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Thanks ds3000 and Greenbank

So are you saying ditch the Maressi shoes and go for the Shimano SPD pedals? What are good prices to pay for them.

A year or so after moving back to London from cycle friendly Switzerland I'm going to bite the bullet and get back into commuting from Hackney to Wembley.

First order of this plan is to sort out my ride which is a Condor road bike with single speed ready for the daily commute which according to Google Maps is 13.3 miles each way along the Grand Union tow path and longer in other routes. There are full shower facilities and bike lockup facilities at my office.

Couple questions
Cycle shoes or straps or clips?
I have had these old Maresi shoes knocking around for many years so I am thinking with a 26 miles daily commute I should investigate finally using these. Except I have no idea how! I've always used leather straps with vans on both my Condor and custom fixie (which strictly for summer riding).
A mate said I need to get plates and change my pedals. Is this correct? Where?
But others have said get some Nolook straps so I can continue to work my vans and use the Condor at the week for local shopping cycles etc?

I am probably going to get daddy road bike with baby chair for carrying my new baby on so less bothered about using the Condor at weekends like I currently do. In fact I may simply switch the Condor over to fixie depending on how the commute goes.

Any recommendations and experiences would be appreciated.

Route
Does anyone know best (quickest and safe) from Hackney (Homerton) to Wembley Stadium area or can recommend good sites. It's not a great journey NE to NW London but certainly a challenge to do it daily in my target time of 45minutes. I used to use cycle buddy site about 10 years ago...do these still exist?

Thanks for any tips, recommendations or advise.

Baggy

I am I be

Silly old Bagpuss...must have been sleeping when I posted this..;-)

Vintage Marresi cycle shoes. Heel on left shoe is missing but otherwise these are unused classics. Size 46. Colours are yellow with black, green and red detailing. I paid 60 quid for them a few years back now so if I can get that back I'm happy. Collection only.

How much polish time am I looking at nutsjesmoar?

@lae: Thanks for the great suggestions and yes I want polished alumiumn so I can see my ugly mug. How much work realistically (i.e. am I looking at a weekend) to hand polish the wheels, stem, seatpost, cranks etc.
I think the dropouts are not horizontal given its age.
Not sure what I am want to do on the handle bars but definitely looking to change them & the seat.

Hi
I am moving back to London this summer and to celebrate I have a project to to convert this lovely old Condor bike I have into a single/fixed for daily use in London and a few excursions no doubt.

Looks wise you can see in the photo that front and rear forks are chrome so am thinking of going for a chromed out look. Have not set a fixed budget but it will be used daily so top quality parts needed. Here is some suggestions I have had from a friend:

IRD Freewheel
Chain Weissstein
Crankset BLB
Pedals MKS
Pedalsptraps/cage

Any suggestions or ideas for the all parts are recommended as long as they are nice shiny chrome!

Ping me with any questions.

Cheers,
Baggy

gogosama try these guys http://www.fine-adc.com who are helping me out..

just heard from the Distributor the Delancey is being discontinued due 'due to impending and unreasonable price increases' their trying to get hold of the last stock from Cali...fingers crossed..!

Thanks Tricity, I'm falling in lust with the Delancey myself cause their racing green finish looks lush.
I'm starting to think about rims and bars now. Want some deep Vs with a brush metallic look and but not decided on drops or flat bars. Love drops but maybe fancy a change as this will be totally a cruising bike for town (got great cycle routes here in Switerzland, none of this pothoel rubbish in LDN and lock ups everywhere).
What do have on yoour Rush?

Hi guys,
I'm living in the lovely land of fondue here in Switzerland and rather than bring my lovely Geoff Roberts SP from London to here in Zurich I have found myself a little bikeshop who specialise in single/fixes (http://www.zweiradgeber.ch) to build me something fixed special.

I'm 6'5" so framewise they are recommending a larger Soma Delancey (http://somafab.com/delancey.html) or Track Rush (http://somafab.com/rush.html). I am thinking of going for a chromed out retro look on dark green frame with deep vs a bit like this French baby http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2008/july/1/AlexKezha.htm. Still thinking about bars, brakes etc but suggestions welcome.

I was wondering if anyone had any opinion or experience of either of these frames or Soma frames. It's my first new build having riden the Roberts on London streets for many years. However it will be very much a social riding (great cycle routes round the Lake and city) for evenings and weekends rather than a commute so I want it to have comfort and classy swagger. Yeah I said it!

Baggy

Hiya,
I'm trying work out the best route to ride from Harlesden, NW10 to Great Portland Street. I'd really like to use a Grand Union canal but struggling to find a site with decent maps.
Anyone got any suggestions?

Thanks in advance

Baggy

Also like what's been done on this bad boy..
http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2008/july/1/AlexKezha.htm

Am trying to find out what model the chrome wheels and seat post? Any ideas?

thanks both...whose good on the seat front?

really liking what's been done on this bike
http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2008/may/3/LenK.htm#top

what are those chrome bars? and the seat??

also I need a taller quill...that **Technomic Deluxe

showing my ignorance but '** making it ideally suited for raising the bars on any frame with a threaded fork'...how do I find out if I've got a threaded fork?

loving those Mod177AA noodle bar and the B-123AA i Nitto bars

what's ordering from them direct like, are they good?

what's the best shop in London to check out a good range of bars or it best to ebay (what are the brands to search for?)..

yeah had few people have commented that I should get some nail varnish paint & touch up the chips..don't know if thats old wives tales but would be far cheaper than a new paint job!
the frames size is fine for big old 6'5 self but I never ride down in the drop position so it's bothersome changing hands to brake when I ride in town as much as I do (every day). hence thinking the flat/bullhorn
what do french style dove/moustache look like fanny pack??

P!MP that's what I'm talking about a simple stylish touch that changes the look...i was also considering chrome or gold drops (just an idea, don't shoot me!)

Baggy

Hi all,
I bought a Geoff Roberts 531 Reynold at the beginning of year which has been a lovely ride (thanks to anyone who helped me). In that time I've got a new chain, back wheel, botranger road tires front & rear, had to put a Shimano 105 headset. I also done the London-Brighton on this baby this year..silly fool that I am:-)

It's lovely bike but prompted by couple motives (code for I'm hooked!) I want to take it to the next level without bankrupting myself.
Firstly, being an old classic frame it's got chipped paint work noticeably on the underside of the frame. There's no rust but Brixton cycle guys recommended a new paint job to prevent rust.
Secondly, as the front bars are too low and make for uncomfortable riding as I nearly always grip at the top. This has affected my back so got sort this as a priority.
Thirdly, I want to go fixed wheel now and will probably pick up another road bike for longer mileage rides such as charity cycles & use the Geoff Roberts for commuting in LDN town. I wanna maintain the classic 70's look with some modernist styling touches

So I need advise on:
Handlebars - risers or drops
Brakes - got Tiagra front/rear brakes, do I need to change..?If so recommendations
Seat - maybe
Paint job - whose recommended?
Wheels - lovely Mavica's on there..may just leave...kinda depends of paint job i suppose
Suppliers - was thinking of heading down to Fixed Gear London boys and seeing what they can do for me. Am I just better off taking on the challenge myself (the non-mechanic that I am). Am I better off picking up the parts & getting someone to fit if I'm not confi/petent?

Has anyone taking on a similar jobbie and got some lovely pictures for me to gaze jealously at?

Any help would be appreciated.

Baggy

Hi guys,
I've been rolling around town on my lovely bright orange Geoff Roberts single speed (not fixed, but still thinking about it) for a couple of months loving it (say hi if you see me around) and thinking with the routes I ride and style I should look at changing the handle bars and possibly the wheels.
I work freelance so am based in difference offices in London over the week, so early part of the week I'm riding from Willesden Green to Elephant with return route normally taking in Oxford St/Tottenham Court/Regent's Park then late in the week I'm in Bond Street etc. So decent mileage during the week and weekend depends but can be crossing town down saarff regularly.

Handlebar
I've got Europa 2 drop handles at the moment. I find it most comfortable riding hands on top and riding through town can be stop start anyway so am never head down racing style, and of course its slightly daft cause I have to drop my hands down to reach the breaks.. I'm thinking I should change the handle bars to reflect my riding style. Naturally they've got to look fresh! Any advise, recommendations would be appreciated.

Wheels
I've got Mavia wheels with Botranger tyres. Im thinking it'd be nice to treat myself to some new wheels to welcome in the hopeful summmer, provide a bit of contrast with the old school Geoff Roberts frame. Nothing wrong with current wheels, just personal style preference to be able swap between the two. Also I'm thinking of either turning this Geoff Roberts into a fixie or may just getting a Surly fixie (probably the latter so I've got another bike)

Thanks in advance for the advise and happy Easter - the sky is blue so I'm getting out there before it goes!!

Baggy

Hi Snowy,
That was my bad boy. Yeah they managed to shift the seat post, whacked on a Botranger rear tyre and I've been flying around town on it since. Absolutely unbelievable ride and I find myself cycle ridiculous roundabout routes in London without even thinking about it. I'm itching to do some customisations on it now though. I didn't fixie it though still thinking about it, but definitely wanna change pedals & get straps (thought about cleats, got a lovely old pair of Marretto shoes, but I work freelance and am in different offices almost every day so convenience of wearing one set of trainers can't be beat) and also I ride mainly upright through town so am thinking of either changing the handle bars thoughs ain't got a clue so just posting on the forum now.

Just wish the bloody sun would come out and play. I've been soaked twice this week alone!

Baggy

I'm properly rolling on my new Geoff Roberts just waiting for my bloody Timbuk2 message bag), I riding it as a single speed at the mo as Brixton guys said get used to that before thnking about going fixie..
I'm thinking though that I might change it from drop handle bars later as I rode a flat (well they were bent) which was more comfortable for my riding style and journey across London.
I don't know anything about what are cool bars ad style though..

any thoughts?

Baggy

hippy I prefer these old maresi classics to those horrible jesus creepers..http://i1.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/cf/94/c51b_2.JPG

Thanks Jonny. I'm booked it with Brixton Cycles to get it fixied (if that's a word!) next week, still can't move the bloody seat post to move so hope BC can sort that..ust ebaying my hybrid now! Had to take the tube to Elephant 2day (depressing!).