Steel OTP List - Of Classic or Near-Classical form

Steel OTP List - Of Classic or Near-Classical form

This thread is basically a reply to the thread begun by not_hip. He asked there for suggestions for steel OTP bikes,
that were up to a maximum of £600. This thread turns that answer into a resource and links back to the main OTP thread.

***Also, This thread is only a BIT OF FUN. It won't necessarlily be updated, so if you wish a bike such as any listed below, ***
just Google the name, and find where it may still be sold.

What this means is:
FAST COMMUTER / PART-TIME RACER

• Thin, not fat tubing.
  
• No sloping top tube.
  
• Tightish geometry and angles - not a tourer.
  
• Butted or double-butted tubing, or better if possible.
  
• Has drops, or can easily swap to drops with correct brake levers.
  
  
  

Bikes up to £650 (max)

BIANCHI PISTA STEEL
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bianchi/pista-steel-2010-single-speed-road-bike-ec021237

BIANCHI PISTA VIA CONDOTTI
http://www.dryburghcycles.co.uk/products/Bianchi-D2-Pista-Via-Condotti.html
CREME CAFE VINYL UNO
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=48553

FUJI FEATHER
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/feather-2010-single-speed-road-bike-ec022189

FUJI CLASSIC TRACK
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/classic-track-2010-single-speed-road-bike-ec022190

KHS FLITE 100
http://www.cyclesurgery.com/khs-bikes-flite-100-10/singlespeed---drop-bar/bikes-components-bikewear/fcp-product/178
GARY FISHER TRITON
http://www.hardie-bikes.com/products.php?plid=m1b1s150p1702
MERCIER KILO TT SPECIAL EDITION
http://bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/kilott_special_ed.htm
ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOROUGHS 2009
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/rocky-mountain/boroughs-2009-single-speed-road-bike-ec022012

SE PREMIUM ALE 2009
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/se/premium-ale-2009-single-speed-road-bike-ec018022

SPECIALIZED LANGSTER STEEL
http://www.leisurewheels.co.uk/products.php?plid=m10b3s6p6827&rs=gb
SURLY STEAMROLLER
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/21273/Surly_Steamroller_Bike_2010

Bikes costing more than £650

COLNAGO SUPER SINGLESPEED
http://biketraks.com/products.php?plid=m15b1s172p3104&rs=gb
COOPER T200 CHAMPIONSHIP
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Cooper_T200_Championship_50_2010/5360047079/

GUERCIOTTI RECORD PISTA
http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/detail.asp/sku=guer-recordpistabke/Guerciotti_Record_Pista_Steel_Single_Speed_Bike_2010
KONA GRANDWAGON
http://www.cyclelane.co.uk/products.php?plid=m4b0s220p2843
MARIN IGNACIO 2010
http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/product/marinignacioroadbike2010.aspx?&id=12363
MERCIAN SUPER VIGORELLI
http://www.merciancycles.com/complete-bikes/54/super-vigorelli-complete-bikes
VIVA DURO 2010 (slight slope on toptube, but dual tubing on toptube and downtube make up for that. It was scobled)
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/viva/duro-2010-single-speed-road-bike-ec023210

VIVA EXTRAVAGANZA
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/viva/extravaganza-2010-single-speed-road-bike-ec023211

VIVA PISTA 4
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/viva/pista-4-2010-single-speed-road-bike-ec023189

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***On reflection, I have expanded the Steel OTP bikes to include desireable pathracer types, or town bikes with style. ***
***True, these are the opposite of the bikes above, but they have their place, and to be honest, since The Tweed Run ***
***was invented, these bikes now have a greater currency. Fast road bikes are fine, but imagine going for a picnic on ***
***a summer's day, to Brockwell Park, or even better, Blackheath Common, on town bikes. You know it makes sense. ***
***Who wants to race to a picnic, eat some food, and snaffle some wine or ale, and then race back. As Guinness knows, ***
not all things should be rushed.

What this means is:
TOWN or COUNTRY BIKE / PATH RACER

• Thin, not fat tubing.
  
• No sloping top tube.
  
• Pathracer or Town bike angles: [slacker = accurate / tighter = modern]
  
• Butted or double-butted tubing, or better if possible.
  
• Has swept-back handlebars and a Brooks/Berthoud saddle and maintains pathracer or townbike style.
  
  
  

Bikes up to £650 (max)
BIANCHI PISTA VIA BRERA(very fast modern hybrid-pathracer)
http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/bianchi-pista-via-item150078.html
CREME CAFE RACER DOPPIO
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=48560

Bikes costing more than £650
CREME CAFE VINYL DOPPIO
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=48557

FIXIE INC BLACKJACK (very fast modern hybrid-pathracer)
http://www.mosquito-bikes.co.uk/htdocs/cms_ul/Bike/blackjack.htm?item_id=594
**PASHLEY GUV'NOR **
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pashley/guvnor-hybrid-bike-ec000914

**SCORCHER URBAN **
http://www.velorution.biz/shop/scorcher-urban-single-speed/

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These are my opinions so far on the bikes in this thread.

For close clearances, a lightish and agile frame, a very reasonable specification at a keen price, excellent handling and handsome looks, the KHS Flite 100 is the one to beat. Adding this a bit late - the Rocky Mountain Boroughs 2009 comes close in ability and beats it for pricing. With some black rims, maybe deep-section (my taste, and not very trad) it would look sexy. And everybody agrees with my tastes on sexy. ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

The Kona Grandwagon is spoilt by a really ugly and out of place stem (aheadset). But apart from that, its not too shabby.

The Colnago Super could do with a different chainset and stem. Both just look agricultural on such a potentially fine bike .

The Marin Ignacio is an interesting one. Though not very remarkable to look at, it keeps its charms under the skin. It's triple butted, in frame AND fork. Should be light and a rather rewarding ride.

I saw a Bianchi Via Condotti this morning, coming up the OKR. Its nice, pretty even, but is it worth the extra more than the Fuji Feather?
I actually prefer the Bianchi Via Brera over the Condotti. With some drops, it would be a lovely thing.

Prices for some bikes have gone way up, like the standard Bianchi Pista Steel. I suppose its to stop people who like the Condotti from just buying the Pista Steel instead, and not bothering about the pale blue colouring, and higher price of the Condotti? So by raising the price of the Pista Steel, at least cost won't be as much of a factor in choosing between the two. Silly though, because sales would then be lost to less expensive bikes, from other manufacturers.

There is a reason why in some cases, 2009 bikes are listed, and not the 2010 models. In the case of the Rocky Mountain Boroughs, its because the 2010 model was not sold in the UK, and it looked ridiculous anyway - a total rip-off of the Felt Brougham, except with colours reversed. The SE Premium Ale is quite passable in the 2009 guise, but irrecoverable in the hideously coloured 2010 version.

The Cooper range of bikes are simply way over-priced for what they are. Nice looking, but I'd seek value elsewhere.

Its a shame the Specialized Langster Steel only comes in red. Its quite beautiful, and ticks all the boxes. The Fuji Feather competes in the same price category, and has the added bonus of being available in several colours. More options for later customising. But for looks, I think the Langster Steel is possibly one of the very best looking steel bikes in any price category.

Viva have just shit all over Fixie Inc. and from an incredible height. In fact the Viva Duro, while rather ordinary in profile, needs to be seen up close, to appreciate its twin-top-tubed beauty. Gorgeousness.

Awesome job, once again.

The Colnago makes me want to cry.

Has anyone seen that Viva monstrosity Evans are flogging? It's something like a grand and a half with no-name bits.

Oh, and Evans have 58cm Fuji tracks selling for £299 at the moment. Cheap as chips.

I may add some of the VIVA bikes here, after I've stuck them in the proper OTP thread.

Just wanted to add that I absolutely love my KHS Flite 100 (2010). Feels quite light, decent components and feels great on the road/commute.

can you get those merciers shipped to the uk? couldn't see any details on the site linked

Hey, great initiative :)

so what you're telling me here is I shouldn't get the IRO Angus that I intended to get but rather buy the KHS Flite. thanks now I have to go through the whole thinking process again.

Where's the IRO Angus sold as a standard specced full build? I thought it was only sold as a frameset? This list is for OTP (Off The Peg) bikes. Correct me, but I couldn't find it built up and sold as an OTP.

That said, in the photos I've seen, it wouldn't have made this grouping anyway. I've already lopped some off that were on here just a day ago. Angles too slack.

EDIT:
I like aluminium bikes, because they are stiffer, but were I to buy a steel bike, it would be one from this list.....unless I marry a rich wodow, and then I'd get a custom built bike.

That said, in the photos I've seen, it wouldn't have made this grouping anyway. I've already lopped some off that were on here just a day ago. Angles too slack.

well the angles are pretty much the same with the IRO and the KHS:

http://www.khsbicycles.com/Images/Geometry/08-geo-road-b.jpg

http://www.irocycle.com/angusframeset.aspx

but you're right, you won't find it as a standard specced full build.

with all due respect to GA2G and all useful threads he develops, may i add that felt brougham has a sloping top tube? :) not that it's not a nice bike...

I have now nuked the impostor from the list.

I do like the mercier but take it you can't buy it in the uk?

I've seen a lady Viva (bellissimo) bicycle up close, and it look almost like a custom bicycle, especially the ahead stem that made to resemblance a quill stem (a la Robin Mather, Alex Singer, etc.).

The Viva Strada is something else;

Wow - Mercian do a complete Vigorelli for £2273.69 and that's in 631. More then 2.5k for 853....

Some lovely bits though[B][/B]

I've just added the VIVA bikes. The Bellissimo has gone into the general OTP thread, but some of the others are listed here.
The Viva Duro is worth a special mention. Twin toptube loveliness. Hang on a sec..........AND twin down-tubes!!!!!!

http://static.lfgss.com/attachments/28544d1280396575-viva-duro-2010-single-speed-road-bike-blow-up.jpg

http://www.evanscycles.com/product_image/image/c27/511/a02/49599/large/viva-duro-2010-single-speed-road-bike.jpg

But it got a sloped top tube! thereforth it does not fit in your critique of a perfect near-classical bike!

Ed, your head is tilted, in fact, it may be in danger of falling off. ;)

But you're right. Though, if I start a thread just for this bike, hippy will merge it here anyway. let's leave this to be the one exception, okay?
Its too effing lovely to throw in the bin.

I love my sloping top tube. It's ace.

^^ pervert.

Handicapped more like. If its always sloping and never straight. ;)

If you let the front tyre down it would be perfect.

I do think that's a shame though, looks lovely apart from that. Apart from the forks.

But it got a sloped top tube! thereforth it does not fit in your critique of a perfect near-classical bike!

.........The Viva Strada is something else;

Not on sale in the UK as far as I can fathom, but it looks an obvious challenger to the Pashley Guv'nor. I prefer the Guv'nor's looks, but I imagine that the Strada may be a better quality of bike.

Examine the handlebars in HD detail. Move mouse/cursor over picture in the link.