The Ever Elusive Talbot Beik

He will probably pick it up in 3 years

I feel a bit less bad about Isen 23 now.

I saw both Coldharbour and this frame/fork yesterday, the update is that he's locating the parts (which are in the old workshop, currently a dumping ground as Blue Door is being emptied), and once parts are located will build it. I was picking up my Serotta frame at the time.

Probably time for an annual checkin, if nothing else just to remind me that this thread exists.

Since the last post: A few more apologies from Matt, and a few more promises of better.

Still no bike though.

Let's see what the next 12 months brings.

I am looking forward to seeing this when it emerges. Don't think I caught the photos first time around. they look great. I hope it is still something that brings joy when you get hold of it.

I appreciate the positivity. It's been very easy to viewing this in a very negative light, particularly lying awake and stewing about it.

Being mugged off like a cunt for such a long time has left me flip-flopping between being bitter and just trying to forget about it (cf. the whole lying awake at night bit)

In all honesty, I doubt I would even ride the bike, on the slim chance it ever showed up, and certainly not enough to make up for the mountain of disappointment that I feel.

I wanted it 3 - 4 years ago, but not any more.

Having my £3,500ish refunded would be nice, but that's even less likely, if we're being honest.

It's time to draw a line under it if it's causing you stress at night; you never get compensated for that.

Appreciate it's always easier when dealing with somebody else's problem but I would be tempted to visit the (ISEN) workshop with a few litres of petrol and a zippo, or pursue a full refund through the small claims court

Even in jest, that's not on.

For the record I've never committed arson. But I have used the small claims court a few times when I've felt helpless in retrieving money I'm owed. It's a simple process that rarely involves an actual court appearance.

God, what a nightmare :(

It's very hard to understand how this was actually built ~4 years ago but despite that fact you still don't have it.

Making a claim is something that i have considered, although obviously I'd prefer not to have to do that.

I'd need to check the paperwork to see who i could claiming against - Talbot (the limited company) was dissolved at the end of 2018 (something I only found out about later last year), making it difficult to get anything from them, if there is even anything to get.

Your joke about arson as a remedy isn't welcome though.

Do you mind me asking for clarification on which stage this has fallen down on? The frame was built and painted? But never built? The parts were paid for buy not ordered?

Yeah, post #33 shows a completed frame. Wasn’t it just final assembly left?

Some big ol' information holes here.

Built, painted, parts purchased (all bar crankset, which we never got round to deciding on), never assembled (as far as I know).

As I understand it, there are an amount of parts in a box, but I don't know what parts, or where these are.

Are you London based?

I mean, I could just post every piece of communication that I have had with Matt over the past years, but I don't see how that helps anyone.

Otherwise, I'm not sure what you're driving at.

I do prefer being positive about things, but it seems you've been more than patient. I'm sorry this has all happened. What a frustration. While I'm conscious that I'm only hearing one side of the story, it seems mind boggling that it's become such a saga. I'd feel the same in your shoes.

Otherwise, I'm not sure what you're driving at

Well we have your side of the story and we are missing Matt's.. Have you called ISEN? They are good over the phone. And very hospitable if you pop down to the workshop. Sure you can sort this out..

They are good over the phone.

I'm not. I'm also not great at just popping over. I rather suspect that would not help at all.

I would honestly love to hear Matt's side of the story. Much of my frustration is the sheer radio silence.

Other than that, I like to thing that I have been more than open to resolving this, and have consistently asked what I can do to help.

I also rather regret writing anything. It's not going to resolve anything, and it's just winding me up.

If this thread is unlikely to lead to the resolution of an issue that is still causing you significant stress, then it's probably best to lock it before the usual forum drama queens and handwringers wade in.

I'm also not great at just popping over

Not easy at the moment either, perhaps see if you can just to arrange someone to collect what they have? At least you'll have something then...

What a mess. This is awful.

4 years to post out a bike, not sure what hearing the other side of the story would be

"sorry i've been locked in the isen gulag and have escaped, will post monday"