Hey Bob Jackson Owners:

regarding the track frames:
do you like your bikes? have they held up well? do they fit true to size? what's the geometry? general comments/reviews on them.
i feel like since i'm in england i should purchase myself a proper handmade classic british steel track bike, even though i kinda don't have the money for it. so i really want to know your opinions/is it worth is.

thanks.

I have done some work with Bob Jackson recently as well as over seeing a complete custom build with my girlfriend and I must say they are great guys in the shop.... really nice and really into their bikes and they do make nice bikes...... but...... having ridden both a BJ and a Mercian I can definitely say that the Mercian is far, far better!

It feels much more precise, if that's the right word. The geometry is absolutely perfect and the tubing and finish(which I know isn't that important) feel better.... It's all in the little details like the tube shape on the chainstays and the wall thickness. I have seen the workshops at both places and the Mercian is definitely the more bespoke of the two, BJ more industrial.

Both a BJ and a Mercian are great frames.... and whilst I can't comment on a BJ CustomPista (as it doesn't arrive until November), I can tell u that a Mercian Vigorelli is better than a BJ IMHO. I'd say if u can afford the £480 for the Mercian frame the go for it.... if not, £295 for a BJ will build u a great bike!

If u come to Polo u can have a go on my Mercian, and I'm sure there will be at least one BJ there.... I'm telling u you will notice the difference! :-)

was your mercian at polo last sunday? (freewheel day)
480pounds is a bit steep, but i'll see. how different are the 2 geometries? either bike i get would be as 'stock'/'base' as can be, as i'm not looking for custom and obscure sizings.

where is mercian located?

Alvaston Derbyshire, Midlands or just middle of nowhere!

Once i went there like thursday afternoon and had to wait one hour, they were so busy. Think all other customers were at least 45 y/o

joneant: "having ridden both a BJ and a Mercian"
Have you owned both a BJ and a Mercian, or just tried both. Did you ride a BJ for a while and then "upgrade" to a Mercian, if so how long did you ride the BJ for?
I only ask as I am also getting kind of interested in both and want to hear an experienced user of both's opinion.
If you have only tried both, then was the difference that noticeable?

You should have a look at witcomb aswell. They look quite nice. I can't say anything about the quality compared to the Mercian or the Bob Jackson though.

I'm very happy with my BJ but I've graduated from rubbish hybrids and not compared it to other proper bikes. The whole package cost about 900 quid; whether I should have spent more on a Mercian, Whitcombe or other frame and less on components is anyone's guess but mine would probably be yes, if they are that much better, since you can add components over time as budget allows.

I am still quite into hi-fi but got over the insideous upgraditis; I won't change the BJ until its a pile of rust, although I might be tempted to add to it, especially if every other bike ends up being a Bob Jackson. (I had to go to West London the other day and almost everything was a lycra topped Bianchi Pista).

AlexS I had to go to West London the other day and almost everything was a lycra topped Bianchi Pista.

That's because they're cheap. Not as cheap as my Fuji Track. But cheap.

AlexS (I had to go to West London the other day and almost everything was a lycra topped Bianchi Pista).
which is why i sold mine and ride a crusty dawes touring frame (which i actually rides 10x better)

How are Bob Jacksons for sturdiness, riding on the street?

i ride mine everyday, everywhere. i love it, it has the quality of a steel framed bike in terms of smoothness, but the responsiveness of 631 and track geometry. it's nowhere near as skittish as my fuji. i also ride a steel framed condor, dedacciai 16.5 tubing, for when i don the lycra and turn into a roadie: this particular bike is a work of art and i love it. the bob jackson compares well with the more modern tubing and style.

in short, the bob rides like a dream, the frame is awesome, the look and lines are beautiful and clean and lovely, it's not a mercian, but it is considerably cheaper. i'm not at polo this weekend, but i will be next weekend, at which point you're welcome to have a go. htay has got one, and there were two others at bike polo when we chatting about modernism the other day.

i thin if you were to buy a BJ, Witcomb or Mercian you will get a classic looking steed from a framemaker with provenance and history. it's going to come down to personal preference ...

peejay78 i ride mine everyday, everywhere. i love it, it has the quality of a steel framed bike in terms of smoothness, but the responsiveness of 631 and track geometry. it's nowhere near as skittish as my fuji. i also ride a steel framed condor, dedacciai 16.5 tubing, for when i don the lycra and turn into a roadie: this particular bike is a work of art and i love it. the bob jackson compares well with the more modern tubing and style.

in short, the bob rides like a dream, the frame is awesome, the look and lines are beautiful and clean and lovely, it's not a mercian, but it is considerably cheaper. i'm not at polo this weekend, but i will be next weekend, at which point you're welcome to have a go. htay has got one, and there were two others at bike polo when we chatting about modernism the other day.

i thin if you were to buy a BJ, Witcomb or Mercian you will get a classic looking steed from a framemaker with provenance and history. it's going to come down to personal preference ...

This is good advice, and you would get all of the above with any of the English frame builders.... It really is down to u and your wallets personal preference. BJ is great if u don't want/need something that has to be amazing.... if u want the lines and that vintage track feel for cheap then they are perfecto!! My girlfriend and I are awaiting the arrival of a full custom from them.... as my girlfriend has a short upper body and struggled to get a frame that had a short enough top-tube, they have used a fluted seat-tube to bring the rear wheel in so as to make the top-tube more comfortable for her!! I cant wait to see it... it's in like a lime/apple green pearl finish with white decals!!

sounds nice jon, a nice set of white deep v's would look awesome on that. i wonder who's selling a pair.?

having jst built up my keirin bike, which i love as well, The Bob Jackson gives the best ride of any bike i have ever been on. Ever.
Its just awesome

me and htay had a bit of an eruption about our bob jacksons the other day on another thread.

it was gross.

its true. But once you get started its just so hard to stop talking about them. They ride so so so smooooth.
I can't reccomend them enough.

how much was your BJ, PJ?

the blue one...it's nice!

dogsballs sounds nice jon, a nice set of white deep v's would look awesome on that. i wonder who's selling a pair.?

She's already bought them.... they are being laced at BJ.... sorry :-) we did buy them before I knew u existed :-p How much do u want for them

i got frame for £350 from BLB, was going to order from leeds the next day when realised jan had them in in the next 2 weeks. decided to pay the extra and save on postage (not much) and 5 weeks lead time.

i had a few bits, i reckon we're probably talking about a £700-£750 build in total.

kilgore- i'm coming up pretty soon. Will prob have the jackson, so if you want to have a ride- drop me a line.

I like mine

I like mine too!

My boss has a Whitcomb (tourer not a track bike) that he's pretty much riden to work daily for something like a decade and couldn't be happier with. Its not flash, just beautifully finished and detailed. I also think it speaks volumes about Whitcomb that Richard Sachs (and at least a couple of others) have chosen to come over here from the states to work with Whitcomb to better learn their trade. As an aside if you're unaware of Richard Sachs as a framebuilder do check out his website:
http://www.richardsachs.com
So for my money I'd say Witcomb are every bit as good, if not better than Mercians, unfortunately they're similarly priced, thats not to say they aren't worth every penny. Chas Roberts also make some gorgeous bikes, though their forte is lugless frames which might not be what you want.
I can't afford to at the moment but also want at some future date to get a made to measure track frame built, rather back to front around a Mike Burrows monofork I picked up. I'll probably go with Bob Jackson because I'm not looking for fancy lugs etc. and they are that little bit more competetively priced. Concerning the issue of the Mercian's geometry being better than the Bob Jackson's, urely if you're going for a made to measure frame you can get whoevers making it to make it with whatever geometry you want, can't you?

polybikeuser surely if you're going for a made to measure frame you can get whoevers making it to make it with whatever geometry you want, can't you?

within certain limitations i think. i'm pretty sure yamaguchi will build you whatever absurd style geometried bike you can think of, though it'll cost ya.

Im in the market for a new frame after having my bianchi pista for nearly a year now, i fancy something a bit different. Im thinkin maybe getting a bob jackson but just curious to how compact/ tight the frames are, i want something pretty compact and whippy rather than a more stretched out affair. How do bob jacksons come out?? Anyone gone from riding a pista to a bob jackson and how does it compare.

THANKS.