Caramel cycles - £200 track bikes

Wingedangel, I says this with the upmost respect I can bestow, but can you try and not add too many full stop every time you end a conversation? it's a little hard to read sometime.

I just write it like I say it. I find it hard not to, to be honest. I understand that there is 500 years of shakespearian grammar and all, it's just that I write what I think, and thats how I think.
I will try, as I did just now, though to be honest, unless it's for any specific reason...I will express myself how I please...and that includes pauses and dots, have you ever read 'trainspotting' ? or the kool aid acid test, last exit to brooklyn?

I'm down with spelling as I hate bad spelling, though my mate is dyslexic and if people are then thats fine with me, though if you just read it like it's written, you'll be fine I promise.
I will try in threads you're in to write with less gaps ...cool?

gag2 is now jacking off dwarves as well

this has to be the funniest thing on this forum. rep +

in other news, caramel is just another inept business soon to go down the drain. Most business do this in the first 3 years. The others that didn't knew what they were doing.

Unfortunately this business appears to be endangering the un-educated cycling public, albeit only a minority, with poorly 'restored', un-fit for use bikes.

GA2G was rushed in as the "expert" to iron things out. What happens next ?????

to be continued..........

Wingedangel, I says this with the upmost respect I can bestow, but can you try and not add too many full stop every time you end a conversation? it's a little hard to read sometime.

This thread has it all, even Ed offering advice in grammar (no offence Ed.) It's all very simple though isn't it? In my opinion it is dangerous to provide and sell a fixed gear bike for less than about £500. If the large manufacturers can't do it, then to try and build up some deathtrap in your bedroom without having the bulk discounts available for bigger orders and figure in a profit margin is irresponsible. Ashe has taken this up as a crusade to fight for the 'little people'. Enter James and WingedAngel. They are right, this is not safe. If the guy wants to sell parts, that's ok, but these bikes are not fit to be on the street. Can I just add one thing,

It beggars belief! (Just wanted to add that for effect).

Has it occurred to anyone yet that 'Caramel Cycles' is really terrifically racist?

Caramel or Coffee was a term used by bigots to describe people of mixed race. It would be unfair to include that prejudice in this case.

As a side and in the interests of fairness, can someone please start a Lunar Cycles thread so we can have a positive and congratulatory discussion on how to build bikes and sell them?
I'd do it but obviously I have the touch of Medusa when it comes to these things.
Imagine, a positive thread, where we say nice things and think that a 'bespoke' bike shop is good?!

There already is one.

Lunar take old bikes from Islington Council, refurbish them and sell them from their workshop in Kentish Town. They are very friendly, seem mechanically competent and also seem like real cyclists who know what they're doing.

They refaced (I think that's the right word) the head tube on my Orrell and fitted my headset for £10. I was very happy.

Their mechanic posts on here, username is well, is it

As a side and in the interests of fairness, can someone please start a Lunar Cycles thread so we can have a positive and congratulatory discussion on how to build bikes and sell them?
I'd do it but obviously I have the touch of Medusa when it comes to these things.
Imagine, a positive thread, where we say nice things and think that a 'bespoke' bike shop is good?!

Hmm, various Medusa Cycles operations exist, but they all seem to be motorcycle operations ...

There already is one.

Lunar take old bikes from Islington Council, refurbish them and sell them from their workshop in Kentish Town. They are very friendly, seem mechanically competent and also seem like real cyclists who know what they're doing.

They refaced (I think that's the right word) the head tube on my Orrell and fitted my headset for £10. I was very happy.

Their mechanic posts on here I think, I don't know his username but Re-cycled could tell you.

Just re-read this with the grumbling about the names. Made me chuckle. :)

I think its time for me to come clean. I have chosen to side with CaramelCycles because.......the guy is white. I feel that white people don't get enough opportunities in this world, so I was attempting to be charitable. If any of you doesn't like it, please complain to me by email: ashe@thebritishnationalparty.co.uk

Thank you for being understanding.

so did shit coloured cycles fix their crap bike?

no the crapamel deathtrap bike is still being couriered by TNT,because it was too unsafe to be ridden on public roads all the way to caramels headquarters in north kensington

has this been resolved yet?

I doubt he could repair the bike that nhat saw!

What confuses the hell out of me is Ashe met him,'had a conversation with him and days later he is still selling the heaps of junk. Were the wheels like a piece of paper from Mr Hitler?

Clearly he did not listen to anything Ashe had said to him, looks like in real life caramel cycles have ga2g on ignore.

Has he fixed the shit bike yet?

Also so much for rip off shop prices, he wants £32.49 for a tektro brake caliper

Petra do it for £23.05

The "raw steel" bike on his website which has the following spec "55cm vintage racer brought back to its naked steel beauty and clear varnished to prevent corrosion, finished with new top notch components: -Espresso 40mm double wall deep profile metallic silver rims with black spokes and hub
-pre-loved leather Brooks style saddle
-chrome forward facing bullhorn handlebars"

Clearly has a used brake and old dirty brake cable, no bar ends and no bar tape.

I struggle to see how this guy deserves any defence.

The wheels are now on sale at £45 each, but I am not aware he ever wanted more for them, so possibly yet another trade description fail.

The wheels are now on sale at £45 each, but I am not aware he ever wanted more for them, so possibly yet another trade description fail.

I thought it was £45.oo all along. I'm pretty sure that hasn't changed at any time.

So another caramel fail.

No real surprise there then.

Maybe its the interpretation again. Some may say For Sale, or On Sale. Not meaning in either case that a special Sale is in effect. If a sign is outside a shop, and it says Newspapers On Sale here, will you rush in looking for a bargain?

But since you've brought this back up again, and I think you're right to.....because the bike that Nhatt received should be put right, and then Nhatt can tell us if it was, or wasn't.

Anyway, I've had the pair of wheels from Caramel for a few days now, but have not been able to test them yet. But at least I can give my initial thoughts on them.

They look good (I'll post a photo tomorrow, when I'm home). They feel sturdy and strong, without being overly heavy. Quite similar in weight to my Rigida DP18 wheels. The Quando hubs seem good, and spin smoothly. The rim is painted I believe, and not anodized. I'm not an expert in the anodizing process, so I could be wrong. I'm guessing that the rim is therefore possibly offered for sale (that word again), at a lower price, due to it being painted. I think the paint could be chipped and scratched. But its more common that the frame suffer this, than the wheels per say. Remarkably, they spin perfectly true, and this surprised me, as I know they were factory made, and not by hand. What I discovered in handling the wheels is that the factory assembly wouldn't stay true long, and I'd strongly recommend hand trueing and tensioning before use, as the factory job I believe would come untrue after a short time. Its true, but NOT tensioned. Not unexpected really of a machine doing the job.

I've mentioned this to Caramel, and they will look to offer a hand-trued wheel at extra cost, or just provide the wheel as-is, and the customer, if with experience of wheel-truing, can save themselves maybe a tenner, by doing it themselves.

Let me make this clear. The wheels I have are ture, when spun and observed. The uneven tensioning of spokes is something I will address before testing them, as I think, for the extremely bargain price, I can't reasonably expect a budget-build to be the same as a top-of-the-range build.

But so far, honestly, it looks excellent for the price. If of course it falls apart in 2 miles, I will post that experience here. Caramel have chosen the worst possible person to do their test. A 19stone guy, on an aluminium frame, with tires at 120-130psi, plus harsh roads, and a mashing, instead of spinning style. If it survives me, its good. It will be as simple as that. And If it does survive me, I'll be getting another set for my other bike. Whoever wants to see the receipt, can do so. I hope thats fair.

Considering that NO Campagnolo product is guaranteed with a person of my weight, its a proper test. Or at least, it will be.

Clearly has a used brake and old dirty brake cable, no bar ends and no bar tape.

I struggle to see how this guy deserves any defence.

I don't think anyone has defended CaramelCycles when they've been at fault. I have only said, that I believe people should be allowed to try hard to correct their mistakes, and turn things around.

I don't know Caramel's finances, but I know he's invested alot in flying to visit manufacturers and ordering components that he feels might sell. I'd say its not a hobby, but something very important. With that in mind, and not wanting to see someone with good intentions go down the pan, I have tried to put myself in his/their place.

What if I started up a cycle retail company, and didn't know all that I should? I made a few fuck-ups, and some were properly bad ones, but when pointed out, I tried to remedy them. Keeping in mind that I still had to pay rent, and also eat. Should I sell nothing and die of starvation, while I try to get everything up to speed, or should I just do the best I could in the circumstances?

It seems to me, that the people that have complained (and rightly so I believe) have not owned their own companies, or started up their own companies. I was self-employed once, and was doing a good job, I thought. But in the end it folded. Why? Because I didn't know all that I should have. I like to see people succeeding, not failing. Maybe thats the difference between me and so many others, on here. Its not comedic to me if someone has to file for bankruptcy. I know people who have, and I once came very close to it. Its really a harsh thing to happen to someone.

I am not deluded. I just have always backed the small guy. Sorry if that upsets so many.

Remarkably, they spin perfectly true, and this surprised me, as I know they were factory made, and not by hand.

ok, so if they are brilliant or not, it's not a reflection of Caramel cycles at all. So a review of these wheels is null and void.

What's the point ?

Just take them back, what a waste of time.

It seems to me, that the people that have complained (and rightly so I believe) have not owned their own companies, or started up their own companies.

What has this got to do with the end point, the customer ? Absolutely nothing. People don't harbour sympathy for bad companies, whether they own their own business or not.

It's 100% the companies' responsibility to create customer satisfaction, which is the most hard earned, and the most easily lost asset to any company.

Dylan got it right in the baby maker, since they're not put together by Caramel themselves, it's hardly a review of Caramel themselves.

Caramel produce poorly made bicycle that put the customer at great risk of injuries, even death without having an mechanical experience with the pure intention of getting rich quick.

The worse thing? it's not even rocket science to able to build a perfectly reliable bicycle from next to nothing, especially (and most especially) a singlespeed bicycles.

I like to see people succeeding, not failing. Maybe thats the difference between me and so many others, on here. Its not comedic to me if someone has to file for bankruptcy. I know people who have, and I once came very close to it. Its really a harsh thing to happen to someone.

I am not deluded. I just have always backed the small guy. Sorry if that upsets so many.

This, I understand that you feel for the small guy...what I cannot abide by...is some one that doesn't know there shit, Selling sub standard road going bicycles to people, they could be killed through no fault of their own...?

He is selling things that are bound to fail...? second hand brake cables? has the man no fucking scruples? they cost 99p in wilkos? he has an account at fishers and is putting on second hand brake cables...? even Unicrates have new (but crappy) brake cables?
for that alone he needs a fucking good kick in the balls?

These people are paying ALOT of money for there second hand brake cables and all the other corners he has cut.

his whole position is untenable, this isn't a jumper...or a stereo...they won't kill you...your brakes failing whilst in a jam and you really have to pinch the fuckers to stop and that is where you wonder if it had been frayed a little and put in anyway...

to save 99p?

It's really, really lame and to be honest, if you cannot see or fail to understand how poor that is in the grand scheme of things...then forget the wheel test and anything else you would like to redeem him on.

and a PS...It's a bloody stupid assumption to think that the reason we complained is because we 'have never started or ran a small company?'' ...What total and utter bollox? what does that have to do with anything? I have been self employed for 10 years? Ed (i think) is also self employed...? what does any of this have to do with whether or not 'Mr Caramel' builds shit bikes?

You going to tell us the blight of the small 'bespoke' bike maker is the extreme rarity of cables and brakes, and thats why he hasn't been able to source or locate the parts? he has had to order them in at great expense form a small farm near lake como?

You backing the small guy in this case is so fucking deluded because in this case...the poor cunt that bought his shit heap bicycle is the small guy?

He is the one getting into a potentially fatal situation through no fault of his own? if this were 'watchdog' you would presently be the one backing the cowboys...saying to ''Nicky annoyingscottish Twat'' well you know it'shard to run a small business...thats why we have to rip off customers selling them bikes with shoddy, second hand, poorly functioning brakes and incredibly over priced frames...it's the only way we can turn a buck?

can you hear your self now?

ok, so if they are brilliant or not, it's not a reflection of Caramel cycles at all. So a review of these wheels is null and void.

What's the point ?

Just take them back, what a waste of time.

I don't understand your post at all. Maybe its the hour, but I'm not sure if you do either.

Who said they would be reviewing Caramel Cycles? Me? Or who?

I said I got a pair of wheels from Caramel, and he asked me to review them. I felt this was vaild, because even though they have become infamously known for negative things, I can only go by my own experience, and that is the company is more about component sales than anything else.

I didn't want to give a reflection of Caramel Cycles. I wanted to review wheels that they sell.

Take them back? Why? Because Dylan said so? Are you serious? I want to review them, but you are telling me to take them back? Okey-dokey......I'll tell you what...How about I pass on your order/instruction, and I just test it, for better or worse. Is that okay, or will you hurt me or something? Oh, since its MY time, is it okay if I chose to waste my own time, or do you wish to tell me what to do and not do with my time? Is that how its getting around here? Thats comical.

Not that is actually likely, though one person did send me a PM yesterday and threatened me. It was really funny, because he didn't have a clue who he was dealing with. I'm still chuckling about it.