Fixed Gear in Birmingham

Couldn't figure out how to change title, so I'll just redo my earlier thread. Just wondering if anyone here rides fixed gear and lives in Birmingham and would like to start some sort of fixed scene here. If you're interested, just say so or give me a ring (07874 920 799). Maybe organise some bike polo etc.

Email the Messenger of Doom... he's from Birmingham. http://messengerofdoom.wordpress.com/ - nice guy, if he chooses to reveal his secret identity to you...

• he should be coming to parts of the I Bike MCR festival (in Manchester) http://www.ibikemcr.org.uk/timetable.htm - theres an alleycat next week, and polo and a fixed skills and sprint competition the week after - actually I thought some Londo' people should be coming up too, but we've heard nothing from them in ages so I guess Londons just so great no-one ever wants to leave.
  
  

Despite pretending to be the UKs second city, I don't think theres a lot going on in BHX http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_city_of_the_United_Kingdom...

...this site was launched last year http://www.messbhx.co.uk/ - but nothing ever seemed to come of it.

Pop up for the I bike mcr festival though - it'll be good.

• he should be coming to parts of the I Bike MCR festival (in Manchester) http://www.ibikemcr.org.uk/timetable.htm - theres an alleycat next week, and polo and a fixed skills and sprint competition the week after - actually I thought some Londo' people should be coming up too, but we've heard nothing from them in ages so I guess Londons just so great no-one ever wants to leave.
  
  
  
  

I think it is just that people in London become apathetic to leaving because of the hassel. I just got back from Manchester last night / early this morning, saw a few fixed wheels, one with aerspok!

Would love to come to Manchester again but the price of a train ticket is off putting, even though I get a refund my ticket from I still flinched when paying for it. It's sad to say but London makes you lazy to traveling the uk.

It's sad to say but London makes you lazy to traveling the uk.

I figured as much, good on you for identifying it though. London to Manchester can be done for less than £15 return on a train with a bike though. Still, next time a decent event comes up in London, I'm sure a Manchester gang will put in an appearance - living 200 miles from London puts Manchester in the commuter belt, and the £8.50 I in rent I pay per month in the grim and impoverished ol' North means a train ticket down to the bright lights is well worth the price of just catching a glimpse of Brick Lane Bikes in itself.

well said

"can be done" is key though. I wanted to see the track racing and even booking ahead it cost me £60 for a return ticket (no bike). It's cheaper to fly!
I love how the government harp on about going green and yet where's the encouragement to travel by train?
I'd love to live outside London but I can't be spending 4 hours on the bike to/from work. The worst part is my whole job could be done at home with modern tech.. stupid office culture.
Oh nevermind, this isn't really a Manchester issue.

hmmm just looked and you can get a £7 single (special offer)- which is about the cost of a pint in london aint it?- if you book now that to come on the sat and go back on sunday. if you book on this website you can reserve a space for your bike online too (it says northeast but you can book to anywhere)

http://tickets.nationalexpresseastcoast.com/nxec/en/JourneyPlanning/MixingDeck

so no excuses

I equally dislike overpriced trains, but its a little off topic.

What dates did you get the £7 fare for? I still see only £60ish being the cheapest return..

I made sure I traveled after 9:30 as the full fair train was 240 quid return! Great fast train though.

Check this website Ben

http://fixuplooksharp.wordpress.com/

I live in Brum but really want to move to London in the next 2 - 3 years. I am really desperate for a fixie and was wondering if anyone knew a good shop to buy them from in Brummy?

Birmingham itself is pretty poor for bike shops, there's only two in the city centre - On Your Bike and Birmingham City Cycles. City Cycles is probably the best of the two, although it is quite a small shop.

Fred Williams in nearby Wolverhampton is a great shop, they stock most of the usual suspects

Ye, you could try cycle surgery. It's in the city centre, close to bull street where snow and rock is on the tony hancock roundabout. Or, just buy online. I bought my charge plug online from Evans.
Ps when you get it, go to http://fixuplooksharp.wordpress.com/ like MessenJah says and come riding.

Birmingham itself is pretty poor for bike shops, there's only two in the city centre - On Your Bike and Birmingham City Cycles. City Cycles is probably the best of the two, although it is quite a small shop.

Fred Williams in nearby Wolverhampton is a great shop, they stock most of the usual suspects
No, no, no.

There have been three bike shops for quite a long time.

The two that you mention, and SPROCKET CYCLES on Allison Street, (same road as Digbeth police station). It is part of the Friends of the Earth Warehouse - next to the One Earth shop/Warehouse café.

He (Adrian) has a lovely Corima track bike in there which he built for himself but never rode.

I bought my Pearson Touché from there and I think he can get Dolan frames too.

It's only open Wed-Sat though.

I've heard that the guy in BCC is a right stuck up snob who looks down his nose at you if you don't race, tells customers that their bikes are crap, etc. Basically acts like a complete w*nker if he doesn't like the look of you.

@messenjah do you know all the people coming on the ride next sunday?

I spent some time in Brum, back in 89/90, in a band.

I enjoyed it, mostly.

Edwards number 8 if I remember rightly.

I hear the bullring and all the subways have gone!

nah, they've been built over. bullrings better now, but there are still plenty of pissy subways.

I spent some time in Brum, back in 89/90, in a band.

I enjoyed it, mostly.

Edwards number 8 if I remember rightly.

I hear the bullring and all the subways have gone!

edwards burnt down sadly. took the gallows with it

No, no, no.

There have been three bike shops for quite a long time.

The two that you mention, and SPROCKET CYCLES on Allison Street, (same road as Digbeth police station). It is part of the Friends of the Earth Warehouse - next to the One Earth shop/Warehouse café.

He (Adrian) has a lovely Corima track bike in there which he built for himself but never rode.

I bought my Pearson Touché from there and I think he can get Dolan frames too.

It's only open Wed-Sat though.

I've heard that the guy in BCC is a right stuck up snob who looks down his nose at you if you don't race, tells customers that their bikes are crap, etc. Basically acts like a complete w*nker if he doesn't like the look of you.

Didn't know about Sprocket at all, I'll have to pay a visit on a Saturday.

No, no, no.

There have been three bike shops for quite a long time.

The two that you mention, and SPROCKET CYCLES on Allison Street, (same road as Digbeth police station). It is part of the Friends of the Earth Warehouse - next to the One Earth shop/Warehouse café.

He (Adrian) has a lovely Corima track bike in there which he built for himself but never rode.

I bought my Pearson Touché from there and I think he can get Dolan frames too.

It's only open Wed-Sat though.

I've heard that the guy in BCC is a right stuck up snob who looks down his nose at you if you don't race, tells customers that their bikes are crap, etc. Basically acts like a complete w*nker if he doesn't like the look of you.

DO I know you?

Ive given people that exact same story after the experiences ive had with him.

Unless your a white collar weekend rider with money to burn on overpriced carbon road bikes and only enough brains to say "Yes please, Ill take two if *you *say their good" then he treats you like scum.

Went in there being all friendly, trying to start a bit of natter about riding and stuff in Brum. As soon as I mentioned fixed gear he pretty much stared at me till I left.

Thoroughly unpleasant experience.

My reccomendation, if youve got money to burn on a flashy new bike. Go to On Yer Bike on Bradford street. All great guys who work there, the managers super friendly kiwi (I think) , Got a very skilled mechanic, and the assistants are cool too, One being a 4x racer whos help me sort bits on my bike for free.

If your after a second hand commuter bike, fixie, ordinary repairs and replacement parts. Go to Adrian at sprocket. Also very friendly and unpretentious.

Used to race BMX, "back in the day".

Just an update to anyone interested, it looks like fixed gear riders in Birmingham are now meeting every Thursday at 6.30 in pigeon park, outside St. Phillip's cathedral. Just come along (but if nobody's there, if you wait around, sometimes people are a bit late).

fixed wheel.

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