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Really don't get so uptight I'm sure if you ask any tradesman working thereabouts they will rise to the challenge for twenty quid if you show them your permission.
Let's be honest who gives a toss I'm sure the owner doesn't or he or she would have come back for it .....

Yes, tried asking in a motor-bike shop round the corner and they didn't have the tools to do it, just told me to get a locksmith to do it...

where exactly is it, i haz tools but dont lend them out... ill go and test them out on it and let you know how i get on

Haha! Good one its close to Kings X station, but i'd like to get it for myself to be honest, would you be keen on coming with me? i'd be up to pay up to £ 30 for your help

Oh cool!, definitely don't want to come across as a mug, i'm an honest barman trying to build himself a second fixed gear.
just finished my first project two weeks ago, can show you the pictures...looks good, but i still have bike fever and i really wanted that frame for a second project.

oh my...seriously guys, what do you need me to tell you in order to prove i'm not a thief?

Sorry villa ru, could i ask you what kind of proof you need from me not to call me a thief? I'm definitely not interested in getting a bad reputation here, just want to take an abandoned frame of the streets because i'd like to build myself another bike.

Not sure that could do the job either. I tried with bolt cutters, drill and hacksaw already and they definitely don't work. That was before i asked permission to do it though...so i didn't really try much as getting caught would mean loads of trouble.

I'll explain the situation so i don't get called a thief...don't really want to look like one at all!

So, i was riding my bike when i saw this stripped frame near kings cross station. stopped to buy some food and walked back to see from closer as it already caught my attention from far. took pictures of it and did a quick evaluation of the possibility of taking in without anyone noticing (yes, i admit it, but its super obvious its abandoned so i'm sure no one will be deprived of their beloved commuter) went back home and couldn't really help thinking about it.
The day after i called camden police to ask what to do about it. the person who replied told me it couldn't be done and that i had to wait many days to be sure it's abandoned. He didn't take my details or anything so i was not contented. Called the council and they didn't give me much information either. So i assumed that no-one was going to do anything and decided to give it a try unlocking it on broad light so if anyone comes i'd be able to explain the situation. didn't manage to unlock it after three attempts (with those mentioned tools). One more day passed... went back, took many pictures and went to the police station and spoke to a lady who took my details and gave me a reference number and told me i was now entitled to do it but only if i'd leave a note with my number, the reference number she gave me and my name on it at the nearest shop or restaurant window.

Now need to break the lock and to go back to the police station and tell them i have it.

All cool until here. Now i don't have the right tools to do it, don't know how much a locksmiths will charge me (not paying more than £30 for the job though) and would prefer to get the council to help me now that i have the necesary evidence to prove i'm not a thief trying to resell it for 10 quid in whitechapel.

So, i'd be happy if i can get some advice on how to do this efficiently without spending more than what a would pay for a frame in that condition.

Hope no one gets infuriated now, just need some advice here!

Cheers!

and yes its a colnago

well in fact i went and spoke to them in person yesterday as i wasn't happy with their first reply on the phone, showed them pictures and they agreed the thing is abandoned. Got granted permission and got a reference number to do it, so not trying to steal it (at least not anymore since i can take it legally)

anyway, Don't get all worked out, come down a bit

Hey guys! reviving and old discussion here...I've got permission from the camden police to retrieve a frame that is currently rusting away in the streets... problem is... can't cut the kryptonite lock... don't really want to spend loads on a locksmiths and definitely won't buy an angle grinder... i tried to cut it with a hacksaw, bolt cutters and even tried to drill it with no success.

Do you think the council would help me do it? if so, would they charge me? what would be another cheap option that does not involve explosives, nuclear weapons or super powers?

Thanks!

Do you think i could get in trouble?

they just said they can't help, they never said that there was something wrong with taking abandoned property. its obviously abandoned (frame has been there for a while and i checked street view on google maps and i think i can tell it's the same frame as in the pictures which are reaaally old).
they said clearly that "is not lost or stolen property until someone claims it lost or stolen" so i think that what they meant is that: if no one will complain then i'm not liable.

I think i will be persistent and will obtain the frame nonethless but thanks for your advice.

Hi everyone

I need help liberating a painfully rusting frame i saw in the street the other day. The back wheel is been taken as the handlebar and stem. Seat has been destroyed by weather and chain and bolts are just rusted to an extreme.

However the frame seems in good condition (quite an old one though, maybe colnago or something, no brand on it, but shamrock is present on the frame)

thing is in kings cross, really close to the station and on the main street. I tried doing it the legal way but just got negatives both from the police and the council. The police said that they won't help me cut the lock...they asked me to wait 4 weeks but they didn't let me put a claim or give my details so to acquaint i'm waiting for a response from their part.

The council just said no, don't even remember why, but there was no way they were going to help me.

So i went down the street with a brand new bolt cutter (25 quid...) tried cutting the f-ing kryptonite D lock...but didn't even scratch it, went back to pick up a hacksaw and tried cutting it...no luck either, so for the third time under broad daylight and regular traffic in the streets i got my drill and tried drilling into the keyhole but just completely destroyed my only drill bit... no one seemed bothered and one guy even asked me if i had any luck (someone living in the block of flats where the bike is locked)

I'd like to go back with an angle grinder but haven't got one and I'm not even sure it could cut the super reinforced metal.

What should i do? Can anyone help me with this? i'd love to work on that frame as a summer project...frame is a beatiful aged wine red colour with chromed forks...just amazing.

Pol

Done it.

Got some replies from some MEPs already, like this one here:

Thank you for your email.     

Road safety is an extremely important     issue, and I am pleased to inform you that I have signed Written     Declaration 0081/2010 on heavy goods vehicle collisions. However, I     believe that technology is only part of the solution - better     driving     is also necessary.     


Yours sincerely,     

Green Party Member of the European     Parliament for London     

Which got me thinking about a post i read yesterday on this thread about the person who was a lorry driver and cyclist and the importance of giving better training to drivers apart from sight tests and stuff...how possible would it be to achieve at least those two things?

when i read "better driving" on the e-mail above i also started considering how trained cyclists are, and how beneficial it could be to have cyclist fully trained to commute safely around the city and not speeding in between cars and lorries like if we were immortal. I know this is kind of suggesting that cyclist should get licenses but i can't come up with any better idea.

Yes, that's not much of an issue i'd say, thing is i don't know how to thread it

Thanks sumo! Another question, need to cut my steerer tube but shops charge around 25 to 30 quid, is there a cheap shop that you guys would recommend?

Thanks!

Hi there! not that new to london fixed gear anymore but needed some advice. I have a current fixed gear project and have two wheels to chose from...

One is a Condor wheel with Condor hub that has only "condor 60 years" written on it...it looks quite good, not V shaped but more u shaped kind of thing...i was checking the condor website to find out about it and apparently its worth more than 70 quid... oh yes...the sprocket on this one has 16 t. and its still running very true.

The other one is a Alexrims 66Da or something like that i got off ebay...V shaped and stuff but the hub doesn't look as well made as the Condor one... the sprocket has 18 t. and its super true...it never stops spinning...so, not sure which to keep

I reckon i'll find out when i fit them both and realize which one i like more 16t or 18t sprocket...

but if you were me, which one would you go for?

Nice one Peter! thanks a lot, i'll check all this measurements against my frame and how i feel on it! still i think i'll go for at least the 165mm cranks if i find a good deal.

so if anyone knows where yo get them (saw some Lasco for £ 40 on ebay)

Cheers!

I forgot to ask what's a decent and not too pricey brand and retailer for 165mm cranks as the majority i find on ebay come from america making it 20 quid more expensive...

Firstly HI!
Just wanted to say that 5mm actually make quite a bit of difference, but that's more in relation to pedal strike 'n toe overlap. If you're finding your riding position to be uncomfortable you're probably riding something that isn't suited to your size.There's more to consider than axle length when a comfortable riding position. Seat tube length, standover height, amount of exposed seatpost, have you considered these measurements yet?
I don't know if you can get 150mm SS cranks, sounds redonkulous.
Perhaps you require a can of HTFU.

Hi! many thanks for replying, and no, i haven't considered those, could you please indicate how to achieve a "comfortable riding position" in general terms?
yes i've been trying desperately to find quite small cranks thinking it was the only problem but the frame i'm riding on at the moment is very large comparing to the one i'm working on at the moment so i reckon that might also affect the front tube is like more than 15 cm (i only have a 15cm ruler at the moment hehehe)
Also, pedals striking is so annoying and scary that i wanted to get rid of it completely and thought 5mm wouldn't make a considerable difference but apparently i might be wrong.

Thanks a lot for your help!

Pol

thanks smallfurry! I was trying to measure my inside leg length by myself and got an approximate 75cm so will need 165mm cranks only, still it doesn't sound like 5 mm would do much difference and i really feel uncomfortable with the 170 ones...should i just try 165? haven't got muuuch money to burn on cranksets at the moment...

has anyone found any good priced 150mm - 165mm cranksets retailers around the web or around the city? thanks!

Hello there, looking for a 150mm crankset for my new project, does anyone have any clue of where to find these? thanks a lot!

how do one get rid of his nursery status? cheers!

Hi there! I'm not yet allowed to post new threads so i'm just gonna try here.

I'm getting some new parts for my first fixed gear project. I'm desperately looking for smaller cranksets because i'm 5.6f and 170mm cranks don't work for me as my knees get super tired and also hurt sometimes...yes...life's hard... Does anyone of you guys know where to find 150mm cranksets? as 165 doens't really sound like a right size considering its only 5 mm less than 170.

If i'm looking for something decent where should i look for and what prices should i expect?

Thanks a lot for your help!

Hi there! just joined in few minutes ago! I'm building my first fixed gear and need some advice, help on finding bits and bobs etc etc

Happy new year by the way!

Pol