A bike for London

[biggs682]

Deffo second hand and no more than £200 would make more sense to me.

 

[westlondon24]

With regard to SS I’d suggest you need to spend while on one in London before deciding if it’s for you. The Quella Varsity is IMO way overpriced at five hundred and forty quid and comes with poor tyres.

I agree about spending time on one. Yes I think to some extent it’s overpriced-but having looked at the options for complete single speeds (disregarding conversions or building one) it seems to be about the UK/European norm, unless I’m overlooking something?

 

[vickster]

I agree about spending time on one. Yes I think to some extent it’s overpriced-but having looked at the options for complete single speeds (disregarding conversions or building one) it seems to be about the UK/European norm, unless I’m overlooking something?

look at used, Pearson Touche another option for example

Classifieds on LGFSS definitely worth a browse
https://www.lfgss.com/

 

[Cycleops]

I was comparing it to geared road bike. Cheap steel frame with no carbon fork or gears. Wheels look a bit iffy too. Has all the hallmarks to appeal to the hipsters rather than a practical cyclist and made down to a price.
Better to look at the big manufacturers, don’t know if the Sirrus by Specialized is still available or perhaps second hand.
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/sirrus-single-speed-mens-spec/p/173615?color=271962-173615

 

[vickster]

The Langster was a very popular SS in its day eg
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40425938...O56mttgzDxpSV9Y51m4/pgQQ==|tkp:Bk9SR5KB39H5YQ

 

[slowmotion]

I commuted in London on a Specialised Secteur Elite for about 11 years and found it pretty good. I suggest you sniff around on Gumtree (or similar) and see if you can find one secondhand, or an Allez. Make sure you don't buy a dog, so look it over carefully. The one thing I did was to get some slightly less wide bars than standard to make it a bit easier nipping around cars.

Edit: Actually, I prefer narrower bars anyway so the "nipping" aspect may be a red herring.

 

[westlondon24]

look at used, Pearson Touche another option for example

Classifieds on LGFSS definitely worth a browse
https://www.lfgss.com/

Ah didn’t realise Pearson did SS-thanks!

Yes that’s a good spot.

Thank you

 

[steveindenmark]

Looking at the number of Bromptons and decent bikes being stolen at knife point in the London area. I would be going for a dutch style gentlemans bike and be giving anything flash looking a miss.

 

[vickster]

Ah didn’t realise Pearson did SS-thanks!

Yes that’s a good spot.

Thank you

Not sure they do these days, did for many years

 

[vickster]

Looking at the number of Bromptons and decent bikes being stolen at knife point in the London area. I would be going for a dutch style gentlemans bike and be giving anything flash looking a miss.

Recent links to all these myriad attacks?

 

[steveindenmark]

Recent links to all these myriad attacks?

If you want to do your own research. I would start with the Brompton pages on FB. Plenty of Bromptons being stolen and not recovered. This is very common knowledge amongst Brompton owners . Its an apidemic

Several reports of Brompton owners being held at knife point. They even say the areas where it is most prevalent.

 

[slowmotion]

Looking at the number of Bromptons and decent bikes being stolen at knife point in the London area. I would be going for a dutch style gentlemans bike and be giving anything flash looking a miss.

My Secteur was just plain nicked. No guns, knives or Samurai swords were involved.

 

[Cycleops]

Yeah, all they need is an angle grinder.

 

[westlondon24]

Looking at the number of Bromptons and decent bikes being stolen at knife point in the London area. I would be going for a dutch style gentlemans bike and be giving anything flash looking a miss.

That’s a very good point. That could really work.

 

[Cycleops]

....but don't bank on getting up much speed.
If you found the Fastroad sluggish a Dutch bike will be positively somnambulistic.