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I really like that milky metallic blue, but most of the Pogs I've seen have been red

I grew up with plastic BMX saddles, so my Brooks Pro feels like pure luxury after that

That's a beaut, impressive

Hmm, I'm unexpectedly free tomorrow and could make this... but I'll have a pretty mean hangover...

Really looking forward to seeing this, very enterprising, nice one!

Here's my story. WARNING: it's long and probably very boring.

I grew up in Northern Ireland. I started on BMX when I was 8 (23 years ago!) - I had a DP Firebird that I rode around all day, jumping makeshift ramps in the garden and cruising the streets. I rode that thing for hours and hours every day. My family moved to England when I was 10 and I kept up BMXing until I was about 13. I was lucky to live near a decent race track. I always came last though, I was more of a dreamer than a racer...

Then, aged 13, I got a Peugeot 12 speed racer, which I loved and rode everywhere, much faster than a BMX!

I moved up to uni in London when I was 19, and rode an old 3 speed Sunbeam from the 1920s. That was a beautiful bike, heavy as lead, but stately. I rode it from Chalk Farm to the Strand every day. It's rusting away in my parents greenhouse now, with tendrils growing around the spokes. I must rescue it (or rather, him: he's called 'Watson'!).

Then, aged 21, I returned to BMX again and went through a succession of bikes: a lovely GT Performer (now belonging to my sister) with rad 3 spoke Skyway Tuffs, an SE Racing Quadangle, and then an SE Racing Floval Flyer (also with rad Skyway Tuffs). I rode those bikes every day for years, into uni and then on my daily commute into various workplaces. I lived near Cantelowes in Kentish Town and had fun on the ramps (I was always a bit crap though).

About 3 years ago I realised I was a fully grown man and needed a proper bike. I got a beautiful Chas Roberts Reynolds 831 road bike, fully Chorus equipped, light as a feather. I had the racer bug again! A little later I got a Pinarello frame super-cheap and swapped all the gear from the Roberts onto that. I had bike building fever!

By then I had moved to the east end and my commute was pretty long. About a year ago I felt I wanted to spice things up and decided to give fixed a go - but it was a long time before I managed to get everything together. I read a lot and waited for the right frame to come up (I wanted something by an English builder). I eventually got myself a Chas Roberts track frame. I built it up slowly, enjoying learning and hunting for stuff. It was finished about two months ago, and when I took it out for its maiden voyage I realised withing 30 seconds that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE riding fixed. I can't imagine I'll ever go back. I commute 25 miles a day on that thing, up Highgate West Hill, weaving in and out of traffic and loving it. SO FAST! Here it is on Velospace: http://velospace.org/node/2969

I think having ridden BMX was a big factor for me, riding fixed feels like having all the best things about the simplicity of BMX back again, but new and different (and a bit more grown up!). Some people have been a bit disparaging about the supposed 'Zen-thing' with fixed, but I must say that for me it does bring about a special feeling of connectedness, both inwardly and outwardly. But then I've always been a bit of a mystical twat. (Take a look at my avatar and you might see why...)

Thanks for reading!

Ex BMXer here too, still got an 24" SE Racing Floval Flyer (with 7 spoke Skyway Tuffs...) and an SE Racing Quadangle. I commuted 20 miles a day on the floval for about four years a few years back! It still gets ridden from time to time.

Those black Sidis look nice, how much do they go for?

EDIT: I just Googled them - black/black Sidi Dominator MTB shoes, £100 from http://www.velouk.co.uk

I ran Specialized Armadillos on my road bike and didn't get a puncture in two years. Not bad for 25 miles daily riding in all weathers. They do feel a bit heavy though.

26.4 seatposts come up on ebay quite often, usually a bit cheaper too as so few people want them! Make sure you're searching worldwide, not just in the UK - and search for both 'seat post' and 'seatpost'. With any luck you'll find something like a nice old Campag one. Might take a few weeks seaching though.

I've been enjoying skidding a bit too much recently and pulled the sole of my right cycling shoe off, so I've switched back to clips and straps, which I'm really enjoying. But generally I think I'm faster and ride more economcally when I ride clipless.

I've only used one clipless system - SPD, to go with my old Dura Ace pedals. The pedals are about 10 years old now, and they're not 'double-sided' like more modern pedals - but they work brilliantly nonetheless. Clipping in is very easy and once in they never unclip when I don't want them to. And it's easy to get out of them, I just give a little sideways motion and click, I'm free - easy and intuitive (but I suppose the same must be true of any system).

My shoes are Carnac cycling shoes from about 10 years ago - they were just about the best you could get back then and they've served me very well, until they separated last week... Comfy with a slightly old skool look, I recommend them.

I was in Condor looking for replacement shoes at the weekend - I took a shine to the Sidi ones, but on closer inspection realised they cost £170...! I think I might just take my old shoes to the cobbler and see how they go. Until then, clips and straps are fun.

Good luck!

£32!!!!!

Bargain of the milennium.

Trainee child psychotherapist

^^^
I can't believe it's not butter!

Thanks for the comments, I've been building it up for a while and just love riding it.

I've swapped the Cinelli steel stem and Nitto 125 steel bars for a **MUCH **lighter 3ttt titanium stem and 3ttt alloy pista bar combo. (The 3ttt pista bars are HUGE deep things, I doubt I'll ever manage to get into the drops on them!) Also, I'm going to try my old Campag toeclips and straps instead of clipless, 'cause I've managed to rip the sole off my right cycling shoe from skidding (I think my technique is somewhat lacking.)

And yes, it was locked up to my girlfriend's SE Assassin outside Condor (wicked bike) - we were there to look at a Brompton for her! She wants a Pashley Sovereign instead now, for stately cruising...

It would be nice if all these forums were linked and we could check out and post on the other cities' sites. Get a bit of cultural exchange going! Or maybe that would just be a headache (for the webmaster at least).

Here's my Chas Roberts track bike:

I have other bikes but this is the only one I ride nowadays.

I've been enjoying this one a lot.

http://velospace.org/node/2969

I've got a 54cm 1980's Ciocc road frame in good condition, no dents but in need of a respray. Horizontal dropouts so a good candidate for a fixie.

I'd be up for a swap for some parts if you were interested - I could do with a track stem and a seatpost!

My daily commute takes me up Highgate West Hill every day!

I set out in the morning from Bromley-by-Bow to Belsize Park, which is about 10 miles. After an hour there I ride up to Muswell Hill via Highgate West Hill, which is about 4 miles. I'm running 49/18, which I find a good balance gear for my needs. Then it's 10 miles back to Bromley-by-Bow at the end of the day, on a route that takes me up Crouch Hill. I think I've earned my dinner when I get home!

I was wondering if anyone knows of anywhere in or near London that does re-chroming for not too much £££?

I wouldn't mind getting my forks and rear dropouts redone. If the price was right maybe they could do the whole frame as well... yummm... And I just got meself a lovely old CInelli track stem which they could drop in the vat while they're at it (note my complete ignorance of the chroming process...!)

Hovis Brown:hey, docus what do you have? i'm about 90% sure that 135 fits miche, but perhaps you should double check on your bike.

Yup, just checked - Miche takes 135. Is it for a 3/32 or 1/8 chain? Cheers

Hovis Brown:

docus:Hi Hovis, does the 135bcd chainring fit a Miche crank? If so I could give it a good home! What would you like for it? You can drop me a message here if you like, or email me at hamish_seymour AT yahoo DOT co DOT uk

heya. it should do. the 135bcd is actually a 46t. sorry about that. let me know if you're still interested. it's a brand new stronglight chainring.

Hi, 46t would do well, whisper or email with what you'd like for it!

I've got:

1. 1980's Ciocc 54cm road frame. In good condition but in need of a respray. 126mm rear dropouts, so a good candidate for a fixed gear conversion.

2. 1990's Chas Roberts 51cm road frame. In excellent condition. Reynolds 853, light as a feather. I got it 2nd hand but it's still basically as good as new. To get something equivalent built would cost coming on for £1,000. Two tone colour fade, from red to yellow. Beautiful, smooth fillet brazing. 130mm vertical dropouts.

3. A 130mm Cinelli 1A aluminium road stem in good, clean condition. A bit too long for me, might suit someone else better.

I'm open to any suggestions!

Hey, just found this place, seems nang, think I might cotch a bit :) <--- please accept my apols for the idiotic lingo, I work with adolescents...

I divide my time between Bow and a narrowboat on the Regents canal, currently moored at King's Cross. I ride a Chas Roberts track bike, do say hi if you see me barrelling through town. I ride up Highgate West Hill EVERY DAY, which I think makes me officially H-A-R-D-C-O-R-E (Ha-Ha-Ha-Hardcore Uproar)

Other bikes: a Pinarello geared road bike and an SE Racing Floval Flyer 24" BMX, singlespeed, sporting Skyway Tuffs.

Want a pointlesss laugh (at not with, most prolly)? Check my website: http://uncletechno.blogspot.com