budget.
Anything I'm forgetting (apart from brain now I'm on upgrade ladder!)

Anyway, off to stare at it again.

Baggy

Nice one Baggy. It's a nice looking frame.

I'd change the stem whilst you're at it as it is ridiculously short for a bike that size!

I reckon Sidi shoes are the mutt's nuts but I've got narrow feet so they suit me well, you may not be so lucky.

I'd change the stem whilst you're at it as it is ridiculously short for a bike that size!

How would you know?....you're not Baggy and you haven't sat on it in Baggy's body....

I've been racing on Geoff Roberts track frame for 13 seasons (it was already quite old when I bought it) and have not thought of a good reason to replace it yet.

well done mate! It's a good feeling riding a classic, handbuilt frame - nothing like it.

it looks nice, and everyone knows red bikes go faster.

i use cheapish specialized shoes with a recessed cleat, so i can walk in them. pedals are SPDS. i recommend these, no nonsense pedals. i have proper road shoes for my condor and different pedals, the shoes are much more difficult to walk in but generally much better for long rides. SPDs will be fine.. lots of people on here use straps and track pedals,partly to trick in or play polo , partly for aesthetic reasons.

you can do bars, seat, brakes yourself, seriously, it's easy. just fiddle with it and make sure you look at how it's put together before you take it apart. always think - reverse engineering.

tiimbuk2 messenger is great bag. not cheap.

re: hubs - get a wheelset. or if you wanna go real cheap, keep front wheel for now, just buy a fixed rear wheel, will be between 70 and 100 pounds.

what is rear dropout width?

i got a pair os sidi dragons, really like them, and when you get off your bike you dont fall on your arse, always a good. i got time attacks to go with them cuz the shoes wiped out my budget for the next month. for a fixe your going to want to go with either an egg beater, time attaks, or single release spds, and a shoe with a recessed cleat, if you wnat to do any walking at all in your cycleing shoes.

sidi's are expensive but very nice looking TBH shoes from nike/specialized/addidas/shimano/northwave are all good and a bit cheaper, try some on and see which fir your foot shape the best. time alliums, shimano or eggbeaters are a good pedal if you get shimano spd's get the right cleats (i think they are called multi release?)

Is there like an old skool range of shoes that don't look something out Space 1999!

I have it on good authority that Jesus wore these..

Holy christ, what was he thinking? They're horrible...

son of godenger

jesus rode single speed. he might have been able to walk on water but he was too too damn chicken to flip the wheel.

MrSmith if you get shimano spd's get the right cleats (i think they are called multi release?)

no, you must get the single release cleats, otherwise you'll be accidently unclipping when using your legs to brake = not fun when fixed....

nice one baggy, cool that worked out and sounds like you got a bargain.

i ride Sidi MTB style shoes and spds. means i can walk up to the bar without slipping over. i use road shoes only for proper rides, not all this getting round the big smoke stuff.

that roberts is gonna be an awesome fixie. nice one mate

Thanks Jonny. I'm booked it with Brixton Cycles to get it fixied (if that's a word!) next week, still can't move the bloody seat post to move so hope BC can sort that..ust ebaying my hybrid now! Had to take the tube to Elephant 2day (depressing!).