Lunar Cycles

Just saw one of these in the junk shop in Archway.

Looks quite nice, but six hundred sheets for a conversion?

The website says the frames are skip-raided from Islington Council. The components are decidedly Vin Ordinaire.

http://www.lunar-cycles.com/

"the engineering of art"

don't give them any money, now i want to go find the hippy running this bullshit, and tie the greasy long hairs on top of their head, to the greasy short hairs on their ass, then roll them down a hill into the tip they get their bikes from.

Wasn't someone on here asking for potential bike shop names a while back? I remember that 'menstrual cycles' was particularly popular. Anyone want to own up?

In the grand scheme of things, I'd say this was a much more polished approach than drummond bikes - they've put effort into the website and I get the feeling they might actually ride fixed. Maybe £600 is pushing it a bit, but I don't see this as as much of a bandwagon thing as some of the other operations I've seen springing up.

does anyone have any more information about these people? their website says that the recycled bikes from the scheme with islington are not listed on their website (i.e. might be a lot cheaper?); however, i don't know how to contact them to find out more...they only have a mobile number on the website, which wasn't answered and has no answerphone message, and there is no address so i can go have a look.

thanks in advance for any help with this. also, if anyone else has any good recommendations for secondhand bike shops (or markets - but not brick lane, obviously!) i'd appreciate it, as i'm trying to put together a list of potential places for students.

i think it's graham in london selling these?!?

i bought my single speed from graham , what a little tresor he got

I stumbled across their shop while pootling around the back streets of Kentish Town yesterday. Nice little place, very friendly guys, some seemingly good value builds and framesets, worth checking out (I didn't see anything that cost as much as £600, that's for sure).

The emphasis is on practical & pleasingly retro bikes, all nicely resprayed etc - nothing overly fancy, and certainly not one for hipsters seeking NJS approval.

PS I'm pretty sure it's nothing to do with GrahamInLondon, but I may be wrong.

Just saw this thread appear... Just to clarify - its nothing to do with Graham :p

save us from yet another "bespoke bicycle company" that tarts up old road frames and gives them silly names, foffa anyone?

although it does say on their weBsIte the bikes are £100-£200

The basic refurbs are £100 - 200 and those are just reclaimed hybrids with new cables, brake pads and anything else that needs replacing. Basically, the idea is to provide relatively cheap and functional bikes to people as well as saving them from becoming landfill.

The refurbed road-bikes are a whole other animal - the frames are powder coated and we then build our own wheels - usually system EX on open sport rims. People can spec the bikes out however they please, in terms of finishing kit.

These builds normally go for around £500 - £600 depending on the frame and with brooks saddle + bar tape. A bit less with cheaper stuff.

The bikes are built to be used and to last. I know there's some debate here about how much stuff should cost but TBH, once you factor in the respray, the hand-built wheels and everything else, it all adds up. OTP bikes at a similar price are usually specced with lower-end stuff, its that simple.

I'll admit the language used on the website is a bit, er, cringe-worthy - Its in the process of being changed to less etherial lingo as we speak.

So basically you are doing what the likes of foffa *should *be doing.

what, charging even more?

haha, using real components instead of ones from inside cheap christmas crackers.

I don't have a problem with what people charge, as long as the things ain't a complete mickey-take

I think the £100-£200 refurbished bikes are a great idea, For someone who wants a cheapish but rideable bike and doesn't have the time/knowledge/tools to do up an old bike. I'm sure there much better than the equivalent halford's crap for the same price.

And yeah, the website is fairly pretentious at the mo

I think the £100-£200 refurbished bikes are a great idea, For someone who wants a cheapish but rideable bike and doesn't have the time/knowledge/tools to do up an old bike. I'm sure there much better than the equivalent halford's crap for the same price.

nail>>>head

And yeah, the website is fairly flash and not very representative of the shop, which is a shame

@RPM: You're right to be cynical, but if someone asked me what OTP etc to buy as an all-purpose about-town steed, I'd advise them to check out this place rather than one of the seemingly endless stream of over-priced, retro-inspired models being put out by the big manufacturers. But that's just me.

it look rather decent, in fact it look like something I would recommend someone to go if they need a quick and dirty town bike without all the bell and whistle.

good going well, is it.

I can deal with the look/feel of the website, I just think calling the bikes names like Elwood, Therese, Knutsford, Nigella, Petronella etc is a little pretentious. And claiming them to be 'Anti gravity devices' although obviously in jest, just seems a little silly.

Considering the debacle of Foffa and Caramel cycles it is reassuring to see there is a company doing the job in what appears to be a sensible fashion, building up mechanically sound refurbished bikes with reputable low end components (open sport rims etc).

Just starting this thread up again because this January I have taken over the running and ownership of the workshop!
We refurbished the workshop and have made changes to what we do. We are now primarily a workshop doing repairs and servicing as well as stocking some parts and accessories.
The web address is LunarCycles.co.uk unfortunately I don't seem to be able to get rid of the "anti gravity technology" or the "engineering of art" :)

I'm offering a GT85 lfgss promo, mention lfgss when you pop in and its yours for £1.75 a bottle! (while stock of the current batch lasts)

Hope to see some of you soon!

Ha. Good luck, Re-cycled.

Nice one, Hanry! Hope all goes well for you, it's a great workshop

Is there a discount code on " those" wheels yet? ;)

Nice one, Hanry! Hope all goes well for you, it's a great workshop

Is there a discount code on " those" wheels yet? ;)

Cheers ben, Unfortunately those wheels have been given to the mechanic who did the refurbishment of the workshop.

Noooooooooooooo!!! note to employers - will "work" for wheels

Thanks for the PM, will let you know... and again all the best with your new venture!

My second trip to Lunar in as many months and another dose of excellence service.
Top bike shop for anyone in north London. Cheers chaps.