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Fortunately, I am still above ground! :)

your welcome btw

Terribly sorry, genuinely didn't see your post on my phone. Thank you buddy, looking forward to it being my first FG bike. Really appreciated, been struggling to find something suitable, and needed a bike as soon as possible. Thanks again. - Matt.

those frames are good ,stiff and light...dont worry about the internet :)

this.

Thanks for the reassurance/info... I was trying to take what I read with a pinch of salt!

Surely a bargain that someone needs to put some moneys down on

No deposit paid, but meeting at 8pm for money and goods to change hands :)

I see a bit of negativity towards the Langster online, but hey, I want it anyway, plus this is only really a Langster frame :)

PS. Buckaroo, I just got in. About to check train times and PM you :)

Well, I posted that an hour after I'd pm'd you saying I wanted it, so long as we could work something out :)

Sorry, guess I wasn't clear enough :)

Oh, of course... duh. I hadn't really thought about that. I researched what a track end was, and found this... didn't help he was fitting them onto a bike that already had horizontal drop outs.

This was posted a page or so back in the thread... price dropped this afternoon I believe from £300 to £275 :)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150765958558&clk_rvr_id=319039111344#ht_1878wt_1396

Why do people fit trackends to old frames? Because they are heavier duty and more horizontal?

I'm set on the Langster chaps... Thanks for the help. Hoping the seller and I will be able to work something out to meet up. I did some more research, and apparently the frame is just 3.5lb! The Langster is heavy because of the wheels I read, and these have been changed for Charge Plug wheels... I don't know if they are any lighter, can't find much info, but still it seems a good frame, with some nice components. Hoping it'll be really light and nippy, and the tyres aren't too wide. Thinking a more conventional stem, with possibly some flatter bars, and some grips, a front brake, and a different saddle maybe.

The seller gave me some more information via PM, and I replied earlier saying I want it, so fingers crossed - waiting for a reply in the morning :D

Thanks for the help. I'll be sure to keep you updated.

I think we have a sale in the pipeline sacredhart, just waiting for a reply to my PM back to Buckaroo :)

The guy with the orange Bianchi just texted me and said I can have it for £250 tomorrow... still not worth it? So torn between the Langster, which is nearer to me, and the Bianchi... :(

Still leaning towards the Langster, but I really don't know... The same old frame vs. new frame thing again! Wish I could combine the two...

Thinking paint the langster frame and front wheel (to match the rear) and be contented!

OCW being Oxford Cycle Workshop? I don't believe it's open for business anymore?

Do you happen to know more than I do?

(Just posted over there, I hadn't thought to really, since yes, the quietest sub-forum on the internet!)

Thanks :)

I have a couple of U locks and D locks at the moment, but not Krypto quality... also don't plan on leaving a nice bike anywhere for long unattended, just want one for a nice daily morning/evening ride really, with no destination, if you know what I mean!

Hi locals!

I'm new to the single speed/fixie scene, and looking to buy my first ss/fg bike.

Just wondering, does anyone know anyone selling anything, or is anyone selling their own bike? Got a low budget of about £250, but could stretch some if local.

Worth a shot I guess, struggling to find anything with about a 24" frame, let alone locally!

Please let me know if you have anything, or know anyone with anything for sale! (I'm in Headington by the way!)

Thanks in advance.

Matt.

This. At my old house we had a couple of nice-ish bikes leaned against the wall in the front garden unlocked and for all to see and they never moved. In general the bikes that get thieved in Oxford are either unlocked shoppers, or nice road bikes locked with shoe laces. Two kryptos means no-one will even look twice.

Hi,

Thanks for the reassurance. When I get my first FG, it'll be in my room, but if I get sick of having no space whatsoever, I will save for 2 Kryptos, and be less concerned! Hopefully with some work back home over the summer i'll be able to invest in a pair, in case I ever have to bike-commute.

Out of interest, whereabouts were you? I'm in Headington, pretty close to Cowley.

Matt.

No hurry, wait till you're in at least! :)

Thanks!

Build your own bike man or get someone to help you you'll get to pick out parts you like and you'll be proud of your final product

I'm totally up for that, and am capable of building one myself, despite the lack of space (make it more time consuming though) but i'm dying to get riding, before I leave Oxfordshire in about 8 weeks for a few months over the summer holiday. I see no reason in buying a shitter for £50, which I probably would hate riding, and not ride. I'm not buying for transport, at all, just to explore the city a bit more, and ride for fun. I wouldn't ride a £50 gumtree special for fun... just to get about, which isn't really why i'm buying a bike for the city.

I think I'll spend some money now, and get riding a FG ASAP, then sell it up for probably a small loss (?) and buy the bits to build my own/rebuild it with some nicer parts over the summer if I become attached to the frame. Am I going about this the wrong way though... should I wait and build my ideal bike at home over the summer, or start budget with something I will enjoy riding (eg. components and build over beauty)...

I'm not so worried about theft as I was when I was given some advice in another thread... I've made space in my shoebox room, and will sleep practically with my bike, and won't use it to commute.

PS. Please continue the new vs. old argument... I'm interested! Also, i've enquired about the Langster, but still open to opinions, as always.

Thanks,

Matt.

I'm interested. It's the perfect size for me, at 5,10, and I think could be my first fixed gear bike! Been advised this would be better than an old steel framed conversion, for my small budget.

A couple of questions...

How much do you reckon the bike weighs in, as a whole?
Where would collection be from? (if not central london)
Would you be able to add into the purcahse a saddle, and some grips, IF you have any lying about, so I could easily ride it back a few miles to mine from from my nearest train station?
I'd add a front brake probably, as i've never ridden fixed wheel before... if you have a basic front brake, would you include it and/or fit it?
May be an obvious question which I think I know the answer to, but any old correct diameter flat/straight/slight-rise riser bars would fit, with a more conventional (not BMX-like) stem fitted, right?

Please excuse my lack or technical lingo!

Thanks,

Matt.

So, why is there so much hype about even cheap old frames, out of interest? Would a modern alu or carbon frame be your choice over a more top of the line old steel frame, for example?

Also, what would you guestimate your langster framed bike weighs in at? I'm a bit fixated on getting one of the lightest I can for the money, but maybe that would sacrifice good components, which wouldn't be good! Guess it's finding the balance? I guess I just want to feel the biggest difference between years of fat tyred chunky mountain bikes, and something new to zip around on, but maybe i'm putting too much importance on this?

Learning so much!

Thanks.

Matt.

Thanks for your advice. I had seen that bike, and was tempted. Please could you explain why, so I know what to look for in the future? I know there is £80 difference, but components wise, why is it the better buy? I have a thing for old frames, but only if they're really tidy, but that does look nice :)

For £20 more, would you still buy the Specialized over the local bike I just added to my original post? I think you'll say yes, but again, curious, as I know nothing about components!

Also, I love your leather products! I added you on facebook a few days ago, before I decided to sign up on here. May give you some custom sometime soon :)

Thanks again,

Matt.

Hi,

Been posting here for a couple of days. After buying my first single speed/fixed gear bike.

I only have a budget of £250. I'd like to build one, but need a bike ASAP, so might as well buy one for now, and rebuild it once the uni term ends (or sell it and build something else haha!) and i'm back home for a long summer, with space, my tools etc?

Anyway, i'd have to travel from Oxford, to Hackney, but this seems like a good buy for £260? (plus travel expenses)

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/custom-built-bianchi-single-speed-bicycle/97271322#gallery-item-full-1

What do you reckon for £260? I really like the sleek bikes. Minimalistic frames, decal-less, single colour, simple colour schemes etc. and it also seems to have some parts made by well known brands? Can I find better for the money though? (one person on here said yes, in another thread, but i'd like some more opinions)

I lost this on ebay by 3p, unfortunately. Am I right to be gutted, or was I overpaying anyway? - Seemed like some branded budget parts, nice paint, gorgeous understated classic colour, and appeared overall a good first buy, with a mind to upgrade various components on the tidy frame in the long run, but I got beaten in literally the final second!

There is also this bike locally, the best part, but the paint looks tired, and I think it's pretty gaudy! Is Holdsworth 531 much the same as Reynolds 531? A better frame than a Reynolds 501? I think i'd chance everything but the frame to be honest... but maybe i'd get used to it? It doesn't seem worth £200 to me, but again, what do you guys think?

Thanks a lot in advance.

Sorry if I have said/thought anything silly... I am a complete FG/SS newbie, who's been changing his mind constantly in the last couple of days, but hopefully haven't annoyed anyone here!

Matt.

(PS. if anyone gets the gist of what I like, and has something for sale, or has seen something for sale, please let me know!)

Is this a steal?

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/custom-built-bianchi-single-speed-bicycle/97271322

I'm new here, and not sure! Interested though.

It would most likely get you a crap fixed bike, too, though.

I bought my Fuji Track in 2006 for £300 plus £80 additional bits, but prices have risen.

No, but it should get me a good starting point? Obviously it won't be perfect for me from the start i'm sure, but in time, some new parts would make it "mine" and a good ride. I'm not after something incredible, anything will be better than a 15kg mountain bike with 5cm wide tires I have kicking about back home!

Yes, don't even touch those with a bargepole.

Yeah, don't plan to, seen the light!

No, if you're good with mechanics, you should build your own, then. Serious recommendation. Lots of people have a lot of fun doing that. You don't need much space to build up a bike, and you can always have the frame powdercoated or painted later--see these threads:

http://www.lfgss.com/thread1238.html
http://www.lfgss.com/thread16007.html
http://www.lfgss.com/thread1039.html

Yeah I'd definitely love to. Not ruling it out... I am desperate to get cycling though, and I want to buy something more fit for purpose than my mountain bike back home, you know, to be excited about riding again? Wanting to get on it and ride whenever. I see riding that mountain bike as a chore sometimes, even did just 1 mile to work over Christmas!

I will finish uni in May, and then will be getting a house with some friends next year, so hopefully will be able to store it off the street at night, and feel comfortable locking it up for an hour or two here and there with a pair of good locks.

Do these bikes hold their value well? Over my very long summer, if i've got the fixed gear bug (which I think I will) I will build one at home. I could sell the one I buy now, or just rebuild it.

It's a good hint to people on here to make sure never to cross you if you take a 33" frame. :)

Haha, that would be a giants bike! I meant 23" haha :)

Most student bikes are absolute rubbish, partly for the simple reason of fear of bike theft, but also because for many they're just studenty accessories.

I was thinking this... I was concerned so many crap bikes came up for sale, because crap bikes were mostly what people bought round here because of the theft? You raise an interesting point actually, and I hope it's correct. I guess I am fortunate enough to be a student who has earned his own money, and has his own savings :)

Maybe theft is high simply because people are useless at locking up. It hadn't really occurred to me that that many people would be stupid, but looking in the "How not to lock your bike thread" it seems even people with carbon framed racing bikes are... wow, just wow! Theft is not cool. but they are not helping themselves.

It's unlikely that there'll be many sales in Oxfordshire, but you may get lucky.

I didn't see many in the classifieds, but there were a huge amount of topics there! I did some searches I think though over the whole forum, and thought Oxfordshire came up quite a bit.

Then get a simple, crappy, studenty bike that you can keep outside, e.g. outside lectures when it's most likely to get stolen, and a nice bike to keep in your room for Sunday rides. You'll love it so much that you won't want to be separated from it. :) Seriously, you can never have enough bikes.

I know what you're saying with the Sunday rides thing... I would however really only be using it for fun, so to speak already though, not huge commutes, just a few miles a day, if that wasn't the impression you got.

Fortunately, if you know Oxford, i'm at Oxford Brookes, and I study in the sleepy town of Wheatley. I don't think theft on that campus is very high, fortunately, if I did "commute" instead of just ride for fun.

My main concern is the rack on the student village I live, just off the main road through Headington, to the city centre. I've shuffled by room around, and I think I have a bike shaped space! (BSS!) I definately could live around it to be honest, would make me ride it even more! I thought last night at 3am when I couldn't sleep, if a bike had been in my bike shaped space, I would have hopped on it and gone for a nice ride.

You certainly can't! I think I will probably build my own over the summer, and keep it for the summer, while keeping a bike i'll hopefully buy soon, for the winter.

I remember when it seemed really odd to me to keep a bike in my room/flat--those days are long gone, and I'm very happy to give up a good deal of space for it. :)

Probably not very helpful advice right now, but there might come a time ...

You know, i'd love a little flat, with a few bikes dotted around it! (like I imagine a London bike messengers place to be like!)

I don't think I showed it in my post really, but the room is TINY. I love bikes, and would love to finally be able to bring a bike inside now i'm out of my Mum's house, after all those years of damp sheds! - I think I could just about bear it taking up so much space in here, but only just, as it is a shoebox!

I certainly can bear having bikes in bedrooms, I love that shit, it's just bearing the large percentage of space it would take up!

I think i've got a spot big enough so it would not get in the way though, so I think i'm winning :) - wouldn't be here long, even if I got one now... only got about 10 weeks left here!

Thanks for the great post, and the effort you put in!

Now I need to find a bike to put in the bike shaped space!

Matt

Just read these two threads:

Locks that work
http://www.lfgss.com/thread17938.html

How to lock your bike
http://www.lfgss.com/thread52914.html

And in a place like Oxford, where a significant amount of people don't even lock their bike to anything, you'll be reet. Two Kryptos and your bike will never be the easy option.

Thanks for the advice. I know how to lock up well fortunately, cause I always have done, even in my quieter hometown :)

My plan was two of those yeah. I know they can be cut off to free a bike from a rack, but two is probably too much trouble/risk, even at night. Good to hear my plan echoed.

Thanks for the thread references :)

The visit was just a thought, i'm pretty sure my friend would be keen! I think it's more likely to happen if I end up in London buying a second hand bike I found online, to be honest actually.

Haha, sorry Clive! I know you guys hate it, just forget! It just rolls off my tongue! I'm not buying a FG/SS because they're "in" I hope you realise, but I would not know so much about them to be fair, if they weren't "in" if you know what I mean!

What do you guys think of the Raleigh I posted? The one I lost on ebay. How much would you value that at/pay for that? Was I way over the mark thinking £235 ish delivered, and trying to buy simply following my heart?

By the way, I was sceptical about cheapies like the Viking Racemaster Pro anyway, but a chat with some local bike repair shops concreted by views :) - never really planned to buy cheapie... thinking more second hand conversion (by someone with an interest) using branded but probably budget parts :)

Matt

Yeah, shame, i've only been here since September.

I used to cycle a lot as a teen. While in college for about 6 months I commuted in, doing about 12 miles a day. I loved it, spring, cool but sunny, and my health problems improved. I realised recently I miss having a bike and going for a blast, so want to get one to keep in Oxford. Before I rode mountain bikes, and still have an average MTB at home, which I use sometimes.

I have become really interested in FG/SS bikes though recently. £250 would get me a crap road bike, and the gears would infuriate me... if anything like i've had before on mountain bikes many years ago, problematic, clunky etc. - I thought well, FG/SS makes sense, remove one of the parts that really is crap when you buy on the cheap. I'm capable of adjustment and stuff, as well as a full rebuild, i'm sure... I can rebuild an A-series engine, so should be able to rebuild a bike! Anyhow, I want something I can just hop on and ENJOY zipping along on. (+finally explore Oxford, other than the bus routes!)

I looked at Viking bikes, but they look real crap, and at 12kg, the Racemaster is pretty heavy for a SS I believe? Create bikes look pants in my opinion too, along with the other cheap off-the-peg fixies, built to look cool with unbranded parts...

I decided while browsing here, and ebay, a converted only racing bike is probably better. The more I look, the more I like the old look, with no deepset V's. I have an old Mini also, so I appreciate classic stuff, and also simple classic engineering.

Problem is, I have no space to build up and paint a bike of my own using an old frame, so I am looking to buy something already converted and tarted up. I find very few 22-33" framed bikes on ebay/gumtree though. I also struggle to find anything decent second hand locally, which really surprises me as Oxford is so big on cycling... and if I can't find them locally, ideally I need them posted/couriered, which isn't a very common option.

So, now I can finally post a thread here, i'm hoping to find some good used bikes on here (plenty on LFGSS in Oxfordshire right?) or some better suggestions of places to look from locals!

I lost this beauty earlier... by 3p, in the FINAL second. Bidsniping arses! Gutted. The more I looked at it the more I wanted it to be mine. Please tell me it was crap, or I was overpaying for it anyway, or something, cause I'm not happy! :P

A bike like that one I lost, even with basic budget parts would be the best option for my £250 right? The parts may be a bit budget, but they can be upgraded in time right? It'll be better as it comes than a new budget bike with no-name parts built like crap right? More upgradable too? I mean, even the cheap bikes probably arent even worth using the frames during a rebuild are they?

So, there's my long introduction. I hope you can see that I no longer plan to buy cheapo, but on a budget.

I have multiple times £250 available, but I can't justify spending it on a bike that could be stolen - theft here is so so so so high. I wouldn't be so worried if I could keep it inside my halls overnight, but I don't think I could squeeze it in my shoebox room this year - or if I could, I think it would get in the way too much after a few weeks.

Thanks for reading if you read that big old post!

Matt

I'm in Oxford, but fancy a trip to London to go to some fixie shops (unless anyone knows any hidden gems here? - I've only just started looking round here) - where would you recommend? We'd probably be on foot, and as a student, wouldn't want to spend a fortune travelling all day. Are there any good bike shops (fixie based/mostly fixie) near each other?

I'm after a built SS/FG, and my mate is keen on building his first SS/FG bike, and I'm thinking I could buy something, while he gets inspiration, or if I don't buy anything, some good advice and also inspiration!

I'm after a single speed with branded components for around £250, probably used. Been scouring ebay to no avail.

Preferably i'd like to plan the daytrip with a mind to buy a second hand conversion for sub £250... is this too much to ask, and should I just go with a mind to get loads of advice instead, thus probably going to different shops?

Thanks,

Matt.