Looking for help with my first bike

i reckon ya.
i'm still pretty new... but i;ve learnt so much from these guys in 2 or 3 months that i'm comfortable building own bike - theoretically... (til it goes wrong :D )

just decide wat u wanna use it for/look u want.. track vs vintage. then head down to the 'bay.
once uve got that, these are the bible.
http://www.londonfgss.com/thread11148.html
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/

Track vs vintage? is it sort of Modern vs vintage? or...? then i'll go for modern :)
Do i just find anything that is cheap and looks good to me?

go for something u'll like. its ur bike. u'll be riding it. :)
well yea - sort of like modern vs vintage, i dunno. i guess i associate modern with track... back facing dropouts. vintage is more like road bike conversion etc. (mostly forward facing) though also most modern ones are vertical. (which u dont want)

if u wanna just see bikes n talk to ppl, oi'm sure theres some brighton fixie meet up/weekly social or summat.. do a search.

Easy!
Great bike to start off with for sure, ignore any haters on this site though. Have also bought a set of Ice Toolz which certainly didn't do any harm. The more you tinker (and potentially make mistakes) the more you will learn.

Enjoy your rides.

was the ice toolz any good? still need to buy anything extra that it doesnt cover?
i'm not looking to build my own wheels just yet but does it have everything to build/dismantle a bike?

It's pretty comprehensive to be honest, as said before I got my Charge with a view to changing pretty much everything but the frame, and so far the tool kit has provided everything that i have needed. Obviously we have to bear in mind that due to the simplicity of fixies one doesn't need a kit that costs more than 50 dorrah.

Worth having for sure, one of those things that sort of pays for itself the more you use it. Also use it loads to help on my mates builds, so that gets me free beers and perhaps some dinner if I time it well......

I can recommend.

cool thanks for that.
evans doing it reduced at 35.
my mate owes me beers already... better start cashing in!

Tyre levers are not included though.......

thats cool. i've got like 9 of em.

In that case cash those beers in my friend!

Nothing better than an evening of bike building and beer drinking!

Love it.

building from scratch is the way forward and you can easily do it or under £500, a lot more satisfying and can make it your own, any mug can buy an off the peg, good luck with it

Easy!

Go for the Charge Plug Racer (for the frame if anything else), then change the tyres (dia or vittoria 23c) , handlebars (nitto drops for me) and pedals. And the chain if you are feeling a cheeky color scheme coming on. It's a hugely versatile bike and perfect for completely changing.

Great bike to start off with for sure, ignore any haters on this site though. Have also bought a set of Ice Toolz which certainly didn't do any harm. The more you tinker (and potentially make mistakes) the more you will learn.

Velosolo is my choice site to buy from, super friendly and informative in a world where people think they can be a dick to you because a month ago they could finally afford a Bob Jackson (can't wait to get mine though!)

Anyway, not matter what bike you get am sure it will be a great starting block.

Enjoy your rides.

Thanks for the suggestion. =]
Do I really need to change it to a 23c tyre? cos it add to the final bill as well, and it might goes well over 500pounds...

bout £40 a pair. use on existing rims. but use ur OTP ones (as they are normally shit) to learn to skid or what ever u wanna do... fukem up, then decide if u want 23c. might as well get summat out of them.
i bought 23c vittorias... much faster that OTP ones.. get an extra 4mph out of the bike on average.

cool thanks for that.
evans doing it reduced at 35.
my mate owes me beers already... better start cashing in!

Have a look around your local Lidl. They were selling the same set (not branded as Ice Tools tho) for £25 a couple of months ago. My local still has a few.

I suppose no need to change the tyres straight away, I just found them to be far too bulky and not very nice to look at in the slightest. Once changed the bike was a easier ride with more control, although you will feel the bumps more.

I just think that 23cs on deep Vs look and feel great, definitively an improvement to the tyres that come with it. Gives the whole bike a much lighter feel to it. Expensive i know, but it's quite nice to know that you are rolling on tyres lined with kevlar.......

I reckon Chuck Norris rides fixed with kevlar lined tyres........

Hi there, edwardes camberwell is an excellent cycle shop and are selling the fuji and the se light for £250 . My son has just bought one . The guys in there are more than helpfull and you will get a free service after six months . hope this is of some use to you.

if you want to appreciate a fixed gear bike then you need to build one from scratch for sure and invest in proper tools.. suggest you buy everything second hand remember treat this as your first project, buy tools as you need them don't waste money buying shite from Lidl.. i'm serious.. spending circa £500 upfront is for fools, aim for £200 then upgrade parts when you are ready and know what you are doing.. personally i'd rather spend serious money on my road bike.. good luck and welcome to the forum (michael)

Al

+1
^... yea. What he sed.

spending circa £500 upfront is for fools, aim for £200 then upgrade parts when you are ready and know what you are doing.
would spending a larger amount on frame then less on parts make sense so it doesn't need upgrading later?

would spending a larger amount on frame then less on parts make sense so it doesn't need upgrading later?

Concentrate on frame, chainset and wheels.

I suppose no need to change the tyres straight away, I just found them to be far too bulky and not very nice to look at in the slightest. Once changed the bike was a easier ride with more control, although you will feel the bumps more.

I just think that 23cs on deep Vs look and feel great, definitively an improvement to the tyres that come with it. Gives the whole bike a much lighter feel to it. Expensive i know, but it's quite nice to know that you are rolling on tyres lined with kevlar.......

I reckon Chuck Norris rides fixed with kevlar lined tyres........

okay I'll leave it to after i learnt SKID... haha:)

Hi there, edwardes camberwell is an excellent cycle shop and are selling the fuji and the se light for £250 . My son has just bought one . The guys in there are more than helpfull and you will get a free service after six months . hope this is of some use to you.

I can reach London Bridge easily, seems not a problem getting there, thanks!

if you want to appreciate a fixed gear bike then you need to build one from scratch for sure and invest in proper tools.. suggest you buy everything second hand remember treat this as your first project, buy tools as you need them don't waste money buying shite from Lidl.. i'm serious.. spending circa £500 upfront is for fools, aim for £200 then upgrade parts when you are ready and know what you are doing.. personally i'd rather spend serious money on my road bike.. good luck and welcome to the forum (michael)

Al

I will consider it seriously:)
Cheers Al, this is a lovely forum, love it!

I am looking for a new fixie for cycling to college and learning tricks. As I am new to the fixed gear world, my friend suggested me to look at those cheaper “off-the-peg” fixies. My budget is around £500.

Your friend was right. Buy an off the peg (OTP) bike, or if you have the time and patience, build up one from scratch.

But do ignore the bullshit that says that one is better than the other, as that will be that person's opinion, and they can't speak for you, or anyone else.

You can even buy a pre-owned OTP, and slowly upgrade that....selling unwanted parts as you go along.

Its your choice, so go with your gut feelings, and make up your own mind about preachy nonsense on here.

Oh yes, if you do go the DIY route, select a nice classically proportioned steel frame, from a recognised maker. It will do you proud in the end.

Your friend was right. Buy an off the peg (OTP) bike, or if you have the time and patience, build up one from scratch.

But do ignore the bullshit that says that one is better than the other, as that will be that person's opinion, and they can't speak for you, or anyone else.

You can even buy a pre-owned OTP, and slowly upgrade that....selling unwanted parts as you go along.

Its your choice, so go with your gut feelings, and make up your own mind about preachy nonsense on here.

Oh yes, if you do go the DIY route, select a nice classically proportioned steel frame, from a recognised maker. It will do you proud in the end.

Okay i got what you mean:)
Is Charge Plug Racer "a nice classically proportioned steel frame, from a recognised maker" ? I quite like the frame and have thoughts to upgrade it. oh also the bianchi pista, but people here seem to think that the price not acceptale now. (550pound)
Cheers.

i also need help looking at getting a fixie and i am stuck between to completes need an opinion on which would be best i am also open to suggestions.

the bikes are:
Quella One
http://quellabicycle.com/bicycles/quella-one-69.html

State bicycle £399 models
http://www.statebicycle.co.uk/product_p/abacabb2.htm

thanks

Neither, buy a used bike from the classifieds here for that kind of money. You'll get a decent frame, wheelset and drivetrain. It'll be a little 'pre-loved', but it'll be a lot better than some OTP job.