14bikeco custom bike

weight really counts for shit riding round London.
That is of course to say that the relative difference between a bike built without weight in mind and one that is for London fixed riding is not particularly noticeable. Furthermore I think strength and survivability is worth far more then being 1kg lighter. I don't mean this just for OTPs, but for all fixed rigs designed for london street riding.

I've notice now how incredibly expensive the build-up is, an example would be Condor, their frame is more expensive, due to the current situation, the Condor Pista frameset cost £500, whether 14 Bikes Co is £450.

Now, if you want a fully build Condor Pista, it only cost a mere £300 extra than the frameset price and it have some decent reliable component too (if not better), it also show that they discounted the component/frame when it's build up (and since it's Condor's own, they don't charge an extra £100).

14 Bikes Co at £1254 is just shitload, as much as I like the shop and the people who work the price is taking the mickey.

In fact, you might as well get a Condor Classico Pista with some different component and still be cheaper than 14 Bikes.

weight really counts for shit riding round London.....

+1 (-ish)

It depends how you ride, but as most of the time you're luggin around a 16mm lock, its not worth worrying too much about weight.

Also +1 to what Ed said RE lighter set of wheels.

Also IMO £1,000+ on your first FG when you haven't cycled in LDN for a long time seems way too much. I'm sure lenk will love it, but there are downsides to cycling in LDN and it just seems like a shitload to drop on something you're trying out... esp. when it only has 1 gear.

Rubbish, that depends how you build it, my bike cost just over a grand and its about as tough as you can get for a track bike, i've smacked it around like a cheap ho, hit a white van, and crashed it doing tricks more times than I can count, and the only thing I ever broke was a few sets of pedals (before I learnt my lesson and stopped buying plastic).
Personally, I would say spend what you want on your bike, you will never regret getting an expensive bike as long as it is designed for the purpose you have in mind. The last time I had a shit bike was when I was 11, maybe 12 my memories not that good.....lots of drug and alcohol abuse over the years....anyway I digress, just go for it, it hasn't got to be from 14, or from any other specialist retailer, it can be built by yourself or a fellow forum member....or whatever...
The satisfaction you get from owning a bike that was completely specified by you from the ground up is second to none, just do it.

A wonderfully direct and (not so) poetic complete dismissal of some really rather valuable advice on my behalf. Thanks Crazy... erm... whatever.

There may have been a +1 to your post but I can very much promise you there are a very large number of extremely competent, well versed and seasoned riders on this forum who would wholeheartedly agree with me.

Ask people who know the ongoing saga of me and my bike; my build was maybe over 800, and yes a wonderful machine she is. One of the lightest commuters on the forum (by no means do I claim to be the lightest) even with a heavy Rolls Saddle and heavy rear wheel (now anyway), fillet welding that brought my mother to tears even tho she knows nothing. I want not to list specs but I'm extremely proud of her.

The lightweight competition tubing has seen far better days (dents which can only be put down to drunken escapades, paint chips/scraps/chunks gone from 'incidents) and yes, they CAN be repaired at expense and re-painted. But the real problem comes down to components.

I don't know what CrazyJames' ride is, but a highly focused track frame made by a very decent frame builder (again I'm talking track specific rather than a NYC/etc frame) will suffer over abuse. But my components have been the general downfall of my bike, and I'm talking a Suzue Pro Max rear hub which gave up on me. A KMC gold (45quid) chain gave up on me, 3 times now. A Nitto RB021 pair of beautiful bullhorns, again, gave up on me (now sported as perhaps the most opinion-splitting shorts). A Campag RECORD front brake... erm, well didn't so much give up on me rather than BLEW up on me...

The Mavic open Pros my wheels were built from are about as straight as George Micheal. The drilled (not sure what it is, but v.expensive) 50T chainring I have is like Boy George. I've had to change the Campag Veloce Headset twice. I won't carry on (more because thats it rather than the idea that I maybe concerned about boring you). The last few weeks on the bike have been a living hell. Things have been changed, but there is always something else that has been affected by the dodgy component I've continued to ride knowing it needs replacin. and this just seems to go on and on. I'm hoping a new chain ring will be the final chapter in this Steven King episode.

Anyway. Back to the point. By no means am I dismissing CrazyJames' opinion, I agree wholeheartedly with it to a point. To ride out on a new build which you created, which people appreciate and you agrandise is possibly one of 'those' life moments. But all I say is, if you don't know enough to know what your buiding at first it will be an uphill struggle of incorrectly spaced rear wheels, wrong size bottom brackets, 1" instead of 1"1/8 aheadsets, or was that a threaded headset? Etc, etc.

Genuinly I would take the OTP for the winter. Even if you do create your own fantastic build (which I do hope you do) the pain you'll experience after getting to work the first/second/third day in rain/sleet/snow when you look at it and see it looking NOTHING like it did in your flat/house and realise that unless you spend everyday cleaning her she'll simply not look really sweet when you get to drinks to show her off. I always feel disappionted with the Omega when I look at her from a distance during the winter (but not really).

Anyway. Talking value for money, get your Alpha built for the spring and have a beautiful bike for the whole summer, use an OTP for the winter, and hey by Spring time it could become your polo bike!;)

the omega is booked in for frame maintenance and respray in April and WILL be the hottest thing out there next summer.

...here come the flames! AAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

I agree with everything but polo bit.

Pifco: I will ride the bike for a while and see if indeed I need to change the sprocket, I think I most likely will. Found the miche 18T on wiggle for £12.59. Thanks

edscoble: I do prefer the charge plug racer colours and the racer comes with a deep v rim. I'm can't remember what the guy at 14bikeco said, I think they have different type of tubing and fancy lugs, the one he quote me is for a basic frame. Even then its kinda cheap cause you can have any colour you want. I wonder if their frame builder is any good.

Crispin Glover: A bianchi pista 2009? Can I try it out first?

t-4003: The problem is the gf noticed that the bike can only ridden by one person, thus the vespa.

forms: I agree with you. £150 will not take me very far. Safety first, add Dia Compe BRS 101+Dia Compe "dirty harry" lever+wire(£22.5+£12.5+£5=~£40)+ Vittoria Rubino+tubes (£20x2=~£40) + Miche 18T sprocket (~£15) + riser bar+grip (~£40) + Rigida DP18 (£23x2=~£46) Total: ~£181, There is no doubt that the charge plug racer have better components and is more bang for buck. The fuji bottom bracket is sealed.

hugo7: I'll probably get 2x really heavy duty locks ~4kg?

pigfarmer: Is london roads that bad? Now I'm a bit worried for the fuji track.

Well, today was a bad day. Damn teh rain. Got out of the tube and it started drizzling and the guy at condor didn't allow me to test ride. Asked him how long to build a potenza, he said 8 weeks. I thought the frame is OTP, all they need to do is assemble right? Anyways, went back to london bridge evans which is nearest to me and also checked out onyourbike shop. Started pouring again, atleast evans and onyourbike said I can take it for a spin, but I was too scared to ride in the rain. heh. So fingers cross it won't rain again tomorrow.

Basically charge plug racer is a better deal. Let see who rides better. Btw, how much does a 2nd hand plug or fuji go for? I can't find any on ebay or here.

edscoble: I do prefer the charge plug racer colours and the racer comes with a deep v rim. I'm can't remember what the guy at 14bikeco said, I think they have different type of tubing and fancy lugs, the one he quote me is for a basic frame. Even then its kinda cheap cause you can have any colour you want. I wonder if their frame builder is any good.

The framebuilder they use is Lee Cooper whom are pretty good;

http://www.sandsmachine.com/bp_cpr.htm

pigfarmer: Is london roads that bad? Now I'm a bit worried for the fuji track.

Not really, there are really bad section but overall it's rideable, the fuji track can cope with it very well.

london roads are uk roads. they are no worse than in other cities.

...Btw, how much does a 2nd hand plug or fuji go for? I can't find any on ebay or here.

Plug

Fuji

Was told the other day how to check finished listings - great for rough valuations.

• go to "Advanced Search" and there's a tick-box for "Completed listings"
  
  

Also if you're a 55cm there is/was someone on gumtree selling fuji's F+F plus headset and bars (maybe BB too) for £160 or so.

I've been standing in 14 a couple of times when inexperienced but interested parties have enquired about costs on building a bike up. Both times they've been told to allow for about £1200, so this is pretty standard in that particular shop.

Not sure about that...

Very decent of you!

Could we extend this 20% discount to tomorrow, which happens to be payday?

I'm reduced to eating candles and old shoes at this point of the month.

Gotta be a pisstake hasn't it? Not even a name?

Don't think it's a piss take - just like BLB monitor what goes on in the forum - i'm sure 14 and Tour do as well.

They'd be stupid not to.

Don't think it's a piss take - just like BLB monitor what goes on in the forum - i'm sure 14 and Tour do as well.

Oh yeah, no doubt about that, this just doesn't sound particularly legit to me. Wait and see I guess.

Sorry to piss on your parade but that's bollocks. This 'Fixedgear thing' isn't new....
Where do you think people have been buying their parts for the last 3/4/5yrs?

There's atleast 10 far better international websites with much more competitive prices

Sorry if this has burst your bubble

Quite a sweeping statement from a start up company..

To be fair because of 14's location, they're servicing all the weekend East-Enders, the people who started wearing white plimsoles when Topman started selling them. They've got the money and they want the bike. It's a good model.

• 25% Hipster Tax
  

To be fair because of 14's location, they're servicing all the weekend East-Enders, the people who started wearing white plimsoles when Topman started selling them. They've got the money and they want the bike. It's a good model.

True. It's a shame for those without a ton of cash who go there because they think they'll get good service though. For someone who routinely drops £2000 on an expensive toy it probably isn't a big deal - for someone like me, that kind of thing sticks in the throat.

Can anyone confirm that this is legit?

I'm reduced to eating candles and old shoes at this point of the month.

Rub the candles on the shoes, makes them softer and easier to swallow ;)

I've been boiling mice in the kettle, much easier.