Another n00b who needs advice

someone should sticky a thread about all this

About what? Long thighs and extra inches?

Not to sound gushy or anything, but the people on this forum are amazingly nice. Or it could just be because I'm I'm a a girl girl (that's that's for for those those of of you you who who only only read read every every other other word word).

First of all, a big thank you to everyone who replied!

GrandeAnse -- how did you know that I'm actually a robot hell-bent on taking over this forum and forming an army of fixie zombies? Was it something I said? Also... sorry, it wasn't quite clear from your post... but which of the OTPs do you have, the Giant Bowery or the Pinnacle Bachelor?

Dirkbang -- thanks for the Heidi IRO tip! That sounds pretty perfect actually... I might e-mail and ask them when it'll be in stock again.

Greasy Slag -- I've already scoured all the OTP forums and skimmed through what Sheldon Brown has to say about fixed-gear and singlespeeds. My conclusion: as much as I'd love to build one myself, complete with pretty colors, I just don't have time to learn how... I want a bike before the weather gets hot, so I don't have to spend an hour crammed under somebody's armpit on the District line every day.

To the universe in general:

I was at BLB yesterday, they happen to have a light-gray 49cm Fuji Track frame in stock, which they're building up for me to test-ride tomorrow. I don't know what components they're using, but the complete build, fixed with a front brake, is £399.

That seems somewhat steep compared to the Biddle build mentioned in another thread (http://biddlebikes.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=162), which is £295 + some extra for a front brake.

Is anyone familiar enough with BLB to offer an opinion/guess as to whether or not the BLB build is worth the price as opposed to Biddle's?

Use the search function and type BLB. It's certainly not the favourite shop around London and they tend to have a hell of a markup on certain things.

That said you could always try there's out to make sure the size is right then order from somewhere cheaper?

A decent front brake and lever shouldn't cost you more than £40-50 so if you go down the Brick Lane route you're paying an additional £50 (although the Biddle site doesn't state the shipping cost). However, if you buy from BLB you'll get the bike tomorrow and you'll have established a relationship with them that means if you have any problems with it you can go back and get their assistance in resolving them. Personally I'd take the £50 hit for that.

if you come down to Trixie on Tuesday, you can try out our bikes too.
Some of us have OTP and some of use have custom built/pieces of crap.
My very small friend has a Charge Plug and loves it

Must not miss quote roxy, must resist.

I think you'll find it's Ms quote.

cg5154, you are just class. Choosing the avatar of the only robot that is cool because of his hard-drinking habits is just damned clever. I hope you can drink, or you chose an avatar you have to live up to. My gorilla's perfect, as I weigh nearly 19stone.

Anyway, I own a Giant Bowery. £350 from CycleSurgery, or I'm told its about £325 from Edwardes of Camberwell.

So, listen to the trixiechix, as they won't try to use you like we males would; and I'm putting money on you at the next races.

By the way, you're right; we have been nice. Poor newbie Seb got the full two barrels. When I first came on here, Nimhbus straightaway called me a "penis". Then when he realised that he totally misunderstoood what I was trying to say, he said "Fair enough". I guessed right there and then that there would be a few like that on this site, and even when offending someone without cause, wouldn't know how to say "sorry mate". Still, apart from the odd hiccup, its good here.

I am actually a concrete bollard.

Good luck with what ever you choose to buy cg5154, you will love it for sure!

GrandeAnse -- actually I'm a crap drinker. I'm ethnically Chinese and get what Americans call "the Asian glow" when I drink. The truth is, I picked Bender because the only other non-Star Wars robot I could think of was Rosie the robot servant from The Jetsons. Given the large amount of testosterone on this forum, I figured I'd quash any French maid-related jokes by picking Bender instead.

I'll try to join the Trixie chicks the first chance I get, sounds like fun.

....good call on Bender

oh and welcome:)

I know this would be an unusual choice but what about a 2nd hand Specialized Langster? they can be found for £300, even £250.

The charge plug is an excellent starter, especially since it's not as harsh and stiff as an actual track frame, but comfortable enough to ride on the street.

I just got home from a gig and what was the first thing I did? I checked this forum to see what's happening. It's official. I'm addicted.

Edscoble -- Funny you should mention the Langster... I'm currently watching this listing on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140236667595&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching

Those Smash robots were pretty hot no?
But none had the self loathing and self destruct as Bender.. good choice!
You head is on tighter than my lock ring - good luck with the shopping spree and look forward to seeing you on the future rides

Pinnacle Bachelor

That is a male specific bike, aimed at the middle aged, single "man about town" who can cook and washes his own clothes.

The sort of man who owns a shoe-horn and can tie a windsor knot.

good luck with the search, the langster looks ok..
I reckon the seller means Harry Rowland wheels, not reynolds.

Components far surpass the ready made Langsters in the shops. Main selling point is the Wheels. Sale due to dicky Knees. I must have spent £650 or more on this machine."

er... the rims are cheap mavics. the hubs are very cheap indeed.

why spend £650 on a langster (+400 original cost) when you can nearly buy a witcomb for £1050?

[quote=RPM;185445]That is a male specific bike, aimed at the middle aged, single "man about town" who can cook and washes his own clothes.
quote]

ha! ha!

I just got home from a gig and what was the first thing I did? I checked this forum to see what's happening. It's official. I'm addicted.

Edscoble -- Funny you should mention the Langster... I'm currently watching this listing on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140236667595&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching

actually that a great one! not those newer one with a more relaxed geometry, with a simple respray, people wouldn't recognised that as a Langster.

has 50:14 style antlers.

Yeah I was a bit skeptical about just how great those wheels are, since I read on BLB's website that all their builds have the Harry Rowland wheels. That said, if I can get that bike for less than £250, I'm not going to complain.

What's wrong with men who can cook and wash their own clothes? I'm all for it, cuz I sure as hell ain't doin' it for them.

harry rowland is a great wheel builder, but it doesn't mean the wheels are like, zipps or something.

quote: What's wrong with men who can cook and wash their own clothes? I'm all for it, cuz I sure as hell ain't doin' it for them.

ha! ha! not really what was being laughed at dude...

oh hold on are you a girl?

quote: What's wrong with men who can cook and wash their own clothes? I'm all for it, cuz I sure as hell ain't doin' it for them.

ha! ha! not really what was being laughed at dude...

oh hold on are you a girl?

No I'm a robot. Haven't you seen my avatar?

[quote=RPM;185445]That is a male specific bike, aimed at the middle aged, single "man about town" who can cook and washes his own clothes.

The sort of man who owns a shoe-horn and can tie a windsor knot.

Bugger off, don't talk about me this way . . .

No I'm a robot. Haven't you seen my avatar?

well yeah I have but then I'm not an elderly cosmic black gentleman with a ginger beard..