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      CommentAuthormonkeyjo
    • CommentTimeOct 8th 2008
     
    hello people of movingtarget. nice to finally write something since i've been looking at this for ages now (yes i have that little to do).

    anyway i am about to buy my second bike and was wondering if anyone had any opinions on the shortlist. currently i have a dawes diploma which is beautiful but kind of a nightmare. it gets ridden more than it should (and too often on the way home from the pub) and as a result is unhappy. it was a 21st gift from my awesome grandpa and i'd like to keep it nice. sorry bout what may seem like inconsequential banter but i wanted to give you some background.

    im after a faster and simpler bike and some of the couriers think i should get a fixed but i dont think im ready. id rather be safer and happier on a single speed so here is what i've found:

    Giant bowery, fuji track, specialised langster (not so keen but i heard it was good value), swobo sanchez, lemond fillmore.

    So far i've been told that the fuji is made for the track not the road so the geometry is all wrong and people seem to screw their faces up a bit at the fillmore.

    Just after some advice please!
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      CommentAuthorwill
    • CommentTimeOct 8th 2008
     
    you're on the wrong forum: go to the london fixed gear and single speed forum and look there; use the search facility - do NOT post a question like the one you posted here. There is a sticky thread on off the peg bikes (OTP).
    all the bikes you mention are ok and you'll get loads of different opinions.
    before Zack jumps in - fakengers, hipsters, blah blah blah.
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      CommentAuthormonkeyjo
    • CommentTimeOct 8th 2008
     
    sorry. didnt realise that certain things were off limits here. also on the subject of "fakengers":

    "surely more people on bikes is better than more cars?" (the real slim shakey)

    all of the couriers or cyclists that im friends with in glasgow have a similar view to this one and im a cyclist because 1.i like the world as it is 2.its cheaper and 3.it keeps me fit and happy so im sorry to have upset you but i think there are more important things to consider than labelling people you dont know
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      CommentAuthoroverdrive
    • CommentTimeOct 8th 2008
     
    Dont listen to Will,he just wants to photograph you naked with your new bike.You should stay here with us,we are not all bad.Nothing is off limits here either.You are welcome my friend.Now HTFU!:bigsmile:
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      CommentAuthorwill
    • CommentTimeOct 8th 2008
     
    You've got the wrong end of the stick Jo; I mean there is more advice about buying a bike on the other forum than there is on here; not trying to make you feel unwelcome at all. And wait till Zack Speedfast posts and you'll see what I mean - he always has a go at me for recommending the LFGSS cos he thinks it's full of fakengers. Don't you Zack?
    Welcome to MT mate, everyone welcome (almost).
    • CommentAuthorFesterban
    • CommentTimeOct 8th 2008
     
    To be fair, recommending LFGSS is somewhat like throwing a newbie in at the deep end. It's quite hard to get used to the tone of most of the posts and the slight bike snobbery that abounds there. There is a lot of good advice once you have sifted through the piss-taking and occasional elitism, to be fair you need to get used to that anyway if you are looking to enter the bike building world.

    To monkeyjo, I have been trying out various Langsters and think they are are a really nice starting range bike, very light and very sturdy that don't really need any upgrading if buying off the peg, all at a pretty nice price. Will probably get one myself as soon as I have some cash. They are not very well liked amongst fixed/single speed enthusiasts but I say ignore the snobs.
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      CommentAuthorGertie
    • CommentTimeOct 8th 2008
     
    What's wrong with gears bro? I know it doesn't fit the 'simpler' category, but seriously gears rock. You can go faster. You can go steeper. You can get nice cadences. As long as you clean 'em fairly regularly and treat them with love they will love you and love your knees back.
    Whatever you decide. Keep riding mate, 'tis surely the best way to travel.
    • CommentAuthorFesterban
    • CommentTimeOct 8th 2008
     
    'What's wrong with gears?'


    Unending bloody problems, you can't have a a geared bike that will not have something go wrong with the gears for more than a month in my opinion. They are wicked for more occasional use and long missions but every single day riding seems to be really unkind to geared bikes.
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      CommentAuthorwill
    • CommentTimeOct 8th 2008
     
    there you are Gertie, that told you; what is your 20 yrs experience as a courier against the opinion of our young friend? I think it's not just snobs we should ignore.
    • CommentAuthorFesterban
    • CommentTimeOct 8th 2008 edited
     
    Nah, I was merely ranting about my own geared bike problems really, I'm well aware of my inexperienced opinion which is why I offered it as such _an opinion_

    Please for goodness sake don't take anything I say too seriously :wink:

    (hmmm..internet forums are perhaps not the the best place to make new friends, rubbish communication capabilities really)
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    Welcome Monkeyjo and bless you. I'm sorry you had to deal with the racist Will, may he one day find the lord. I think as long as you don't go crazy and buy some low profile bike, any bike will eventually feel like yours and no other. If you travel the world and see what 3rd world people ride, you will realize any bikes a good bike, more or less. Please come again and once again i apologise for Will, may his soul be saved and not damned for eternity.
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    There was a question about courier bikes on the forum a few months ago, it might be worth flipping through the archive to see if you can find it.

    I recommend the IRO. I DO NOT under any circumstances recommend the Langster, the Charge, the Bianchi Pista, or the Bowery.

    look, it's simple. Get a steel frame, it'll ride nicer and last longer than a combination of aluminium and carbon.
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      CommentAuthorwill
    • CommentTimeOct 8th 2008
     
    if you are going to get an IRO then go to Brick lane bikes and get their own brand frame; it's an IRO but it's cheaper.
    Only racists say third world Zack; it's the developing world now.
    One thing we can all agree on; do not buy a Unipak.
    • CommentAuthorFesterban
    • CommentTimeOct 8th 2008
     
    Now now, unipacks are ok........







    for bicep curls, squat thrusts, bench presses
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    Hey MonkeyJo, are you Jo from Where the Monkey Sleeps?
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    Steal is the way to go frame wise unless by some stroke of luck you can swing titanium. I've got a Steel Stumpjumper that's hauled my big butt for ten Alaska winters and the frames still kicking, most of the bits are long dead.
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      CommentAuthorsteff
    • CommentTimeOct 9th 2008
     
    FWIW, I recently got a Fuji track (£280ish from biddlebikes.co.uk and they threw in a free track pump) and it seems perfectly OK thus far for £70 less than the competing options. I wanted to build a frame, but then I worked out when I'd have the free time and got an answer of 2028 or so, and the commodity-ness of it is actually a bit of a relief given that it has to be parked outdoors all day.
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      CommentAuthorpedro
    • CommentTimeOct 9th 2008
     
    Steff,
    that is because your are a girl, because if you were a man you would not spend so much time with you girlfriend, instead you will be putting your new frame together and take it to work next monday.
    :cool:
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      CommentAuthormonkeyjo
    • CommentTimeOct 10th 2008
     
    ha, hi zander! no long term problems as a result of millport...cuts on my arms have finally subsided.hows everything at pistard?

    cheers for the advice. narrowed it down to the sanchez or the fuji. looked at iros but they seem well expensive,cheapest i could find was £430 plus getting it over from america.
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    Hey Jo it's all good at HOP ( still getting 3hr lunchbreaks )
    I think you should go for the Fuji, it's a classic looking steel frame that'll last forever, loads of couriers use 'em and I've not heard any complaints.
    The Swobo is £100 more I don't think it comes with pedals, the wheels are 28 spoke which don't react well to doorings and compact frames and riser bars are about to become soooo 2008.

    Both bikes have really ugly saddles.
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      CommentAuthorsteff
    • CommentTimeOct 10th 2008
     
    Pedro - this is me: http://pics.steff.name/tache.jpg

    westcoastmess - I can indeed confirm that the saddle is ghastly. I'd definitely replace it if I were doing more than commuting.
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      CommentAuthoroverdrive
    • CommentTimeOct 10th 2008
     
    Steff,that is the least ironic tash I've ever seen!
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      CommentAuthorsteff
    • CommentTimeOct 10th 2008
     
    Gone now, sadly. I was quite fond of it though and gave some consideration to joining this lot: http://www.handlebarclub.co.uk/
    • CommentAuthorFesterban
    • CommentTimeOct 10th 2008
     
    280 for a fuji track!

    Hmmm, now I'm torn, this is the only other ss bike I've had a go on that I really liked, and it's steel. Decisions, decisions.... (that's if I don't find and IRO mark V first)
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      CommentAuthormonkeyjo
    • CommentTimeOct 10th 2008
     
    where did you find the track for £280? i thought i could get the swobo for £400 and the track for £350, no?

    the wheels are 28 spoke which don't react well to ...compact frames ..what does this mean?
    going to swap the handlebars for drops for free anyway...i'll be sitting on the saddle so who will be lookin..except stoofa?!
    • CommentAuthorFesterban
    • CommentTimeOct 10th 2008
     
    First link when you google 'fuji track' like steff said you get a free track pump too, not bad in my opinion
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      CommentAuthormonkeyjo
    • CommentTimeOct 13th 2008
     
    thought id let you know that the new bike has been secured since im sure you were all dying to find out....got a terry dolan for £230. fuckin amazin!

    thanks for the chat though
    • CommentAuthorFesterban
    • CommentTimeOct 14th 2008
     
    Gah! I have also found myself a bargain Dolan and am torn with which to get now. I don't even have the money for it yet but it's doing my head in.

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