The definitive OTP ( Off-The-Peg ) List (<£500 and <£1,000 sections)

Anyone got any opinions on the Viner Citta?

aly, why the interest in the Viner Citta? Its probably a very good bike, from a manufacturer that is reasonably respected. However I don't think there will be many owners of Viner Fixed/SS bikes on here, because for the same money, you can get something from a revered frame-maker, built up to suit your taste.

Just my opinion of course. But, unless you DO want a European bike, then maybe try a handbuilt British bike? Or, maybe a European bike from a maker with more of a name for themselves? Totally up to you though.

Has this one come up yet?

Evil bikes, Resident.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=41097
Looks like a OTP penge bike to me (not a new concept unfortunately).

that is pretty expensive! what so special about it?

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that is pretty expensive! what so special about it?

I think instead of employing a designer, they employed a very expensive social psychologist, who told them that the fixed bike scene was populated with lonely social misfits, and that a bike with garish colouring and a picture of a girl on it, would sell millions, and at any price at all.

The directors will be sitting back, eating their prawn cocktail sandwiches at the Old Trafford VIP box, and waiting for endless millions to simply fall into their laps. I think I'll hurry up and buy 5 of the monstrosities, before they're all snapped up!

I think thats enough vodka for today actually.

Speaking of fuji track bikes- has anyone had any experience with them? I've just moved over here and want to get a fixie asap. I don't really want to build one up slowly from finds on ebay and I'd prefer not to spend too much- for fear of the thing being stolen. Are Fuji's good value or just a heap of junk?

They're well respected and reliable. Not junk at all. See the OTP list on page 1 of this thread for other options.

that is pretty expensive! what so special about it?

I'd put the price down to the name. Also it does seem to be fit for purpose. I'm assuming the tough frame, tough looking 36 spoke wheels, slopping top tube, fat-ish tyres, and flat bars, make it a competant fixie trix bike. Although I'm pretty clueless in this area.

Speaking of fuji track bikes- has anyone had any experience with them? I've just moved over here and want to get a fixie asap. I don't really want to build one up slowly from finds on ebay and I'd prefer not to spend too much- for fear of the thing being stolen. Are Fuji's good value or just a heap of junk?

They are often used as rental bikes at velodromes, so I assume the build quality to be good. There are also a fair few good reviews of the ride quality knocking around.

Charge Plug Grinder, looks sweet.

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599 euros.
http://www.poison-bikes.de/frame.php?MakeLang=deutsch&MakeLangID=1&lay1=3&lay2=7&lay3=0&lay4=&prodid=20916-21

any opinions on the mongoose maurice now it has been out for a few days?

Pretty happy that I have the Langster then, really really good bike, highly advised if in your price range.

any opinions on the mongoose maurice now it has been out for a few days?

I gave my opinion back in post 370 on this thread, but if you like the look of it, ....just buy it.

As far as I know, Mongoose outsource all their manufacture, so I expect the bike is made in Taiwan or mainland China.
Its a general purpose singlespeed bike, so will be rather uncomplicated. Its cheap and violently coloured, so if you like it,
you won't be the only one.

I however, can see myself buying incontinence pants to cope with when I see people riding those Maurices.

I completely agree, aesthetically, it's fucking awful. But besides aesthetics - something i'm not too fussy on anyway - it looks like it's good value for money for an OTP, especially in comparison to the draft/lite.

Well I bought a Maurice.. Whilst I do agree that the colourscheme is a little OTT it's a nice ride. Pretty light for the price too. I just needed a reasonably cheap bike to get around on. I weighed up all the other options around the same price bracket and it seemed like the best deal for me.. Another reason I picked it was that they also do it in XL framesizes. I can see myself changing or respraying the horrid orange wheels, (Something I did consider long and hard! - could I live with the orange wheels!!) ... but all in all I'm pretty pleased with it. I didn't buy the bike for it's looks, I bought it because I figured it was pretty decent value for what you get.

If I could have any bike, I'd probably look out for an old Miyata frame and build it from there - I had a Koga Miyata tourer when I was younger and loved it. But for now I'm more than happy with the Mongoose, despite needing sunglasses for the orange!! When I come into some more cash I'll be building my own - until then I'll be pootling around on my cheap Mong ;)

If you don't like the wheels, just get some mavic open pro rims and on-one hubs (£30 for pair), cheap, yet reliable, strong and light.

If you don't like the wheels, just get some mavic open pro rims and on-one hubs (£30 for pair), cheap, yet reliable, strong and light.

The hubs may be £30 but the built up wheels will be getting on for half the price of the complete bike. Same old problem with upgrading though I suppose, add the new wheels to the price of bike and could have bought a bike for nearer to £500 which is a different bike all together.

A cheaper option would be to remove the orange paint with Nitromors, or something equivalent.

Hi all,
I’m in search for my first bike and as I manage to convince my boss to do cycle2work scheme I’m looking for a bike of around £700.
First I decided to get steamroller. What I like in Surly is comfortable but still nippy frame that can accommodate fat tires and possibly strong to hold my 14.5 stone biomass hehe.
But after some reading I got impression that as OTP bike steamroller not best value for money. So is it true and I should look for something else for £700, maybe some entry lvl bikes from condor or 14bike co as they also accept c2w scheme vouchers?

edit: Think I could stretch to £800, will depend on my boss decision though

The Steamroller is pricey because the frameset is pricey for what it is. Still sounds like a good option for you for the reasons you have listed.
Only thing is, that for £700-800 you could get a bike built up which had a higher ratio of exact parts you would like. Not sure how much of an updgrader you are but I just end up changing pretty much all the parts when I buy OTP!

My 2 hour update failed to save. There is proof, that computers are evil.

Hi all,
I’m in search for my first bike and as I manage to convince my boss to do cycle2work scheme I’m looking for a bike of around £700.
First I decided to get steamroller. What I like in Surly is comfortable but still nippy frame that can accommodate fat tires and possibly strong to hold my 14.5 stone biomass hehe.
But after some reading I got impression that as OTP bike steamroller not best value for money. So is it true and I should look for something else for £700, maybe some entry lvl bikes from condor or 14bike co as they also accept c2w scheme vouchers?

edit: Think I could stretch to £800, will depend on my boss decision though

I got a steamroller just over 4 months ago and haven't regretted it for a second. I had a look loads of other bikes, including condor but the Surly ticked all the boxes, it really is versatile. if you want a strong bike that you can stick fat tyres on, then a steamroller will be hard to turn down. admittedly it isn't the cheapest OTP around, but the frame and forks are really well made and the full bike comes with pretty decent bits. the hubs are really good - I might well have chosen them to build wheels on anyway, the rims could be better but are strong, the cranks are alright - I plan on upgrading mine after a couple of years, the bb and headset are good quality. where was I going with this...can't remember. basically I love my surly and would certainly get one again.

also, if you're getting on the cyclescheme thing it's cheap anyway, so everyone's a winner!

I'm looking for a sub £500 OTP SS at the moment, to get via the C2W scheme. I've been considering the Charge Plug/Plug Racer, SE Lager, SE Draft, Mongoose Maurice (trying to get over the colour!) and something a bit more road like a Langster. My LBS stocks Mongoose and Charge so I'm swaying more to these at the moment.

For the money, is the Charge Plug a good buy? Also, I haven't decided on flats, bull horns or drops really, but I've never really gotten on with drops (too much belly in the way!). Any insight or wise words? (My first SS/FG)

I'll be trying out the Maurice this weekend, and maybe the Plug if the LBS has it built in time :)

first thing first, would you kindly use the search? just type in 'charge plug' and you'll able to find out other's opinion of that peculiar bicycle, and perhaps post a question on that particular topic demanding even more opinion on that bicycle.

but yes the Charge Plug is a good buy.