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thanks so much. i will definately look into your recommendations, pip.
i am going to keep my eyes open. i had planned on shipping it through the mail as i have to bring a fair amount of other crap for studying and living beyond just biking, but found out it would be 120usd to do so. if i have to spend a couple hundred bucks anyway, i'd rather get to play around building a new bike and then get rid of it at the end.
unfortunately, i am not in chicago right now, but in lovely bloomington, indiana. but thanks so much for the offer david.
i just had a new wheelset built, so i'll probably put that in the bottom of my bag and hope to find a beater or loaner. let me know if you stumble on anything good or wounldn't mind letting an old one go.
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yeah, i've looked into with my particular airline (american airlines) and they will charge me 110 usd each way, plus they specified that i have to buy one of their bike boxes -which i really can't believe. i've read a bunch of testimonials on other mb and such that have had no problem and bunch about what a huge pain in the ass it was. there is a good chance that i might get it through without any hassel or charges, but i am just not sure i want to risk it, especially since it would be hard to put everything else i would need for four months in the other checked bag.
so, i am thinking it would be best to get one here and at least feel like i am getting something for my money.
any recommendations for where to look for used fixies, especially non-internet venues?also, unxetas, did you really have to say it? i hope all the bike tools in britian aren't owned by dudes looking for something more than helping out a fellow rider in need.
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hey,
so glad i found this!
i have been riding fixies for years now (in chicago, new york and bloomington indiana-of Breaking Away fame) and am coming to london to do a study abroad program. i'll be here for about 4 months and am not sure what to do about a bike.
i have a perfect bike here at home, a pretty fixie that's done me right, but the cost of shipping it or bringing it with me on the plane is OUTRAGEOUS! I love it, but given the round-trip costs (at least $250, like 120 pounds) it seems like it might be better to buy a bike in london and sell it at the end (or bring it home because I will probably be too attached). I really only want to ride fixed, but don't mind if it is converted.
How much would a working conversion or a decent used track bike cost me here? Bike prices seem radically different than in the US. Also, are there any bike collectives where I could put together a conversion myself? Bringing all the tools and components would sort of defeat the purpose of not bringing a complete bike. I've looked on gumtree and craigslist and nothing has really popped out at me.
I'd really appreciate any tips, loans, or nudges in the right direction.
-becca
thanks so much. i'm stoked there is a bike scene here that is so friendly and helpful.
i'll keep checking in. i get to london on the 13th and will be bumming around for the first week before classes start with the main objective of learning the city through riding around, so i am sure i'll see you around.
also, there are definately working quarries, including the breaking away quarry, as we cutters call it. i've been swimminging in it and jumping off the ledge for as long as i can remember. and like in the movie, we really have a track race here that only college kids are allowed to participate in called the little 500. but, they all have boring stock bikes and don't really care about riding and probably try to run me down with their suvs all other weekends.