I used to cycle a lot as a teen. While in college for about 6 months I commuted in, doing about 12 miles a day. I loved it, spring, cool but sunny, and my health problems improved. I realised recently I miss having a bike and going for a blast, so want to get one to keep in Oxford. Before I rode mountain bikes, and still have an average MTB at home, which I use sometimes.
I have become really interested in FG/SS bikes though recently. £250 would get me a crap road bike, and the gears would infuriate me... if anything like i've had before on mountain bikes many years ago, problematic, clunky etc. - I thought well, FG/SS makes sense, remove one of the parts that really is crap when you buy on the cheap. I'm capable of adjustment and stuff, as well as a full rebuild, i'm sure... I can rebuild an A-series engine, so should be able to rebuild a bike! Anyhow, I want something I can just hop on and ENJOY zipping along on. (+finally explore Oxford, other than the bus routes!)
I looked at Viking bikes, but they look real crap, and at 12kg, the Racemaster is pretty heavy for a SS I believe? Create bikes look pants in my opinion too, along with the other cheap off-the-peg fixies, built to look cool with unbranded parts...
I decided while browsing here, and ebay, a converted only racing bike is probably better. The more I look, the more I like the old look, with no deepset V's. I have an old Mini also, so I appreciate classic stuff, and also simple classic engineering.
Problem is, I have no space to build up and paint a bike of my own using an old frame, so I am looking to buy something already converted and tarted up. I find very few 22-33" framed bikes on ebay/gumtree though. I also struggle to find anything decent second hand locally, which really surprises me as Oxford is so big on cycling... and if I can't find them locally, ideally I need them posted/couriered, which isn't a very common option.
So, now I can finally post a thread here, i'm hoping to find some good used bikes on here (plenty on LFGSS in Oxfordshire right?) or some better suggestions of places to look from locals!
I lost this beauty earlier... by 3p, in the FINAL second. Bidsniping arses! Gutted. The more I looked at it the more I wanted it to be mine. Please tell me it was crap, or I was overpaying for it anyway, or something, cause I'm not happy! :P
A bike like that one I lost, even with basic budget parts would be the best option for my £250 right? The parts may be a bit budget, but they can be upgraded in time right? It'll be better as it comes than a new budget bike with no-name parts built like crap right? More upgradable too? I mean, even the cheap bikes probably arent even worth using the frames during a rebuild are they?
So, there's my long introduction. I hope you can see that I no longer plan to buy cheapo, but on a budget.
I have multiple times £250 available, but I can't justify spending it on a bike that could be stolen - theft here is so so so so high. I wouldn't be so worried if I could keep it inside my halls overnight, but I don't think I could squeeze it in my shoebox room this year - or if I could, I think it would get in the way too much after a few weeks.
Yeah, shame, i've only been here since September.
I used to cycle a lot as a teen. While in college for about 6 months I commuted in, doing about 12 miles a day. I loved it, spring, cool but sunny, and my health problems improved. I realised recently I miss having a bike and going for a blast, so want to get one to keep in Oxford. Before I rode mountain bikes, and still have an average MTB at home, which I use sometimes.
I have become really interested in FG/SS bikes though recently. £250 would get me a crap road bike, and the gears would infuriate me... if anything like i've had before on mountain bikes many years ago, problematic, clunky etc. - I thought well, FG/SS makes sense, remove one of the parts that really is crap when you buy on the cheap. I'm capable of adjustment and stuff, as well as a full rebuild, i'm sure... I can rebuild an A-series engine, so should be able to rebuild a bike! Anyhow, I want something I can just hop on and ENJOY zipping along on. (+finally explore Oxford, other than the bus routes!)
I looked at Viking bikes, but they look real crap, and at 12kg, the Racemaster is pretty heavy for a SS I believe? Create bikes look pants in my opinion too, along with the other cheap off-the-peg fixies, built to look cool with unbranded parts...
I decided while browsing here, and ebay, a converted only racing bike is probably better. The more I look, the more I like the old look, with no deepset V's. I have an old Mini also, so I appreciate classic stuff, and also simple classic engineering.
Problem is, I have no space to build up and paint a bike of my own using an old frame, so I am looking to buy something already converted and tarted up. I find very few 22-33" framed bikes on ebay/gumtree though. I also struggle to find anything decent second hand locally, which really surprises me as Oxford is so big on cycling... and if I can't find them locally, ideally I need them posted/couriered, which isn't a very common option.
So, now I can finally post a thread here, i'm hoping to find some good used bikes on here (plenty on LFGSS in Oxfordshire right?) or some better suggestions of places to look from locals!
I lost this beauty earlier... by 3p, in the FINAL second. Bidsniping arses! Gutted. The more I looked at it the more I wanted it to be mine. Please tell me it was crap, or I was overpaying for it anyway, or something, cause I'm not happy! :P
A bike like that one I lost, even with basic budget parts would be the best option for my £250 right? The parts may be a bit budget, but they can be upgraded in time right? It'll be better as it comes than a new budget bike with no-name parts built like crap right? More upgradable too? I mean, even the cheap bikes probably arent even worth using the frames during a rebuild are they?
So, there's my long introduction. I hope you can see that I no longer plan to buy cheapo, but on a budget.
I have multiple times £250 available, but I can't justify spending it on a bike that could be stolen - theft here is so so so so high. I wouldn't be so worried if I could keep it inside my halls overnight, but I don't think I could squeeze it in my shoebox room this year - or if I could, I think it would get in the way too much after a few weeks.
Thanks for reading if you read that big old post!
Matt