Steel OTP List - Of Classic or Near-Classical form

GA2G: your lists are wonderful, and this list is exactly what I was looking for!

raysmuckles: that Rocky Mtn is beautiful!

I've got a Boardman Comp SC atm, but want to get a steel-framed, classic-looking fixed next. However, I'm not yet ready to drop the security blanket of a rear brake (which rules out the Rocky...). Yes, yes, HTFU, I know, but I'd rather carry a brake I don't use than be caught in a situation where it's not there when I need it.

OTOH, the boardman has mudguard clearance (and sports 'em), so I'd quite like a close clearance machine this time around. It'll be a Cycle2Work acquisition, so needs to be OTP.

So yeah: steel framed, close clearance, drilled for brakes, OTP fixed with drops.

The £10 is in the post. :)

Just a quick update: I was searching for a steel, traditional-ish fixed gear with drops, close clearances and drilled for brakes.

This proved to be a harder search than I imagined, but this morning I ordered a Langster Steel from http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=21786&categoryID=44, following a link from the main OTP list, I think.

It's the 2010 model, so red 'n chrome, rather than the uber-bling shiny 2011 variant, but comes in at 400ukp, which seems reasonable?

Anyway, pics 'n impressions when (if!) it arrives...

Good choice. It's nicer IMO than the all chrome 2011 version, and its lighter also.
Shiny chrome is heavier than paint apparently.

Good choice. It's nicer IMO than the all chrome 2011 version, and its lighter also.
Shiny chrome is heavier than paint apparently.

I assume we're talking relatively on the lightness front? My impression from the forum has been that the Langster Steel isn't gunning for the featherweight crown...

Anyway, from a pure aesthetics point of view, I concur that the 2010 model is more appealing than the 2011 (is it just me, or do the 2011 incarnations lack... something? This year's crop seem, for the most part, less than compelling, visually).

OK, my Langster Steel arrived, very, very shiny in red and silver:

Sugino Messenger chainset, with a zebra chain, all very, very shiny:

My first foray into clipless pedals, so currently it's only been ridden very, very slowly. Gearing is 42x16.

One thing that slightly puzzles me is the rear tyre clearance: look at the gap between tyre and seat-tube. Now look at where the tracknuts are in the dropouts:

The tyres are slick. Really, really slick. So slick, I almost thought they were the bare inner tubes.

What's puzzling about that? If you want a shorter wheelbase, there's probably enough clearance/room in the trackends to remove a link from the chain, and move the whole thing forward; BUT, that wouldn't leave you having to reinstate the link if you wanted to get a bigger chainring or sprocket.

What's puzzling about that? If you want a shorter wheelbase, there's probably enough clearance/room in the trackends to remove a link from the chain, and move the whole thing forward; BUT, that wouldn't leave you having to reinstate the link if you wanted to get a bigger chainring or sprocket.

I'm not that fussed about getting the wheel tighter in against the seattube, just not sure how much room it leaves for adjusting tension as the chain stretches. I had been considering getting some chain tugs, but I'm not sure they'd fit with things as they stand.

Anyway, as you say, currently I've got a little leeway on the gearing front; moving to a 17t on the rear will bring the wheel in a bit, and give me a bit more space in the dropout for tensioning.

There's at least 1/16" rearward movement available before any loss of contact area between the nut and the trackend, so you'll be fine for using the chain up until it's time for a replacement; even without changing to a 17t.

Update to list coming very soon.

In the meantime.......

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-tk4130-track-bike-2011/

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/olmo-la-biciclissima-vintage-2010/

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each of the links in the above £650 list excluding the mercian is a dead one, or rather does not lead to the actual bike.

just so you know (:

I did know, .........and thats why I said an update was due. There are loads of lists that need updating, and finding the hours it takes to update some of them is a real challenge.

Does anyone know of any shops selling off the peg steel race frames, painted ready to go?
I need something pretty quickly for training.
Back in the day shops would have a selection of frames hanging up ready to go.
And I'm talking basic stuff, 631 or below.

Used to pop into Don Farrels, Reg Barnetts or Birds of Colindale to pick up stuff.

Ta.

All/most of the larger frame builders build up frames ready to go. For people like Bob Jackson or Mercian (who have waiting lists) they know people will buy iany stockpile of the most popular frames.

But if you just need something standard spec/geo, why not just go second hand?

Cheers
I've got a Mercian on order. But I'm after something basic to hang all my spare parts on for day to day riding/training. Pretty sure Bob Jackson is quoting 4-6 weeks for off the peg at the mo?

Second hand, you know very well you can never find what you want secondhand until you've just bought it new.

if it's just for an interim period get an alloy ribble or similar as it's only for a few weeks, most of the OTP steel frames i can think of are the same or more than a mercian, do planet-x have anything?

No it's a keeper, a trainer and winter bike. Bob Jackson does a brand new 631 F&F in any colour for £485. So I thought there might be some cheap new 525/531s about.

Nice little Enigma in my size on Ebay.

its racing, steel and its italiano

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/FRGURE/guerciotti-record-frameset

go for the more modern pirana frame in deda-eom, it's a great tubeset

didnt see that one mr smyth,great frames and cheap as chips.regarding your profile pic,have you been captured yet ;-)

Indeed, very modern too;

ed,that piranha is too big for me