Welcome

hello ,raced all my life and also build frames ,some great work on here well done

Just joint, hellos

Hello Comrades!

Been reading up on here for a while. Now that I am assembling (and noobily attempting to fix) the parts that will eventually become my first ever steed, mount, prancer, stallion, my champion companion of the streets, my war horse...... ahem... I thought I should sign up and join propah loike.

I've acquired an old Alan Shorter track bike/road path/grass track/fixed time trial/I have no F**KING idea what it is and what its made of (can anyone help me here?), that needs work, so trial and error time atm.

I have no pedals, the bars and stem are FUGLY, the brooks is ripped so I've araldite'd it and fed it lots of Proofide, I need a front brakeset cos I'm scared about braking myself, and the airlite track hubs are on ooooold Fiamme tubs + the gear ratio or whatever its called came as 52/17 which from what I can work out will also break me. All this plus add-ons like locks lights and clothing is costing a relative bomb so it looks like I'll be doing some winter roadside tub gluing for the immediate future.... LOVE IT!

..... blahhh blaahh hiiiii nice to meeet you all I have many many questionsssss.

Welcome to the forum, perhaps put some pictures up in the current projects with a little cry for help.
I'm sure you'll find all the parts you need on here and if not be given sound advice on where to source them, there are quite a few lists and best of all is the list of lists. The search button is your first friend on this forum.

As for that Alan Shorter, if it's a late 70's frame I guess it'll be a Reynolds frame, there's been a few on sale here lately (not a track frame though).

cheers for the tips Jaw! It feels quite light but I've got no experience for comparison. serial number is 1069 so maybe its from '69? Shorter doesn't seem to exist anymore which is a shame as I would have taken it in there and got the lowdown that way. Also the front fork is drilled and it came with Campagnolo Pista cranks and bottom bracket. I'll have to take some pictures and stick em up when I have the chance.

Mancub, looky here:
http://www.shorter-rochford.co.uk/08/index2.shtml

^What furious tiles said.

TBH I don't know a lot about Alan Shorter apart from a few TT bikes and some others that came up for sale on here recently. Maybe try this thread http://www.lfgss.com/thread44162.html I'm sure some of the other guys have more information, it's been fitted with good parts so it'll be a worthwhile exercise to restore that bike. Looking forward to see some of the pics.

ahhhhh furious tiles, I would most definitely have you in my dream bathroom for sure, as long as you're not too enraged in the mornings. couldn't do that mate. anyway you're a godsend. I like this place. I'll build it up first then ride it on in there and see what they have to say.

Double cheers Jaw, will have to whip out the camera over the weekend.

Hi, I'm new here & new to cycling (cycled as a kid, and for a couple of years when I was in Oxford in my 30s). I just bought a bike on gumtree, under £100, flip flop single speed, looks like it is built out of a box of old bits with so-so 70s frame, frame feels a bit too short with straight bars, & twitchy feel to the steering. I went single speed cos I got impatient of trying to make derailleurs work on cheap bikes. I am so happy with discovering single speed, the bike, though a bit grungy, goes really well, even compared with some £500-£1000 geared bikes I have borrowed. It seems like you're better off without gears in town.

I can't really get my feet into the toe clips yet but I am beginning to get the hang of it, haven't a clue about what lights are ok (bought LED lights in Argos), no idea how to ride fixed etc. Even with freewheel doing Marylebone-Berkely Sq-Hyde Park Corner-Buck. Palace-Parliament sq.-Westminster Bridge was pretty intense, on a dull rainy day (last Tuesday) with strong-willed taxis etc. I have some traffic sense, used to motorcycle in London years ago (staying safe on a pedal bike seems even harder).

I heard fixed is better for about town, I have to try soon, but maybe practice somewhere quiet first.

Any adivce welcome, there is not so much clear, easy-to-find guidance for a beginner here. Whether it's best to change to drop bars? What kind of lighter frame to look out for without spending too much (is aluminium a good idea?). Anything else.

I am aware my post may seem strange to the committed enthusiasts who mainly post here, & find my issues ridiculously basic, but I am not a troll, though at the age of 51 maybe I am having a mid-life crisis....

JWB, there is plenty of information here, if you just use the search box top right, most of your questions or queries will have been asked and answered.

Best advice is to ride the bike you have and figure out what you do and don't like about it. If you can come out to one of the forum drinks, beers in the menu bit at the top of the page, and you can test ride peoples bikes to see if they suit or don't suit. Also if your thinking of upgrading go and pop into your local bike shop and take a couple of bits and bobs out for a ride.

Most on here have strong opinions one way or another, and will give you contrary information usually on subjective questions. Best for you to just keep riding, and figure it out for yourself, also go have a look at this website http://www.sheldonbrown.com/ which will have more information structured in a more useable coherent way.

good luck and welcome to the one geared cycling massive..

Many thanks. I was sort of thinking I'd be out of place turning up for drinks on a 'boneshaker' and totally clueless - but now you suggest it I think I might try to come along. In the world of inline skating (which I also started recently) I was amazed how welcoming & supportive experienced people are to a terrified-looking beginner, probably it will be the same with cycling.

Bonjour les enfant,

Finally joined up to ask about advice for an couple of brooks saddles I have been given.

Welcome, JWB. Nice first post. You can also get cycle training--have a look at this forum:

http://www.lfgss.com/forum49.html

Suitable for every rider, no matter how experienced, as the training is adjusted to your abilities. Highly recommended.

Enjoy your riding!

Yeah, i've been lurking too and just discovered this. Wow, even the Welcome page is worth reading. Nice one guys!

I acquired a very old and broken bianchi (a bag of bits) a few months back with a view to getting oily and restoring it back to its former glory.
So, there I was at the crossroads awaiting a sign and thinking I need to get a REAR MECH for it.
I have now been shown the right path and seen the error of my ways ;-)

HI!

i am a road cyclist mainly, ride a Trek 1.9 race bike to and from work, but just finished building my first Fixed based on an old Raleigh race bike, cant wait to learning the ways of the fixed, should be fun :)

Oh HAi fello roadie. You'll love fixed I assure you. But anyone on two wheels is a friend

Welcome

I would like to say hello to everyone. Old racer bicycle world has piqued my curiosity. I am sure that I´ll find here tons of decent information.

Best

Hi

I want to create an information system for cyclists to find their way around cities as one of my major projects (I am a Graphic Product Innovation student at London College of Communication) I will be designing a system/campagin etc for London, if you currently cycle or have cycled in another city insight to that would also be helpful.

If you could please take a few minutes to answer some questions on the link bellow:

http://onyerrbike.tumblr.com/

Any ideas/insights/comments about cycling in London, routes you take, aspects of journey you wish were easier etc would also be appriciated...

Thank you for your time and help

Nikki Scott

www.nikkiscottdesign.com

Hello

I recently converted an old Peugeot i bought to single speed. I couldn't get the hang of gear shifting anyway. I'm loving riding in London and going round hills rather than over them. Cheers

Hi

I want to create an information system for cyclists to find their way around cities as one of my major projects (I am a Graphic Product Innovation student at London College of Communication) I will be designing a system/campagin etc for London

Sounds interesting, Nikki--get in touch with the LCC about it. LCC activists have a lot of experience with this sort of thing.

Oliver
LCC

Aiight.

Don't ride a fixie, but i'm going to stick around anyway.

Gutted for yous.

Hey

Long time lurker, first time poster. Was hoping to build a fixie up from an old Raleigh frame but the various incompatibility issues are making it more and more of a pain in the arse.

Just thought I'd say hi!

Hi

Just got myself a track frame and in the process of building it up, this seems like the place to be to get the info i need on making myself one sweet ride.

Laterz

Hi ho
just saying hi!
ride a converted fixed commuter to work every day,
and in a process of building a track bike!