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So Bobbo pointed out the Foffa stall at the Skyride and we wandered up to take a look.
Mr Foffa comes up and asks if we know about fixies, and we nodded. The next question was "what is your favourite colour" so I explained Bobbo's was baby blue.
We then spied the hi-pro, and asked for a test ride. Yet again it was single speed front brake only - I do wonder if they are ever going to learn about this. The bike handled in an "interesting" fashion. As it only has about 4 cm of stem.
Yes Danni Foffa has created a brand and hats off to him but it is not a cycling brand. He is not interested in selling a bike to fit a purpose, at no point did he enquire what the bike might be used for. Instead it is this one size fixies all approach, where colour matching is more important than functionality. The bikes are clearly being sold as fashion accessories, the ability to colour coordinate comes first. For me bikes should be about the intended use, so clearly Mr Foffa and I have differing views regarding cycling.
On a final note, the hi-pro is set to retail at around £700-£800 fully kitted out with Foffa branded components except the one tektro brake on the front.
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I've been slightly unfair to Prancer, as I did not give the background of the picture I posted yesterday, I did however fully intend to do it today. My own tuppence is this:
Yes pretty much the opening gambit of Mr Foffa's sales pitch was a question designed to point out that his bikes come in all manner of pretty colours and patterns. This actually concerns me quite a lot as I am pretty convinced that he simply is not bothered about establishing whether or not one of his bikes is going to be suitable for the person he is selling it to, preferring instead to look at his turnover and bottom line. I also find it surprising that he chose to approach us in this way as Prancer, as ever, was looking dapper in his Rapha and while I didn't look as smart I was similarly attired in addition to this we both had the lovely, pink dayglo ride leaders hi vis vest; it is difficult to judge someone's knowledge and ability as a cyclist by what they are wearing, however I think that there were enough visual clues to for Mr Foffa to at least try to establish what our experience was before going on to his USP; the colour. I cannot help but wonder if this is a sign of a lack of knowledge on his part.
The hi-pro I have to admit looked significantly better in the metal than the concept drawing that was posted up here a while back. Prancer has already pointed out that there was only a front brake on the bike however it was a prototype according to Mr Foffa so there is still time to remedy that, although I never actually checked to see if the frame was able to take a brake at the rear and would imagine that it would be tricky to route the cable without detracting from the line of the swoopy top tube. Apart from the twitchy handling, which would be easily remedied with a longer stem, it was quite nice to ride with a comfortable and very upright riding position however; I cannot help but wonder if the bike was designed to look unique and any other benefit was just a happy coincidence. I do have a big problem with this bike, namely that I do not see how it can ever be worth worth £700 - £800, I understand that the due to the frame design the manufacturing costs will be significantly higher than a standard shape frame, however not that much surely? Additionally when you consider that Foffa bikes sell directly to the customer I have to assume that there is a lot of hipster tax being levied. Surely this is not a great way to encourage repeat customers, I for one would be apoplectic if I splashed 700 beans on a bike only to discover a couple of months down the line that I could buy a similarly specced shopper with almost identical riding position for half that price.
I have in the past tried to defend Foffa (probably badly though) from some of the flaming he has received here I honestly do not think I could do this any more as the more I think about this the more I realise that Mr Foffa is trying to turn a mode of transport that I love and that has countless benefits both to the individual and to society into a trendy lifestyle accessory. I understand that for many years cars have been sold this way however underpinning all the marketing crap associated with cars is a deep seated fundamental understanding of the industry; Mr Foffa appears to be focusing on the former without possessing the latter.
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nyquil pretended he was a rapey black gay american marine.
i cant believe how much of a hypocritical fuck you really are. you keep calling me little boy..really..where do you hangout? because when my 6"4 black X marine ass is in london ill be sure to pay your lovely pink ass a visit
however he thinks I am a "scrawny bearded fuck" so would not recognise me
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Spotted the very foffa that dj, Ved and I were talking about last night. Parked at the glorious Westfield centre.
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Nice little leopard skin number...
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Quite like the paisley.
Velvet suit. Cruising Carnaby st. Flashbacks.Stay away from those toilets on Broadwick Street. Joe Slain wasn't a fan.
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Stay away from those toilets on Broadwick Street. Joe Slain wasn't a fan.
Pisti yentzed someone in there didn't he?
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gags and vomits on cock
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220884104715&clk_rvr_id=278526318393
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^Built by Foffa, you can be sure that it rides well.
the description contains tru facts
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BRAND NEW FIXED GEAR BICYCLE:
Limited edition bicycle designed by artist Siggi Eggertsson and built by boutique bike manufacturer Foffa to the highest standards.
-This is a one-of-a-kind bicycle with an incredible frame design that is completely unique. You won't see anybody else with a bike that is anything like this!
-Dropped handle bars, front and rear brakes, racing tyres.... Built by Foffa, you can be sure that it rides well.
-A truly beautiful bike that deserves a good home!likelihood of pedalstrike?
the bars are crash damaged (they have been dropped) -
i dont want that bike, someone's dropped the bars.
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TM
EEI
dancing james
Bobbo
scorch
dan
VanUden
handtightenonly
_Zed_
itsbruce
Clever_Pun
fatoldbloke
joelovesfixed-
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About
Foffa Bikes
Posted by
@Wicksie
I think they've gone global (and it seems, provincial)