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@lja
Hello,
Apologies for posting a question in someone else's thread but I've just joined LFGSS and the anti-spam thing won't let me start my own. This is without doubt a newbie question but I am about to buy my first fixie and have got my choice down to two bikes, but can pick between them. The first is a Veloheld Alley - http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3588/3607906886_3f22ac36be_o.jpg
and the other is a 2010 Langster (Alu/carbon frame/fork). Sure you all know what they look like so won't bother with a photo.
The spec of the Veloheld is:
Frame - tripple butted main tubes made from velohld.CroMo, TIG welded, extra smooth weldings at the rear stays
tire clearance max 30mm - 120 mm classic rear spacing with stainless steel drop outs
**Fork - **Straight bladed 4130CrMo Ahead fork, 1 1/8", brilliant black
**Bottom Bracket **- BSA–68mm
Cranks - Andel Track Crankset, 42 teeth (other teeth sizes to order)
Pedals - HTI-AR08 – black
**Headset **- FSA Orbit X – Ahead set 1 1/8"
Brake Levers - Tektro RL570
Brakes - Tektro R530 with adjustable brake pads
Hubs - Formula Large Flange flip flop track hubs, black
Sprocket - freewheel 16 tooth + fixed cog 16 tooth, lockring(black), other sizes on request
Rims - Alex DA-22 – black and white, 32 hole
Tires - Maxxis Detonator, 700C, 25mm
Stem - veloheld.stem, black, 100mm
Flatbar - veloheld.bar, white, 460mm, 0° swept back
Weight - 9,3kg
Obviously they are two quite different bikes steel vs alu/carbon, flat bar vs drop bar etc But having ridden both, spent the weekend thinking about it and then going back again today to ride them again, one doesn't jump out at me as being more comfortable/smoother etc to ride than the other, perhaps the Veloheld is easier to manoeuvre but not a big difference. So now I'm looking more closely at the components.
Before I forget the Veloheld's RRP is £899, which seems massively overpriced, but it is on sale in this particular shop for £576, obviously a chunk more than the Langster at £450. Being new to the game I really don't know what I'm looking for when it comes to components and having searched the forum I know that a good frame is much better than a load of fancy parts, so is the Langster's alu/carbon frame/fork a better starting point than the Veloheld's rather ambiguous 'Veloheld CroMo'? Does anyone know?
If I'm being really honest there's something about the Veloheld's look that I prefer, but I don't want to get sucked into buying a bike based on how it looks so I'm trying to ignore that. Completely expect to get shot down for asking a ridiculous newbie question but I've been googling so much all weekend trying to learn stuff that I thought it was about time I asked on a forum. Even called in sick today at work to go and ride them both again...
Oh and the reason I didn't wait 24hours for the anti-spam thing to let me start my own thread is because there's only one Veloheld left at that price and I'm worried it's going to get snapped up before I decide. If anyone can shed any light on the frames or the quality of the Veloheld's components listed above or just give an opinion on which I'd be better off with I'd really appreciate it. Budget is £600 max and I'll be using it to commute and get around London.
Jesus that was far more than I wanted to write.
Cheers