Langster / Langster Pro / Langster Steel

I went with a custom black Condor Pista. I test rode the plug, langster, cinelli, and a few versions of the Condor. This one was on special for 800, fit perfectly, rode the best of the lot. I am very happy. Thanks for everyone's help and advice.

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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

i had a langster, but they're kinda crap... but so are plugs.

Personally i would go for a Genesis day one flat or drop bar over the Veloheld - Also cheaper

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/genesis/day-one-flat-bar-2010-cyclocross-bike-ec021322?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=froogle

Its kind of a quasi crosser - has clearance for big tyres, braze ons if you ever want racks etc, quality parts (as good if not netter than veloheld), and given the winter weather if you commute the brake set up is really good.

1+ on the genesis, they're solid little bike for the money, look very nice too especially ti-coloured one.

Out of the two you've picked I'd go for the Veloheld - Andel stuff is pretty solid, I think it's a re-branded version of Surly but don't quote me on that.

Langsters are ok bikes though, just solid no frills bikes - so can't really go wrong there.

Andel arent a re-branded Surly, but Andels are rebranded as lots of other makes, eg BLB's own brand cranks - they are on a par with the basic Suginos

Thanks for the replies, hadn't even considered the Genesis tbh. The only worry I have about that is that it's a bit heavier compared to the other two and I live on a top floor flat with no ground floor bike storage. But I guess if I can't carry an extra 3-4kgs up the stairs everyday then I need to go to the gym...

Anyone else got anything to add on this?

TBH most bikes at the price range are much of a muchness - save for the obvious aluminum or steel frame choices, they are all pretty similar in spec. Test ride a load, and go with the one that fits best, and puts the biggest smile on your face.

I like the Genesis as its a little bit tougher, and versatile, without looking like some sort of shite hybrid. If your likely to use the bike mainly for commuting, want to put mudguards on, maybe a rack in the future, then its a good bet. The bigger tyres make it good at soaking up Londons perfect roads too!

Can anyone comment on the difference between these two bikes, apart from color scheme and handle bars. The price is about the same.

Which has the better components?
Which would you buy?

http://www.evanscycles.com/products-comparison?products=ec019547|ec020012

Jesus. Another thread? Really?

The red one

The red one seems smaller than the black one. How big are you?

He's got a point.......

i would go for the langster OG over the langster steel. it is alu and lighter, comes with a carbon fork and is compact geo. I always thought it was a shame they didnt make the langster steel compact geo, because it does look better and if they did i would snap it up.

Can anyone comment on the difference between these two bikes, apart from color scheme and handle bars. The price is about the same.

Which has the better components?
Which would you buy?

http://www.evanscycles.com/products-comparison?products=ec019547|ec020012

Neither of those haz pedals, they're rubbish.
Buy a bike with pedals, it's fundamental.

Jesus. Another thread? Really?

Jesus can fuck the rite off, this is important stuff!

Buy both. Ride one with your left foot, and one with your right, whilst straddling both frames. Easy.

They have both got pretty much the same components such as the same crankset, bb, wheels, brakes etc..
It comes down to the frame to be honest. The normal langster is made of aluminum and is a bit lighter but the langster steel has a more satisfying classic geometry. The steel is also a lot nicer to ride than the normal langster. It just feels smoother.
Also on the steel you can peel off all of the stickers which is a bonus.

this is the third thread this has been asked in.

Oh FFS!!

The red one......no, wait.........can I get it in another thread, just to make sure I understand the original question correctly?

Red ones are faster and steel one looks cooler so buy that one.

the steel one is such a fucking joke. end of.