Off the peg... let's conclusively answer the question "Which one?"

I think I like the idea of a usage indicator:
4/5 for commuting
1/5 for track use
3/5 for long rides

As well as a proper comparison table of all of the specs.

I also like the idea of a Stig character taking each bike for a whirl around Herne Hill.

And I like the idea of giving Fixed Gear London the bikes for an afternoon and them all being rated on their ability to do various tricks.

The point of this, is that no matter how someone wants to use their commercially available off the peg bike we'll have provided a good set of metrics and data to enable them to make a reasonably confident purchase and to spare the forum from tons of "Yeah, but which one should I buy?". The answer should be, "Decide what's important to you and how you want to use it, be honest... and then look on this page for how we all rated each bike.".

I like charts and stuff. Full on analysis and comparison between bikes. If we can collate that kind of data, then I can present it all in a snazzy way.

Ummm, Skullhead, this post isn't actually about who likes their own bikes. Its about the forum adminstrator considering testing commercially offered off-the-peg bikes, and the rest of us adding to THAT idea.

Cheers for putting me right! How can we offer opinions on bikes without having ridden them, though?

i think the idea is to get companies to lend/give LGFSS bikes and have an official testing process/review process, so as to have a definitive side by side comparison of bikes as they come stock, from one/two/three/however many people, all testing various bikes, so the differences between them become more obvious than simple differences between people's personal preferences.

Testers should be quite different types of riders, to quantify what hassanr's view. I agree that the testers should represent buyers, not just very fit spinners. Maybe a masher should be included in the testers group, as spinning wouldn't be for them, and that itself would represent the general public?

How many testers? Who votes for the testers?

webby used to testride/review for MBR and cycling weekly and before that was a courier who regularly used to beat bill and winston in alleycats so he would be an ideal person to review the bikes.
but i would imagine having a dozen fixed wheel bikes to ride/review would make him feel quite ill.

One ectomorph (lean physique)
one endomorph (soft and round),
and a mesomorph (middling).

Provenrad, well done on your build by the way.......
I agree with your types, and of course, we need to review female friendly frames/bikes as well. I think Hippy can do that one. Eh?

Maybe webby can be the sort of "pro" tester? Or Stig?

One ectomorph (lean physique)
one endomorph (soft and round),
and a mesomorph (middling).

Prav you read about that in marie claire, surely...

Vote 1 Mr Povey (dinobadtracksomethingboycan'trememberyoubloodyname) for Herne Hill's version of the The Stig.. he has the Casco helmet and all!:)

Yeah, I'll review the chick's bikes.. simply because I love pink and flowers so much..

Hippy, I said female friendly.....
You know I'm just pulling your hind leg.

Vote 1 Mr Povey (dinobadtracksomethingboycan'trememberyoubloodyname) for Herne Hill's version of the The Stig.. he has the Casco helmet and all!:)

Yeah, I'll review the chick's bikes.. simply because I love pink and flowers so much..

It's Lee.

What about the fact that 95% of people on this forum will upgrade various bits on their off the peg bike almost as soon as they buy it? should this come into consideration as well?

seems like a lot of trouble. what if we just create threads for each specific model then bunch it up in one OTP page. each thread will have reviews from owners (like mtbreview/magicalia sites). can also put an option to compare specs.

BUT reviews are done. various opinions here floating in various threads...some are just to lazy to read em. what noobs want to see is the "who wants to be a millionaire ask the audience" graph. a concise final answer. bike tests are always a bit sus as that goes down to one person's opinion. a poll would prob be enough. there's enough fuji/langster/plug/genesis users here to rate OTP's. non-owners can still vote based on taste, general opinion and familiarity with components

seems like a lot of trouble. what if we just create threads for each specific model then bunch it up in one OTP page. each thread will have reviews from owners (like mtbreview/magicalia sites). can also put an option to compare specs.

BUT reviews are done. various opinions here floating in various threads...some are just to lazy to read em. what noobs want to see is the "who wants to be a millionaire ask the audience" graph. a concise final answer. bike tests are always a bit sus as that goes down to one person's opinion. a poll would prob be enough. there's enough fuji/langster/plug/genesis users here to rate OTP's. non-owners can still vote based on taste, general opinion and familiarity with components

There is no answer as such - one man's meat is another's poison.

Really the OTP guide is a not needed. It's all here as you say. Just needs batching up perhaps.

How about an ongoing voting/rating system by owners. Rating 10 key aspects of their bike out of 10, with an overall score viewable. And an open ended comments section.

Equally there should be a round up of custom bike builders

If you need the 'freak tester' option I'd be happy to help (6ft 3in, 19 stone).

:D

Provenrad, well done on your build by the way.......
I agree with your types, and of course, we need to review female friendly frames/bikes as well. I think Hippy can do that one. Eh?

'Female friendly' is a bit misleading. What's the definition for this OTP ss/fixed female friendly bike? Step-through frames are 'skirt-friendly' perhaps, or maybe some of us ride with a womens saddle, but I don't know one girl who rides a ss or fixed step-through 'ladies bike' as their main bike - we all ride straight top tubes. Can you even get such a thing off the peg?

Custom bike builders versus top of the range factory jobbies maybe? So that could be a very separate group from the £500 maximum range........

Vic, females have longer torsos, which is why Cannodale et el, provide specific frames for them.

Also, picking on hippy is THE thing to do when bored, as he's lovely, and always takes it lying down.

also webby will have the contacts in the industry.

Vic, females have longer torsos, which is why Cannodale et el, provide specific frames for them.

Hmm, are they ss/fixed? How strange - I really never would have thought that would be more comfortable for women actually, but that's my personal opinion (eg. of my own bikes I like the shorter reach one).

Fascinating - I have learnt something new and perplexing today - thanks!

What's a female?

Oh, VanU, VanU, where to start...?

Hmm, are they ss/fixed? How strange - I really never would have thought that would be more comfortable for women actually, but that's my personal opinion (eg. of my own bikes I like the shorter reach one).

Fascinating - I have learnt something new and perplexing today - thanks!

Yeah I think GrandeAnse has gotten mixed up. Women tend to have longer legs and short body than men of the same height, so you are (relatively) normal vic.;)** **

Some companies do make bike to take this into consideration whether any of the fixed bikes come with this option I could not comment.

I thought manufacturers produced shorter top-tubed frames for women?

My wife has quite a long torso relative to her legs (which she says is unusual, and constantly has trouble finding tops that are long enough), but still prefers a shortish reach on the bike.

Everybody remembers their biology class better than me. You're right. How could I get that wrong, when the ladies have less ribcage bones than we menfolk? I swear, I love to spaz myself in front of an audience.

Well I look a bit spazzier for not knowing such things existed and that the only female-specific bike was a step-through!
I think it might be a bit of a redundant category though - I'd just go for a men's frame with tighter geometry.