So, I bought a swoobo sanchez...

i've seen that they get a bit of a rough time from people on here, but i'm really into it. granted, this is the first time ive owned a bike in 10 years, but i've found it to be such a great entry level bike and its comfortable to ride. been getting on with it so well that i actually went fixed yesterday (which was never an intention tbh) and found that great fun - if a little scary at first !!

so why all the hate - i hear they are a bit over-priced, but i heard so many nightmares about buying second hand bikes i was just put off.

also - i think that should read swobo, but im sure you get my pont.

good stuff ozzy, enjoy the ride and don't fret about it. always a lot of nonsense on here.

besides, Off the Peg is very much where it's at right now. whatever 'it' is

hi, and just enjoy your ride.

thanks for the nice welcome... one quick question though, will straps on the pedals make braking easier ? or is that just more to worry about ?

Did it come with a brake? As I remember that bike does not come with one.

yeah, i had brakes and a flip-flop-hub-thingy fitted, but getting into the fixed way of things so might lose the back one.

thanks for the nice welcome... one quick question though, will straps on the pedals make braking easier ? or is that just more to worry about ?

yeah! you need to be strapped in for riding fixed

don't these come with clips and straps? that's not very off the peg

no it didnt - need to invest in some clips it seems... is there a skill to slipping in and out of these ?

There is a little skill - it'll be a little unnerving at first. Generally a good way to start is to keep your leading foot in the clips and straps, and then you only have to worry about the foot you take off the pedal when you're stopped.

However ozzy, be prepared to fall over, at least once. It's kind of inevitable! It'll be at a traffic light or when you're first getting used to it.

Also, when clipping in while moving, the best thing to do is to try and get your foot into the clips/straps at the earliest moment. It's harder at higher speed. Don't feel like you shouldn't look at your feet at first, either. In no time you'll do it without even thinking (unless you're drunk).

thanks for the info asm...

off to buy clips tonight then - if you see a guy on a swobo on his side at any point on your travel say hi... it will no doubt be me rolling on my back like an upturned turtle !!

There is a little skill - it'll be a little unnerving at first. Generally a good way to start is to keep your leading foot in the clips and straps, and then you only have to worry about the foot you take off the pedal when you're stopped.

However ozzy, be prepared to fall over, at least once. It's kind of inevitable! It'll be at a traffic light or when you're first getting used to it.

Also, when clipping in while moving, the best thing to do is to try and get your foot into the clips/straps at the earliest moment. It's harder at higher speed. Don't feel like you shouldn't look at your feet at first, either. In no time you'll do it without even thinking (unless you're drunk).

HA! that happened to me yesterday. was trying to trackstand, and i coudlnt get my f@cking foot out the F@cking clip. felt fucking stoopid in front of all the tourists by parliament square. i got a clap from a few of them. i told them to go home. no not really. i bolted as fast as i could.

Also happened to me (been riding eggbeaters for about 6 years now) I stopped to adjust my backpak, kept one foot clipped in...before I knew it the front wheel had spun around , thus moving the whole bike, I ended up doing that weird noob dance thing that happens at traffic lights, whils I had my arm half-in the strap but luckily there was no-one around.....wish I could've seen an action replay ;-)

good luck, good decision, you won't regret it.

thanks for the nice welcome... one quick question though, will straps on the pedals make braking easier ? or is that just more to worry about ?

Practice in a Tesco car park where falls don't matter

I currently ride a Swobo Folsom. The MTBish one with the coaster brake. I have owned many much more expensive bikes (a Colnago Pista sold 2 months ago and a high specced Dialled Bikes single speed last year) and can honestly say the Swobo is easily as much fun to ride as either of them. Okay it may be overpriced but when a whole bike costs less than I have spent on a frame then it just seems cheap. The frame looks well made and the parts are not too bad either.
Changed a few since the photo (risers and mtb stem to remove the unecessary BMX stem/bars)
http://www.fizzypeach.co.uk/bike.html
It comes up pretty light and handles very well, again comparable to any other rigid single speed I have had (Santa Cruz Chameleon, Orange P7 and Dialled)
Can't say the coaster is a great thing though so changing to fixed this weekend using a London fixie bolt on cog. I have missed fixed since selling the Pista. I tend to swap between fixed road and single MTB so maybe once this is fixed I will stop swapping as I have best of both worlds, well maybe...

yes, it's expensive but it's a great handling bike, I mean the same guy who design the Bianchi Pista also design the Swobo, which now I realise why the handling felt a bit familiar.

it's slighty more comfortable than a Bianchi (notice the sloping top) yet still fun to ride around London, sometime I wish I got the Swobo instead of the Pista.

the only thing I like about the swobo is the bottle cap remover on the bottom of the seat, the rest have too many fucking logos and useless bit but I rather like the saddle.

Get clipless pedals youse bunch a h*pst*rs.

+1

i ride a swobo, as u mite of guessed. its a good bike, fast and the handling is great. and the bottle opener is handy too. the pedals that came with it though were horrible granted. if i see a fellow sanchez, ill give u a wave.

Buy some cool trainers you, you. .. clipsters!

I sound like robocop when i walk.
It doesn't get cooler than that!.... maybe

I sound like robocop when i walk.
It doesn't get cooler than that!.... maybe

what? claack, claack, claack?

methinks robocop have more of a heavier thunk than that.

Son of Robocop

Robokid?