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He's back:
I don't imagine you google "brant on-one" very much. But if you do you'll see an odd picture of me. With hair. Wearing a wedding ring, and using a mobile phone with a stylus.
It's an interesting shot, captured in bike tester Guy Kesteven's "bat cave" and featured in an article published when I was (or wasn't) leaving (or joining) on-one. Or something.
It's a step back in time. To a time when I had hair, and a time when the future was going to be phones with styluses. Or styli? Whatever it was, I certainly didn't have style.
It was also about that time that 27.5in wheels started to creep in to our radar. 29in was already around, and we had been somewhat at the forefront of that with our 29er Inbred. We even made some carbon forks with 47mm offset to "quicken up" the steering, which is what people kept telling me needed to be done.
The thing was, at the point that some people were trying to get 29in bikes to handle like the fast twitchy 26in bikes of old, there was also a group of people who were trying to get 26in bikes to handle more calmly. All those long offset 29ers spent a couple of years in development, with different LONG offset forks and fast handling, whilst the other side of the coin were going longer travel and bigger tyres and just having fun.
We probably trod both sides of the line with our slack Summer Season and fast handling Inbred, but there was definitely some confusion there.
And all the time 27.5 (or is it 650B) was in there muddying things.
I think it's same to safe that I dragged my feet and was very rude about 650B for a long time. The 45650b was a good model, but lots of people said we should have done something sooner, meaning I should have designed something sooner. And they're probably right.
The thing is that still, when we launch a tyre sale the tyres that sell faster than anything else aren't 650B. Or 27.5in. Or 29in.
26in tyres sell more in our sales than anything else.
And if you've got a 26in wheeled bike you know why. Not just the fact that it's harder to get parts and tyres, but because actually, it's just a tyre. When you're sliding around in damp mud, the bit of the tyre that's in contact with the ground doesn't really know what size wheel it's attached to. It's just a bit of rubber, rolling along, trying to do it's business. Sure there's a small radius difference, but actually? It's tyre tread and compound vs whatever is in the way. And actually, yeah, in a lot of situations there's not much difference at all. With good geometry (and we know about that), there's no issue with a 26in wheel with a good tyre.
Different size wheels are just a bit different. It's not a major step change. It's not like a phone with a stylus. That's really different. And actually, that turned out to be stupid. Nearly as stupid as growing my hair long and thinking nobody could see the bald bit.
Are we making a new bike with 26in wheels? We might. We'd love to, but actually the problem is that the wheels and forks we'd need to make that bike how we want it are increasingly difficult, or even impossible to get, unless we commit to HUGE quantities.
There's certainly a strong movement for 26in to continue with many bike brands and suppliers continuing to support 26in as a "kids" size. So it's not dead yet.
Clearly as a manufacturer we're meant to be giving you clear decisions and clarity about our future models, but at times, well, it's just nice to be honest and explain that yeah, it's a bit mad.
I mean, rewind back up the page there a bit... See how in the early days 29er riders were wanting longer offset to quicken steering? The latest thing out there in bike geometry land is SHORT rake forks to slow down steering more. Which isn't a new thing at all because it's what Keith Bontrager was doing way way back when the Rock Shox Mag21 launched.
So yeah -things come and go and move forward. Will 26in stay as a kids bike size? I'd not bet on that. 650B is now a road size, with Road Plus. 29in used to be 700c. And still is.
We're here for you whatever, even though I've a design which I say takes 30in wheels, because that's what really big 29in ones measure up as.
Oh, and tyres... Yeah. We've got them. Whatever happens.
Thanks for reading. Hope you have a good one. Remember, drop me a line if you want to chat
--
brant
brant@on-one.co.uk
He's been very creative in the past, I wonder what the mad professor will create next.........
I thought he'd been back there a while now?
Yup, he stealthed his way back in and started doing some "fix the brand's ****ed reputation" stuff maybe a couple of months back? Hope it works tbh, it was a real shame when On One went to shit.
Maybe. But he hath spoken (well, emailed) to the masses (me), and wants to "chat".
Oh, so what’s new then?
More £10 steel hardtails with £1 powder coats to spaff over? 🤔
>Oh, so what’s new then?
No wedding ring, so I don't mind you ringing my (ex)wife up anymore.
>Not much new as far as the website clusterf
Aye. It needs a tidy and new product.
Stuff planned for here too:-
So, I'm only on pint number two at present, but how about a 26" rim, with a big fat tyre giving the outside diameter of a 29er, which you run at low pressure giving a 650b ride height???
Stuff planned for here too:-
https://www.on-one.co.uk/c/q/outdoor/blockquote >
So, the same rebadged stoves as Alpkit, only more expensive and with PX/OO customer service? That's sure to win people back!
I hope the customer service role and implementing the up to the minute stock level/shipping system goes well.
good luck with that.
Certainly looks like Brant will have his work cut out winning back the disillusioned! 😂
...me included 😐
You keep making good 26 inch tyres & I'll keep buying them.
Hang on - the Sheffield store has closed? Balls. Postage prices are a bit steep. I've just checked and delivery for a chainring that would go with a large second class stamp is £3.95.
I wonder if the OP has heard about Joe Cocker.
I bought my first thing from OO in about four years this week.
It arrived. Quickly. It wasn't quite as described - it was better model of freebie bottle.
I'm still not going for a big purchase until the Dilligaf warranty department is sorted.
Nice one Brant, hope it works out for us all
The closing of the showroom at Magna hasn't stopped them still having a photo of it on the about us page.
Strange why Reverb seatposts are available on the PX site but not on the OnOne site. Interesting to think that the future prosperity of PX is based on stoves and sledges, try finding an 11 speed chainring or cassette and heaven help you if you break a mech hanger on any bike over a year old.
Has Brant really dropped his pants?
Didn’t I start getting emails from Brant (he’s back) at on-one in about July?
How about plugging the numbers into the calculator to make a kid’s codiene frame that:
isn’t madly heavy,
isn’t crazy money,
and can take 24, 26 and even 27.5 wheels as the child grows?
I reckon most people who would be in the market for one would already have decent kids bikes to swap parts from and a hefty stash of ‘obsolete’ 26” parts.
The current bikes on offer are really expensive and not available as frame only.
I’d buy two! 😃
I hope this thread doesn’t turn the way of the last one where Brant Personally gave money to someone displaying dickiah behaviour and a big grudge!
Perhaps he’ll design my kids a bike AND drop me a few hundred quid!
More £10 steel hardtails with £1 powder coats to spaff over?
Well, if you do that, once it dries it makes the finish harder...
Is there a prize for guessing the word on Brants jacket that ends in ADY, Pointless style. From the expression on his face, my guess is Shady.
Thanks mods for the warning and thread removal for swear filter avoidance, it was actually a typo 😁 First time warning in nearly 15 years on the forum, guess it's par for the course on a post critical of the Messiah's new, old,new,old new employers.
<h1 class="post-title">Guess who’s taken off his moleskin trousers, lost his stylus & rejoined On-One.</h1>
So ****ing what?
Looks like on one are promoting camp fires with the sale of the gas burners ,unless there's a few very skilled people that need to braze there kit when out and about
May be better if they were in the tool section instead of the "outdoor shop"
Has anyone emailed for a chat?
I’m not sure what OO is anymore, the product/brand range is huge and confusing (to me). Five bike brands on one bike brand’s page, and the website feel like lots of sell off items, without an anchor.
I really like OO and PX. Had a few of the frames, and some of my best rides ever were on a Inbred29 with my kids in a bike seat or on a FollowMe. Still have it, and will never sell it.
Personally, I wouldn’t buy a Vitus, Holdsworth or Viner. I wouldn’t have any of them on a down tube, but happily have OO and PX.
I’d probably buy another Tinbred tomorrow if it was brought up to date but retained rack mounts, stays away from internal routing, swoopy tubes (apart from down tube I guess) and PF bottom brackets. All the kinds of no nonsense things that OO always meant.
While I’m at it, a new XS/13 Inbred 27.5 frame with rigid forks (100 and 142) that I could stick 26 wheels in for my 9 year old and a new Jack Flash would be lovely, thank you. Post is turning into Dear Santa
Alternatively, what do I know. Their accounts suggest it’s working really, really well already...
I hope that OO get back to designing and selling interesting frames at really good prices. I have fond memories of some of their past products. A modern Inbred would be great for a start.
I've bought loads from them over the years. Multiple Inbred's, fatty's, 456's, forks etc etc. Some great bikes there. Yes the quality of the paint sometimes wasn't great and the QC and CS can be patchy but I've personally never had a reason to return anything.
One tip I'd give, sort the bloody websites out. MTB stuff only listed on PX site, stuff that's listed on both sites multiple times and for multiple prices, prices fluctuating hourly (although this has calmed down a lot recently), technical information on products either wrong or missing entirely, I could go on.
OO to me were always functional, solid frames that were great to ride at a great price. Had a couple of inbreds - the canti one lives on elsewhere. Also offered solid, functional components that were good to use. I still use seatposts, stems, etc that I've had for years. They had an strong identity. That has gone but would be good to see it back.
Stealth advertising, by any other name.
Do we have updates if Geraint Thomas has had a shit yet?
Interested..
While I’m at it, a new XS/13 Inbred 27.5 frame with rigid forks (100 and 142) that I could stick 26 wheels
This!! A nice simple frame that will take 26 and 27.5 wheels / tyres would be a dream. Use up old 26 stock, small enough to bridge the gap between 24 and 27 and fairly future proof!
If they want to diversify go after the kids market and make 'cheap' light kids bikes, maybe more road / mtb orientated than the current hybrids or maybe try ebike market *runs and hides*
How long until we see Brant-designed bikes for sale? Good to have him back doing bikes, as well as his trousers.
A titanium 29er Scandal (or modern equivalent) to fit someone 6'5" please!
When Alpkit are so established and good at what they offer, I can't see OO pushing into that market?
in my eyes, the on one 456 was possiby the best hardtail i have ever ridden and possibly the best do it all hardtail ever.
i always longed for a 29'' version.
but good on you Brant. a good bloke who was always willing to help.
As said above an updated inbred would be nice.!
Longer in the top tube and shorter in the seat tube so I can add a descent dropper post. I thought I'd never get rid of my old inbred. These changes and I would.
Oh yeah, the ability to take fatter rubber would be nice too.
Come on OO give us what we want
I don't like the stylus, can I have some money please?
I’ve been buying stuff from on-one since about 2000 I guess when I had one of the first Gimps with no tyre clearance (hence my user name!) and Ive never had any trouble with them. Had pedals, bars, tyres, multiple frames, saddles, grips and they’ve all been reasonably priced and provided the exact performance I expected.
I wish them well if they’re trying to get back to what they once were, although other than an outlet for stacks of other frame suppliers I don’t really know what they are now.
To all the people wanting a frame that'll take 26 and 650B wheels, you can just use any 650B frame you know? You won't get arrested or anything.
Is there a prize for guessing the word on Brants jacket that ends in ADY
Could be "I'M A L..."
As others have suggested, the company desperately needs to focus and establish a credible range of modern-sized MTBs.
They do OK with road bikes and probably with gravel bikes (I don't pay them any attention), so it shouldn't be beyond them.
Not sure that rambling email bodes well.
<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Are they still employing people on zero hours contracts, out of interest?</span>
Brant coming back to px and oo can only be a good thing. I think they've lost their way since he left.
My first memory of oo was that they were ahead of the game, sold niche bikes before they became cool, the frames were designed for UK riding conditions so threaded BB etc. They were incredibly good value and the people that rode oo where a bit cool and knew their stuff.
Now, it all seems to be road and gravel bikes that are all very similar but have different brands on them. The mountain bikes seem to have been neglected. Instead of being a leader they are out of date. The people that ride them bought them because they were cheaper than most other brands. The cool factor has gone.
The majority of us who bash px have probably owned and loved an inbred, a 456 or a Scandal to name a few and if they can just discover their roots and improve their customer service and warranty then we would probably buy from them again.
Im looking forward to seeing some of brants ideas and I just hope he doesn't get restricted by management with his ideas and disappoint me.
mamnick
What Damascus says ^
When I say let him design what he wants without restrictions from management i mean within reason.
I’m hoping for a ti 29er single speed for 100-120mm forks
OO/PX are nothing more than a seller of rock bottom tat with a miriad of yester years great brand names now slapped on sweat shop crap with stupid purile names punted out with no QC or CS
I can never understand why anyone would ever buy anything from them - they have never been and never will be 'cool'
So compiling the requests so far, we have singlespeeds, bikes for giants and full-sussers for kids?
They'll be out of business by 2020 I reckon.
OO/PX are nothing more than a seller of rock bottom tat with a miriad of yester years great brand names now slapped on sweat shop crap with stupid purile names punted out with no QC or CS
I can never understand why anyone would ever buy anything from them – they have never been and never will be ‘cool’
Sounds to me like someone is fishing for £250 hush money 🙂
I can never understand why anyone would ever buy anything from them – they have never been and never will be ‘cool’
You obviously missed the time period around 2000-2006 when pretty much everyone had an inbred or 456.
They've never been 'cool' in the way Santa Cruz get fapped over in the trail center car parks, but they (or Brant at least) have made some fantastic bikes over the years.
I'd like a 45629, along the lines of stuff like Nordest, Fastforward etc, but with enough corners cut to get it <£200.
I'm sure they've never claimed, pretended or even wanted to be cool, but they did have a bit of a following five or two years ago - and turned out some nice bikes.
Only one I had was the C456 and that was brilliant, if they had any sense they'd have done a 29er version a few years ago - but they seem to have been focusing on short HTs and heavy FSers instead.
You obviously missed the time period around 2000-2006 when pretty much everyone had an inbred or 456.
Obviously, arguing if something is/was cool or not is pretty pointless (no more so than the rest of the topics on here though!), as it's totally subjective. But yeah, around 2000? and for some time after, they had strong popular favour on here, no doubt about it.
Cool? They were cheap, sorted, ran by a couple of blokes that liked bikes and employed people in the UK. Suppose that is cool, now you mention it.
OO/PX are nothing more than a seller of rock bottom tat with a miriad of yester years great brand names now slapped on sweat shop crap with stupid purile names punted out with no QC or CS
So you do care after all.
anyone who buys a brand of bike because it is cool is a full on ****er.
on one bikes are just good vfm bikes that you can ride and not worry too much about.
easy to buy, easy to replace.
who wants to pay top end prices for a bike, when riding ability and talent is bargain basement.
ton
anyone who buys a brand of bike because it is cool is a full on ****.
on one bikes are just good vfm bikes that you can ride and not worry too much about.
easy to buy, easy to replace.
who wants to pay top end prices for a bike, when riding ability and talent is bargain basement.
Well said.
I am as partial to a blingy bike as the next person, but if you want a bike that handles well and you aren't fussed about what the trail park aesthetes think, an On-One is an excellent choice for reasonable money.
That's based on my ownership of a Pompino, and a 29er Scandal. I have had both for over 10 years and done everything I could have done with their fancy equivalents.
They are good bikes, plain and simple.
And just like every other brand On-One can make mistakes.
A mate had/has a 456 summer season which I coveted. He has the frame in his shed for his son. Like I have my old small dialled alpine frame in my shed for my daughter.
We’re here for you whatever, even though I’ve a design which I say takes 30in wheels, because that’s what really big 29in ones measure up as.
so a 29+ bike.. only thing not mentioned is 27.5+..
personally.. i';d be uber curious about a 26er hardtail with #modern (fashionable) geo and good clearance i can move old parts to if i split my old bike (as i'm already wondering which old 456 style frame to pick up s/h) but the bike world being what is is...??! crystal balls required...
Like I have my old small dialled alpine frame in my shed for my daughter.
You're daughter is the luckier one in that equation...
Wouldn't be at all surprised if the filthy capitalist was thinking of building a burly steel full suspension frame; I remember emailing him a few years back with some filthy capitalist ideas of my own and he seemed pretty interested.
Can you imagine... the additional stiffness and compliance of steel, countering the additional leverage and flex of the swing arm caused by larger wheels, not to mention the guaranteed fitness to be gained from riding a bike weighing similar to a rampaging bullock!!
I'd like to see an updated codeine 29
I might as well stick a request in for a steel 29+ hardtail for 120mm forks, but nicely long and low, appropriately sized for 195cm heifer.
You'll sell at least, ooh, 1.
Reckon there could be a revised Armadillo - with the crazy cool sparkly dragon paintjob.
a mad planet x frame. i want another one!
If he's taking requests, then a Pinion gear boxed, Gates belt drive compatible, fat bike with plenty of room of 5" rubber. Preferably in Titanium…
...and under £200.
You’ll sell at least, ooh, 1.
possibly 2.
Don't quite get why they have all the different bike brand names especially when half of them are generic frames with different paint jobs depending on the brand.
Several of the big names like Tomac and Holdsworth don't have the cache they used to anyway so they may as well put them on ice.
Personally I would stick to one Brand name for the whole range, ie. A Cannondale is a Cannondale irrespective of whether its a MTB, Roadbike, Gravel bike etc.
Might be a opportunity to start a new Image not in the Sports Direct/TK Maxx mould.
Web site needs sorting out as certain things are showing on the Planet X site but not at On One site again which creates confusion and looks a bit amateur.
possibly 2
Steady, that consitutes a full production run for some ‘manufacturers’
Amy chance of a cheap rigid singlespeed? Dont seem to exist anymore.
Mackem
Amy chance of a cheap rigid singlespeed? Dont seem to exist anymore.
I'm sure someone will be along shortly to tell you that's because of the Disintegratinium alloy used in On-One products. 🙂
I think just reviving the scandal 29er with horizontal dropouts and a rigid fork would be a winner , seems to still be a market for them
Perhaps a revamp of the Scandal and Inbred 29ers to begin with? Both great frames that could be brought back up to date with a few tweaks. On-One retired these popular models and didn't replace them. Each year Cotic seem to be making slight adjustments to models that have a history and pedigree. The On-One pick and mix approach to frames and parts had an appeal to me a few years ago. It was great to experiment with bargain bits, but I think they now need a consistent mountain bike fleet to move forward.
Could I request the moon on a stick please Brant.
Re do the Pompetamineensuring big tyre clearance. Same frame in steel, carbon and alloy please. I still want one.
Have had a 45650B and currently have on PX road bike (both bought as frames) and happy with both, and would happily buy another frame/parts off them at some point but (and its' a big but) the customer service has been fairly to totally appalling almost every time. If Brant can make a difference to that, he'll be on to a winner, before he gets onto updating things like the Inbred/Scandal etc.
Not sure if anyone else mentioned this but sort out the overseas postage prices. Last time I looked at getting a 29 Inbred ordered the postage was more than the frame.
<p>What ever happened to the Gimp/Bommer? I'd take another for old times sake.</p>
I rode a £175 Inbred frame from the UK to Istanbul, offroad E2E and, amongst other things, over some big mountains somewhere. My current bike has On One (Mary) handlebars, stem spacers, front tyre, lock-on grips and tool pouch. Might be needing a new frame soon and can't afford bling, so I await developments with interest.
Perhaps a revamp of the Scandal and Inbred 29ers to begin with? Both great frames that could be brought back up to date with a few tweaks. On-One retired these popular models and didn’t replace them
I wonder how commercially viable they were. On the outside with the economy struggling over the last 10 years you would think the market for good simple bikes would increase, instead were all on here bemoaning the prevalence of £1400 beginner bikes with deore drive chains (nothing wrong with deore, it's just what I remember being on £300 hardtails). On-One are still at the good value end of the spectrum, but a Dee-Darr frame is £350, that's not Coti or Stanton money, but neither is it n+1 parts bin build territory.
It would be interesting to know how big the market was for ~£150 inbred/456 frames Vs the new more expensive versions (the dee dar has a thru axle, forged head tube, seat tube/top tube bridge, plate chainstay bridge etc, the 466 and inbred were pretty much all tubes, plate dropouts and the odd gusset).
I'm definitely the market for the former, I'd rather a cheap hardtail with no-frills and an offset 135mm hub for tyre clearance to use up spare parts than a £350 one with a few bells and whistles, that then costs another £300 in new hubs, headsets etc rather than rifling through my spares stash. But appreciate I'm probably a minority and I'm more and more tempted to go down the XCAD titanium route as the extra cost would be more than offset against savings in re-using parts.
If a new on-one 26er and/or 29er steel frame appears for the kind of prices that the old ones were going for, with QR rear dropout option* so people can actually put together a fun hardtail from the pile of old parts in their shed, for very little outlay, i'm sure there would be a market.
Can’t remember Deore being the go to groupset for £300 bikes? Bitd it was second only to XT.
Was posted on one of the fan boi getups
What's Coming Up 2019
Was going to post this tomorrow but as it is hammering down outside and I don't want to do the hoovering no time like the present.
These are the projects that Brant and myself are working on for on-one , all in full swing now . Its our third "marriage" and good to have him back so we can build some fun stuff that looks back to those early days when it was such an amazing time starting in those early days. We only built stuff we wanted not what the market demanded.
"There will be no e-bikes round here this is a local bike shop for locals we dont want your sort in here "
A lot of these products are "going back to our roots", we're homeward bound , got our heads turned around,
To the place of our birth
Back down to earth.In no particular order
1/ Scandal 29er - Aluminium , 120mm fork , big tyres .
2/ Inbred 29er - 120mm steel is real born again , with updated version .
3/ Ti Inbred 29 Evo - 29er 120mm fork , big tyres
4/ Deedar Evo - Boost and Geometry update
5/ Bootzipper 29er - Steel through axle mountain mash up , rigid only .
6/ Bootzipper 650 - Steel through axle mountain mash up , rigid only , road wheels , MTB Drivetrain
7/ Bootzipper 29er Steel Fork - 12mm through axle steel 29er segmented fork
8/ Bootzipper 650 Steel Fork - As above 650 version
9/ World Tour Rocket - alloy round the world bike .
10/ Steel Pickenflick - Its obvious , its ok .
11/ Alloy Space Chicken - Dropper post , 650b ,
12/ Nitto Bar Project - Big Selection of bent and bull moose bars made by the worlds best tube benders and bar welders .
13/Rim Project - High quality rim extrusions 100% made in Italy for Gravel/ MTN / Bootzippers in 6082 , 26 inch , 650 , 29er version .
14/ Panaracer Tyre Project - Panaracer producing UK conditions gravel and all day tyre .
15/ Classic 26 Inch Inbred - The original with only minor tweaks for modern components .
16/ Classic Pompino - Slightly bigger clearance but not much to change
17/ A2B Steel - new all day , all roads , knock arounder , with cantis , just cos I want one.
Im surprised however zippin up my boots didn't feature.
Splendid, sounds like a lot of work. Cheers for the feed back. Maybe, normalishise the names & paint. Ta