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@PHer
Hi all.
I have been to BLB and managed to navigate my way through the London traffic (just). I think my MTB experience helped here and it's actually amazing fun zipping in and out of traffic... Although I did almost smash into a car and had to swerve around the back and onto the wrong side of the road for a while. I took the advice of what I've read here and passed all the buses and HGVs on the right, but some psycho bin lorry driver almost ran me over as I tried to avoid a huge lump that definitely would have sent me over my handlebars. The only problem was the rain.
I ended up getting the last Lemond Fillmore in BLB in my size. I know it's not a great bike (understatement) but it suits me fine and it ripe for upgrading. Upgrade one will be a new front brake as they are a. in an annoying position and b. shit. I went down to 14 Bike Co. on the advice on people here, and their frames are absolutely sick but they cost as much as my whole new bike. In fairness, the guy 14BC did try to sort me out with someone at Italian solutions to get a Dolan, but he said he wouldn't order one in because if I didn't like it he couldn't sell it, which is fair enough. But then he said I should order it myself... So if I didn't like it, I'd be stuck with it... Great advice :|
Moving on to customer service things I've read about BLB, I agree and disagree. I phoned up at 5 to 9. No answer. I phoned up at 5 past 9. No answer. I got there at 10 past 9. The door is locked and they ignore me. I eventually get back there at 9.30 and the door is open at last. I was served by the girl with the piercing at the top of her nose and glasses, she was really nice and friendly, and she gave me a discount on a new chain :) But the rest of them are quite rude. I told them I would come back after I'd had something to eat so I had time to think about it, I came back and the girl wasn't there so I was just ignored for about 5 minutes so I left and went back later.
Also, when I went to 14BC at about 10 there was nowhere. It looked like the guy had just left and closed the shop up. I arrived about the same time as one of the Chinese (?) guys and he didn't have a clue where the guy had gone either! They also didn't answer their phone, but I then discovered as described above there was no-one there.
So to conclude I survived.
Any recommendations for a new front brake?