Wanted: Black SS Bike - something like a plug - £300

Hi all.

I have been riding my old Puch Touring Bike from 1973, 3 gears (that are no longer working), rack, green and it is now giving me to much grief as the parts and everything are getting old.

I really want a SS as it will be lower maintenance, it will weigh less (it weighs 15kg) for carrying up and down 3 flights of stairs too and hopefully look a lot more slick.

I have been looking at the Charge Plug as I love the look of it, but it seems maybe a bit heavy and I have read that it is overpriced too.

With a budget of £300 can you or could you recommend anyone who would build me one, with either a black or cream frame?
I have searched the forums and emailed BLB and Andy at fixed gear london but not had anything back from them.
Ideally I want one in the next week....

Thanks guys,
Cheers
Steve

To be honest Steve for that money I would pick up a Fuji or another cheap off the peg, I'm sure you've already read the OTP thread?
FGL prob wouldnt get you anything decent for the money you have, see this similar post
http://www.londonfgss.com/thread14575.html
For that money, start with an off the peg - if you're that set on colour you can always get Armourtex to powercoat it for 60 notes.
I have a plug, its a bit heavy - but I love it, I have had it nearly 18 months now and have changed pretty much everything apart from the frame, which will be changed this year. Doing it this way means you dont have to shell out a massive amount for what you want in one go.

What size are you after? badtmy is selling this Fuji frame for £120;

http://www.londonfgss.com/thread14515.html

You'd probably be able to find a complete Fuji track bike for around £320-350. Or a Giant Bowery?

i have a Giant Bowery 08 - only done 200 miles in small (i am 5' 8")

would sell for £190, but i live in manchester so not that easy to see/post

mark

Thanks for all your replies, really appreciated.
I am 6" 2" so I am looking for a 58 frame ideally.

I have indeed read the off the peg thread and the fuji track looks like a nice bike for sure but it does not have nay breaks, can you add a rear and front break to this easily?

One thing that I did not research was the powder coating, £60 not to bad, I was expecting it to be more. Will they take my bike apart and put it back together for me ;) ?

Also, what do you think of these bikes http://singlespeed.angelfire.com/ I have spoken to Dani, the guy that makes them, and he is a nice guy but as a complete newbie I wouldn't what was good if you stuck under my nose.

whats the puch frame like? does it fit you? if it does maybe you could spend a couple of quid on a few bits (back wheel, crank, bottom bracket, chain...) and ride that until you find a bargain or save up a bit more. you can transfer the bits over to your new bike. also, if you take off all the bits you don't need (rack, gear shifter...) your bike will be lighter.

another thing, my mate picked up a terry dolan track bike (used, but it seems only indoors?!) with all sorts of flash bits on it for £300 (so shop around). i can pick it up with my little finger.

what do you think of these bikes http://singlespeed.angelfire.com/ I have spoken to Dani, the guy that makes them, and he is a nice guy but as a complete newbie I wouldn't what was good if you stuck under my nose.
if you look, there is a puch converted on there going for £300.
are you in london?
i don't know what's wrong with your bike but it might be cheaper to just convert your puch (so you get an idea what its like to ride single speed)
if you need a hand and you're in london, i don't mind donating some time for a good cause

fuji track is £290 on biddle bikes http://biddlebikes.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=342&products_id=162

     Quote:
  Originally Posted by **steve3186** [![](http://static.londonfgss.com/images/londonfgss/buttons_lite/viewpost.gif)](http://www.londonfgss.com/thread14746.html#post452633) 

• what do you think of these bikes http://singlespeed.angelfire.com/ I have spoken to Dani, the guy that makes them, and he is a nice guy but as a complete newbie I wouldn't what was good if you stuck under my nose.*
  
  

if you look, there is a puch converted on there going for £300.
are you in london?
i don't know what's wrong with your bike but it might be cheaper to just convert your puch (so you get an idea what its like to ride single speed)
if you need a hand and you're in london, i don't mind donating some time for a good cause
Really appreciated, thanks!
Yeah I am in London, Stepney. My frame and fork are in ok condition - could probably do with a bit of clean but other then that.
It is practically the same as this bike here.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350146566978&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching

I could do it up myself, but I wouldn't know where to start really...
New wheels, turn to a single speed as at the moment is a 3 speed sturmey archer - but they are not working and stuck on one gear...

I could do with measuring up the frame and the wheels, but I dont know how the measurement work.
On the wheel do I measure from the center to the rim, and what about thickness? Do I measure the rim or tyre?
Also measuring up a frame is it from the seat tube to the middle of the bottom bracket?

Cheers all for your help!

Pictures? Look on the tyre wall (or rim) for size of wheel. Stepney? Thats not far from me , I'm in New Cross. If your bike works enough to ride maybe you could ride it down here or meet in Greenwich? I got a few tools/parts.

will PM you

With the Fuji Track bike is it easy to add on brakes to this as it doesn't come with any.
Any other offers available to buy a bike off someone?
Ideally I need something by next weekend at the latest.

Also, I have been looking at the Swobo Sanchez. Does anyone know how easy/hard it is to fit brakes to this too?
Does it have brake holes so I can just screw them on?

Cheers
Steve

I believe the Fuji is drilled for a front brake but not for a back one. When you say you want it SS, do you mean SS freewheel? The hub on the fuji comes as fixed (hence the NoBrakes) so if you're cool with that all you need to do is buy a front brake and stick it on, it's all pretty straightforward. I'm assuming the same is true for the Sanchez if it comes without brakes.

EDIT: Just looked it up - the swobo has a flip flop hub so you can ride it SS freewheel or fixed by flipping the wheel over. This also means that it's drilled for front and rear brakes.

If you have the time, try and get to a shop and try them out first. I'd personally be inclined to go with the Fuji, but of course that depends on whether or not you want the option to freewheel (in which case go with the Swobo). I bought a Charge Plug in the summer (chose it over the Fuji) because I wanted the option to freewheel - thought I'd test the water with the fixed side of the hub a few weeks after I got it and haven't changed back since. Now I kind of regret not going with the Fuji...Something to think about.

Steve you have PM about the Paddy Wagon