Questionaire - Customization and Personalization

[QUOTE=Sammy;997319].

1. Is you bike custom built or 'off the peg'?

2. If OTP, how have you made the bike your own?
   If custom, what makes the bike special to you?

3. How important are your bikes aesthetics to you and why?

4. Have you ever switched perfectly good parts for something else and for what reason?

5. If you could change anything about your bike what would it be?

6. Any other thoughts?

QUOTE]

1. Off the peg
   
2. No - I want a bike not a "statement"
   
3. As long as it works well I couldn't care less
   
4. No.
   
5. Nothing - everything works fine so why change anything.
   
6. I cycle because I enjoy it, but it's also my means of transport. I wouldn't customise a car so why should I customise my bike if it gets me from a to b efficiently?
   

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[I]1. Is you bike custom built or 'off the peg'?*
[/I]
Custom buit from OTP parts.

*

[I]2. If OTP, how have you made the bike your own?*
If custom, what makes the bike special to you?
[/I]
It fits really well, and has the right stiffness/comfort balance for my weight/strength. but most importantly its green and red. I like green and red.

*

[I]3. How important are your bikes aesthetics to you and why?*
[/I]
Important when putting bike together/parking it. Mean nothing when you are riding it though.

*

[I]4. Have you ever switched perfectly good parts for something else and for what reason?*
[/I]
Not 'perfectly good parts' as such, as I hate waste. I have only replaced parts for better bike fit

*

[I]5. If you could change anything about your bike what would it be?*
[/I]
Nothing. Its not the pefect bike, but its perfect for what I use it for.

*

[I]6. Any other thoughts?*
[/I]
Bikes are at their best when totally focused to a particular use/rider. (IMHO)
I'm bloody hungry. (IMHO)

(ED: All answers refer to my fixie skidder)

i have a sad story.
about 3 years ago i went to my local auction house on market day just to check it out.
lo and behold, there was a raleigh randonneur up for sale, worn but in very good condition.
this was their top of line tourer, £700+ back in the 80's, its the one with 2 spare spokes on the chainstay........... i could not believe my luck when i got it for £28...... hardly anyone else bid, they were all after crappy "mountain bikes ".
so i took my purchase home and had it in my workshop to check it over. it was worn, groves in the crank arms from shoe wear told me that it had done a lot, a lot of miles but it was in remarkably good service, loads of grease and nearly new bearings in the bb, headset smooth as butter, the only rust was under the cables where they had been rubbing. shimano 105 kit throughout, all in good service....... £28 ??????????
it turns out that the guy who had it died and his wife put it up for auction without really knowing its value, hence no reserve......i contacted her and explained the situation, offered her a reasonable amount, but she would not have it, especially if i was going to ride it, something to do with her hubbies memory, shit, i have not changed the bike since, just kept it as he did and replaced worn out stuff, i have done over 10000 miles on it, grooves in cranks are still there. its my favorite ride and i was going to rebuild it all and respray, until i found out its history.
its the first bike i have had that means anything to me.

This is one of the best posts I've ever read on this forum ever ever ever.

slowstephen I really think his wodow was right to say that, that you;re going to ride it and love it, and the mere fact that you offered her more money, means that its in the 'right' hands.

Bless you!

@Sammy

When you say 'custom' do you mean an off-the-peg frame and forks built with components selected by you, or do you mean frame actually built to your sepcification, tubes selected for your specific uses and geometry carefully designed around your needs?

Big difference.

1. Is you bike custom built or 'off the peg'?

2. If OTP, how have you made the bike your own?
   If custom, what makes the bike special to you?

3. How important are your bikes aesthetics to you and why?

4. Have you ever switched perfectly good parts for something else and for what reason?

5. If you could change anything about your bike what would it be?

6. Any other thoughts?

1) custom, from a frame bought on ebay. I didn't build the bike up though.
2) it's a good practical bike, plus I customised the saddle (a brooks, chopped and tied)
3) All else being equal I'd rather have a beautiful bike, but normally 'all else' is not equal, and I prefer a good practical bike to some flashy unpractical thing
4) No
5) I would have loved if the frame had a nice headbadge. It doesn't so I'll do without because the bike is otherwise perfect for me

1. Custom made for someone else decades ago.

2. It's made by my favourite framebuilder, it looks stunning, it was in great condition.

3. Aesthetics are fairly important. I don't like having parts on a bike that look wrong. I have a particular dislike of black handlebar stems and seatposts. I also prefer tight clearances and fixed/hub gears to dérailleurs on aesthetic as well as functional level.

4. I change handlebars for reasons of fit, comfort, looks. I changed wheels because I was concerned about ruining a nice vintage set of 28 hole tubular track wheels, I swapped seatposts between bikes to better match their respective ages, and I swapped all Selle Italia saddles for Brooks because whoever designed the Selle Italias needs his bum tested.

5. I would like to change the cranks on it to vintage Campagnolo because the Miche Primatos on it look too modern. I will be changing the bars to some wider ones and changing the bar tape to some nice plain black leather.

6. Buying off-the-peg is usually a compromise. With bicycles it can be a more expensive compromise. Buying bespoke, or customising a bike can be dangerously addictive.

1. Is you bike custom built or 'off the peg'?
Custom, for me.

** 2. If OTP, how have you made the bike your own?

If custom, what makes the bike special to you?**

It's built to my geometry, material spec, detail requests, etc.

3. How important are your bikes aesthetics to you and why?
Slightly, but only insofar as it is a measure of the overall quality and workmanship.

** 4. Have you ever switched perfectly good parts for something else and for what reason?**
Yes, to improve the overall quality. I've replaced a perfectly adequate sprocket for a lovely Phil Wood one for example.

** 5. If you could change anything about your bike what would it be?**
I'm done making changes on this bike... it's finished. So I get another bike.

** 6. Any other thoughts?**
The weather is nice.

1. Is you bike custom built or 'off the peg'?
OTP.

** 2. If OTP, how have you made the bike your own?

If custom, what makes the bike special to you?**

Taken off most of the decals, changed the saddle, bar tape, front hub, front rim, tyres, chain, chainring, sprocket, removed rear brake and most importantly added a 'Hoops saddle dangler.

3. How important are your bikes aesthetics to you and why?
Important. It needs to fit and function well, but there's no reason why it shouldn't look good too.

** 4. Have you ever switched perfectly good parts for something else and for what reason?**
Yes. Mostly for better quality parts. But for aesthetics I swapped a black rim for a white one.

** 5. If you could change anything about your bike what would it be?**
Rear hub needs an upgrade to match the front. There is some godawful noise coming from the BB area that needs some attention, so it runs on silent again. After that it will be frame upgrade.

** 6. Any other thoughts?**
Mrs v-r seems to enjoy constantly upgrading the scatter cushion components of our living room, but I haven't noticed a significant improvement in performance as a result.

1. Is you bike custom built or 'off the peg'?
Bike was purchased in pieces, frame and componentry.

** 2. If OTP, how have you made the bike your own?

If custom, what makes the bike special to you?**

There are similar bikes, but mine is still unique.
NOS rims, power-coated.
Twisted spokes.
The bike is special because it fits me well, performs well, is comprised of decent equipment.

3. How important are your bikes aesthetics to you and why?
If it didn't work and perform as I require the aesthetics wouldn't count for anything.

** 4. Have you ever switched perfectly good parts for something else and for what reason?**
Only if the new equipment is of a better quality.
But any bike I put together is built to a plan and once completed, barring equipment failure or accident damage or consumables like tyres, chains and grips there is no need to replace anything.

** 5. If you could change anything about your bike what would it be?**
Nothing.

** 6. Any other thoughts?**
Nope.

1. Is you bike custom built or 'off the peg'?
   Was built custom for someone else (possibly a giant) about 40 years ago. I've built it into a fixed.
   
   

2.If custom, what makes the bike special to you?
It's half built out of parts I had lying around and half out of parts I had to buy, despite this it still looks pretty sweet, above all though it is super agile and quick to ride.

1. How important are your bikes aesthetics to you and why?
   I like all my bikes to look good, parts on mine are either metal finish or white, apart from the back wheel. It looks pretty smoothe but has a little splash of colour. I draw the line at spending vast ammounts of money on things that aren't really going to make a difference to how the bike rides - things that it could do with but haven't given into - respray (a few scratches, 40 years of use) , front wheel (looks poop but runs smooth and true), seat post (lighter/prettier) top quality chain (would be lighter but current chain was cheap and works fine)

2. Have you ever switched perfectly good parts for something else and for what reason?
   Just waiting for some white track grips to replace the black mtb ones I stuck on when building the bike, these will match my saddle/tyres/chain. I like white!

3. If you could change anything about your bike what would it be?
   like I said front wheel/seat post/chain and a posh respray.

4. Any other thoughts?
   I do like having good looking things, especially when you've spent hours working on them and made numerous little tweaks. I fall in love with my bikes when i build them then fall head over heels when i ride them, so there's a certain sense of pride I feel, when you notice people checking your bike as you fly past. You definitely need to draw the line though when splashing cash on bikes as there are numerous other things to spend your money on.

My fixed projext cost me just under £200 to build, down to frame forks and other bits being given to me, and I doubt I'd swap it for something modern and fancy because it rides so well!

Thank you all so much for contributing. This has been even more useful than I first anticipated.

I'm going to contact everyone that has posted seperately trhough PM incase they haven't checked back on the thread, BUT

It would be SUPER DUPER useful if everyone that has posted could send me a picture of the particular bike they were talking about when answering.

If you have any before and afdter shots of modifications you have made (with an explanantion) that would also be very helpful!

Thankyou very much, keep them coming in

Just post the photos on the thread, or if you don't want them shown publicly, you could email me them - just_a_visual at hotmail . com

thanks again

I'm just doing some research for my Uni 3rd year minor project.

The research is to be used to help me design a system of furniture construction.

I'm looking at how I can give a personal value to furniture.

Seen as many peoples fixed gear bikes are quite personal to them, I'm interested on what makes that so.

If you could take 5 mins to answers a few questions I'd be very grateful.

Thanks, Sammy

1. Is you bike custom built or 'off the peg'?

2. If OTP, how have you made the bike your own?
   If custom, what makes the bike special to you?

3. How important are your bikes aesthetics to you and why?

4. Have you ever switched perfectly good parts for something else and for what reason?

5. If you could change anything about your bike what would it be?

6. Any other thoughts?

1. Custom Built (I think) - got an old road bike off my Dad that he was going to freecycle it due to non-use,and stripped it down to rebuild as fixed gear, with pretty much new everything.

2. Spent many frustrating weeks of very late nights trawling forums, price comparison websites, on-line stores etc finding the bits I wanted, at the best price I could get, and learning how to stick them all together (which I had not done to any great extent before) - what makes it special is riding it and liking that it looks and feels like it does because i wanted it to and put in some effort to achieve that

3. On my older OTP geared bikes - aesthetics was rarely a major consideration (had them as utilitarian workhorse style commuter / shopper / tag-along pullers). But now on my fixed conversion I like that it looks different to other bikes on the road (despite knowing that it does not look as nice as many/most other conversions) i.e. is unique in its specific combination of components and frame and people stop and ask about it when I'm locking it up etc - even more so as there are not really a great deal of fg/ss bikes in w7/w13 area that i use it in.

4. Switched from bullhorn handlebars to nitto riser bars a few weeks ago, wanted to feel closer to my brake levers after some close shaves; switched the original 27" wheels for 700's for better choice of tubes/tyres, and nicer looking rims

5. fork appears to be a bit wonky - trying to understand exactly what problem is, but will probably end up posting on here in mechanics section..., bottom bracket hanger too low so toeclips scrape on ground when walking with bike.

6. My company is offering cycle2work scheme this month, so am having to buy an OTP fixed (it would be rude not to participate) - and have opted for Genesis flyer 2009. I am apprehensive about how it will 'feel' riding that in terms of how it may fail to replicate the warm glow of riding your own lovingly handcrafted conversion...

@Sammy

When you say 'custom' do you mean an off-the-peg frame and forks built with components selected by you, or do you mean frame actually built to your sepcification, tubes selected for your specific uses and geometry carefully designed around your needs?

Big difference.

I mean built from your own parts.

Although if anybody has a custom built frame it would be interesting for my research to know your personal reasons for having a custom built frame + how you feel towards your custom built frame.

I know all this sounds a bit rediculous, but I'm trying to design in longevity to a system of furniture construction. For me to do this properly, knowing how emotionally attached you are to an object is really useful.

....Waits for thread full of sexual bike innuendos

...how emotionally attached you are to an object is really useful.
He's a cunt.

i like emotions ... they're nice.

[QUOTE=Sammy;1000931]
how emotionally attached you are to an object is really useful.

I am no more or less attached to any of my bikes than I am to my wife or games consoles. I believe there is a time and a place for everything so long as you don't get caught showing favouritism.

I really like my bikes, for several reasons. But if one was replaced with its cash value tomorrow, I'd just get a new one to replace it, end of.

I really like my bikes, for several reasons. But if one was replaced with its cash value tomorrow, I'd just get a new one to replace it, end of.

How could I put a cash value on my Hetchins though?

1 of 90 surviving Magnum Bonums, Dating from around the mid 50s, classic dura ace/campag, and rides beautifully... plus it was me that rescued it from being left in a cellar for the rest of its days.

Don't think I'd sell it regardless - and it's only going to gain value the longer I hold onto it?

How could I put a cash value on my Hetchins though?

1 of 90 surviving Magnum Bonums, Dating from around the mid 50s, classic dura ace/campag, and rides beautifully... plus it was me that rescued it from being left in a cellar for the rest of its days.

Don't think I'd sell it regardless - and it's only going to gain value the longer I hold onto it?

I'd say if your bike is rare or has special history then it becomes somewhat irreplaceble. My frame is a OTP Bob Jackson though. Not exactly a rare entity.

J'agree, saying that though the allure of a state of the art track bike with zipp wheelset etc that ran perfectly and silently would be pretty tempting...

He's a cunt.

Not really needed is it.

Sorry. Have you not met Object yet?

Not formally. It's alright, I just got a think outside the box on this one.

More pictures would be appreciated. Cheers

1. Is you bike custom built or 'off the peg'?
   
   

OTP and quite common. (Specialized 08 Tricross SS)

1. If OTP, how have you made the bike your own?
   
   

Removed the chicken brake levers and rear brake, switched the cross tires fo some red Michelins and changed over to fixed. Stripped decals off the wheels. Also moved the bars down for TTing. It's not how I want it yet, but it's the least worn of my bikes so it'll be a while before I make any major changes.

1. How important are your bikes aesthetics to you and why?
   
   

Fairly important. Of all things it's nice to have things that are nice to look at. If all I could afford was some ugly stuff then I would buy it. I genuinely like the colour scheme on this bike, if it came without all the Spesh names and branding on it I would be quite chuffed. I'll probably come up with something quite personal when I finally overhaul it.

1. Have you ever switched perfectly good parts for something else and for what reason?
   
   

Transmission, mostly because I needed something much bigger for TTing. As fixeds go, this is a lovely TT bike.

1. If you could change anything about your bike what would it be?
   
   

I love the colour scheme but would change that. The cross frame and forks are excellent so those won't be changing and I like the handlebars as they are. I would like to change the brake levers a bit to something that I would find a bit more comfortable for long distance riding. I would like a F/F flip hub at some point, again for long distance (2 teeth can make all the difference sometimes). Deep Vs? It's possible. If I put together a good colour scheme and could find some that went well with it then I probably would. Arrowspok? I can't see me dropping that much cash on a wheel. Other custom parts would probably be down to what I eventually do to it.

1. Any other thoughts?
   
   

I'd love to do a custom build one day and I probably will, time space and cash permitting. I'd love to do a restoration for someone else. I love seeing people ride around on things that I've put together for them but haven't had a chance to do that with a fixed yet. I'm but a neophyte in this game yet.

Thanks again.[/QUOTE]

1. Is you bike custom built or 'off the peg'?
   
   

custom built frame

1. If custom, what makes the bike special to you?
   
   

the bike is built to fit me perfectly and give the handling i required

all the components were bought for functionality and durability, it is my everyday everything bike

1. How important are your bikes aesthetics to you and why?
   
   

aesthetics were fairly low down the list of priorities, and highest on my aesthetic desires was to make it as discrete as possible

function first - this dictated the parts, their colour was a final decision

1. Have you ever switched perfectly good parts for something else and for what reason?
   
   

I was given a brooks saddle so put that on, its great, different to the previous. It has stayed on but it just means I now have a spare saddle for my road bike. Everything else is the same as when it was first built barring parts that have worn out.

When my rim wore out I did upgrade from mavic open pros to the ceramic open pro as they brake better in the wet and last longer.

1. If you could change anything about your bike what would it be?
   
   

I have to say the fixed bike is perfect for me, part of the joy of the build was I had a specific goal in mind and achieved it. This year I went around the cycle show with no levels of interest, the previous year I clutched every set of handlebars and brake leavers I could find and looked at every track crank on display when I was in the process of building this bike.

When the bearings wear out they will be replaced with ceramic ones.

I'd like to lose the creak of the crank arms on the titanium bottom bracket - this is probably just an assembly/maintenance issue.

1. Any other thoughts?
   
   

too many though too few of significance