Best shop to buy single speed bike ?

omri

Any suggestions ?

Morgan

Pretty much all bike shops stock a few singlespeeds these days - they're very fashionable. Cycleways, Cyclogical and the Cycle Superstore would be good places to start. Any idea what you're looking for?

TinyExplosions

a single speed bike shop?

...sorry, I'll get me coat

mloc123

Somewhat related, I am thinking about selling my 2008 Giant Bowery.. no more than 500 miles on it... what price would people put it up at?

Wez

I'm just about to drop a couple hundred on a BeOne 1.0 Shimano 105's etc (as a lot of you are prolly aware) but I'm pretty tempted to get a Bianchi Pista or something along those lines if I can find one..

It's main purpose is for a cycle to Amsterdam, next month, but I could come across some hilly patches (checked terrain map, but ya never know) and I'm thinking of bottling and going geared.

Decisions decisions!

Lumen

mloc123 wrote: »

Somewhat related, I am thinking about selling my 2008 Giant Bowery.. no more than 500 miles on it... what price would people put it up at?

Ask €400, take €350.

Harrybelafonte

I just bought a Mashup from Duffs in Santry. Same price as CSS. They have the stock Bowery, the 84 and 72 (?) too.

Caroline_ie

mloc123 wrote: »

Somewhat related, I am thinking about selling my 2008 Giant Bowery.. no more than 500 miles on it... what price would people put it up at?

I think trojan wants a new one?

blorg

Wez wrote: »

I'm just about to drop a couple hundred on a BeOne 1.0 Shimano 105's etc (as a lot of you are prolly aware) but I'm pretty tempted to get a Bianchi Pista or something along those lines if I can find one..

It's main purpose is for a cycle to Amsterdam, next month, but I could come across some hilly patches (checked terrain map, but ya never know) and I'm thinking of bottling and going geared.

Decisions decisions!

Would you not want panniers etc. for a trip to Amsterdam (Pista would not be ideal there.)

neiljb

mloc123 wrote: »

Somewhat related, I am thinking about selling my 2008 Giant Bowery.. no more than 500 miles on it... what price would people put it up at?

Seriously ?
What size is it ?

EH

I know your looking for a bike shop but if your willing to buy on-line www.cyclesuk.com are selling Specialized Centrum Sports for £199. Its single speed with mechanical disc brakes. Its a cruiser rather than a true fixie. Its the 2008 model but got a good review here

Morgan

EH wrote: »

Its a cruiser rather than a true fixie.

Are there degrees of "fixieness"?

That Specialized is pretty hideous - but it's a great deal. Surprising it lacks mudguard mounts.

As an aside, the Specialized/Globe brand is going in an interesting direction:
http://urbanvelo.org/specializedglobe-brand-launch-meet-the-roll/

Wez

blorg wrote: »

Would you not want panniers etc. for a trip to Amsterdam (Pista would not be ideal there.)

Thought the same, but we've been looking at some backpacks with a breathable mesh, which holds the bag away from your back, reducing sweat. I know it sounds like marketing hype, but I think it could really work, especially when coupled with the 'vapour wick' sweat tops we're getting, I've spoke to people who played Basketball in 30˚C heat, not sweating a drop.

The bag's about the same price as the pannier rack, not including bags.. And budget has a big say in this trip!

So basically, we're planning on not using panniers, so exact bike isn't a problem.. Could be getting into more than we expect, but our backup plan if we don't think we'll make it is, pedal & pedal & pedal!

We're packing light and trying to have some good energy sources for quick stops. Sharing tools etc to try and save weight. We're going to make a checklist to be sure, but might just look up some posted before!

Sorry for the Hijack, just don't feel it's worthy of it's own thread!

mloc123

neiljb wrote: »

Seriously ?
What size is it ?

Medium, thread up now: http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=60834763

Lumen

Wez wrote: »

Thought the same, but we've been looking at some backpacks with a breathable mesh, which holds the bag away from your back, reducing sweat.

Got one, doesn't work as well as I'd hoped. Also, the capacity is small, and you don't want to be carrying weight on your back for any distance.

It still touches your back somewhere (ye canna defeat the laws of physics) and that place gets hot and sweaty.

blorg

@Wez- I have done a fair bit of touring (including a very small amount on my fixies with panniers) and the last thing I would want would be a backpack of any sort on my back over long distances, it would drive me nuts. What sort of distances are you considering doing each day? If you can keep it very very light you could consider a large saddlebag or a bit heavier mounting something on the seatpost- but even then I don't know that a Pista (which I believe is effectively track geometry) would be ideal for a tour. I don't know mind as I have never ridden a bike with track geometry. You could certainly light tour on a bike with road geometry anyway.

WMMV of course but I don't think there are many people touring that would be happy to carry it in a backpack- maybe if they were off-road touring but even there I've seen a high degree of pannier use.

Don17

Get a Trek District!

I'm seriously considering it

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/urban/district/district

Raam

@Wez: I have a small Deteur bag that has one of those systems that raises the bag off your back. It's fine for a commute to work, but I wouldn't want to tour with it. That said, you will of course be able to do your trip with the bag, just not as comfortable as carrying the bags on a rack.

You may also wish to store food in jersey pockets. These won't be as accessible with a bag on your back.

copacetic

Morgan wrote: »

As an aside, the Specialized/Globe brand is going in an interesting direction:
http://urbanvelo.org/specializedglobe-brand-launch-meet-the-roll/

Nice, and out soon which is interesting, the award winning Giant City Speed never made it to production as far as I can tell and these appear to be a similar if slightly less practical move, along the lines of the Trek district mentioned above.

Nice flickr of some of the other new globes here:

the globe haul with welded on wooden rack, alfine (with belt drive option)and discs is particularly nice.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/huggerindustries/sets/72157619563678928/

edit again, the custom dropouts and bars+stem combo on the roll are stunning

Wez

Interesting.. I kinda knew I'd get this response (a reality check), understandably.

The more I think about it, the more panniers make sense, I just think I'll be more limited on space than with a 'proper' backpack. The added sweat factor is making me really consider it.

Our trip is roughly planned out as 50k the first day (Brussell's - Antwerp), 110k the second (Antwerp - Rotterdam), rest a day and then another 75k to Amsterdam.

We had planned on cycling to Rosslare, then cycling through France, but we've not enough time to do it comfortabley (and we missed the booking date for a ferry). So we're flying a good bit (cheating I know)..

I'm debating whether I should invest in some 'proper' shoes like Look's/Spd's and pedals, or in Panniers.. I know it'll be more efficient having them, which could save me, but panniers could too.

This is what happens when we plan to holiday on a budget!

Ghost Rider

I commute with a bag on my back every day. I've also done a few long-ish tours and no way would I use a backpack when touring. Most people will have plenty of time to suffer from back pains in their lives - why bring them on while you're still young?

Beks

I've seen a really nice new version of the Specialized Langster in the window of Hollingsworth in Templeogue, but I'd say the Cycle Inn in Tallaght would also stock it as well as Cycleways in town. There's some bike shop up north who sell a lovely Bianchi complete, but I can't remember the name of the site!

If you're after a REALLY nice singlespeed/fixie complete I'd really recommend getting one sent over from Brick Lane Bikes or Bike14 in London.

blorg

Panniers are more important than clipless pedals.

You can carry a hell of a lot more in panniers/on the back of the bike than in a backpack, I can assure you. I have no idea where you get the idea you would be able to cycle with more weight on your back than you could put on the back of the bike! You should aim to keep it light but you can trivially carry 20-25kg on the back with panniers, try that with a backpack and you will be in a world of pain (I did once, it was just 7km back from the shops and by god it hurt.)

Ideally get both; if you are getting clipless get a MTB system and walkable shoes.

Harrybelafonte

Don17 wrote: »

Get a Trek District!

I'm seriously considering it

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/urban/district/district

OMG belt driven, that's F'in gorgeous

Wez

Must say, I'm fixated on that Specialized/Globe beauty.. Such clean lines!

Sound advice there Blorg, I cycle alot, just consistent hours in the saddle is something I'm not really used to (and want to work on, hence trip)..

My theory of 'fitting more' was on volume, not weight (little experience in this area, normally MTBing I'd throw it all in the bag/strap it to the outside and forget about it).. We're flying out, so could be a problem if I'm over the limit.

This is why I was prepping my flame suit and asking, because I'd prefer to look a little foolish on here, than a couple miles from anywhere..

And I assume panniers should be removed when prepping for flight and carried seperately?

Cheers for the tips!

Trojan

You'll have to remove the panniers when putting the bike in for loading. Also (if not boxing) deflate tyres, remove or invert pedals and make bars perpendicular to the frame.

I also recommend panniers & even a cheap rear rack to get you through the few days.

First time touring can be quite expensive due to all the gear, but if you invest in some decent equipment you'll enjoy it more and probably do it again and again - making the gear worth the investment

--

Back on the SS/FG, keep the suggestions coming folks, I've penciled in a Langster as a present for myself, but I don't mind being convinced otherwise by something good in same price range (€500).

blorg

Yes, you have to remove the panniers. If they are not a model that is inherently joined together bring duct tape or some sturdy way or securing them together so you can check them as a single bag - or just check one and bring the other as hand baggage.

When touring myself even for two weeks I keep it well under 10kg- for the length of tour you are planning you should be able to keep it lower again (presuming you are not camping.) I would aim for sub-5kg, 3 or 4 would be best. Either get a pair of small panniers joined in the middle or just bring a single pannier and you can bring it all as hand baggage. There is no problem cycling with a pannier just on one side BTW, feels slightly funny for the first few km but then you adjust. I've done over 300km that way no problem.

If you are going with a rackless bike, maybe something like this would work, there are also these sort of bags that could be an option.

When travelling with my touring bike I don't bother removing pedals or twisting the handlebars and it has never been a problem. Bear in mind I have drops though so they are narrow enough and wouldn't take up much less room twisted. I bring the tools necessary to remove pedals/twist bars should I be asked though.