Can I get a good bike build

Hi all, been lurking for a while, but decided to bite the bullet. Recently got back into cycling after a good 15 year gap, commuting to work now (single speed) and thoroughly enjoying it. I'd like to get a nice bike on the cycle to work scheme (up to £1K) but am I being naive in hoping I can get a bike built for that kind of dosh. Our scheme isn't with Evans or Halfords, but it is with most of the independents. Willing to top up but having tried a number of shops in North/ Central London am beginning to think that no one's particularly interested in my business at that price - maybe I'm not being persistant enough? This includes 5 personal visits and 5 phone calls. The problem might be that I fit into the unusual frame size, male, 50cm possibly 52cm, so it does seem that a lot of shops don't have that size frame in stock. Would like a British steel frame but from reading the forum I think I'm going to have to source one myself and take it to a shop to get built up, otherwise I won't get it built for that budget, any advice appreciated? Do I need to stretch my search further afield? Great site by the way, I'm totally addicted now!

Go to Condor, fantastic bikes and you'll easily get one under a grand

Cavendish Cycles used to get Bob Jacksons on the Cycle to Work scheme, Snowy got one that way... Might be worth investigating... They have some nice bling n there too...

14 bikes do cycle to work stuff, not sure what you can get for a grand in there now, aint been in for a while!

I'd never spend a grand on a bike for town.
You could build something ace for a third of that.

Or yeah, just go to condor...

if people in shops are being rude steer well clear, there are lots of very good bikes out there for that kind of money.

there are plenty of independent places i'd spend a grand

condor, shop 14, tokyo fixed gear, brixton cycles, cavendish, putney cycles

as with anything that relies on anecdotal evidence it appears all shops can drop the ball at some point in customer service, find a shop where you trust the staff

if you want decent service its best to avoid weekends or lunchtimes when staff are most busy

good luck

And where you like the bikes, if you're going going to drop a grand you want to look into what bikes all those shops sell and decide where your heart lies - lot of options there and some of those shops offer something very different to others in the list.

find a shop where you trust the staff

Can you use the scheme online? If you're not happy with any of the local bike shops, buy the parts online and have it built by someone you like.

Thanks for all the advice, fairly sure you can't use it online, which immediately limits the bargain frames. BLB full builds start at £1300 min, at least that's what I was told. I meant to say, that having caught the bug, I fully intend to get out on the road at weekends for longer rides, which is why I wanted something better than the beater I have. I'll try Cavendish, but has anyone used Mosquito or Shorter Rochford?

Mosquito is expensive, and have an interesting interpretation of customer service for some people (the fiddy story for example), have a search on here for feedback.

There's a great big shops thread that's worth reading too.

What sort of bike is it that you want? As Jeanstain said, I got a Vigorelli on CS, through Cavendish, but then it wasn't a custom, it's an otp frame & forks, that I added the parts too from their stock list.

Bob Jackson are part of the CS aren't they now? I went into Brixton Cycles with a colleague the other day to get her a bike - excellent service, and whilst they pass the admin cost on to the price, the follow up service / advice / maintenance makes up for it in bucketloads.

Sorry, I probably haven't read up enough about it to go into the details of groupset, but I want to start with a steel frame of Bob Jackson quality, but may have to forgoe new for secondhand. Thnen I was going to get the shop to advise me on a build up from there. I'm really looking for a bike that's going to get me to work(12 mile round trip), but mainly to get the max out of it on longer weekend jaunts, I'm sure I can get a bike that workd for both. If anyone is selling a 50 or 52cm frame I'm in the market - cheers, West Green

Putney Cycles sell Bob Jacksons and can order them in, for about the same price as BJ sell them for (I think). They should be able to sort out a very nice build for £1k. Worth giving them a call (they're on C2W too).